A barrier beach, Milford Point is considered one of the best bird-watching areas in Connecticut. The adjacent mudflats, sand bars, and marshes provide waterfowl, shorebirds, and wading birds with a safe haven for feeding and resting during their long spring and fall migrations.  Over 50 species of shorebirds, wading birds, and waterfowl use this 23-acre refuge unit.  The barrier beach protects the salt marsh from high tides and storms and provides essential nesting and feeding habitat for several protected species, including piping plovers, least terns, and American oystercatchers.

An observation deck at the refuge entrance offers visitors a year-round overview of this unit. Visitors are encouraged to walk the water line around the unit but must stay off the dunes and out of designated bird nesting areas.

Piping Plovers at Milford Point Photo Taken by Shaun Roache