Long Island Sound (LIS) is a unique natural resource. As an estuary, it is a place where freshwater from rivers and streams mix with salt water from the ocean. Estuaries serve as feeding, breeding, and nursery areas for many animal species living in or near the ocean. Long Island Sound is home to dozens of migratory bird species, over 1,200 invertebrate species, and 170 fish species. This area is also home to more than 28 million people living within 50 miles of its shores—more than any other estuary in the country. Long Island Sound spans about 600 miles of coastline.

Long Island Sound is a valuable ecosystem and it is important to keep it healthy—for both people and wildlife. People use the Sound for transportation, fishing, and recreational activities such as boating and swimming. According to the Long Island Sound Study, these generate about $9.4 billion each year in the regional economy. At the same time, many different bird species depend upon the Sound for their survival. Audubon is leading an ambitious effort to restore Long Island Sound’s health in a way that supports populations of waterbirds and shorebirds while balancing the needs of nature and people. Learn more about what Audubon’s work to help Long Island Sound by visiting our Long Island Sound Campaign page.

As you and your school participate in the Schoolyard Habitat Program, you are helping to increase habitat quality and connectivity in Long Island Sound. By improving habitat on your school grounds, you are increasing the network of habitat patches that provide critical resources for wildlife. Additionally, these habitat patches improve water quality by filtering pollution before it reaches the Sound. “If it goes on the ground, it goes in the Sound.” Small actions at home and at school make a huge difference—from the Schoolyard to the Sound. #Schoolyard2Sound

Click here to enter Audubon Connecticut’s Schoolyard to Sound Challenge to keep our environment healthy, from the Schoolyard to the Sound!