Get your home ready for springtime birds! Join us for a special series exploring areas of bird-friendly living: eliminating window collisions, decreasing light pollution, planting native plants & flowers, and following bird-friendly pest control strategies. You’ll learn how to make your home or business safer and more inviting for birds. Each session will feature a short presentation by local experts followed by hands-on learning about the practical aspects of making your home a safe haven where birds can thrive. In the process, you will gain a greater understanding of the different threats that our native birds face in Fairfield and across Connecticut. Get inspired to act on behalf of birds, for the joy and beauty that they bring to all of us.
In person at Pequot Library | Free and open to the public
Day 1
Friday, April 12
Welcome: Tim Bishop, Fairfield Conservation Director
2:00–3:15 p.m.
Stop the “Thunk:” Make Your Windows and Glass Safe for Birds
Want to stop birds from flying into your windows? Join us to learn why birds collide with glass, which birds are more likely to strike a window, and what you can do to make glass surfaces more visible for birds. You will learn directly from a bird collision expert and a local bird rehabber skilled in treating songbirds that collide with windows. Thankfully, there are many affordable options to choose from to stop the “thunk” at your home or business. Find out how to make your home or business bird safe.
EDUCATORS: Meredith Barges, Bird-Friendly Building Expert; Dara Reid, Wildlife in Crisis; Craig Repasz, Lights Out CT
3:30–5:00 p.m.
Remember the Night Sky: Reducing Artificial Light to Help Migratory Birds
Did you know there’s a link between nighttime lighting and ensuring our birds can thrive? Come celebrate the night sky and all that is alive and “bizzzy” while we’re asleep. At this special session, you will learn about the impacts of light pollution on migratory birds and night-shift pollinators like moths and crickets. Brightly lit buildings and landscapes can lure them off-course, shortening their life cycles, so it’s important that we turn off our unnecessary nighttime lights to give them a chance. You will come away knowing several simple actions you can take.
EDUCATORS: Craig Repasz, Lights Out CT; Leo Smith, DarkSky CT, Ted Luchsinger, Fairfield at Night Local Initiatives, Meredith Barges, Lights Out CT
Day 2
Saturday, April 13
Welcome: Bill Gerber, Fairfield First Selectman
10:30–11:30 a.m.
Owl & Hawk Encounter: Meet Amazing Nighttime Neighbors! (Live Birds | Family & Kid Friendly)
Who-o-o-o wants to meet an incredible owl and hawk? Come learn about the unique adaptations of birds of prey, from their uncanny ability to turn their heads almost all the way around to their exceptional eyesight! You will learn how you can help protect hawks and owls in your own backyard. Hear about a new bird-friendly pilot project in Fairfield that will control rodent populations while protecting our local owls and hawks. This family program is designed for children ages 5 and up.
EDUCATORS: Bowman Garrett, Connecticut Audubon; Ted Luchsinger and Mary Hogue, Pollinator Pathway; Amy Barnouw, Connecticut Audubon
1:00–2:15 p.m.
For the Birds and Bees: Benefits of Native Gardening Plus Native Plant Sale
Want to bring more color and birdsong into your yard? At this Farmers’ Market-style event, you will meet local vendors who specialize in native plants excellent for attracting birds and other pollinators. You’ll pick up expert tips on which plants are suitable for growing in our region and get the chance to buy bird-friendly flowers and bushes to take home. **Free seed packets courtesy of the UConn Home & Garden Education Center.
EDUCATORS: Corrie Folsom-O’Keefe, Bent of the River Audubon Center, Audubon Connecticut; Dennis Riordan, Menunkatuck Audubon Society and Urbanscapes Native Plant Nursery
2:30–4:00pm
Love Bugs: Alternative Pest Controls to Support Birds, Pollinators, and Humans
Do you want to “bug-proof” your yard without using harsh chemicals? There are many reasons to cut down on pesticide use in our lawns and gardens, including because birds eat hundreds of insects and seeds every day. Come learn how you can limit lawn bugs and pests in a way that honors the earth and the food web in this interactive, hands-on learning session. You’ll also hear about local gas-free and organic lawncare options in Fairfield that will get your lawn ready for summer!
EDUCATORS: Mary Hogue, Pollinator Pathway; Amanda Ingrassia, Green Team at North Stratfield School & Pollinator Pathway; Louise Washer, Connecticut Pesticide Reform; Dan Delventhal, MowGreen
