Sharon Audubon Center

10/16/2026

Maverick, our resident American Crow, wants YOU to consider volunteering with our resident aviary birds on Fridays!

Jokes aside, volunteering with our non-releasable resident birds is a prestigious position that we screen heavily for. Volunteer candidates must be able to meet the following criteria before being interviewed:

- Must be available to come consistently on Fridays from 10am-2pm for at least 6 months.
- Must have reliable transportation to and from the center.
- Must be willing to do all of the work involved in this position: diet preparation, enclosure cleaning, enrichment provision, wellness checks, documentation, etc.
- Must be at least 16 years of age.

If you meet all of these criteria, please consider applying for this position by completing the volunteer application on our website below:

https://www.audubon.org/sharon/get-involved

Sharon Audubon Center aviary residents and volunteers. Photos: Bethany Sheffer/Sharon Audubon Center

10/14/2026

Enjoy 30 seconds with this fledgling Ruby-throated Hummingbird without a trending audio.

This bird was found on the ground at a campsite, too young to be out of the nest and too young to fly. The kind camper was unable to locate a nest and brought this hummingbird to our clinic.

Once she was eating on her own and starting to fly, the bird was moved to an outdoor enclosure with greenery, live flowers, hanging feeders, and flying insects. In this video you can see her scoping out her new aviary and watching tiny insects zoom by. All of these aviary additions allowed us to clear her for release by confirming her ability to catch insects on the wing, identify feeders and natural food sources, and plenty of space to build muscle and endurance.

This Ruby-throated Hummingbird was released in early September in time to join the migrating flocks.

Video: Fledgling Ruby-throated Hummingbird in our wildlife rehabilitation clinic/SAC

10/10/2026

In celebration of the fall season's today, we though we'd share the results of our Purple Martin colony's 2026 breeding season. See below for details:

- 56 pairs occupying 60 available gourds (same as 2025)
- 57% percent fledgling success rate with 151 young fledged. This is down 17% in 2025 with 182 young fledged
- 112 eggs/chicks were lost, for a 34% increase compared to 2025's 83
- 145/151 chicks were banded

***The Sharon Audubon Center also participated in a Columbia University study on whether migratory timing for Purple Martins is determined by genetics or environmental factors.

Other Purple Martin colonies in Connecticut experienced similar high losses of eggs and chicks, with heavy rainfall, storms, and heat waves being the leading theories as to why. However, despite these losses, our colony still recruited 150+ new birds into our regional population. For declining species like Purple Martins, every bird counts!

Many, many thanks are due to Laurie Doss, Glen Somogie, Corrie Folsom-O'Keefe, the Bent of the River Audubon Center Junior Forest Technicians, Bruce Adelberg, graduate researchers Elizabeth and Alyssa, and Ellery Zych, our Conservation Intern this year, for their expertise, routine monitoring and data collection, and application of bands onto this year's nestlings.

Purple Martin work at the Miles Wildlife Sanctuary colony. Photos: Sharon Audubon Center and Laurie Doss

10/09/2026

In honor of , our staff (and birds!) encourage you to take the "I Bird, I Vote" pledge to kickstart your voting plan for November's midterm elections. Join us in making the commitment to vote on or before Tuesday, November 3rd, by clicking the link below:

https://act.audubon.org/a/ibirdivote

Photos: Bethany Sheffer/Sharon Audubon Center

10/08/2026

In honor of this fall, we're offering two exciting events on Saturday and hope you'll join us! Our morning bird walk and afternoon share-out of our priority species' conservation work highlight this year's theme of "Every Bird Counts."

Pre-register on our website below:

https://www.audubon.org/events?title=sharon&view_type=row

10/07/2026

We have three special insectivores in our clinic. Do you know this elusive species?

These are three juvenile Common Nighthawks, a crepuscular aerial insectivore. Despite their name, they are not related to hawks! These birds eat insects only while in flight and hunt most commonly at dawn and dusk. While these birds are healing and unable to fly, they require hand-feeding multiple times a day in our care. This species and fellow nightjars can be found throughout most of North America in the summer; however, their numbers are declining, and Common Nighthawks are classified as endangered in the state of Connecticut.

These three juveniles all faced a roadblock on their first migratory trip to South America. Each bird was found on the ground by kind people who did not witness what happened to the individual they brought to us, so we do not know the circumstances of injury. We are working to heal each of these special birds. Due to their injuries, they will miss migration this year and will overwinter in our clinic.

Common Nighthawk 457-26 was admitted with fractured metacarpals in the right wing that have started to heal (shown by radiograph), and the bird is starting to fly short distances.

Common Nighthawk 475-26 presented with inflammation in the left wrist that limited the bird's flight. Radiographs show no fractures.

Common Nighthawk 483-26 was admitted with a ruptured air sac and bruising around the right shoulder. This bird is scheduled for a vet visit and radiographs soon.

Photos: Common Nighthawk Juveniles/Sharon Audubon

10/03/2026

Birds are still coming through on their way south, and our properties are fantastic places to see them! Our staff have spotted several species of sparrow and warbler near Ford Pond, feeding on insects and using the Phragmites as cover. Come and enjoy them before they're gone!

Migratory birds at the Sharon Audubon Center. Photos: Wendy Miller/Sharon Audubon Center

09/26/2026

Join us for this exciting local event with our friends at The Hotchkiss Library of Sharon! We're thrilled to be a part of this program and hope to see you there. Click on the post below for registration details.

There are still a few spots left for the presentation with Beyond Plastics President Judith Enck and Dr. Joshua Ginsberg of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies at the Sharon Town Hall on Sunday!

Judith Enck founded Beyond Plastics in 2019 to end plastic pollution through education, advocacy, and institutional change. Her new book, "The Problem with Plastic: How We Can Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It’s Too Late" is a call to action, exposing plastic’s impact on our health and the environment and empowering the reader, and each of us, to resist plastic’s toxic legacy. Join us this weekend to learn more about the plastic pollution crisis and the solutions outlined in this bold new book – registration is available at hotchkisslibraryofsharon.org

09/23/2026

Our annual fall Pre-order Bird Seed Sale is going on now through October 25. Stock up on quality no-filler bird seed for all your winter bird feeding needs at 20% off our regular retail prices. Order now for pick up in early to mid-November. Pictures and descriptions of available seed and suet below. Online ordering at https://audubonct.doubleknot.com/event/fall-bird-seed-pre-order-sale-2026/3160391