Starting from behind the CT Audubon Society's Fairfield Nature Center, the Larsen Sanctuary trails are on generally level terrain. The mile-long Chiboucas Special Use Trail is designed for wheelchair use, and was the first project undertaken by the Wheels in the Woods Foundation. The 0.2-mile Fragrance Loop trail curves through moist, shady forest and features fragrant native plants and fruit-bearing shrubs that attract birds, bees, and butterflies with their sweet aromas, nectars, and food sources. The Friends of Larsen volunteer group has planted arrowwood and cranberry viburnum, sassafras, sweet pepperbush, buttonbush, and swamp sweetbells along the trail. Beyond the Chiboucas and the Fragrance trails, multiple other trails pass through meadows and mixed hardwood forest with shrub habitat, and along ponds and wetlands.
The Larsen Sanctuary has been birded intensively for several decades. Birders have observed almost 200 species including Connecticut rarities such as Prothonotary Warbler and Least Bittern, occasional winter visitors such as Red Crossbill and Pine Siskin, forest nesters such as Scarlet Tanager and Red-eyed Vireo, and about two dozen types warblers, mostly during migration. For more details visit the CT Audubon website for the Larsen Sanctuary.
The trails and habitats at Larsen are maintained by the Friends of Larsen volunteer group, overseen by Connecticut Audubon staff. To become involved with the volunteer group, contact Misty Beyer at mistybeyer@optonline.net.
Take Exit 44 and turn left on Congress Street, then take Route 58/Blackrock Turnpike north. After 1 mile, turn left onto Hemlock Road, and at the end of the road turn left again onto Burr Street. After 0.2 miles, the Nature Center is on the right.
Take Exit 21 and turn north on Mill Plain Road. Keep going straight to continue on Burr Street. After 4.4 miles, the Nature Center is on the left.
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