Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge

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Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge

For official information about the refuge, go to www.fws.gov/refuge/stewart_b_mckinney/ Welcome to the Stewart B. Mckinney National Wildlife Refuge page!

Created in 1971 as Connecticut's first National Wildlife Refuge, we have grown over the years to encompass Federal conservation lands along 70 miles of the state's coastline. For more information about the refuge, go to http://www.fws.gov/refuge/stewart_b_mckinney/

For more about the US Fish and Wildlife Service, go to www.fws.gov

06/17/2026

FREE INTERPRETIVE WALK 6/27
🌿 Join Us for a Great Meadows Marsh History Walk in Stratford!
Discover how this incredible marsh survived decades of development plans—and emerged as a wildlife haven for migratory birds, terrapins, and more. Take a walk, hear the stories, and see why protecting places like this matters now more than ever. Led by Audubon’s hard-working Salt Marsh Stewards.
📅 Saturday, June 27th at 10am
📍 Stewart B. McKinney NWR (Meet at approximate address - 600 Long Beach Blvd, Stratford, CT 06615)
Free & open to all!

Photo: boat-tailed grackle, great egret and black-crowned night heron in the pond at Great Meadows.

06/15/2026

MEET OUR SEASONAL STAFF

My name is Liz Hamilton. I am a senior at Central Connecticut State University. I am majoring in Biology with a concentration in ecology, evolution, and biodiversity. I have always had a strong connection to the outdoors, and over time, that has grown into a deeper interest in marine life and environmental systems. Some of my favorite experiences have been diving and snorkeling, where I’ve been able to explore and appreciate marine ecosystems up close. Those moments, along with growing up playing in the woods and exploring new places, have really shaped my passion for nature.

In my free time, I enjoy staying active, being outdoors, and spending time with friends and family. I am extremely excited to be working on Outer Island at the Stewart B. McKinney Wildlife Refuge this summer and to gain hands-on experience while learning more about coastal ecosystems and conservation. I am especially interested in expanding my knowledge of the Long Island Sound and helping others connect with and understand the importance of protecting these environments. I look forward to meeting everyone and being a part of this experience.

06/12/2026

PLANT OF THE WEEK

Here's a shout out to GOLDEN HEDGE-HYSSOP - my plant of the week!

It is hot out there...so I thought that I would feature an aquatic plant - one that thrives in lakes and ponds or on their sandy shores.

Golden hedge-hyssop - Gratiola aurea - is native to all of New England, the Atlantic coast, and the Great Lakes. You might find it in floodplains, in freshwater marshes and their mudflats, in lakes and ponds or along their shores.

The bright, yellow flowers bloom from June to September. I found botanical records from Connecticut showing that it is present in many lakes here. Keep your eyes open for it on your next kayak or during your next swim.

- Kris Vagos, Refuge Wildlife Biologist

06/10/2026

BIRD OF THE WEEK!

For a limited time, we will be posting stories about refuge "birds of the week" which we hope you'll enjoy.

Today, the refuge is excited to introduce 485H, a remarkable 22-year-old roseate tern currently spending the summer on Falkner Island. This tern’s origins trace back to Buzzards Bay, where they were hatched, and their history has been meticulously documented thanks to the leg bands they wear.

Banding has played a pivotal role in bird research and conservation since the 1800s. For example, John James Audubon famously tied silver thread around the legs of Eastern Phoebes nesting on his Pennsylvania farm and discovered that the same birds returned year after year. The modern system of bird banding, in use today, began with Paul Bartsch of the Smithsonian Institution, who banded Black-crowned Night Herons in Washington, D.C. using metal bands engraved with serial numbers and the message “Return to Smithsonian Institution.”

If you’re interested in learning more about the history and current practices of bird banding as a conservation tool, the United States Geological Survey Bird Banding Laboratory offers valuable resources at https://www.usgs.gov/labs/bird-banding-laboratory/us-bird-banding-laboratory-overview-its-history-and-current-practices.

As for 485H, we’ll be monitoring the nest throughout the summer to see if the egg hatches. Stay tuned for updates!

Photos by John Diener

06/08/2026

MEET OUR SEASONAL STAFF

Hello everyone, my name is Anthony Ross, and I'm a sophomore at Southern Connecticut State University where I'm majoring in Environmental and Marine Science with a concentration in Coastal and Marine Science along with a minor in Biology.

Growing up in Stony Creek, I always found myself outside in the woods hiking or out on the water swimming between the islands. More recently I have been working with local oyster harvesters in Stony Creek, which has given me hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of the shellfish industry in the Sound. I hope to continue building on this experience and potentially pursue a career in marine conservation or environmental management.

I'm excited to be working on Outer Island at Stewart B. McKinney Wildlife Refuge because not only do I love the Thimble Islands, but I also believe public conservation spaces like Outer Island are essential for a sustainable and bright future. I’m looking forward to getting some field experience and expanding my knowledge of Long Island Sound and hope to meet you all this summer!

06/07/2026

Old Footbridge Replaced

Thanks to the work of our staff on Outer Island, on Friday we were able to replace a worn out footbridge with a gravel path. This path now connects the pathways through the pollinator garden to the concrete walkway to the large tidal pool.

USFWS photo: Outer Island summer staff in blue shirts stand next to refuge manager Rick Potvin behind the new gravel path they established. The old footbridge lies to the right of the group, and the greenery of the pollinator garden plants are on both sides of the path.

06/06/2026

Thanks to the Friends of Outer Island, refuge staff, volunteers, as well as other refuge partners, the front room of the historic Elizabeth Hird House at Outer Island will be open to the public starting today! Ask to check it out when you stop by :-)

USFWS photo: the front living room of the house on Outer Island with dark wood built ins, a long bench sofa with navy/light blue/cream/white vertical striped cushions, cream colored walls and dark floors.

06/05/2026

PLANTS OF THE WEEK

The native plant garden at my local library is amazing! Here are some Connecticut native plants that would make a great addition to your home gardens 💚 All names in photo text.

- Kris Vagos, Refuge Wildlife Biologist

05/31/2026

MEET OUR SEASONAL STAFF

Hi - my name is Aidan Carvajal, a recent graduate from Central Connecticut State University. My studies have led me to a bachelor's in biology, and I'm very excited to obtain a master's in some form of wildlife ecology, but I want to broaden my work experience and narrow my interests before heading back to school. It wasn't always obvious to me that biology was my passion, but once I figured it out, there was no going back! From the times as a kid when I would beg my grandmother to take me the local city public garden I so elegantly nicknamed "The Fishy Pond" to this year where I studied water pollution with CCSU faculty in hopes of managing campus pollution for amphibians and birds as well as to build our school's very own rain garden, an interest in wildlife has always stuck with me.

I'm beyond ecstatic and grateful to have the opportunity to work on Outer Island at Steward B. McKinney Wildlife Refuge. To pursue my curiosity and passion of studying wildlife and diverse ecosystems while helping educate the public on these topics is a wonderful opportunity to be a part of. I can't wait to see what this summer on Outer Island and the future beyond have in store!"

05/30/2026

Spotlight on the System!

As we continue down the East Coast, our next stop is Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Complex in Newburyport, MA. This refuge has over 4,700 acres of land and includes the Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Wapack National Wildlife Refuge, and the Thacher Island National Wildlife Refuge.

At this refuge you can hunt, fish, hike, and boat (non-motorized). Parker River hosts a variety of different educational programs for teachers and students from elementary schools to universities! It is also home to the endangered Piping Plover and Saltmarsh Sparrow!

Image: A picturesque spot at Parker River's salt marsh.

Address

733 Old Clinton Road
Westbrook, CT
06498

Telephone

(860) 399-2513

Website

http://www.fws.gov/refuge/stewart_b_mckinney/

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