Climate Change is (not) for the Birds

The
Winter 2015, Volume 64, No. 3
Climate Change is (not) for the Birds
President’s Letter
Dear Friends,
by Jack Kozuchowski
What is Bedford Audubon doing about climate change?
For more than a century, Bedford Audubon’s citizen scientists
have contributed local observations during the annual Christmas
Bird Count.The data are used in climate change models—a far cry
from the Count’s early days. Climate change models are key to
predicting impacts on birds and other wildlife. Our Hawkwatch
and Eaglewatch projects track raptor numbers, data that is critical
in helping us understand how birds are, or aren’t, adapting to
climate change and other environmental conditions.
We’re also making Bylane Farm, circa 1730s, more energy
efficient and reduce its ecological footprint. Bylane Farm serves many
purposes for us—offices, meeting rooms, libraries, and lodging for
staff. But whether it’s replacing the boiler, installing LED light fixtures,
or buying recycled paper—the Staff and Board are always looking for
ways to go green.
And thanks to a grant from Volunteer New York and student
volunteers from John Jay High School, the Leon Levy Native
Garden became more climate-resilient this fall. Students helped us
plant more than 40 native shrubs and small trees along the
northern border to protect the garden and grounds.Together with
Bylane Farm, the Garden is an evolving example of how to make
your home more bird-friendly and climate-resilient. Stop by to see
what we’re doing and how you might incorporate some of these
practices at home.
We can’t do any of this without you though! On behalf of
the Staff and Board, thank you to all the volunteers that give so
generously of their time. Without your help, many of our projects
could not be accomplished. Donations from you, our members and
friends, are essential to keeping Bylane’s doors open, staff paid, and
continuing our conservation research, environmental education,
and other important projects. If you haven’t yet contributed
during this holiday season, I urge you to do so! Your donations are
critical to fulfilling our goals for making the Hudson Valley more
bird-friendly and climate-resilient.
We’re looking forward to an exciting 2015, and with your loyal
support to many more years of protecting habitat and birds!
M
ost scientists agree that climate change is a reality—one
that is already showing its effects like sea level rise,
shifting of habitats and ecosystems, and drought. But what
about the birds?
Climate change is not for the birds. Consider these facts:
National Audubon’s groundbreaking report on
climate change and North American birds found that by
mid-century, 314 species will be impacted by climate change,
and 126 species are at risk of losing more than half of their
ranges, leading to serious decline. Read the full report here:
http://climate.audubon.org/ sites/default/files/ AudubonBirds-Climate-Report-v1.2.pdf
Photo by Trudy Battaly
Climate change is a controversial and hot (literally) topic, but
it’s an important one that we’re devoting this edition to. For years
scientists have predicted and observed the shifting and shrinking
ranges of bears, butterflies, and other species and changes in
flowering schedules and pollinators struggling to adjust to those
new schedules.Thanks to the Audubon climate change report that
was released this fall, we know 314 North American bird species
are climate threatened or endangered.These alarming changes are
only the beginning.
The Northern Saw-whet Owl is predicted to lose 99% of its range by 2080.
The Journal of Conservation Biology published a study on
the physiological and ecological effects on landbirds due to
climate change. Sekercioglu and his colleagues found that for
every degree of warming, extinction increase exponentially.
In the worst case scenario, we could lose 400 to 550 bird
species worldwide in the next century. Read the study here:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ doi/10.1111/cbi. 2008.22.
issue-1/issuetoc.
Allen Hurlbert analyzed citizen science observations of
birds’ arrival dates to their breeding grounds and identified
earlier arrival times ranging from 0.8 days to as many as 6 days
for every degree Celsius of warming.You can read the full findings here: www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10. 1371%2
Fjournal.pone.0031662.
continued on page 3
Carol Cioppa
2
Bedford Audubon Society • Visit our website at www.bedfordaudubon.org • Winter 2015
Bedford Audubon Society, Inc.
KEEP IN TOUCH
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Carol Cioppa, President, Pound Ridge
Dr. Jim Jones, Treasurer, Pound Ridge
Walter Fowler, Vice-President,Yorktown
Lynn Becker, Katonah
Dr. J. Alan Clark, Armonk
Marilyn Glass, Bedford
Marilyn Shapiro, Pound Ridge
COMMITTEE & PROGRAM LEADERSHIP
Development, Carol Cioppa
Education, Dr. Linda R. Burke
Great Swamp, Dr. Jim Utter
Facilities, Carol Cioppa
Finance, Dr. Jim Jones
Governance, Dr. J. Alan Clark
Henry Morgenthau Preserve, Marilyn Shapiro
Leon Levy Native Garden, Lynn Becker
Nominating, Walter Fowler
Program Registrar, Jeanne Pollock
Science & Research, Dr. J. Alan Clark
Strategic Planning, Walter Fowler &
Dr. Jim Jones
STAFF
Janelle Robbins, Executive Director
Tait Johansson, Naturalist-in-Residence
VISIT US
Bylane Farm, 35 Todd Road, Katonah,
New York 10536
Leon Levy Native Garden
John Bull Library
Offices
James Ramsay Hunt & Mary Welsh Parker
Memorial Sanctuary, Katonah
Henry Morgenthau Preserve, Pound Ridge
Palmer H. Lewis Memorial Sanctuary,
Bedford
Ruth Walgreen Franklin & Winifred Fels
Memorial Sanctuary, North Salem
CONTACT US
Phone: 914.232.1999
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.bedfordaudubon.org
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/BedfordAudubonSociety
Do you want to stay up to date with what’s happening at Bedford Audubon,
special additions to our programming line-up, and other news? If so, make sure
you’re receiving emails from us!
New to our email list? Send a message to [email protected] with
your first and last names.
If you aren’t receiving email from us but used to, check to make sure your SPAM
filters are set to allow you to receive mail from [email protected].
If you use Gmail, please check your “Promotions” mailbox for messages from
Bedford Audubon. By dragging an email from us into your “Primary” mailbox you’ll
always see our messages right away.
iPhone Mail users may also get what appears to be a blank email from us as
well as other organizations. An easy fix is described here:
www.iphonefaq.org/archives/971036.
Winter & Early Spring Almanac
JANUARY
MARCH
2-3 Peak night for Quarantids meteor
5
10
4
10
25
shower.
Full Moon.
Oaks and beeches are among
the few broad-leaved trees still
retaining their leaves.
Larger waterfowl concentrations
form in open patches of water
on lakes and rivers, as ice
accumulates elsewhere.
FEBRUARY
3
12
20
28
Full Moon.
Look for fox tracks on newly fallen
snow, which resemble small dog
tracks arranged in a pattern that is
almost a line.
Springtails (also called snow
fleas), small dark blue insect, are
visible on thawing snow.
Some willows producing catkins
already.
12
15
20
25
Full moon.
Spring Peepers heard in full
strength on warmer nights; at a
distance a Peeper chorus can
sound rather like faraway sleigh
bells.
Compton Tortoiseshell and
Mourning Cloak butterflies
become active on warm sunny
days, having just emerged from
hibernation.
Bluebirds begin building nests.
Spring Equinox; first official day
of Spring.
Spotted Salamanders head to
vernal pools for breeding, watch
for them crossing roads on rainy
nights.
APRIL
4
15
Full moon.
American Toads start to congregate in their breeding wetlands;
the males attract females with a
long, persistent, bird-like trill.
Bedford Audubon Society • www.bedfordaudubon.org • Winter 2015
3
Climate Change- continued from page 1
Some bird species may survive a changing climate by shifting their ranges
closer to the poles or moving higher in altitude.This means we may see
different birds at our feeders, in our backyards, and in our local wildlife
sanctuaries and parks. Some of our favorite birds will shift further north, with
new species moving in.
However, the evolution of ecosystems worldwide will be at a different
pace than adaptation by birds—a phenomenon called asynchronous
response. Migrating birds will arrive at breeding grounds earlier than their
food sources – whether that’s nectar, insects, or seeds – are available. Not
enough food can negatively impact breeding success, resulting in smaller
broods.
There will also be an evolution of something called no analog ecosystems.
This is where habitat changes into something that has not previously been
seen before. Birds may not be able to establish breeding or wintering
territories where they previously thrived because the habitat is now
alien to them.
Climate change is global, but its detrimental effects on local ecosystems
and the species we care about are nearly assured. However, no one can
predict with absolute certainly how ecosystems will change. But change they
will, and the effects on habitat viability, migration, and food will chaotically
affect some species—depending on how well humans can slow or stop
climate change.
Join us for the next article in this climate change series in the spring
newsletter on mitigation—how you can reduce your carbon footprint.
10 Climate Endangered
Birds in New York
These are just ten common species that
are climate endangered in New York
State.This means that these birds are
projected to lose more than half of their
current ranges by 2050.
American Black Duck
Bald Eagle
Brown Creeper
Bufflehead
Common Loon
Greater Scaup
Hooded Merganser
Ring-billed Gull
Ring-necked Duck
Ruffed Grouse
Please show your support for Bedford Audubon Society’s conservation mission by
making a gift today.
Your tax-deductible donation is truly needed and appreciated.
To donate, please mail this form and a check payable to Bedford Audubon Society, 35 Todd Road, Katonah, NY 10536
If you wish to make a secure donation using a Visa or MasterCard, visit www.bedfordaudubon.org/donation.
$50
$100
$250
$500
$1,000
$2,500
I wish to make a donation of ____________________.
My employer has a matching gift program.
My check is enclosed.
Please send me information on legacy giving.
I wish to pay by credit card:
VISA
MC
This is a gift in honor of: ____________________________________ Credit Card Number _________________________________________
Please honor me anonymously.
Expiration Date ____________________________ CVV Code________
Please honor me as: ________________________________________ Signature ___________________________________________________
Name
Address
City
State
Zip
Phone
E-Mail
Bedford Audubon never sells or shares your personal information.
Thank you!
4
Bedford Audubon Society • www.bedfordaudubon.org • Winter 2015
Trail maintenance isn’t just for the summer!
We’re looking for volunteers to help repair sections
of boardwalk at the Hunt-Parker Sanctuary this
winter. No experience necessary. Just come and
enjoy the brisk weather on half-day work parties to
make the Orange Trail safer underfoot!
If you’re interested, please contact Jack Kozuchowski
at [email protected].
About Birds: Bufflehead
by Tait Johansson
T
he Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola), often known to
hunters as the “butterball” for its ability to put on
quantities of fat during fall migration, is a small, stubby,
strikingly-plumaged duck common in our area in winter—as
long as there is open water. The odd name is a corruption of
“Buffalo-head”, a reference to the bird’s angular, disproportionately large head.
The male (called a drake) and female (a hen) are of similar
size and shape, but have such different adult plumages that
one could be forgiven for thinking that they are two different
species.
The drake is mostly a bright gleaming white, and boldly
patterned with black on the back, wings, and tail.The
forehead and lower border of the head has an area of darker
coloration that, though it normally looks black, in the right
light reveals beautiful iridescent highlights of bronzy-gold,
purple, and green.
In contrast, hens and young drakes are a gray-brown on the
underparts and a darker gray-brown on the rest of the body,
save for a small white patch in the secondaries and a small
oval of white on the side of the face.
During courtship, the drakes do a variety of rather charming
displays, involving head-bobbing, wing-lifting, and short flights
over and near the hen, with a short “water-skiing” finish, as the
drake sticks his bright pink feet out in front of himself as he
gradually comes to a stop on the surface of the water.
This bird breeds at the edges of ponds and lakes in the
boreal forests of Canada. A cavity-nester like the Wood Duck,
the Bufflehead’s small size enables it to use a wide variety of
tree cavities for nesting—often abandoned flicker nest or
Photo: Buffleheads in flight by Marcus Robertson
roost holes.They migrate south in autumn to warmer climes.
On its wintering grounds, the Bufflehead frequents lakes,
ponds, large rivers, and saltwater near shore, where it feeds
mostly on mollusks and crustaceans, a change from its usual
summer diet of aquatic insects.
The Bufflehead is Climate Endangered, with a projected
loss of 59 percent of its breeding habitat. Because they rely
on trees for nesting, a lack of nesting sites make northern
adaptation above the tree line, where the climate may be
otherwise suitable, challenging.
Bedford Audubon Society • www.bedfordaudubon.org • Winter 2015
5
Late Winter/Early Spring Lectures, Field Trips, and Special Programs
We invite you to join us this winter for a wonderful
selection of lectures, field trips, and special events. All
of Bedford Audubon’s programs are open to the public.
Please also check our website and Facebook page for
new additions to our program line-up!
Unless otherwise noted, please pre-register for all programs
with Ms. Jeanne Pollock at [email protected] or
914.519.7801. In case of emergencies, inclement
weather, or other extenuating circumstances it is
important that we have your contact information to
address last minute changes, postponements, or
cancelations. We will make every effort to call or email any
changes to registered participants by 6 pm the day prior to the
program.Thank you for your attention!
Each walk field trip is given one of three levels of
physical difficulty: Easy, Moderate, or Strenuous. Please
discuss your level of mobility with the program registrar to
ensure the program is appropriate for you. Participation carries
certain risks, and it is required that all walk and field trip participants carefully read and sign a release of liability. The waiver is
available at www.bedfordaudubon.org/waiver2012.pdf.
We appreciate your understanding.
JANUARY
Thursdays in January & February, 1 hour before
sunset, Science in Action: EagleWatch. Starting January 8
and ending February 26,Tait and a team of volunteers will
monitor roosting Bald Eagles within the Lower Hudson Valley
Important Bird Area (IBA) at George’s Island, New Croton
Reservoir, and Verplanck. Family friendly—a great way to
introduce science to your kids! If you’re interested in this fun
and exciting citizen science project please email Tait at
[email protected] or call 914.232.1999.
Saturday, January 3, Science in Action: Putnam
Christmas Bird Count. Another chance to lend your birding
skills to the cause! Contact Charlie Roberto at 914.271.0840
to learn how you can help.
Sunday, January 11, 7 - 8:30 pm, Workshop: Grow
Native Plant from Seed with Barbara Gerson at the
Pound Ridge Library. When invasives outcompete native
plants, it’s time to level the playing field! Use Mother Nature’s
own methods to propagate native plants from seed. Join us
for this Invasive Project – Pound Ridge workshop to learn
how to collect and sow seeds. Cost: Free. No registration
required.
Tuesday, January 13, 7-9 am, Bird Walk: Dean’s Bridge
with Bedford Audubon Naturalist Tait Johansson. Start
the work day right! If the weather cooperates, ice elsewhere
will concentrate large numbers of wintering waterfowl at the
open water by Dean’s Bridge for easy viewing and identifying.
Cost: Free. Level of difficulty: Easy. Dress warm. Please register
with Jeanne Pollock at [email protected] or
914.519.7801.
Wednesday, January 14, 7 pm, Lecture: An Unnatural
History of Wildlife Law with Dr. J. Alan Clark at the
Katonah Village Library. We’re thrilled to have one of our
favorite speakers back! Dr. Clark is not only a biologist, but
also an attorney and this lecture will explore the intersection
of wildlife and the laws designed to protect and conserve
them. Cost: Free. No registration required; we’ll see you at
7 pm for refreshments and the lecture begins at 7:30 pm.
(Please bring a reusable mug to help us reduce our ecological footprint.)
Friday, January 16 through Monday, January 19, Special
Field Trip: Cape Ann in Winter. We invite you to join us for
this special trip to Cape Ann, Massachusetts. Cape Ann is the
winter home to a spectacular range of seabirds. Our masterful
Naturalist Tait Johansson will guide this special extended trip
around Rockport and Gloucester. Our negotiated group hotel
rates and optional fixed price dinners at local restaurants
simplify the logistics and allow you to focus on the main
attraction—the birds. Register now! Cost: $100 for members,
$130 for non-members and we’ll credit $30 towards your
membership. Note: The fee for this trip helps offset expenses
associated with our free nature walks and field trips. Level of
difficulty: Easy-moderate. Please register with Jeanne Pollock
at [email protected] or 914.519.7801.
Monday, January 19, Office Closed: MLK Day. Explore our
sanctuaries on your own—winter is a great time to scout for tracks
and learn more about the mammals that live in our sanctuaries.
Saturday, January 24, 9 am to 1 pm, Workshop: Wild for
Waterfowl. Last year’s weather didn’t cooperate as much as
we would have liked, so we’re giving this another go! Bedford
Audubon’s Naturalist Tait Johansson will first lead a classroom
session at Bylane Farm on waterfowl biology and identification, and then the group will depart for Dean’s Bridge to put
your new skills to work! We’ll also be offering a second
session in February. Family friendly for kids 12 and older,
but all children must be accompanied by a participating adult.
Cost: $15 for Bedford Audubon members, or $30 for
non-members and we’ll credit the workshop fee towards your
membership if you join that day. Level of difficulty: Easy.
Dress warm. Please register with Jeanne Pollock at
[email protected] or 914.519.7801.
continued on pages 6 -7
6
Bedford Audubon Society • www.bedfordaudubon.org • Winter 2015
Late Winter/Early Spring Lectures, Field Trips, and Special Programs
Sunday, January 25, 9 am - 12 pm, Field Trip: Discover
the Meadowlands in Winter with Meadowlands Field
Specialist Mike Newhouse. Waterfowl galore, winter
raptors, possible Snow Buntings and Horned Larks are all
possibilities! Cost: Free. Level of difficulty: Easy.
Dress warm. Please register with Jeanne Pollock at
[email protected] or 914.519.7801.
Saturday, January 31, 8 am-1 pm, Bird Walk: Explore
Greenwich Point with Bedford Audubon Naturalist Tait
Johansson. Long-tailed ducks, scoters, and Goldeneyes
oh my! Depart Bylane at 7 am, or meet in the lot at the
concession stand by 8am. Cost: Free. Level of difficulty:
Easy. Dress warm. Please register with Jeanne Pollock at
[email protected] or 914.519.7801.
FEBRUARY
Tuesday, February 3, 9 am-1 pm, Workshop: Wild for
Waterfowl with Naturalist-in-Residence Tait Johansson.
Tait will first lead a classroom session at Bylane Farm on
waterfowl biology and identification, and then this time the
group will depart for the Edith Read Sanctuary in Rye to put
your new skills to work. Family-friendly for kids 12 and older,
but all children must be accompanied by a participating adult.
Cost: $15 for Bedford Audubon members, or $30 for nonmembers and we’ll credit the workshop fee towards your
membership if you join that day. Level of difficulty: Easy.
Dress warm. Please register with Ms. Jeanne Pollock at
[email protected] or 914.519.7801.
Saturday, February 7, 9 am-3 pm, See Us: EagleFest! Join
us at the New Croton Dam for a day of viewing our Nation’s
symbol, the Bald Eagle. We’ll also be monitoring the local
waterfowl and other birds, too! No registration necessary!
Snow date Sunday, February 8.
Saturday, February 7, 10 am-12 pm, Volunteer:
Vinecutting at the Russell Preserve in Pound Ridge with
Bob DelTorto. Learn to identify vines in winter and the best
way to remove invasive vines to protect the health of native
trees with the Invasives Project – Pound Ridge and the Pound
Ridge Land Conservancy. Please bring work gloves, loppers,
and pruners if you have them. Cost: Free. Register with
[email protected].
Wednesday, February 11, 7 pm, Lecture: The Gotham
Coyote Project with Dr. Mark Weckel at the Katonah
Village Library. Coyotes in New York City! Why are they
here? Where do they live? How many are there? What do they
eat? Mark Weckel of the American Museum of Natural History
will explain how the Gotham Coyote Project is trying to
answer these questions and others. Cost: Free. No registration
required; we’ll see you at 7 pm for refreshments, the lecture
begins at 7:30 pm. (Please bring a reusable mug to help us
reduce our ecological footprint.)
February 13-16, Science in Action: The Great Backyard
Bird Count! Launched in 1998 by the National Audubon and
the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the Great Backyard Bird Count
was the first online citizen science project to collect data on
wild birds and display results in near real-time. Since them,
more than 100,000 people of all ages have contributed
observations to create this annual snapshot of the distribution
and abundance of birds. All you need to do is tally the numbers
and species of birds you see for at least 15 minutes on one or
more days during the count period, at any location anywhere
in the world! Register at http://gbbc.birdcount.org/getstarted/.
Saturday, February 14, 9-11 am, Workshop: Wildlife
Photography with Bedford Audubon Members Chet
Friedman and Marcus Robertson. Interested in taking a
better photo of that stunning Northern Flicker or the Red-tail
on the wing? Chet and Marcus will explore wildlife photo
etiquette, knowing your subject and surroundings, composition, equipment, tips and tricks. Bring your camera! Cost: Free.
Level of difficulty: Easy. Dress warm. Please register with
Jeanne Pollock at [email protected] or
914.519.7801.
Monday, February 16, Office Closed: Presidents’ Day. We
like to think that Washington and Lincoln would approve! Get
out and explore our sanctuaries on foot or by snowshoe if the
weather allows!
Saturday, February 21, 7-9 pm, Nature Walk: The Winter
Sky at Bylane with Bedford Audubon Member Alan
Alterman. Learn to use an orrey to understand the reasons
for seasons, eclipses, long nights and short days, and moon
phases and conjunctions—and how Ursa Major lost his tail!
The Westchester Amateur Astronomers will bring their deep
sky telescopes to help us explore the Moon’s craters, Jupitor’s
moons, and the Seven Sisters and also to find Orion, the Bull,
the Bear, the Dog, the Queen, and Home Plate.This is a great
program for families, but children must be accompanied by an
adult. Hot chocolate and cookies will be served. Cost: Free.
Level of difficulty: Easy. Dress warm. Please register with
Jeanne Pollock at [email protected] or
914.519.7801. Snow date February 22.
MARCH
Wednesday, March 11, 7 pm, Lecture: Climate Change &
Birds with Dr. Gary Langham at the Katonah Village
Library. Did you know that 314 North American bird species
are threatened or endangered due to climate change? Join
Bedford Audubon Society • www.bedfordaudubon.org • Winter 2015
7
National Audubon’s Chief Scientist and author of the groundbreaking climate change report for a lecture on the impacts of
climate change on our feathered friends. Cost: Free. No
registration required; we’ll see you at 7 pm for refreshments,
the lecture begins at 7:30 pm at the Katonah Village Library.
(Please bring a reusable mug to help us reduce our
ecological footprint.)
Saturday, March 28, 7 am-12 pm, Field Trip: Croton
Point Park with Naturalist-in-Residence Tait Johansson.
Join Tait as he searches for early returning migrants like
Killdeer, American Kestrels, and Eastern Meadowlarks. Depart
Bylane at 6:30 am. Cost: Free. Level of difficulty: Easy to
moderate. Register with Ms. Jeanne Pollock at
[email protected] or 914.519.7801.
Thursday March 12, 8 am-1 pm, Field Trip: Marshlands
Conservancy & Edith Read Sanctuary with Naturalist-inResidence Tait Johansson. Just in time for displaying
waterfowl, Fox Sparrows, early returning migrants, and
perhaps Great Horned Owls! Depart Bylane at 7:15 am or
meet us at the boathouse on Playland Lake at 8 am. Cost: Free.
Level of difficulty: Easy to moderate. Register with Ms. Jeanne
Pollock at [email protected] or 914.519.7801.
Tuesday, March 31, 7:15-8:30 pm, Field Trip: Dance of
the Woodcock at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. We
hope to see you after work at this extraordinary ritual, where
the male American Woodcock “peents”, struts, hurls himself
into the evening sky, and glides back down to the ground
again, all in hopes of attracting a mate. Meet Naturalist Tait
Johansson in the parking area just before the toll booth, and
bring a flashlight or headlamp. Cost: Free. Level of difficulty:
Easy-moderate. Register with Ms. Jeanne Pollock at
[email protected] or 914.519.7801.
Saturday, March 14, 7-11 am, Workshop: Birding By
Ear with Naturalist-in-Residence Tait Johansson. Get
ready for spring migration! Birding by ear is one of the most
rewarding yetchallenging ways to identify our avian friends.
Tait will demystify bird calls and sounds in this special
workshop, teaching you to apply a methodology for
identifying and categorizing a variety of vocalizations. Great
for novice and intermediate birders. We sold out last year, so
register now! Cost: $25 for members, $30 for non-members
and we’ll convert your workshop fee to a one-year membership at the Black-capped Chickadee level. Register with
Ms. Jeanne Pollock at [email protected] or
914.519.7801.
Saturday, March 21, 8:30 am-2 pm, Field Trip: Wallkill
National Wildlife Refuge/Black Dirt Region with
Naturalist-in-Residence Tait Johansson. Join Tait and the
group in search of exciting spring migrants like Rusty
Blackbird, Wood Duck, Northern Pintail, and Green-winged
Teal. Possible stop at Shawangunk Grasslands on the way
back for Rough-legged Hawks and Eastern Meadowlark.
Depart Bylane 7 am. Cost: Free. Level of difficulty:
Easy to moderate. Register with Ms. Jeanne Pollock at
[email protected] or 914.519.7801.
Sunday, March 22, 7-8 pm, Forum: Creating Wildlife
Habitat with Dr. Linda Rohleder at the Pound Ridge
Library. Lure butterflies, birds and other wildlife to your
property by planting their favorite trees, shrubs, and
perennials. Join the Invasives Project – Pound Ridge, the
Lower Hudson Partners in Regional Invasive Species
Management (PRISM) for this spring forum. Our own Tait
Johansson will be on hand with Mianus River Gorge’s Dr.
Chris Nagy to answer questions. Cost: Free. No registration
necessary.
APRIL
Wednesday, April 8, 7 pm, Lecture: Stay tuned for more
details. Please bring a reusable mug to help us reduce our
ecological footprint. Cost: Free. No registration required; we’ll
see you at 7 pm for refreshments, the lecture begins at
7:30 pm at the Katonah Village Library.
Saturday, April 11, 8 am-12 pm, Workshop: Warblers
with Naturalist-in-Residence Tait Johansson.
Every spring, about 30 species of wood warblers are found
migrating through our area, bringing with them a beautiful
but bewildering profusion of colors and sounds.This
workshop will focus on how to go about learning to identify
the species in this celebrated family of birds, by sound as well
as by sight. Cost: $40 for members and $55 for non-members
and we’ll convert your workshop fee to a one-year membership at the Black-capped Chickadee level; cost includes “The
Warbler Guide” by Stephenson and Whittle. Level of difficulty:
Easy. Register with Ms. Jeanne Pollock at [email protected] or 914.519.7801.
Save the Date!
We’re in the nascent stages of planning a
spring birding trip to Montezuma National
Wildlife Refuge and Braddock Bay in central
New York. Braddock Bay is the best spring
Hawkwatch in the northeast, many migrating
land birds, and interesting waterfowl along
the south shore of Lake Ontario. Interested?
Let us know!
Bedford Audubon Society
35 Todd Road
Katonah, NY 10536
NONPROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE
PAID
WHITE PLAINS NY
Postermaster: Address Correction Requested
PERMIT NO 4961
Our Mission
The mission of the
Bedford Audubon Society is
to promote conservation and
protection of wildlife habitats
in the northern Westchester
and eastern Putnam region
through education,
advocacy, nature study
and birdwatching.
Photo by Richard Crossley
Bedford Audubon’s volunteer
family is growing!
W
ith only two full-time staff members, volunteers are an
integral part of Bedford Audubon!
To support our growing and evolving organization, we’ve
expanded our volunteer network through a number of
avenues—Volunteer Match, an online service that matches
prospective volunteers to nonprofits; Volunteer New York,
formerly known as the Volunteer Center; Skills for Change, a
virtual volunteering website; and of course, through our own
community.
Our volunteers range from Cub Scouts to “professional
volunteers” that spend their retirement giving back to their
favorite causes. Most excitingly, we have a growing contingent
of high school volunteers. Sometimes six decades separate
the volunteers, but Bedford Audubon always unites them.
We have volunteers that edit articles or design graphics for
us from the other side of the world, some that drop in for a
week or so to fulfill a service obligation, and others that come
every week to work on a specific project. We have a list of
volunteers to call when we’re prepping a mailing, or have a
special event.
Do you want to volunteer? Download our Volunteer
Application from and call Janelle at 914.232.1999 to make an
appointment to talk about your volunteer interests.
Wish List
C
leaning out your closets, basement, or garage?
Check with us first in case we can give your
castaways a new life helping Bedford Audubon!
We’re looking for:
• Hand pruners, loppers, and hand saws in good
repair
• Oscillating sprinklers and spray nozzles without
any leaks
• 36-quart or larger wheeled cooler
• Galvanized tubs, pails, and sap buckets without
holes or noticeable rust
If you have any of these items or can arrange for
free or discounted items and services, please call
Janelle at 914.232.1999 or for more details on our
needs.
Check out our complete Amazon Wish List for
conservation equipment, books, and office supplies
by searching for Bedford Audubon Society at
www.amazon.com/gp/wishlist. And if you designate
us as your charity of choice at smile.amazon.com,
your gift goes even further when Amazon donates a
portion of your purchases to us!