Wednesday, May 21, 2025. 10:00 AM to 12 noon
Avalonia Land Conservancy’s Donald R. Henne Memorial Preserve.

Join naturalist Bruce Fellman for a special exploration, co-hosted by Avalonia and the Wood-Pawcatuck Wild and Scenic Rivers, of the Henne Preserve’s 100 acres of uplands and wetlands, which include an abundance of ecological diversity.  The walk is free and open to the public, and along the trail, we’ll comb the uplands for its array of wildflowers and ferns; vernal pools filled with amphibians, gray tree frogs in particular; reptiles such as nest-making Snapping turtles and personal space defending Black racers; and colorful songbirds, from Baltimore orioles and Yellowthroat warblers, to Tree swallows and various woodpeckers. We’ll also learn how to convert bird calls into accessible and identifiable sound prints, and examine the beaver-created wetlands to see, first hand, how these “eager” rodents have transformed local habitats throughout North America. 

At Henne, beavers have helped make the preserve home to numerous dragonflies and butterflies, geese and ducks, and wetlands plants, as well as the site of a large and thriving Great Blue Heron rookery—more than 22 active and noisy nests, according to a recent count. 

The refuge, and its Shunock River centerpiece, is part of an integrated system of the adjoining Babcock Ridge and Erisman preserves that together emphasize the critical importance of protecting intact watershed ecosystems. We’ll get to see this up close and personal along the trail.

Meet at 113 Babcock Road (0.9 miles from Wyassup Road or 0.8 miles from Route 49). The parking area is on the north side of the road. The trailhead for the Henne walk is nearby. Bring binoculars, camera gear, hand lenses, water, insect repellent, and sunscreen, and please download the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology’s Merlin Bird ID app to your smartphone in advance of our walk. (merlin.allaboutbirds.org/download/)

REGISTER HERE

Accessibility Note for Donald R. Henne Memorial Preserve

Parking: Small off-street lot, packed dirt surface, no accessible space, room for 7-8 cars. Lot located at Babcock Ridge Preserve trailhead, 113 Babcock Road, North Stonington, CT. Additional parking available along the road. Short walk, approximately 100 feet, along the side of Babcock Road to access the Henne trailhead at the north end of the Preserve.

Trails: Narrow throughout, often with room enough for only one person to walk, some slopes, some protrusions into pathway, and occasional wet areas, some of which are crossed using narrow wooden bridges. Off-pathway walking through open woods to a hillside of downed trees felled by beavers. Wildlife observation area atop five-foot-wide  boardwalk that spans open water and, though designed to accommodate horse traffic, is somewhat rough, uneven, and can feel wobbly in places, especially during periods of high water.

Communication: This walk will be amplified and may include live sonograms that provide pictorial representation of frog and bird calls.

Avalonia Accessibility Statement: https://avalonia.org/accessibility-for-people-with-disabilities-statement/

Accessibility point person: Mary Anne Sherman, 860-884-3500 or avalonialc@yahoo.com