CWTA - Connecticut Coastal Paddling - Coastal Paddling Access - Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge



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Connecticut Water Trails

Connecticut Coastal Paddling

Connecticut Coastal Paddling Access

Connecticut Water Trails Program

Connecticut Coastal Paddling

Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge

Site Location:

Basic Information:

Stewart B. McKinney NWR is comprised of eight parcels of land that are stretched across Connecticut's shoreline.

Located in the Atlantic Flyway, the 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. Overall, the refuge encompasses over 800 acres of barrier beach, tidal wetland and fragile island habitats.

Type:

Season:

Site Contact Information:

Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge

733 Old Clinton Road

Westbrook, Connecticut 06498

Email Stewart B. McKinney NWR

Phone: 860-399-2513

Coordinates:

Longitude 72.281ºW Latitude 41.172ºN

Location Map:

Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge Fact Sheet

Directions:

Salt Meadow Unit (Headquarters For The Stewart B. McKinney NWR ) Take Exit 64 off of I-95 and turn south on Rt 145. At the stop sign, take a left on Old Clinton Rd. The visitor parking area is about 1 mile up on the right.

Outer Island Unit This unit is located in the Thimble Island Chain off the coast of Branford, CT. This unit must be accessed by ferry (from Stony Creek, CT) or by private vessel. Please check with the refuge for hours of visitation.

Falkner Island Unit This unit is located three miles off the shore of Guilford, CT. This unit must be accessed by private vessel and is closed to public visitation except during the open house. Please contact the refuge for more information

Milford Point Unit This unit is located 14 miles SW of New Haven in Milford, CT. Take exit 34 off I-95. Turn left off the exit onto route 1 north. Take a right onto Lansdale Ave. and a right onto Milford Point Road to the Connecticut Audubon Coastal Center, where parking is available. Please drive slowly as speed limits are low in this area. The observation deck may be accessed by walking a short distance along the boardwalk, and then to the west along the shoreline. Please do not use the private road.

Great Meadows Unit This unit is located off Lordship Boulevard (Route 113) in Stratford and is closed to public visitation until the educational trail is completed.

Chimon Island Unit and Sheffield Island Unit These islands are located off the shore of Norwalk, CT and approximately 40 miles east of New York City. A ferry to Sheffield Island leaves from Hope Dock, located near the Maritime Aquarium. A private vessel must be used to reach Chimon Island Unit.

Wildlife and Facilities

Salt Meadow National Wildlife Refuge - The 2.5 miles (4.0 km) of trails at Salt Meadow Unit in Westbrook wind through grassland, forest, and marsh habitats. The 9 acres of fields support woodcock, bluebirds, tree swallows, wild turkeys and numerous species of butterflies and dragonflies. Birdwatchers can expect to see great egrets, glossy ibis, snowy egrets, belted kingfishers, osprey and many other species. Other species include red fox, coyote, and red tailed hawk.

In partnership with Potopaug Audubon Society, the refuge hosts many wildlife events at Salt Meadow Unit throughout the year. These events have included owl walks, waterfowl walks, woodcock walks, bird banding demonstrations, and a presentation on live birds of prey.

Sheffield Island Unit - The trail at Sheffield Island Unit allows visitors to view a tidal salt water pond which is utilized by egrets and belted kingfishers. The island is also heavily used by white-tailed deer. Adjacent to the refuge on Sheffield Island, the Norwalk Seaport Association maintains a historic stone lighthouse and keepers quarters. Tours are given of this lighthouse by the Norwalk Seaport Association for a nominal charge.

Outer Island Unit - The pink granite (also known as schist) which dominates the geology of Outer Island Unit provides spectacular photography opportunities. While on the island, it is also likely that you will see common terns and roseate terns feeding off shore, green herons (these birds nest on the island), great egrets and snowy egrets feeding at below the shoreline.

Great Meadows Unit - A new nature trail provides opportunities to see northern harriers, red breasted mergansers, Black Ducks, pied billed grebe, great blue herons, and numerous other bird species. This trail is fully accessible and even include voice recorded messages for the visually disabled.

Milford Point Unit - The overlook at Milford Point Unit allows visitors the opportunity to view the 9 acre barrier beach. Shorebirds such as sandpipers, oystercatchers, least terns and even the Federally Threatened piping plover may be spied from the platform. To decrease disturbance to this fragile area, wildlife viewing must be accomplished from the observation deck or the very tip of the peninsula. Fishermen and visitors may walk to the tip of the peninsula by way of a marked fishing access, but are deterred from stopping along the way.

Falkner Island Unit - The Falkner Island Unit is closed to public visitation throughout the year due the fragile status of the Federally Endangered roseate terns that nest there. However, the refuge does open the island for a two day open house each September. During the open house, visitors have an opportunity to visit an actual research camp and a historic lighthouse commissioned in 1803. The lighthouse, research facility and the natural beauty of the island allow for many photographic opportunities.

Site History:

Did you know that the refuge on Connecticut's coast has not always been called Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge?

In 1972, over 150 acres of land in Westbrook, CT were donated to the US Fish and Wildlife Service by Ester Lape. This donation became Salt Meadow National Wildlife Refuge, Connecticut's first National Wildlife Refuge. Throughout the years, Salt Meadow grew to be a 274 acre refuge as neighbors donated or sold adjacent property to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. As the state became more and more populated, coastal areas and islands were being developed at an alarming rate.

Citizens began to worry that the long legged wading birds and other shorebirds that use Connecticut's islands and coast would soon be without important nesting and feeding habitat. With the help of non-profit groups like National Audubon Society, Saugatuck Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, Trust for Public Lands, and Westbrook Land Trust Sheffield, Chimon, and Goose Islands near Norwalk, CT and Milford Point in Milford, CT were acquired by US Fish and Wildlife Service.

In 1984, these Islands were added to Salt Meadow National Wildlife Refuge and the name was changed to Connecticut's Coastal National Wildlife Refuge. In 1987, the name of the refuge was again changed to honor US Congressman Stewart B. McKinney, who had an integral role in the refuge's formation. In 2003, Calf Island was acquired by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is now a unit of the Refuge. In 2005, Peach Island was acquired as part of the Refuge from the Trust for Public Land. Through generous donations and the help of many partners, Stewart B. McKinney NWR now consists of ten refuge units spread across 70 miles of Connecticut's coastline, from Westbrook to Greenwich.

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.