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On Sunday, April 26th, the Connecticut Land Conservation Council (CLCC) and the Land Heritage Coalition of Glastonbury joined forces for a nature walk at the Addison Bog & Woodlands. The event was part of the City Nature Challenge, an annual, four-day global community science project that encourages regions to compete in documenting local biodiversity using the iNaturalist app. Think of it as a worldwide “BioBlitz” fueled by a bit of friendly competition!

Twenty participants explored the unique landscape of the Addison Bog, which is home to a rare Black Spruce bog. Because these bogs are typically found much further north, this site provides a vital “rest stop” for songbirds migrating to breeding grounds in northern New England and beyond.

Our group scanned the landscape from the forest floor to the canopy. On the ground, we identified spring favorites like trout lily, Canada mayflower, and striped wintergreen. While we observed many Eastern Hemlock and American Beech trees, the elusive Black Spruce remained hidden—a testament to its extreme rarity in the Connecticut landscape.

The highlight of the walk came from above. As the group stood in awe, a pair of Barred Owls began calling to one another. After following the sound, we finally caught a glimpse of the male, perched high in the crown of an Eastern White Pine. Other avian highlights included Pine Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Towhees, Blue Gray Gnatcatcher, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow. Black-capped Chickadees, and a pair of Red-shouldered Hawks sharing a mid-day snack.

This walk was more than just a hike; it was a vital contribution to our understanding of Connecticut’s biodiversity. Participants have until May 10th to upload their photos to the iNaturalist project journal for New Haven and Hartford Counties to help our region climb the global leaderboard!