Hidden Gems Of Connecticut

MANCHESTER, CT — It's November, and that means a lot of attention is given to the famed and challenging cross country course at Manchester's Wickham Park, which hosts several championship meets. We at Patch figured this was a good time to point out a real state Hidden Gem inside the park — the aviary.

Wickham Park is home to a variety of birds in addition to the natural wildlife in the park. The birds include turkeys, pheasants, peafowl, owls, waterfowl and "exotic" chickens.

The park also shelters turkey vultures, red-tailed hawks, Canada geese, and a great horned owl. All migratory birds are non-releasable to the wild because of injuries.

All the birds are kept in the park's aviary where the public can view and learn about them. It is located adjacent to the park's main playground and nearby nature center.

Bird food is available for purchase in vending machines located near the middle of the aviary. It costs 25 cents per handful, so bring quarters.

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The Hidden Gems series features out-of-the-way mom and pop restaurants, small specialty stores you may have never heard of, little-known historical markers or beautiful nature spots that may be a bit off the beaten path, all located within Connecticut. Other columns in this series for 2021 include:

• 55 West Main, New Britain
• Fox Hopyard Golf Course
• The Dodd Center For Human Rights at UConn
• Manchester Ropes Challenge Course
• 4-H Education Center at Auerfarm
• Fuego Picante Food Truck
• The Amistad
• 9/11 memorials
• Club Champion Golf Fitters
• New England Civil War Museum and Research Center
• Avery's Soda
• Salt 2.0 Restaurant
• The Grave of Jonathan, The Original Husky
• Golden Gavel Auction House
• Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut
• The Cogswell Temperance Fountain
• The Old State House
• BouNom Bakery
• Union Pond Park/Jay Howroyd Fitness Trail
• The Submarine Force Museum/USS Nautilus
• The UConn Dairy Bar
• Grove Hill Cemetery, Vernon
• Backwoods Smokin' BBQ
• The Ranch House
• Connecticut State Police Museum
• Berlin Historic District
• Connecticut Parachutists Skydiving Club
• Tail Winds Ice Cream Shop
• The MLK Mural
• The Hilltop Restaurant and Bar
• Fork & Fire
• Lena's Italian Kitchen
• The Benedict Arnold Trail
• Swank Pearce
• Vernon Depot Historic Park
• Farr's Sporting Goods
• Robs Drivin Diner

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