Audubon Sharon

Wildlife sanctuary in Sharon, Connecticut

Audubon Sharon

View of the Sharon Audubon Center fields, Bog Meadow Pond and the Taconic Mountain range.

Type| Nature center and wildlife sanctuary
Location| 325 Cornwall Bridge Road
Sharon, CT, USA
Coordinates| 41°51′25″N 73°27′18″W﻿ / ﻿41.857°N 73.455°W﻿ / 41.857; -73.455
Area| 2,600 acres (1,100 ha)+
Created| 1961[1]
Hiking trails| 11 mi (18 km) of trails
Website| sharon.audubon.org

Audubon Sharon, which consists of the Sharon Audubon Center and the Emily Winthrop Miles Wildlife Sanctuary, is a wildlife sanctuary of the National Audubon Society in Sharon, Connecticut. The 1,147 acres (464 ha) of the Sharon Audubon Center property is primarily forest land with two ponds with 11 miles (18 km) of trails for visitors to use. Its facilities include a raptor aviary, a herb garden, a garden to attract birds and butterflies, a sugar house, a memorial room to Hal Borland, a small museum and store.[2] Sharon Audubon Center is located at 325 Cornwall Bridge Road.

The other part of Audubon Sharon is the Emily Winthrop Miles Wildlife Sanctuary, which currently encompasses 1,500 acres (610 ha) of land that is situated in 5,000 acres (2,000 ha) of protected open space. The residential facility within the wildlife sanctuary is used by interns and scientists who are conducting work in the area; none of the buildings are currently open to the public. Parking and access is available at 99 West Cornwall Road.

Audubon Sharon offers environmental education programs for school groups. The Center also has summer and weekend environmental programs for adults and children.

## Sharon Audubon Center[edit]

Prior to the creation of Audubon Sharon, the land was owned by Clement and Keyo Ford who lived on a property known as Bog Meadow Farm.[3] In 1961, the Fords donated the estate to the National Audubon Society to serve as an educational nature center for future generations.[3]

The main building features the Hal Borland Room, a memorial to the nature writer whose work first appeared in The New York Times in 1941. Some of Borland's essays were collected and published as Sundial of the Seasons in 1964. The room includes photos, his books and typewriter.[4]

### Trails[edit]

The Sharon Audubon Center has a collection of trails available for visitors to walk, including the wheelchair accessible Lucy Harvey Multiple Use Interpretative area, totaling 11 miles (18 km). Hal Borland is also honored with a 0.75 miles (1.21 km) trail that begins near the "native wildflower garden and continues through brushland and deciduous forest to a streamside hemlock forest." The native wildflower garden includes Virginia bluebells, Aquilegia, and white violets. Another trail, the Fern Trail, is a narrow and rocky 1 mile (1.6 km) woodland trail that follows the northern shore of Ford Pond. Over 70 species of birds have been recorded on the trail and there are many varieties of ferns to be seen. The Ford Trail is a 1.6-mile (2.6 km) trail through the deciduous and hemlock forest. The Hazelnut Trail is a 1-mile (1.6 km) loop trail. The Woodchuck Trail is a 2.35-mile (3.78 km) trail through open fields and the deciduous forest. The Hendrickson Bog Meadow Trail is a 1.6-mile (2.6 km) loop trail through the deciduous forest and along Bog Meadow Pond's shore.[4]

## Emily Winthrop Miles Wildlife Sanctuary[edit]

The Emily Winthrop Miles Wildlife Sanctuary was originally property owned by Emily Winthrop Miles, a poet, writer and artist,[3] who acquired 740 acres (300 ha) of land in Sharon, Connecticut. In 1962, as part of her will, Miles donated the property to the National Audubon Society.[5] The property now includes 1,500 acres of land that is situated amidst 5,000 acres of protected open space.[3] The wildlife sanctuary includes forested land and two miles of Carse Brook Wetlands, home to endangered flora and fauna species.[6]

## See also[edit]

* List of nature centers in Connecticut

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Sharon Audubon Center - History". Retrieved May 2, 2014.
2. ^ "Sharon Audubon Center". National Audubon Society, Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
3. ^ a b c d "History". National Audubon Society, Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
4. ^ a b Henshaw, Carol (1995). Natural Wonders of Connecticut and Rhode Island - A Guide to Parks, Preserves and Wild Places. Country Roads Press. pp. 2–7. ISBN 1566260795.
5. ^ Anderson, John (2010). Wildlife Sanctuaries and the Audubon Society: Places to Hide and Seek. University of Texas Press. ISBN 9780292783942.
6. ^ "Miles Wildlife Sanctuary". National Audubon Society, Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2014.

## External links[edit]

* Sharon Audubon Center

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Nature centers in Connecticut

Fairfield County|

* Audubon Greenwich
* Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens
* Brookfield Nature Center
* Connecticut Audubon Society Birdcraft Museum and Sanctuary
* Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Fairfield
* Darien Nature Center
* Earthplace
* Highstead Arboretum
* New Canaan Nature Center
* New Pond Farm
* Old Quarry Nature Center
* Sherwood Island State Park
* Soundwaters
* Stamford Museum & Nature Center
* Trumbull Nature & Arts Center
* Webb Mountain Discovery Zone
* Woodcock Nature Center

Hartford County|

* Barnes Nature Center
* Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Glastonbury
* Eleanor Buck Wolf Nature Center
* Holcomb Farm
* Indian Rock Nature Preserve
* Northwest Park Nature Center
* Oak Grove Nature Center
* Roaring Brook Nature Center
* Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area
* Stratton Brook State Park
* Westmoor Park

Litchfield County|

* Flanders Nature Center
* Pratt Center
* Sharon Audubon Center
* White Memorial Conservation Center

Middlesex County|

* Bushy Hill Nature Center
* Chatfield Hollow State Park
* Platt Nature Center

New Haven County|

* Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center
* Audubon Center at Bent of the River
* Bauer Park
* Connecticut Audubon Society Coastal Center at Milford Point
* Henry Hamel Environmental Center
* Kellogg Environmental Center
* Meigs Point Nature Center
* Riverbound Farm
* Shoreline Outdoor Education Center
* West Rock Nature Center

New London County|

* Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center
* Rocky Neck State Park

Windham County|

* Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Pomfret
* Goodwin Forest Conservation Education Center

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* t
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Protected areas of Connecticut

National Park Service|

* Weir Farm National Historical Park

National Wildlife Refuges|

* Silvio O. Conte
* Stewart B. McKinney

National Trails|

* Appalachian Trail
* New England National Scenic Trail
* Washington–Rochambeau Revolutionary Route

Wild and Scenic Rivers|

* Ashaway River
* Eightmile River
* Farmington River
* Green Fall River
* Housatonic River
* Pawcatuck River
* Salmon Brook
* Shunock River
* Wood River

State Parks|

* Above All
* Air Line
* Beaver Brook
* Becket Hill State Park Reserve
* Beckley Furnace Industrial Monument
* Bennett's Pond
* Bigelow Hollow
* Black Rock
* Bluff Point
* Bolton Notch
* Brainard Homestead
* Burr Pond
* Camp Columbia
* Campbell Falls
* Chatfield Hollow
* Collis P. Huntington
* Connecticut Valley Railroad
* Dart Island State Park
* Day Pond
* Dennis Hill
* Devil's Hopyard
* Dinosaur
* Eagle Landing
* Farm River
* Farmington Canal
* Fort Griswold Battlefield
* Fort Trumbull
* Gardner Lake
* Gay City
* George Dudley Seymour
* George Waldo
* Gillette Castle
* Haddam Island
* Haddam Meadows
* Haley Farm
* Hammonasset Beach
* Harkness Memorial
* Haystack Mountain
* Higganum Reservoir
* Hop River State Park Trail
* Hopemead
* Hopeville Pond
* Horse Guard
* Housatonic Meadows
* Humaston Brook
* Hurd
* Indian Well
* John A. Minetto
* Kent Falls
* Kettletown
* Killingly Pond
* Lake Waramaug
* Lamentation Mountain
* Larkin State Park Trail
* Lovers Leap
* Macedonia Brook
* Machimoodus
* Mansfield Hollow
* Mashamoquet Brook
* Mianus River
* Millers Pond
* Minnie Island
* Mohawk Mountain
* Mono Pond
* Moosup Valley State Park Trail
* Mooween
* Mount Bushnell
* Mount Riga
* Mount Tom
* Old Furnace
* Osbornedale
* Penwood
* Platt Hill
* Pomeroy
* Putnam Memorial
* Quaddick
* Quinebaug Lake
* Quinnipiac River
* River Highlands
* Rocky Glen
* Rocky Neck
* Ross Pond
* Salt Rock State Campground
* Satan's Kingdom State Recreation Area
* Scantic River
* Selden Neck
* Seth Low Pierrepont
* Sherwood Island
* Silver Sands
* Sleeping Giant
* Southford Falls
* Squantz Pond
* Stillwater Pond
* Stoddard Hill
* Stratton Brook
* Sunnybrook
* Sunrise
* Talcott Mountain
* Tri-Mountain
* Trout Brook Valley
* Wadsworth Falls
* West Rock Ridge
* Wharton Brook
* Whittemore Glen
* Windsor Locks Canal State Park Trail
* Windsor Meadows
* Wooster Mountain

State Forests|

* Algonquin
* American Legion
* Centennial Watershed
* Cockaponset
* Enders
* James L. Goodwin
* Housatonic
* Massacoe
* Mattatuck
* Meshomasic
* Mohawk
* Mohegan
* Nassahegon
* Natchaug
* Nathan Hale
* Naugatuck
* Nehantic
* Nepaug
* Nipmuck
* Nye-Holman
* Pachaug
* Paugnut
* Paugussett
* People's
* Pootatuck
* Quaddick
* Salmon River
* Shenipsit
* Topsmead
* Tunxis
* Wyantenock

Wildlife Management Areas|

* Aldo Leopold WMA
* Assekonk WMA
* Babcock Pond WMA
* Barber Pond WMA
* Barn Island WMA
* Bartlett Brook WMA
* Bear Hill WMA
* Belding WMA
* Bishops Swamp WMA
* Black Pond WMA
* Candlewood Hill WMA
* Cedar Swamp WMA
* Charles E. Wheeler WMA
* Cromwell Meadows WMA
* Durham Meadows WMA
* East River Marsh WMA
* East Swamp WMA
* Eightmile River WMA
* Franklin Swamp WMA
* Goshen WMA
* Great Harbor WMA
* Higganum Meadows WMA
* Housatonic River WMA
* King's Island Coop WMA
* Kollar WMA
* Larson Lot WMA
* Little River Fish and Wildlife Area
* Lord's Cove WMA
* Maromas Coop WMA
* Meadow Brook WMA
* Menunketesuck WMA
* Messerschmidt WMA
* Newgate WMA
* Nod Brook WMA
* Nott Island WMA
* Pease Brook WMA
* Plum Bank WMA
* Quinebaug River WMA
* Quinnipiac River Marsh WMA
* Ragged Rock WMA
* Raymond Brook Marsh WMA
* Robbins Swamp WMA
* Roger Tory Peterson Wildlife Area
* Roraback WMA
* Rose Hill WMA
* Ross Marsh WMA
* Salmon River Cove and Haddam Neck WMA
* Sessions Woods WMA
* Simsbury WMA
* Skiff Mountain Coop WMA
* James V. Spignesi WMA
* Stanley Works WMA
* Suffield WMA
* Talbot WMA
* Tankerhoosen WMA
* Wangunk Meadows WMA
* Wopowog WMA
* Zemko Pond WMA

Reservoirs|

* Aspetuck Reservoir
* Barkhamsted Reservoir
* Beaver Dam Lake
* Candlewood Lake
* Easton Reservoir
* Far Mill Reservoir
* Hemlock Reservoir
* Hop Brook Lake
* Lake Lillinonah
* Mansfield Hollow Lake
* Means Brook
* Saugatuck Reservoir
* Trap Falls Reservoir
* West Hartford Reservoir
* West Pequonnock Reservoir
* Lake Zoar

Private|

* Aspetuck Land Trust
* Aton Forest
* Audubon Center at Bent of the River
* Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens
* Bear Mountain
* Beckley Bog
* Branford Land Trust
* Case Mountain
* Cathedral Pines
* Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Fairfield
* Connecticut College Arboretum
* Devil's Den Preserve
* Earthplace
* Great Mountain Forest
* Higby Mountain
* Highstead Arboretum
* Joshua's Tract Conservation and Historic Trust
* McLean Game Refuge
* New Canaan Nature Center
* Peter's Rock
* Pine Mountain Reserve
* Saltonstall Mountain
* Stamford Museum & Nature Center
* Steep Rock Association
* Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust
* White Memorial Foundation
* Woodcock Nature Center
* Yale-Myers Forest

Trails|

* American Legion State Forest Trails
* Aspetuck Valley Trail
* Blue-Blazed Trails
* Chatfield Trail
* Hancock Brook Trail
* Housatonic Range Trail
* Lillinonah Trail
* Mattabesett Trail
* Menunkatuck Trail
* Metacomet Trail
* Narragansett Trail
* Natchaug Trail
* Naugatuck Trail
* Nehantic Trail
* Nipmuck Trail
* Paugussett Trail
* Pequot Trail
* Quinnipiac Trail
* Regicides Trail
* Salmon River Trail
* Shenipsit Trail
* Tunxis Trail
* Westwoods Trails
* Whitestone Cliffs Trail
* Zoar Trail

Nature centers|

* List of nature centers in Connecticut

Local Government
Forest/Parks|

* Bear Mountain Reservation
* Beardsley Park
* Burr Farm Protected Open Space
* East Rock Park
* Gurski Farm Protected Open Space
* Happy Landings Protected Open Space
* Lighthouse Point Park
* Lillinonah Woods
* Mill River Park
* Old Bridge Sanctuary
* Pleasure Beach
* Roosevelt Forest
* Salt Meadow Park
* Seaside Park
* Webb Mountain Discovery Zone
* Webb Mountain Park

* Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

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