Go on a Seabird Safari with Norwalk Seaport Association in June, 2021

For millennia, seabirds have made Long Island Sound off the coast of Norwalk, Connecticut their home. Birders and nature enthusiasts have spotted waterfowl, shorebirds, and seabirds along with migrant birds of all types in this rich natural environment. As the third smallest state in the country, amazingly, Connecticut boasts 430 different bird species; and one of the state’s birding “hotspots” are the Norwalk Islands.

On Sundays in June, on the 6, 13, and 20, the Norwalk Seaport Association is offering a specially curated Bird Cruise around the Norwalk Islands from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. These two-and-a-half-hour cruises will be led by Will Schneck, a passionate bird enthusiast that combines superb birding skills with an astonishing command of bird biology and habits. As a member of the esteemed Connecticut Young Birders Club, he will share his knowledge and expertise about local seabirds and their behavior. Schneck is an excellent communicator, has a great sense of humor, and is tireless in helping others spot the birds and wildlife of Long Island Sound.

Year after year participants on this special cruise agree that every cruise is different because you can never anticipate what bird species might fly your way, making this excursion an adventure in itself! Watching birds in action from the water, whether they are nesting or on the hunt for food is an exhilarating experience. Among the types of birds, you may see on this eco-adventure cruise are nest sites and nest colonies of ospreys, and long-legged egrets with their graceful S-curved necks and long dagger-like bills, as well as playful American oystercatchers, herons, terns, gulls, and cormorants, to name a few.

A unique highlight of this cruise is the chance to spot birds at the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge on Sheffield Island. Here you will see a variety of habitats that support nesting and wading birds. This spot is known for its small population of herring and great black-backed gulls that nest along Sheffield Island's rocky shoreline. The importance of the Norwalk Islands to wildlife, especially migratory birds is enormous, and the special Bird Cruises hosted by the Norwalk Seaport Association give nature enthusiasts the chance to spot these magnificent seabirds up close with the added benefit of a knowledgeable guide.

Bird Cruise Details

Passengers are asked to arrive 30 minutes prior to the 8 a.m. departure. The vessel leaves from the Seaport Dock that is adjacent to the Stroffolino Bridge at the corner of Washington and Water Streets in South Norwalk. Parking is available at the adjacent lot or at the Norwalk Parking Garage. Tickets are available online in advance by clicking here and are $30 for adults and $25 for children in addition to a small ticketing fee. All reservations must be made in advance, reserve early because these popular excursions sell out fast. Make sure you include your email when reserving your ticket. If the tour is canceled due to inclement weather the Norwalk Seaport Association will contact you via your email. Make sure to bring sunscreen, your camera, binoculars, and a mask in order to get the most out of this popular eco-cruise.

The Norwalk Seaport Association is also offering cruises to Sheffield Island on Tuesday- Sunday and Sunset cruises on Wednesday- Friday evenings departing at 6:30 p.m. For times and tickets click here. The Norwalk Seaport Association is also offering the vessel for private events and parties with friends, family, and associates, for details email info@seaport.org or call 203-838-9444.

About the Norwalk Seaport Association 

The Norwalk Seaport Association was founded in 1978 by a group of local citizens who had the vision to revitalize South Norwalk and preserve Norwalk’s maritime heritage. The Seaport Association offers a cultural, environmental, and historical journey to the Norwalk Islands. The Sheffield Island Lighthouse and the Light Keeper’s Cottage provide a unique historical and educational venue that strives to increase awareness, appreciation, and consideration for the environment and how the preservation of historic buildings contributes to our quality of life. The combination of the Lighthouse and the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge offers an unparalleled opportunity to educate children of all ages and adults about the importance of preserving Long Island Sound, our environment, and our maritime heritage.

Summer, 2021 Get Ready to Cruise to Sheffield Island Starting Memorial Day Weekend

The Norwalk Seaport Association is once again offering cruises to Sheffield Island and Sheffield Island Lighthouse this summer. “In the summer of 2020, out of an abundance of caution, we decided not to offer cruises to the island,” said Mike Reilly, President of the Seaport Association. “In 2021, with a robust vaccine program and restrictions loosening up, we decided to offer cruises that stop at Sheffield Island. This in-person experience is outdoors that makes it easy to social distance. We know people really missed going to the island last year, so this summer we decided to get back into the swing of things by providing our passengers with our wonderful Sheffield Island experience.” 

If you are a bird lover with a checklist of bird species that you want to see on Long Island Sound, don’t miss the Norwalk Seaport Association’s specially guided bird cruises on Saturday, May 22, and Sunday, May 23. The vessel will depart at 10 a.m. and return at 12:30 p.m. Bird cruises are also being offered on Sunday, June 6, 13, and 20; with the vessel departing at 8 a.m. and returning at 10:30 a.m. The beauty of the bird cruises is that each one is a unique adventure because you can’t anticipate what bird species you will see on each excursion. For tickets click here.

This year, the first Sunset cruise of the season will be on Wednesday, May 26 beginning at 6:30 p.m. Sunset Cruises will be offered Wednesdays – Sunday through September. There is something so special about seeing the sunset on Long Island Sound as you glide through Norwalk Harbor passing lighthouses and oysters boats while sipping a glass of wine. The Seaport’s vessel is roomy and comfortable with plenty of space to enjoy the fresh air of the Sound. Passengers are encouraged to BYOB and snacks, making this sunset cruise the perfect way to enjoy the summer of 2021. To reserve a spot click here. If you miss this weekend’s Sunset Cruises, no worries, the Seaport Association is offering them June – September, Wednesday through Sunday at 6:30 p.m. 

The fun continues with a series of cruises stopping at Sheffield Island on Saturday, May 29, at 11 a.m. and at 3 p.m., Sunday, May 30, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., and Monday, May 31, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. The cruise includes an on-the-water adventure to Sheffield Island, a tour of the historic 151-year-old lighthouse, time to picnic in a beautifully situated wooden pavilion, look for shells on the beach, and to walk along the Nature Trail that is part of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge. If the day is clear, the New York City skyline can be seen. An added bonus is the new telescope installed by the Seaport Association that is free to use and affords fabulous views of the Connecticut coastline. The cruise experience is approximately three hours long. 

All reservations must be made online in advance; masks are required while traveling on the Ferry. To make a reservation, click here https://www.eventbrite.com/o/norwalk-seaport-association-32255433505 The boat leaves from the Sheffield Island Dock located at the corner of North Street and Washington Street in South Norwalk. Parking is available in the parking lot and at the adjacent Norwalk Maritime Center Garage. Be sure to wear comfortable, close-toed shoes and bring your mask. 

The fun continues all summer long with cruises to Sheffield Island on Tuesday & Wednesday at 11 a.m. in July and August, on Thursday and Friday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. in July and August, and on Saturday and Sundays, May through September at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sunset cruises will be offered May - September, Wednesday through Sunday at 6:30 p.m. The Seaport is also offering private charters. For complete information visit the Seaport's website or call 203-838-9444. 

About the Seaport Association 

The Norwalk Seaport Association was founded in 1978 by a group of local citizens who had the vision to revitalize South Norwalk and preserve Norwalk’s maritime heritage. The Seaport Association offers a cultural, environmental, and historical journey to the Norwalk Islands. The Sheffield Island Lighthouse and the Light Keeper’s Cottage provide a unique historical and educational venue that strives to increase awareness, appreciation, and consideration for the environment and how the preservation of historic buildings contributes to our quality of life. The combination of the Lighthouse and the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge offers an unparalleled opportunity to educate children of all ages and adults about the importance of preserving Long Island Sound, our environment, and our maritime heritage.

Seaport Getting Ready for Summer 2021

The Seaport Association in Norwalk is busy getting ready for the summer 2021, season.  April is the time of year when Seaport Association volunteers are busy getting their vessel, docks, and Sheffield Island and Sheffield Island Lighthouse ready for their opening beginning the last weekend in May. This year, the Association will be offering two-hour harbor cruises as well as a cruise to Sheffield Island and its historic lighthouse.

Caryn Davis from her new book Celebrating Our Coastline and Waterways

The Association is also busy organizing this year's 43rd annual Norwalk Oyster Festival that will take place on Friday, September 10, Saturday, September 11, and Sunday, September 12. The Association's new website offers forms for organizations and businesses that want to participate in this popular and highly anticipated event. Forms for food, arts and crafts, merchandising, marketing, and non-profit organizations as well as sponsorship opportunities are all online and can be found by clicking here.

The Seaport Association is also busy organizing a special outdoor in-person, "Seaport Style" celebration that is scheduled to take place this summer. This fundraising event, which is open to the public, promises to be a "boat-load" of fun with lots of fun, food, drinks, and auction items. "We have a lot to be grateful for especially our many supporters, friends, and volunteers," said Mike Reilly, President of the Seaport Association.

The Seaport Association has also just announced that it has finalized the details for the Annual Golf Tournament that will be held on October 4, 2021, at the Silvermine Golf Club in Norwalk. The golf tournament will help support the programs for education and restoration of the Sheffield Island Lighthouse. It will include a friendly competition, prizes, raffles, food, and a gift package for every player. For more information click here.

Call for Exhibitors and Sponsors for the Norwalk Oyster Festival 2021

The Seaport Association is looking for vendors, sponsors, and exhibitors that want to get in on the fun at the 43rd annual Norwalk Oyster Festival being held this year on September 10,11, and 12, 2021 at Veterans Park in Norwalk. The festival has a proven track record making it the perfect place to showcase your business or non-profit organization.

 

The Norwalk Oyster Festival offers artists and craftspeople, non-profit community groups, museums and institutions, vendors, food concessions, and sponsors the opportunity to be associated with one of the most popular events in New England that attracts tens of thousands of people year after year. "We are seeking local and regional food merchants, clothing, jewelry and merchandising vendors, museums and institutions as well as artists and craftspeople that have interesting and unusual items to sell at our event," said Mike Reilly, President of the Norwalk Oyster Festival. "We are always open to talented and innovative vendors and exhibitors. The festival is ideal for people in search of an opportunity to earn money and work at a high-energy and popular event that has been successful for 42 years. Our reputation is stellar because our festival provides valuable exposure for all that participate because it is well known and popular with the public." 

 

Applications for sponsors are now available online. Sponsors get extensive in-person exposure at this event and are aggressively promoted on the Seaport's social media platforms and in their highly successful public relations and advertising campaigns. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase your business in a highly cost-effective way. For sponsorship opportunities click here. For an arts and crafts application and all the details of how to display your products click here. Applications are being accepted now through August 17, 2021. The Seaport Association will select approximately 125 arts and crafts exhibitors for the festival, so get your applications in today. Applications for nonprofits are available by clicking here.

The Norwalk Oyster Festival is tailor-made for brands and specialty products that want to interact and engage with the public. A booth at the festival allows sales and merchandising participants to enjoy valuable face time with prospects. Click here to get your Marketing and Merchandising application. If you are a food vendor or have a concession and would like to be considered for this year's festival click here for details.

 

Slots are expected to fill up quickly for this highly anticipated annual event so it is recommended to get your applications in early.

About the Norwalk Oyster Festival

Started in 1978 by a small group of people to celebrate Norwalk's maritime heritage, this festival has grown exponentially over the years attracting tens of thousands of people to one of the best events in New England of its kind. Proceeds from the Festival's support the Seaport's Sheffield Island Lighthouse, Ferry service for public access and environmental programs. Over the years, the Norwalk Seaport Association Oyster Festival has been recognized by the state of Connecticut, Library of Congress, American Bus Association, and the International Festival and Events Association as one of the top events in the country and for the vital role of the volunteers and nonprofit organizations in the production and continuing success of the Oyster Festival.

Legacy Bricks Honor the Past and Help Pave Our Future.

Have you ever wanted your name or the name of someone you wish to commemorate etched in stone? The Seaport Association's Legacy Brick program offers the public the rare opportunity to secure a place in Connecticut's maritime history through the purchase of a personalized brick that will be placed in front of the Lighthouse on Sheffield Island.

"Since 1978 the Seaport Association has maintained Sheffield Island and it's 152 year-old-lighthouse. We created this program as a chance for all lovers of Long Island Sound and Sheffield Island's Lighthouse and Lightkeepers cottage to commemorate their support for the mission of the Seaport Association. Everyone has been very supportive of this program because they are proud to be a part of our maritime heritage and our mission of preservation and education," said Mike Reilly, President of the Seaport Association.  Proceeds from the Legacy Brick program will be used to defray the cost of maintaining the island and lighthouse.

Fans of the Seaport Association that want to be a part of the Legacy brick program can secure bricks in two sizes 4x8  or 8x8 and can order the bricks with just text or with text and clip art. To view samples of legacy bricks and to purchase online click here. Along with the personally engraved bricks, fans will receive a notice of where the brick is placed and a certificate of ownership.

Charter An October Cruise with the Seaport Association

 

The best place to enjoy the fall foliage is in New England. In Norwalk, the autumn colors seem to linger longer because of its’ southern location. Here, October is epitomized by clear cool days, brilliant blue skies, vivid fall foliage, and spectacular sunsets. This year, for the first time, the Seaport Association in Norwalk is extending the opportunity to charter their vessel, the T.J. Toth through October 31, 2020. 

October is a very special time to be out on the water because the Connecticut coastline is alive with color. In addition to the foliage, October has two full moons, one during the first week of the month and the second, a rare blue full moon on October 31, that add beauty and a sense of excitement to this excursion. 

So, if you are a leaf peeper and looking for a unique foliage experience this year, charter the Seaport’s vessel, it is much less expensive than you think! The charter is two hours long and is available any time of day and at sunset during the week and on weekends for $750 or just $30 per person for twenty-five of your friends and family. Passengers are allowed to bring food and beverages on board to add to the fun. Think hot apple cider and cider donuts for the kids and mulled wine for the adults for a truly autumn experience! 

The vessel is loaded with amenities including comfortable seating in and out of the sun, siding to protect passengers from the wind, a bar area that is the perfect place to set up the beverages and goodies you bring aboard, and a full bathroom. This private excursion begins from the Seaport's dock at 10 North Water Street in Norwalk. A captain and mate are on board so you can sit back and relax and take in the fabulous scenery. The boat cruises through Norwalk Harbor while the Mate introduces passengers to the multifaceted history of the Harbor. Close up views of Norwalk's Islands, nesting ospreys, and, three lighthouses, including Sheffield Island Lighthouse are highlights of the trip all set against a backdrop of the fire colors of autumn. 

 If you are planning a special occasion or if you and your friends are looking for something really uplifting to do this October, nothing says “fun and foliage on the water” like this exclusive excursion offered by the Seaport Association. For additional information to charter, the boat call the Seaport Office at 203-838-9444 or email jerry.toni@seaport.org.

Take A September Cruise in Long Island Sound with the Seaport Association

A cruise with the Seaport Association through the Norwalk River into Long Island Sound is blissful on an autumn day. This cruise is just long enough, about two hours, to feel refreshed and recharged when you are back on land. There are 25 islands that stretch about six miles from Norwalk to Westport located about a mile off the coast.

Geologically, the islands are considered to be terminal moraines that consist of materials left by the last glacier. Some islands are rather large and others are mounds of boulders, silt, clay, sand, and vegetation from trees and beach roses to tall seagrass that sways in the breeze. These islands act as a barrier to rough seas and are one of the things that boaters like about Norwalk Harbor. This area is designated as a federal navigation channel of recreational and small harbor variety.

The cruise begins just past the Metro-North Rail Bridge and goes under the Stroffolino Bridge, a bascule bridge spanning the Norwalk River that swings upward to provide clearance for boat traffic. Mr. Stroffolino was active in the passage of a bill in the 1949 General Assembly that gave the bridge and Rte. 136 to Connecticut.

As the vessel makes its' way through Norwalk Harbor and into Long Island Sound, passengers will see Isochoda Yacht Club, one of the oldest in America founded in 1886, and Calf Pasture Beach that was used for disembarkation and encampment during the Tryon raid of the American Revolutionary War in 1779. Passengers will also glide by many of Norwalk's Islands, many with large homes on them including "Tavern Island" that was the home of Billy Rose in the 1920s, a famous entertainer and bootlegger that used this island for rum-running. 

The Islands of Norwalk are surrounded by oyster beds that are marked by stakes with red flags on them. At one time oystering was one of the lynchpins of Norwalk's economy and the city's primary industry. Oystering declined for many reasons in the 19th century, but today in the 21st century it has made a strong comeback. Part of the thrill of a cruise to Sheffield Island is to watch the oyster boats hard at work. Watching oystermen hauling up their catch of the day is an activity that has embodied the history of Norwalk for centuries and is still a commodity that the city is known for.

A highlight any time of year on this cruise is to get a water view of the three historic lighthouses that lie off Norwalk's coast, two spark plug lighthouses, Greens Ledge and Peck Ledge and, the iconic Sheffield Island Lighthouse, the crown jewel of Connecticut's maritime heritage. Located on the 57 acre Sheffield Island the Lighthouse is on the National Historic Register and is owned, maintained, and preserved by the Seaport Association. In addition to the Lighthouse, there are many wading birds that make the island their home including the roseate tern, Brant, scouter, black duck, and other waterfowl. Nesting birds on the island include ospreys and herons.  Always keep an eye peeled for harbor seals that frequent the southwest end of the island.

The Seaport Association is offering sunset cruises Wednesdays - Sundays as well as two daily cruises on Saturdays and Sundays. Please purchase your tickets in advance by clicking here.  The comfort and safety of all passengers and staff are important to the Seaport Association, for a complete list of safety protocols please click here. The vessel is limited to twenty-five passengers and masks must be worn throughout the entire cruise. The boat is also available for charter, for information 203-838-9444. To help us maintain and preserve Sheffield Island Lighthouse, please visit our #gofundmepage https://www.gofundme.com/f/preserve-the-sheffield-island-lighthouse