By Josey Gardner
Many new conservation projects at the Greenwich Audubon Center began this summer season. Thanks to the hard work and generosity of our Greenwich community as well as a community match fund from Sustainable CT, we were able to raise $14,500 to restore the Oneida Sanctuary. This sanctuary preserves a rare salt water marsh ecosystem. Though small in size, Oneida Sanctuary is a beautiful spot where birders can admire the egrets and great blue herons in the marsh grasses. All funds raised are going towards restoration and community building improvements at the sanctuary, such as invasive plant control, the planting of native species, and installation of sustainable benches, informational signs, and walkways. Work is already underway, and we will soon have another green space here in Greenwich for birds and people to enjoy.
The Greenwich Audubon Center has also partnered with the Greenwich Land Trust to begin the restoration of the Gimbel Sanctuary. This 80-acre sanctuary provides a wide diversity of habitats to explore. A hardwood forest of oak, hickory, beech, and tulip trees, as well as groves of spruce, pine, fir, and hemlock are crossed by several small streams. A large field hosts grouse and wild turkeys as well as nesting bluebirds in the spring and summer. During the summer months, the Greenwich Audubon Center hosts an internship program for young conservationists in high school and college, who work as Eco-Leaders to assist the Center in its conservation work. This year, the Eco-Leaders are tackling the restoration of the Gimbel Sanctuary by managing invasive plant growth, maintaining and building hiking trails, and planting native species to encourage a healthy ecosystem and biodiversity. These incredible youth just began their internships and their work at Gimbel Sanctuary at the start of July. The Greenwich Audubon Center and the Greenwich Land Trust are looking forward to working together throughout the summer to make the Gimbel Sanctuary a thriving habitat for birds once more.
Conservation work at the Main Sanctuary near the Kimberlin Education Center continues through the summer just as it does year round, with dedicated staff managing 295 acres of trees, wild flowers, trails, and more. Nature Day Camp at the Greenwich Audubon Center has also just begun, where kids learn to appreciate and understand nature and the local environment. A vital part of conservation is the passing on of knowledge to the rising generation, so that those coming after us have the tools to continue making their community and the planet a safe and healthy place.
With all these projects underway this summer, it’s easy to be optimistic about conservation in our local community. Every donation helps keep this conservation work moving forward, and we couldn’t be more grateful for all the funds we’ve raised so far, especially for the Oneida Sanctuary. For those who are looking to do more, volunteering programs for youth and adults will begin in the fall at the Greenwich Audubon Center. For anyone who has children, the Greenwich Audubon Nature Day Camp registration is still open. And of course, visiting the Greenwich Audubon Center and our various sanctuaries, and treating them with respect is the greatest gift our community gives us.
Josey Gardner is the Sr. Center Assistant at the Greenwich Audubon Center and an outdoor enthusiast. She has worked in various outdoor fields, from nonprofit conservation to parks and recreation.
