Conservation Commission - 1333 (10/08/2026)

The Habitat
A newsletter of the Connecticut Association of
Conservation & Inland Wetlands Commissions, Inc.
CACIWC
Celebrating $0 Years
W97E 204
a
Summer 2026
volume 38 number 2
Results of the Second Connecticut Bird Atlas
- 
A Wake Up Call for Action -
Min T. Huang, PhD, Migratory Bird Program Leader, State of Connecticut Department of Energy and
Environmental Protection (DEEP)
intensive and comprehensive wildlife survey
ever conducted in the state. Encompassing
four years of data collection across all seasons, and
a subsequent two years of data analysis, this project
provides the current state of all Connecticut breeding
birds and critical information on how birds in the win-
ter distribute
themselves
across the
state. The
project attract-
ed almost a
thousand vol-
unteers who
[To second Connecticut Bird Atlas was the most
contributed
While still threatened, breeding populations of 
OveL 600,000
Bald Eagles Sturnella magna have dramatically 
points of data
increased in CT during the past several decades. 
stud:
Photo by Paul J. Fusco 
to the study.
Unfortunately,
as we suspected, the current state of many of our birds
is not good. The breeding distribution of many of our
species has contracted since the initial atlas in the mid
1980’s, some to the point of extirpation as a breeding
species. The birds are truly telling us that things are
amiss in the natural environment.
When we envisioned this project in 2016, we had two
major objectives for the project,
1. 
Obtain contemporary information on breeding
and wintering birds in Connecticut.
a. 
Develop spatially explicit estimates of the dis-
tribution and abundance of all breeding birds
in Connecticut,
Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna, a most
important Species of Greatest Conservation Need
(SGCN) in CT Photo by Paul J. Fusco
b. Determine changes in the distribution and
occurrence of breeding birds compared to the
initial Connecticut breeding bird atlas,
c. Provide detailed information on the status,
survey, continued on page 3

CACIWC 
Pea
Board of Directors 
i
Officers
Alan Siniscalchi 
President
Peter Bassermann 
Vice President
Charles Dimmick 
— Treasurer
Maureen Fitzgerald 
Secretary
County Representatives
Alicia Mozian 
Fairfield County
Vacant 
Hartford County
Jeremy Leifert 
Litchfield County
Kathy Savona 
Middlesex County
J. David Rauch 
New Haven County
Laura Magaraci 
New London County
Rodney Parlee 
Tolland County
Vacant 
Windham County
Alternate County Representatives
Aleksandra Moch _‘ Fairfield County
Vacant 
Hartford County
Abby Conroy 
Litchfield County
Marianne Corona 
Middlesex County
Maria Kayne 
New Haven County
Gary Gregory 
New London County
Vacant 
Tolland County
Vacant 
Windham County
At-Large Representative(s) Vacant
DEEP Liatsons
Kimberly Bradley
Kristen O'Neil
Darcy Winther
The Habitat is the newsletter of the
Connecticut Association of Conservation and
Inland Wetlands Commissions (CACIWC).
Materials from The Habitat may be reprinted
with credit given. The content of The Habitat
is solely the responsibility of CACIWC and is
not influenced by sponsors or advertisers.
Interim Editor: Alan Siniscalchi
Associate Editor: Ann Letendre
Correspondence to the editor, manuscripts,
inquiries, etc. should be sent to Alan
Siniscalchi at TheHabitat@caciwe.org.
www.caciwe.org
—— CACIWC News Briefings ———
hile preparing this Summer issue of The Habitat,
\ \ / the CACIWC Board of Directors was again remind-
ed of the increasing threats to our critical habitats
posed by the constantly changing weather patterns across
North America and throughout the world. These patterns,
many of them driven by climate change, have ranged from se-
vere storms producing extensive flooding through persistence
heat domes resulting in record breaking temperatures and
areas of widespread drought. This year also witnessed exten-
sive wildfires throughout North America and Europe. While
we wait for the impact of a possible super El Niiio, we will
continue to provide you with the latest scientifically based in-
formation on habitat and wildlife changes as also described in
the cover article in this issue outlining trends in breeding bird
populations in Connecticut. 
.
In other news:
1, We are now selecting final workshop speakers for our 49th
Annual Meeting and Environmental Conference, scheduled
for Saturday, November 14, 2026. Watch our website for
the additional detailed conference news at 
www.caciwe.org.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions at
AnnualMtg@caciwc.org,.
2. The Board of Directors had decided not to increase our
CACIWC membership dues for our 2026-27 fiscal year,
which started on July 1, 2026, to help limit your yearly ex-
penses. We are offering a substantial discount on the annual
conference registration fee for our commissioners. Please use
the links for both the 2026-27 online and mail-in membership
renewal forms on our website: www.caciwe.org.
3. Please also let us know of any changes in staff and commis-
sioner contact information on the membership renewal forms
or directly to us at: board@caciwe.org.
Thank you for all your ongoing efforts to protect habitats
within your community!
Alan J. Siniscalchi, President
CACIWC #
In This Issue 
PAGE
CACIWC News 
2
CT River Watershed Seminar on Aquatic Habitats 
5
Follow CACIWC on Facebook! 
10
Register for the 2026 CIPWG Symposium 
16
The Habitat 
| Summer 2026

survey, continued from page 1
distribution, relative abundance and habitat
associations of migrating and wintering birds
in Connecticut, with an emphasis on Species
of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN)
in Connecticut,
d. Develop an interactive website detailing results
of the atlas and allowing for public access to
and manipulation of the data,
e. 
Provide a quantitative assessment of birds in
Connecticut that can be used to inform man-
agement decisions.
2. 
Upon completion of the atlas, utilize the mo-
mentum and galvanize the conservation com-
munity to work together to develop a stable
funding mechanism to better protect habitat
and investigate other causes of decline.
Our first objective has been accomplished, and with
that incredible milestone behind us, we are now ready
to take on and achieve our second objective. We firmly
believe that collectively the conservation community
can work together to achieve a truly generational piece
of legislation that will help protect our state’s cher-
ished wildlife habitat and with it, all the components
(e.g. clean water, healthy wildlife) that make these
habitats what they are.
Results of the Second Connecticut Bird Atlas
The breeding portion of the atlas demonstrated a
marked decline in the breeding distribution and abun-
dance of many species, both non-migratory residents,
and many migratory species. A number of factors
operate either singly, or in tandem, to influence bird
populations. The main drivers of bird populations are;
(1), habitat loss, conversion, and degradation, (2),
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anthropogenic influences that increase mortality (e.g.
building strikes, feral cats, over-harvest, etc.), (3), in-
vasive species, (4), environmental contaminants, and
(5), climate change. We have the ability to positively
influence all of these drivers, should we choose to and
most importantly, have the means with which to do so.
Causation for the changes we see in species breeding
distribution is often more complex than just one single
factor such as outright habitat loss and may be due to, for
instance, declines in food resources, environmental con-
taminants that affect reproduction and/or survival, colli-
sions, over-harvest, or problems on the wintering ground.
However, there are some clear examples where one
factor is easily identified as the major cause of decline.
This is particularly the case with habitat loss and/or
conversion. Changes to, loss of, conversion of, and
degradation of habitat during any part of the annual
cycle of birds (breeding, migration, wintering) can
result in lowered productivity and/or survival, leading
to declines. Since the 1980s, our state has seen marked
changes in the landscape. Although we are still 65%
survey, continued on page 4
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forested, much of that forest is fragmented and full of invasive plants in the understory. Conditions such as these
don’t particularly lend themselves to many species of birds. Over this same time frame, we have lost most of our
grasslands and in the absence of active management, much of our early successional habitat is gone. Some exam-
ples of species declining over the past 40 years whose decline is due largely to habitat changes (Figures 1-4) are:
1982-1986
BERET 6 hl 
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Figure 1. Ruffed grouse Bonasa umbellus. Photo
by Paul J. Fusco. The maps below display a very
dramatic decline in confirmed, probable, and
possible breeding location observations between the
1982-1986 and the 2018-22 surveys.
2018-2022
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Figure 2. Brown Thrasher Joxostoma rufum.
Photo by Paul J. Fusco. The maps below display
a dramatic decline in confirmed, probable, and
possible breeding location observations between
the 1982-1986 and the 2018-22 surveys.
survey, continued on page 5
The Habitat 
| Summer 2026

survey, continued from page 4
1982-1986 
2018-2022
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survey, continued fiom page 5 
1982-1986
peo is
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Figure 3. Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta
varia. Photo by Paul J. Fusco. The maps to the
right display a decline in confirmed, probable, and
possible breeding location observations between the
1982-1986 and the 2018-22 surveys.
2018-2022
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Figure 4. Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna.
Photo by Paul J. Fusco. The maps on page 7 display a
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survey, continued on page 
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6 
The Habitat 
| Summer 2026

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Declines of other species are more difficult to place on one single driver, but outright habitat loss and conver-
sion certainly plays a role in the decline of many other species. The decline of species like chimney swifts (Fig-
ure 5) is likely a combination of habitat loss on both breeding and wintering areas, and a change in the abun-
dance of insects due to increased pesticide applications.
Figure 5. Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica. Photo
by Paul J. Fusco. The maps below show a decline in
confirmed and probable breeding location observations
between the 1982-1986 and the 2018-22 surveys.
1982-1986 
2018-2022
C)Possibie CO)Prapabie @contimea
Declines in some species, such as the belted kingfisher, may be due to a whole suite of factors that have slowly
chipped away at their populations. Factors such as loss of habitat along waterways, contamination in prey fish,
and invasive species may all be impacting species such as belted kingfishers (Figure 6).
Figure 6. Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon.
Photo by Paul J. Fusco. The maps below display a
decline in confirmed, probable, and possible breeding
location observations between the 1982-1986 and the
2018-22 surveys.
survey, continued on page 9
8 
The Habitat 
| Summer 2026

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Declines in the breeding numbers of species such as the American black duck (Figure 7), are likely due to in-
creased development and disturbance. Many of the wetlands that black ducks historically occupied are now
ringed by development and taken over by more disturbance tolerant species such as Canada geese and mallards.
Species, such as the American Bittern (Figure 8) have seen decades of decline associated with wetlands loss.
Figure 7. American black duck Anas rubripes. Photo
by Paul J. Fusco. The maps below display a dramatic
decline in confirmed, probable, and possible breeding
location observations between the 1982-1986 and the
2018-22 surveys.
1982-1986
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Figure 8. American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus. Photo by
Frank Mantlik. The maps below display a continued decline in
the low number of confirmed, probable, and possible breeding
location observations between the 1982-1986 and the 2018-22
surveys, below.
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The Habitat 
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survey, continued from page 10
Other factors, such as contaminants have, in the past, decimated species such as peregrine falcons (Figure 9),
bald eagles (Figure 10) and osprey (Figure 11). Public awareness of the environmental impact of pesticide use
grew, following the publication of Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring in 1962. Additional scientific studies
documented how DDT exposure resulted in development of thin eggshells in raptors which drastically reduced
their populations. The growing public outcry and action by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and others
led the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ban the use DDT in 1972. Several decades later raptor
populations began to recover and these species in particular, have made incredible rebounds in Connecticut.
Figure 9. Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus. Photo
by Paul J. Fusco. The maps on page 12 reveal
several confirmed, probable, and possible breeding
location observations during the 2018-22 surveys
when no breeding sites were observed during the
1982-1986 surveys.
survey, continued on page 12
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Figure 10 Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus.
Photo by Paul J. Fusco. The maps below now
reveal many confirmed, probable, and possible
breeding location observations during the 2018-22
surveys when only one probable site was observed
during the 1982-1986 breeding surveys.
1982-1986
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The Habitat 
| Summer 2026

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Figure 11 Osprey Pandion haliaetus. Photo by Paul
J. Fusco. The maps below now reveal a dramatic
increase in breeding location observations during the
2018-22 surveys compared with the 2018-22 surveys.
1982-1986 
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The wintering portion of the atlas broke new ground, as we had never had as comprehensive a picture of the
wintering distributions of birds as this provided us. The value of this part of the atlas is to provide managers
with priority areas of the state to concentrate habitat conservation actions, delineate critical winter habitats, and
provide critical information for planning. As one might expect, wintering distributions center upon the coast and
open water for many species. The urban and exurban environment provides reasonable habitat for some, where-
as agricultural land is very important for others. Our forests are not as critical to birds during the winter as they
are during the other seasons.
The results of this second Connecticut Bird Atlas paint a fairly grim picture of the state of most of our birds.
This is not dissimilar from the overall trends that we see on the continental scale, many of our birds are
not doing well. The illustration below prepared by the US Fish & Wildlife Service (Figure 12) shows these
continental trends.
survey, continued on page 14
Wwww.caciwe.org 
13

survey, continued from page 13
Population 
trend 
(fo 
change) 
since 
1970
USFWS State of the Birds 2025
1980,
Long-term Population Trends for America’s Birds
Figure 12.
+24% Dabbling + Diving Ducks
#16% Waterbirds 1
4%, Sea Ducks 4
-11% Western Forest oe
-27% Eastern Forest Birds 
a
-33% Shorebirds rd
~41% Aridland Birds ed
43%, Grassland Birds
200 
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survey, continued on page 15
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The Habitat 
| 
|Sumuer 2026

survey, continued from page 14
It is very clear that wetlands-associated birds are faring
much better than all other groups. The reason for this
is also very clear. In the early 1980s, in the midst of
plummeting duck populations and a protracted drought
throughout the prairies of North America, an initiative
to protect critical habitat for ducks was born, the North
American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP).
Through this initiative literally billions of dollars have
been raised and spent on protecting wetlands and asso-
ciated uplands across the continent. The accomplish-
ments of NAWMP are undeniable. Since 1990, all other
groups of birds have been declining steeply, while wet-
land associated species are increasing.
The second Connecticut Bird Atlas shows similar gen-
eral declining trends in our breeding species. It is also
pretty clear that stable funding that can protect habitat
and influence legislation, results in more birds. In the
1980s waterfowl hunters saw a problem and developed
a solution. Now, in the mid 2020s, we find ourselves in
a very similar position with many species and habitats.
A stable funding mechanism for habitat protection
similar to NAWMP, exists in our state, the Connecticut
Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp Program. Since
1993, this small program, primarily funded through
hunters, has raised and spent over $1,400,000 on ac-
quiring and restoring over 3,900 acres of wetland hab-
itat in the state. This contribution has certainly made a
difference, particularly with locally breeding wetland
species. A bigger stable funding mechanism, however,
the Wildlife and Fisheries Restoration (WSFR) pro-
gram, funded by hunters and anglers in the state, has
had an even more profound impact on habitat protec-
tion, restoration and enhancement in the state. Since
2010, the hunter funded portion of this fund brings in
approximately $7,000,000 annually. A portion of this
money is spent on habitat acquisition and restoration.
Since 2010, over $12,000,000 has been spent on 2,558
acres of upland habitat. As witnessed by the results of
the atlas, however, this is not nearly enough to arrest
the decline in many of our breeding birds.
Our call to action for the conservation community,
and the second objective of the atlas project is to
come together to develop a stable funding mechanism
in our state that does not rely upon federal money,
and that will enable the land trust community, local
conservation commissions, the NGOs, and the state
of Connecticut to invest in habitat protection and
www.caciwe. org
restoration at the scale necessary to change the current
population trajectory of many of our breeding birds.
This accomplishment would be a truly generational
milestone that would greatly enhance the natural
habitats of Connecticut.
We have some ideas that we would like to share with
you, please stay tuned and keep an open mind to ideas
that may be outside of the traditional box. It will take
all of us in the same frame of mind to craft a lasting
funding mechanism so that we can leave a legacy of
healthy bird populations for generations to come.
References:
State Geological and Natural History Survey of Connecti-
cut, Bulletin 113. 1994. The Atlas of Breeding Birds of
Connecticut. Edited by Louis Bevier; illustrated by Mi-
chael DiGiorgio; 461 pages., 184 maps, 190 illustrations.
Rosenberg KV, Dokter AM, Blancher PJ, Sauer JR, Smith
AC, Smith PA, Stanton JC, Panjabi A, Helft L, Parr M,
Marra PP. Decline of the North American avifauna. Sci-
ence. 2019 Oct 4;366(6461):120-124. doi: 10.1126/science.
aaw1313. Epub 2019 Sep 19. PMID: 31604313.
The Connecticut Bird Atlas, a joint project of the Con-
necticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protec-
tion Wildlife Division and the University of Connecticut,
with additional funding from the Connecticut Ornitholog-
ical Association, Connecticut Audubon Society, Audubon
Connecticut, Great Hollow Nature Preserve and Ecological
Research Center, the Community Foundation of Middlesex
County, Hartford Audubon Society, Litchfield Hills Audu-
bon, Menunkatuck Audubon Chapter, New Haven Bird
Club, Potopaug Bird Club, and the Western Connecticut
Bird Club. (in preparation), see: Connecticut Bird Atlas |
Chris S. Elphick
US Committee of the North American Bird Conservation
Initiative (NABCI) State of the Birds 2025. Released
March 13, 2025 at the 90th annual North American Wildlife
and Natural Resources Conference in Louisville, Kentucky.
See: State of the Birds 2025
Editors note: The CACIWC board thanks Min T. Huang,
PhD, for preparing this article based on his presentation at
our 2024 conference. We again extend our appreciation to
Chis S. Elphich, PhD and the entire team at the University
of Connecticut Department of Ecology & Evolutionary
Biology for their Connecticut Bird Atlas database and web-
site. We also acknowledge the hundreds of volunteers who
submitted their observations to the survey including several
members of our board! @
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THE HABITAT
Dedicated to constant vigilance, judicious management
and conservation of our precious natural resources.
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Register Now for the CIPWG 2026 Symposium!
The Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group
(CIPWG) has again organized a full day in-person
program scheduled for Wednesday, October 28,
2026, from 9:00 AM-5:00 PM, at the UConn Student
Union in Storrs, CT.
This year’s theme is From Awareness to Action -
Strengthening Our Response to Invasive Plants.
The morning session will include a keynote
presentation by Tom Zetterstrom, Housatonic
Valley Association: “Land Trust Decision Model for
Invasive Control in Severe Impact Areas” and a Panel
Discussion: “Myths of Invasive Plant Management.”
The afternoon breakout sessions are:
Group A (Concurrent):
1) Identification and Management of Invasive
Vines: Dr. Bryan Connolly, ECSU; Pete Picone, CT
DEEP
2) Rugged Native Plants for Restoration of
Managed Areas: Frederick (Erik) C. Sechler, Jr.,
Native Plant Trust
3) Invasive Aquatics: Updates on Hydrilla and
Water Chestnut: John Hall, Jonah Center for Earth
and Art; Greg Bugbee, CAES
Group B (Concurrent):
4) Special Topics in Invasive Plant Management:
Christian Allyn, Invasive Plant Solutions; Joshua
Tracy, Regional Water Authority; Tim Mack, Hamden
Land Conservation Trust
5) Building Layers for Biodiversity with Native
Plants: Anna Fialkoff and Maggie Redfern,
Connecticut College Arboretum
6) Herbicide Management of Invasives: Law and
How to Apply it: Zach Donais, CT DEEP
CEU’s for organizations and Pesticide Recertification
Credits are available.
$90 General Registration (in person attendance). $80
Recording Only; Student Registration Available.
For additional information including how to register
please see: cipwg.uconn.edu/2026-symposium. #
16 
The Habitat 
| Summer 2026