South Windsor (Hartford County)

Status: Recognized IBA

Ownership: Hartford Audubon Society

Nominator: Jay Kaplan, Hartford Audubon Society, Roaring Brook Nature Center

Size: ~10 acres

Location: 41° 50' N, 72° 37' W

Habitats:
Primary—Non-tidal freshwater marsh

Land Use:
Primary—Hunting/fishing, nature and wildlife conservation, agriculture in adjacent areas

Threats:
Serious—Invasive or non-native plants (purple loosestrife), habitat conversion, pollution (fertilizer runoff)
Minor—Disturbance to birds or habitat

Site Description: Station 43 is an approximately 10-acre reserve owned by the Hartford Audubon Society. It consists of a pond and associated freshwater wetland complex. It is situated in the Connecticut River floodplain in South Windsor. This section of the Connecticut River Floodplain forms a large undeveloped block of several thousand acres of farmland, shrubland, and floodplain forest existing on both sides of the river. The wider area has been designated by the Nature Conservancy as part of their "Last Great Places" campaign, and is a special focus area of the Silvio Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge. The Station 43 marsh serves as one of the few state breeding grounds for Least Bittern and other species listed by the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection as threatened or of special concern. The Hartford Audubon Society owns a small section of the marsh, with the rest of the floodplain area being privately owned, but enjoying some protection due to its location within the floodplain zone.

IBA Criteria: Connecticut Endangered and Threatened Species; Rare, Unique, or Representative Habitat; Exceptional Concentrations of Migratory Landbirds. 

Birds: For more than 100 years, Station 43 has been recognized as one of the most important habitats for birds in the Hartford area, and is still acknowledged today as an important site by the ornithological community. The marsh and the surrounding area serve as one of only a small handful of breeding areas for several listed species, including Least Bittern. American Bittern, Blue-winged Teal, and King Rail may also nest in the marsh. Station 43 is of the few nesting habitats remaining in the Hartford area for Soras, Virginia Rails, and Marsh Wrens, and one of the most significant stopover and wintering areas in Connecticut for Rusty Blackbirds. It is also an important stopover point for birds migrating along the Connecticut River corridor, including waterfowl and songbirds (notably sparrows), and receives significant usage by raptors in the winter months. The nearby agricultural fields and grasslands are also significant habitats. Bald Eagles use the area in migration and the winter, and may nest within foraging distance.

Non-avian Resources: Several species of rare plants. Habitat for river otter. Significant stands of wild rice and healthy amounts of submerged aquatic vegetation.

Existing Conservation Measures: At this time, the area is regulated by the South Windsor Landowners Association and its members, as well as by local farmers. Hunting of waterfowl and small game is allowed. A conservation plan is being drafted to catalog the threats and opportunities for conservation at this site. The Hartford Audubon Society has regularly scheduled work parties to remove invasive vegetation and plant native plants in buffer zones around the marsh, and one GE Elfun Volunteer project has occurred. A tractor was purchased by funds from the GE Foundation and will allow for increased efficiency in habitat management. A restoration plan for the wetland habitats of the marsh has been developed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Hartford Audubon Society. The Hartford Audubon Society has organized bird surveys in the area during various times of the year. The USFWS is investigating land acquisitions in the surrounding landscape.

State-listed Species: