Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge protects some of the last remaining undeveloped coastal habitats in Connecticut. These places are crucially important to wildlife, especially at-risk species that need space to feed, rest, establish a home and raise their young. We balance the needs of wildlife with those of people, encouraging many recreational opportunities that visitors can do on their own, as well as ranger-led programming.

Visit Us

Birds, mammals, sea creatures, colorful trees, rare plants, historic buildings and cultural features - all of these interesting things are found at the refuge. Many refuge units have nature trails, wildlife observation platforms and other visitor facilities. 

See our LOCATIONS section to find out how to get to us.

Know before you go:

Visitors to the refuge should dress appropriately for the weather and wear sturdy walking shoes. Long pants can help defend against ticks, which are found at some refuge units. Areas with marsh and wetlands have mosquitoes in summer – so insect repellent is advisable. 

Visitors must remain on established trails, at viewing platforms and in other areas open to the public. Going off trail into forest, marsh or other habitats is prohibited. 

Ranger and volunteer-led tours and programs are available, especially in summer and early fall, to enhance the visitor experience.

Dogs, cats, horses or other domestic animals are not allowed anywhere on the refuge. However, service dogs are always allowed.

Additional questions regarding visitation may be directed to the Visitor Services Manager at 860-399-2513 ext 8134.

Location and Contact Information

      About Us

      Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge is comprised of 10 units stretched across 70 miles of Connecticut's coastline. It was established in 1972 and was originally called Salt Meadow National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge was renamed in 1987 to honor the late U.S. Congressman Stewart B. McKinney, who was instrumental in expanding it.

      Located in the Atlantic Flyway, the refuge provides important resting, feeding, and nesting habitat for many species of wading birds, shorebirds, songbirds and terns, including the endangered roseate tern. Adjacent waters serve as wintering habitat for brant, scoters, American black duck and other waterfowl. Overall, the refuge encompasses over 1,000 acres of forest, barrier beach, tidal wetland and fragile island habitats.

      The Salt Meadow Unit in Westbrook, the Falkner Island Unit in Guilford, and the Great Meadows Unit in Stratford all have been designated as Important Bird Areas by the National Audubon Society. The Falkner Island Unit is home to over 40 pairs of nesting federally endangered roseate terns and over 2,000 nesting pairs of common terns. The Salt Meadow Unit is used by over 280 species of migrating neotropical birds during the spring and fall migrations.

      The refuge also contains unique historic buildings - such as the Falkner Island Lighthouse and the Lape-Read House and Enoch Murdock House at Salt Meadow. The Chimon Island Unit in Norwalk contains a small memorial area for Congressman Stewart B. McKinney, who was instrumental in expanding the refuge. These buildings, landscapes and other features evoke the stories of the people of the Connecticut coast and how they shaped the refuge.

      Tours

      Many of the refuge's units have self-guided trails and open areas you can explore at your own pace. However, guided interpretive tours and other programs are given throughout the year - especially in summer and early fall. For information about upcoming events and other current information, check out our Facebook page. You may also call headquarters at 860-399-2513 and ask for the visitor services manager.

      What We Do

      Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge protects some of the last remain coastal habitats in Connecticut that are relatively undisturbed and undeveloped. These places are crucially important to wildlife, especially at-risk species that need space to feed, rest, establish a home and raise their young. We try to balance the needs of wildlife with the needs of people - allowing approved recreation such as trail walking, wildlife observation, interpretation, photography and other activities whenever possible.

      Our Organization

      A bright blue sky obstructed by fluffy white clouds reflected off of a stream shot from inside a kayak
      The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages an unparalleled network of public lands and waters called the National Wildlife Refuge System. With more than 570 refuges spanning the country, this system protects iconic species and provides some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities on Earth.

      Our Species

      A small white bird with light grey wings, orange legs and a black cap

      The roseate tern is about 40 centimeters in length, with light-gray wings and back. Its first three or four primaries are black and so is its cap. The rest of the body is white, with a rosy tinge on the chest and belly during the breeding season. The tail is deeply forked, and the outermost...

      FWS Focus
      Grey, white and black bird on sand in the foreground

      Size: 18 cm (7.25 in) in length. Color: Breeding season: Pale brown above, lighter below; black band across forehead; bill orange with black tip; legs orange; white rump. Male: Complete or incomplete black band encircles the body at the breast. Female: Paler head band; incomplete breast band....

      FWS Focus
      A dark bird with an orange bill and a white stripe in the wings flies in front of the ocean

      Identification Tips: Length: 16 inches Large shorebird Bright orange, long, thick bill Head and breast black Dark gray back and wings White belly Large white patch on inner wing White uppertail coverts and dark tail Pink legs Adult: Yellow eye Orange orbital ring Juvenile: Eye dark and orbital...

      FWS Focus

      Projects and Research

      1) Tern Monitoring Project - participate in a range-wide research project focused on the endangered roseate tern that encourages the collection of productivity, provisioning, and tern movement data.

      2) Salt Marsh Integrity Study - a region-wide program to asses the health of our salt marshes

      3) Shorebird Monitoring - annual surveys of nesting shorebirds on the refuge - species include piping plover, American oystercatcher, and least tern

      4) Invasive Plant Mapping - we are currently mapping all of our Units for priority invasive plant species so we have a better idea of the density, location, and management options for these populations

      5) Long-term Bee Monitoring - in partnership with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, we are sampling the bees at the Salt Meadow Unit to contribute to baseline data on these populations for the state

      6) Stratford-Great Meadows Restoration – in partnership with NOAA, CTDEEP, Audubon Connecticut and several others – this project will restore hundreds of acres of salt marsh salt marsh
      Salt marshes are found in tidal areas near the coast, where freshwater mixes with saltwater.

      Learn more about salt marsh
      habitat so that at-risk species like salt marsh sparrows can survive and nuisance species like mosquitoes are reduced

      7) Kirtland Landing Improvement Project – in partnership with the Town of Westbrook, USDOT, CTDOT and others – this project will provide major improvements so visitors can more easily access the Menunketesuck River and the water portion of the refuge’s Salt Meadow Unit for non-motorized watercraft and small boats.