DERBY - The Naugatuck Valley Audubon Society, in cooperation with the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection announces a March program for the entire family at the Kellogg Environmental Center.
Come learn about Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy in Litchfield with Environmental Education Director Ben Sonnenbergon at 7 p.m. March 16.
S. Dillon Ripley, an ornithologist and aviculturist with an extensive list of accomplishments, began his collection of waterfowl at the Litchfield duck pond in the 1920s at the age of 17.
Along with housing native Connecticut waterfowl, the work of collecting, research, breeding, propagating, and release of threatened and endangered waterfowl species from around the world continues today.
Whether you have visited LWRC or not, this is a program that will surely fascinate you.
The mission of LRWC is to conserve waterfowl and wetlands through research, education, and conservation.
Sonnenberg will enlighten participants on waterfowl natural history and, as winter is courtship season, breeding displays.
LWRC is home to more than 60 species of waterfowl, along with an Eurasian Eagle Owl, Barn Owl, and Laughing Kookaburra. Sonnenberg will bring a few of the Avian Ambassadors so be sure to join us and meet some live birds.
Sonnenberg relocated from Bozeman, Mont., is a graduate of Pacific Lutheran University and has worked at the Alaska Sealife Center.
In his free time, Sonnenberg volunteers as a bird bander at Bent of the River and with Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship program at Sharon Audubon.
The Kellogg Environmental Center is at 500 Hawthorne Ave.
A donation of $5/adult is requested. Children under 12 admitted free.
Light refreshments will be served after the meeting.
This is a press release from DEEP.
