Hammonasset Beach State Park "Salt Marsh Days" Return for 2025!
Join us and Meigs Point Nature Center to celebrate the park's unique ecosystem and the plants and wildlife it supports at events throughout the summer.
Hammonasset Beach State Park is a 936-acre ecological and recreational treasure located along the coast in Madison. With more than three million visitors each year, it is the most-visited park in the state. Birds that nest in and around the park during spring and summer include the Saltmarsh Sparrow, Piping Plover, and Purple Martin.
One essential habitat feature at Hammonasset is its salt marsh—a coastal wetland that is regularly flooded and drained by salt water brought in by the tides. Salt marshes help protect our coastline and coastal communities from increased flooding caused by climate-related sea level rise, and they provide critical habitat for many native species.
Exciting news! Audubon has received funding to kickstart a major salt marsh restoration project at Hammonasset, beginning with planning and designing a living shoreline to help keep the coast healthy and resilient. Learn about the project by visiting our table during one of our Salt Marsh Days.
You’re Invited—Saturday "Salt Marsh Days"
Audubon Connecticut and Hammonasset’s Meigs Point Nature Center invite you to celebrate the park’s unique ecosystem and its many inhabitants at our Salt Marsh Days. Each day features a different theme and includes presentations on native species, visits to the marsh to explore this incredibly valuable habitat, and educational activities for all ages!
Salt Marsh Days are free to attend (and park entry is free to Connecticut residents). No registration is required. Events run throughout the day from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
For questions, please contact Meigs Point Nature Center at rangermpnc@gmail.com or call 203-245-8743.
Saturday, June 28 – Birds of the Marsh Day
Birds of the Marsh Day highlights the unique stories of salt marsh birds, including the Saltmarsh Sparrow, a native species declining by 9% per year. Hammonasset’s eastern shoreline has lost 27 acres of salt marsh—critical nesting habitat for this bird. Come learn how restoration efforts could help protect the Saltmarsh Sparrow and its fragile home.
Saturday, July 19 – Geology of the Marsh Day
Explore the forces that shaped our coast during Geology of the Marsh Day! Discover how glaciers, ancient seas, and shifting landforms created the coastal landscape of Connecticut and Long Island Sound.
Saturday, August 16 – Creature-Feature Day
Meet the fascinating creatures that call salt marshes home during Creature-Feature Day! Discover the unique adaptations that help these animals survive in a salty, shifting environment, and learn how rising sea levels could reshape their habitats.