We welcome you to the 5th Annual Great Stratford Bird Festival.  Stratford offers many unique opportunities to view a varied number of bird species in a number of unique environments.  With Connecticut’s only town-owned forest, miles of riverfront, several hundred acres of tidal marsh, Connecticut’s longest barrier beach, and a beautiful shorefront on Long Island Sound, Stratford offers a number of birding habitats in which to view native and Fall migrating birds.

 

We are very excited to have Shawn Carey as our dinner speaker Friday evening.  Shawn has created many signature birding films and will be discussing his latest film work on shorebirds.

 

As in past years, we are offering our boat trips on the Housatonic River.  Skyhunters in Flight will return to Stratford on Saturday, October 6th, for their always exciting aerial exhibits.  Horizon Wings has several beautiful birds to share with festival attendees on Sunday, October 7th.  Stratford Day at Beardsley Zoo is Saturday, October 6th, and all Stratford residents will be admitted to the Zoo at no charge.  Our amazing Stratford School of decoy carvers' work will be on display with some original Shang Wheeler carvings.  Several birding walks are planned throughout the festival and, as always, expect the unexpected!

 

We'll be traveling to Deep River on Wednesday, October 3rd, to participate in, and observe, the "Swallow Spectacular" which Roger Tory Peterson described as "one of the seven birding wonders of the world."  New this year is our student art contest and awards will be made for the best student art on Sunday, October 7th.  Perhaps, most exciting of all, Wildlife in Crisis will be releasing a rehabilitated bird of prey as our festival closing event on Sunday.

 

We are thrilled to have a rich decoy and bird carving heritage in the Town of Stratford.  Stratford has been home to some of the finest bird carvers in the world.  Many of these outstanding carvings will be on display at Stratford Point during the festival.

 

If you’re traveling to Stratford from out-of-town, Stratford offers a number of fine hotels and an almost limitless variety of dining venues and menus from the “forest to the shore.”

 

Lastly, there's much to do in the Town of Stratford.  Visit Stratford for the birds.  Stay for all the many things there are to do in town!