West Haven (New Haven County)

Status: Globally Important IBA

Ownership: City of West Haven, public trust

Nominators: Lee and Marion Aimesbury, New Haven Bird Club

Size: ~66 Acres + aquatic acreage

Location: 41° 15’ N, 72° 55’ W 

Habitats:
Primary—Barrier beach (sand spit)/dune, salt marsh with tidal creek
Secondary—Marine, tidal flats, sandbars

Land Use: Primary—Hunting/fishing, other recreation or tourism, nature and wildlife conservation

Threats:
Serious—Predators, pollution, disturbance to birds or habitat by humans and dogs, hydrologic changes/rising sea level
Minor—Introduced animals (cats, Mute Swans)
Potential—Habitat conversion, invasive or non-native plants

Site Description: Sandy/Morse Point is a city-owned barrier beach (sand spit) system with a tidal creek, an area of tidal marsh, and tidal flats. It protrudes into New Haven Harbor from the West Side. Upland acreage is unknown, but upland, marsh and tidal flat area is approximately 66 acres. The area is extremely popular for fishing and other beach-related uses in the warmer months, as well as being a popular destination for birders.

IBA Criteria: Connecticut (and Federally) Threatened Species; High Conservation Priority Species; Rare, Unique, or Representative Habitat; 500+ Waterfowl (winter) 1000+ Waterfowl (staging); 100+ Terns; 500+ Shorebirds; Single Species Concentrations; Long-term Research and/or Monitoring.

Birds: One of the most significant nesting locations for the federally threatened Piping Plover, and also one of the most important Least Tern and mainland Common Tern colonies in the state. Sandy Point was the first successful nesting area in Connecticut for Black Skimmers. Area receives significant usage by migrating shorebirds, which roost on the sand spit and sandbars at high tide and forage on the tidal flats at lower tides. It is one of the primary stopover areas for Red Knot in Connecticut. The tidal flats of New Haven Harbor were historically one of the most important shorebird staging areas in Connecticut; reasons for greatly reduced use of the area are unknown. It is also one of the primary tern staging areas in the state, including some federally endangered Roseate Terns; Black Terns are also regular in small numbers in migration. There is apparently a small nesting colony of Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows in the small tidal marsh, and the area receives significant usage by Saltmarsh and Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrows in migration. Migration and wintering area for the rare ‘Ipswich’ Savannah Sparrow. Waterfowl usage, including Atlantic Brant of the offshore waters of New Haven Harbor is significant, however at much-reduced levels from historical numbers when the area was a globally significant Greater Scaup wintering area. Foraging area for long-legged wading birds in nesting and post-nesting dispersal seasons. Significant numbers of raptors first reach land at Sandy Point after crossing New Haven Harbor from Lighthouse Point Park. Significant numbers of Common and Red-throated Loons use offshore areas in migration and winter. Significant usage of area by rails in migration; Clapper Rails nest.

Non-avian Resources: Important recreational and fishing area.

Existing Conservation Measures: The Connecticut Ornithological Association has hired a tern warden in the summer of 2004 to observe nesting terns and plovers and gather information for use in a conservation plan. Site slated to be among the first sites for development of an IBA conservation plan. The Connecticut DEEP has been monitoring terns and plovers at the site and erecting fencing and signs for many years. A restoration project is planned for the adjacent Old Field Creek.

State-listed Species: