The Coastal Center
at Milford Point
Coastal Center at Milford Point
Hours & Admission
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday - Friday: 10am - 4pm
- Saturday: 10am - 1pm
- Sunday: 12pm - 4pm
- Sanctuary open dawn to dusk year round
Property Overview
Connecticut Audubon Society’s Coastal Center at Milford Point is located on an 8.4-acre barrier beach, next to the 840-acre Charles Wheeler Salt Marsh and Wildlife Management Area at the mouth of the Housatonic River. It is a bird-watcher’s paradise: Over 300 species have been seen here, including many rarities. We offer a full range of educational programs and events for families, children, and adults. The center provides educational exhibits, a tide pool demonstration tank, and program and meeting rooms. Visitors to the center have access to the Sound and to tidal salt marshes, barrier beaches, tide pools, and coastal dunes. The Coastal Center’s grounds encompass the Smith-Hubbell Wildlife Refuge and Bird Sanctuary, a boardwalk, and three other observation platforms, including a 70-foot covered tower for panoramic vistas.
At a Glance
- 8 acres of land, 840 acres of salt marsh
- 321 bird species
- Long Island Sound demonstration tank
- Observation tower and viewing platforms
- Air quality monitoring
Habitat
Coastal forest surrounded by sand dunes, a salt marsh, and barrier beach.
About Our Center
The Coastal Center promotes the awareness and preservation of Long Island Sound’s ecosystem, and the birds and habitats it supports. It features live education animals, panoramic saltmarsh views, and a Nature Store with a variety of bird- and nature-themed gifts, many from small businesses and local artists. The building includes bathrooms, a ramp for handicap access, and spotting scopes to watch birds from within the building. Viewers from around the world also watch the Center’s seasonal Osprey Cam, operated from our 18-foot tall nesting platform, and the Purple Martin Cam, featuring a look inside their nesting gourds.
Trail Rules
Walkers and birders welcome on designated trails only, visitors entering fenced off nesting shorebird areas will be reported to state police Encon officers.
Sanctuary open dawn to dusk
For the protection of our wildlife,
the following are prohibited on all areas of the sanctuary:
- Dogs, horses, bicycles
- Motorized vehicles (excluding parking lot) or Drones
- Hunting and Trapping
- Collecting of any kind
- Littering, Camping, or Fires
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Sunbathing and Picnicking
Wildlife
Birds
Over 300 species of birds have been observed at Milford Point, owing to the variety of habitat types (marsh, beach, and coastal forest) found there. During the Spring and Summer, the sandbar at Milford Point hosts breeding Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, and Least Terns while flocks of thousands of shorebirds can be observed using the sandbar as a stopover point during migration. During the winter, numerous species of ducks can be observed on the Long Island Sound alongside, grebes, loons, and gulls, while flocks of horned lark and snow buntings are also a common sight. The coastal forest plays host to both nesting and migrating species with over 29 species of warbler observed on the property, while 20 species of species of finches, sparrows, and buntings can be observed across the habitats. The Wheeler salt marsh can be easily viewed from two observation points on the grounds affording excellent views of dabbling ducks, herons, egrets, northern harriers and many other raptors. Visitors in the Spring and Summer can also expect to enjoy views of nesting osprey and purple martins in their respective nesting platform and tower.
Other Wildlife
Other species recorded at Milford Point include diamondback terrapin, groundhog, white-tailed deer, eastern cottontails, red fox, skunk, coyote, raccoon, gray squirrel, and southern flying squirrel.
