Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge

P.O. Box 1030,
Westbrook, CT 06498
Phone: (860)399-2513,
Fax: (860)399-2515
r5rw_sbmnwr@fws.mail.gov

The Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge consists of eight separate units along the Connecticut coast from Westbrook to Norwalk. Refuge lands include five islands, barrier beaches, tidal saltmarshes, shrublands, and upland habitats. Due to its location within the Atlantic Flyway, the refuge provides important resting, feeding and nesting habitat for many species of wading birds, waterfowl, songbirds, shorebirds, and terns, includinding the endangered roseate tern and threatened piping plover.

Other areas managed from this office include refuges in Rhode Island.

The Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge works cooperatively with the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge on wetlands projects in the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound ecosystems. Both refuges are part of more than 500 refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This system is home to hundreds of species of birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, and plants, including endangered species. The refuge system stretches across the United States from northern Alaska to the Florida Keys, and includes small islands in the Caribbean and the South Pacific. The Service also manages national fish hatcheries, and provides federal leadership in habitat protection, technical assistance, and the conservation and protection of migratory birds, certain marine mammals, and threatened or endangered species.

Why a Refuge?

In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt began the refuge system to establish"a preserve and breeding grounds for native birds." His order protected pelicans from poachers and plume hunters. Wildlife needs a safe place, a refuge, today as in the past, to survive. Disturbance of any kind can hurt wildlife. It can interrupt feeding, breeding, or resting.

Though many refuge units in Connecticut are small in acreage, their importance to wildlife, especially migratory birds, is enormous. These small blocks of undeveloped lands provide thousands of birds essential habitat along a highly developed coastline.

In an area of dense and expanding human population and development, Stewart B. McKinney Refuge has special significance and value to migratory birds and other wildlife. Located along the Atlantic Flyway, McKinney Refuge provides important resting, feeding, and nesting habitat for many species of wading birds, shorebirds, songbirds, and terns, including the endangered roseate tern. Adjacent waters serve as wintering habitat for brant, scoters, American black duck, and other waterfowl.

Populations have diverse habitat needs to survive. From roseate terns to American black ducks, food, water, shelter, and space needs are very different. Wildlife refuges are managed to encourage diversity in species and habitats. Examples of management efforts on Connecticut refuges include: salt marsh restoration, removing exotic plant species, grassland restoration, nest box installation, habitat protection, and barrier beach restoration.

Staff at McKinney Refuge are responsible for administration of the Partners for Wildlife program in Connecticut. This program is designed to protect and enhance fish and wildlife habitat on private lands. Through this voluntary program, the Service provides financial and technical assistance to landowners who are interested in restoring degraded or lost habitats on their property, including wetlands, riparian areas, and grasslands.

Units of Stewart B. McKinney Refuge

Salt Meadow Unit

Connecticut's first National Wildlife Refuge, the Salt Meadow Unit was acquired in 1971 by private donation. This 225-acre area, located in Westbrook, consists of diverse habitat types, including mature hardwood forest, tidal saltmarsh, shrubland, and open fields. Approximately two-and-one-half-miles of foot trails provide year-round wildlife observation opportunities.

Directions: Take exit 64 off Interstate 95; travel south a short distance to a blinking red light and turn left onto Old Clinton Road. The refuge entrance is approximately one mile on the right.

Great Meadows Unit

This refuge unit consists of tidal wetlands and upland habitats. A significant area for migratory birds including waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds, and many rare species, Great Meadows contains the largest unditched tidal high marsh in Connecticut. It provides feeding and nesting habitat for over 270 species of birds, and is an important nesting and wintering area for the American black duck. Lewis Gut, which channels water into the marsh from Long Island Sound, formerly contained one of the most productive shellfish beds in the state. It still has tremendous potential as an oyster seed and growing area. It provides breeding and feeding grounds for several species of fin fish. Access is by permit only.

Location: The Great Meadows Unit is located off Lordship Boulevard (Route 113) in Stratford.

Milford Point

Bordering on saltmarsh, mudflat, the mouth of the Housatonic River, barrier beach, and ocean habitats, Milford Point is considered one of the best bird watching areas in Connecticut. The mudflats, sand bars, and marshes provide waterfowl, shorebirds, and wading birds with a safe haven for feeding and resting during their long spring and fall migrations. Over 50 species of shorebirds, wading birds, and waterfowl have been seen using this small refuge. Barrier beaches, which protect the saltmarshes, provide essential nesting and feeding habitat for several protected species. Piping plovers, least terns, and American oystercatchers now nest on the restored point. An observation deck, located at the refuge entrance, offers visitors a year-round overview of the refuge unit.

Directions: The Milford Point Unit is located 14 miles SW of New Haven in Milford. Take exit 34 off Interstate 95; go right off the exit onto Route I north. Take a right onto Lansdale Avenue and a right onto Milford Point Road to the Connecticut Audubon Society Coastal Center at Milford Point, where parking is available. The unit may be accessed by walking a short distance to the west, along a boardwalk and the shoreline. Please do not use the private road.

Norwalk Islands

There are 11 islands located off the coast of Norwalk approximately 40 miles east of New York City Three of these islands are protected as refuges: Chimon (70-acres), Goose (one-acre), and Sheffield (67-acres) Islands. The forests and shrublands of these islands provide habitat for some colonial nesting waterbirds, and provide vital habitat for migrating neotropical birds. During the winter, Atlantic brant, American black ducks, and other waterfowl find shelter around the islands. Access is by permit only.

Chimon Island Lying 1 mile east of Sheffield Island, this 68-acre unit is similar in habitat composition and supports a diversity of wildlife. More than 135 species of birds and several species of mammals and reptiles have been observed on the Island. Chimon also harbors one of the largest wading bird colonies in the Northeast. This intermixed rookery of glossy ibis, herons, and egrets first established itself on Sheffield Island in 1961 with 28 nesting pairs. The colony later moved to Chimon Island and increased dramatically to more than 1,000 pairs.

Chimon Island is seasonally open to visitors each year and is only accessible by boat. A 3-acre beach on the Island, operated by the Town of Norwalk during the summer season, may be visited all year. No trails or other facilities are available.

Sheffield Island Located 1.5 miles off the coast of Norwalk, this 57-acre unit includes woodland, shrubland, sandy beach, and rocky shore habitats. Sheffield Island supports a variety of bird species and has considerable nesting potential for osprey, herons, and other migratory birds. To protect these birds, Sheffield Island is seasonally closed to public access each year.

Falkner Island

Originally established in 1802 as a U.S. Coast Guard Light Station, this 5 -acre unit is located 3 miles off the coast of Guilford. From April through September, this unit supports one of the few remaining nesting colonies of endangered roseate terns and one of Connecticut's largest colonies of common terns.

Since World War II, human development, recreation activity, and competition with expanding gull populations have greatly decreased the number of tern nesting sites on the East coast, resulting in a significant decline in tern populations. On Falkner Island, nesting shelters made of boards, boxes, and tires are used to help increase roseate tern production. Common terns use the protected open areas. No trails or other facilities are available. Access to the island is by permit only.

Outer Island Unit

This five-acre island was donated to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to provide environmental education and scientific research programs for the public while assuring the well-being of migratory bird species that utilize the coastal environments of Long Island Sound. The small island provides critical habitat for both migrating and nesting wildlife. Access is limited to education and research groups. Contact the refuge manager for information.

Location: The Outer Island Unit, off the coast of Branford, is the southernmost island of the Thimble Islands chain.

Keep in Mind

The Refuge Headquarters is located at the Salt Meadow Unit in Westbrook. The office hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 am. to 4:30 p.m.

The Milford Point and Salt Meadow Units are open to the public. Visits to other units require special use permits from the refuge manager due to their small size, uniqueness, and seasonal use by migratory birds. Special events are periodically scheduled to provide general public access at environmentally sensitive units. For example, the Falkner Island Unit is open one day each year for an open house and other prearranged visits.

Wildlife observation, nature photography, environmental education, and trail walking opportunities are encouraged and available.

Refuge hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, entrance is free.

To reduce disturbance to wildlife, and for your safety, the following are prohibited: Entering of areas marked"closed area," dogs, horses, or other pets, removal of plants, animals, minerals, or artifacts, camping, fires, kites, motorized vehicles, and bicycles outside the parking areas.

Insect pests peak during the warmer months. Be careful of ticks.

Refuge conditions and regulations are subject to change. Please contact the refuge manager prior to your visit. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.