Connecticut Audubon Society Birdcraft Museum and Sanctuary facts for kids
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Birdcraft Museum & Sanctuary
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| Location | 314 Unquowa Rd., Fairfield, Connecticut |
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| Area | 6.5 acres (2.6 ha) |
| Built | 1914 |
| NRHP reference No. | 82004371 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 23, 1982 |
| Designated NHLD | April 19, 1993 |
The Birdcraft Museum and Sanctuary in Fairfield, Connecticut is a special place for birds. It is the oldest private sanctuary for songbirds in the United States. This important bird haven was started in 1914 by a woman named Mabel Osgood Wright.
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Discovering Birdcraft Sanctuary
The Birdcraft Sanctuary covers about 6 acres of land. It was first planted with trees and plants to attract and feed birds that live there all the time or just pass through. The Connecticut Audubon Society has seen more than 120 different kinds of birds at this site. Since 1979, they have also run a bird banding station here. Bird banding helps scientists learn about bird movements and how long birds live.
Exploring the Museum
The sanctuary also has a natural history museum. Inside, you can see preserved animals from Connecticut. These animals are shown in dioramas, which are like 3D scenes that show what wildlife looked like around the year 2000. There is also a special collection of African animals from Frederick T. Bedford.
Buildings and Features
At the sanctuary, you will find a museum building and a small house called a bungalow. The bungalow was originally built for the person who took care of the sanctuary. The sanctuary also has a pond, beautiful gardens, and open meadows. There is even a special chimney built just for chimney swifts to nest in! Most of these buildings and features were created in 1914. The museum and bungalow have both been made larger over the years.
A Landmark for Bird Conservation
The Birdcraft Museum and Sanctuary is very important for protecting birds. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Later, in 1993, it was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it is a place of great historical importance to the nation. When it was created, it helped bring back the bird conservation movement. This movement started in the 1880s but had slowed down before Birdcraft was established.
Part of a Larger Network
The Birdcraft property is one of six nature centers run by the Connecticut Audubon Society. This organization also manages 22 wildlife sanctuaries. It is important to know that the Connecticut Audubon Society is a separate group and is not connected to the National Audubon Society.
Images for kids
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Shore Diorama
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Part of the African animal collection
See also
