S P O T L I G H T D E P A R T M E N T S - The Taft School

S P O T L I G H T
This pair of black-necked swans, native to
the southern tip of South America, are one
of only eight species of swans. Swans pair
bond strongly and will remain together for
twenty years or more.
A demoiselle crane is the smallest of the
thirteen species of cranes and is indigenous
to southern Russia, northern Iraq, Iran, and
India. A gentle bird, many are allowed to
roam freely in parks and zoos. This one will
eat from Kem’s hand.
J. Kemler Appell ’55 is an artist, a creator,
and an educator. He and his wife,
Julia, whose knowledge of and enthusiasm
for birds is absolutely equal to her
husband’s, have devoted themselves to
building and maintaining a habitat for
more than 75 different species of birds.
His backyard aviary is a complex world,
full of graceful lines and pure colors. The
two hours we spent together on a wet and
chilly Friday afternoon were magical: I
was invited to wander through a paradise
for birds and to contemplate the
calm of the large pond and the singular
beauty of its many inhabitants.
As we talked, he opened up to me a
world of intricacies and subtleties, patiently
explaining to me every detail of
what was a decade ago an imaginative
birthday gift for Julia. That gift—a pair
of swans—turned into an avocation; now,
what began as a hobby must be described
as a passionate mission that both Kem and
The Sanctuary is home to exotic waterfowl
from every continent except Antarctica—
a feathered UN of sorts. Although there
are generally 500 birds in residence, at
times, before a new generation of fledglings
departs, there can be nearly 700.
A Baikal hen is as curious about us as we
are about her.
Julia share: to protect rare and endangered
species and to share with others some of
nature’s most beautiful creatures. I learned
a great deal in my time with the Appells.
Like each of their 250 pairs of birds, they
are truly an impressive couple. They have
taught themselves well enough that they
can in turn educate others.
Appell’s collection is one of the largest
and most comprehensive in North
America. It includes as many as 700 birds
representing nearly 80 species. Some
originate in South America, Nepal, and
Bangladesh, to name but a few of the exotic
species to be found in Appell’s
backyard. This is the only place on the
East Coast that one can see sea ducks in
captivity. The Appells’ collection ranks
with those found in the Bronx, San Diego,
and Miami zoos. The names of the
birds, although plenty poetic, do not begin
to do them justice: silver versicolor
teal, Bahama pintail, white cheek, European
wigeon, Argentine red shoveler, cinnamon
teal, Barrows goldeneye, hooded
merganser, blue-scaled quail, Hawaiiannene,
coscoroba swan, West African
crown crane. My favorite was the iridescent
Impian pheasant from Nepal—a
truly gorgeous and majestic bird. Nestled
on a wooded lot near the heart of
Farmington, the “Sanctuary” is home to
all of these birds and to many, many
more. Some of the birds can come and
go, but all seem to know that this place
is always their home.
This private aviary is designed to
educate and to excite the minds and
imaginations of all who visit. Connecticut
College students studying animal
behavior and behavioral science have
found the aviary an invaluable resource,
for example. Kem and Julia are especially
interested in youngsters: second grade
classes from schools all around the area
have been visiting for years. Kem shows
Taft Bulletin 17