CWAS Newsletter January - February, 2005

Newsletter, January - February, 2006

Programs

Stories of the Hudson
Thursday, January 19, 2006
7:30PM in the Cafeteria
Church St. School
295 Church St., White Plains

Speaker: Bob Walters

Bob Walters has a passion for the Hudson River. A former Executive director of the Beczak Environmental Education Center and Hudson River activist for 20 years, Bob has paddled the river from Lake Champlain to Long Island Sound. Over the years he has spent time with commercial fishermen and has met many of the old-timers who have passed on to him the history of the river. He will tell us some of their stories as well accounts of environmental challenges and fights to clean up the river. Please join us to welcome this Hudson River story teller.

"Pale Male"
Thursday, February 16, 2006
7:00PM in the Auditorium
Church St. School
295 Church St., White Plains

At our February meeting we will present "Pale Male," the award-winning documentary produced and directed by Frederic Lillien and narrated by Joanne Woodward.

This film recounts the history of a Red-tailed Hawk that took up residence on a ledge of a luxury Fifth Avenue apartment building, just across from Central Park. Attracting the attention of curious onlookers and inspiring the devotion of New Yorkers of all ages, Pale Male courts a mate, breeds and teaches his offspring to fly. Please join us to witness this heart-warming story which shows how a connection to nature can unite people across the entire spectrum of age, race and economic status. To this date, the followers of Pale Male are still recording his story and that of his offspring. Current history of this amazing predator can be found at www.palemale.com.

Field Trips

Unless otherwise indicated, all trips will start at Education House, 5 Homeside Lane in White Plains. Car pooling will be available. If you have questions call Jeanne Alpert at 914-946-1780 or Victor Ramos at 914-310-7742. Trips which are led by Victor Ramos are bi-lingual in Spanish and English. You should bring a snack, even for a half day trip. It is most important to bring water, especially in the warm weather. Always wear sturdy shoes and dress in layers. A few loaner binoculars will be available. If you need loaner binoculars, please call us before the trip to reserve one of the few pairs we have. We encourage beginners to join in the fun of birding..

Directions to Education House. Homeside Lane is located off North St. in White Plains. Going south on Mamaroneck Avenue from downtown White Plains, make a left turn on Ridgeway. Go down Ridgeway to the traffic light (firehouse on the left) and turn right on to North Street. Homeside Lane is the third right and Education House is the first building on the left. Parking is available in the circular driveway.

Sunday, January 29, 2006, 8AM
Pelham Bay Park, Daytime Owl Prowl. A winter walk in search of Saw-whet, Great-horned and Long-eared Owls. This is also a good location for a variety of wintering ducks. Meet at Orchard Beach parking lot, left front corner toward the beach as you enter the lot. This walk is co-sponsored with Bronx River/Sound Shore Audubon. The leader is Doug Bloom, 834-5203.

Saturday, February 4, 2006, 8AM
Croton Point Park & possibly George's Island. This is our annual trip in search of wintering Bald Eagles. Meet at Ed House for car pooling and directions. Leader is Hank Weber of the Wild Bird Center in Scarsdale, which is co-sponsoring this trip.

Sunday, February 12, 2006, 9AM to 3PM
Teatown's Hudson River Eagle Fest. This program will be conducted at several sites: Teatown Lake Reservation, spots along the Hudson, several nature centers, and the Jacob Burns film Center:
At Teatown: Educational programs exhibits and children's crafts ($1.00 each).
The Eagle Institute and NYS D.E.C. present:
12:00pm: "Photographing & Viewing Eagles"
2:00pm: "History of Eagles on the Hudson"
"Close Encounters with Birds of Prey" Live raptors. Shows at 11:00am and 1:00pm.
Along the Hudson River: Guides with scopes located at: Croton Station boat ramp, George's Island, Montrose; Charles Point Park, Peekskill; Route 6/202 overlook. Warming tents and hot chocolate.
For information on the Nature Centers and Jacob Burns Film Center call Teatown at 762-2912 or visit their website: www.teatown.org.

The Courtyard Garden

A Progress Report
Our dream of a beautiful habitat garden in the courtyard of the Church Street School is about to become a reality. A grant proposal for funds to create the garden has been submitted to Audubon New York which expects to make its decision by the first of the year. Board members Beth Da Silva and Libby Wagner have chosen from a list of native trees, shrubs and perennials plants that have the most value for wildlife, and Libby has drawn a beautiful colored scale diagram of the project placing the selected plant materials within the garden plot which will measure 24 feet by 48 feet. We also envision a small circulating pool to provide water- an essential part of the habitat.

This garden is a substantial undertaking and will require volunteer help to dig and plant as well as financial help to complete the project. We do not expect that Audubon New York will supply all of the funds.

What can you do to help?
· Volunteer a few hours to help prepare the soil and plant the garden.
· Volunteer the use of your SUV, truck or wagon to pick up the plants at the nursery.
· Volunteer to be on a maintenance committee. This will be a low maintenance garden, but will require some tending to, especially during the first few years.
· CHECK your packaged, canned, and jarred goods for "Box tops for Education" coupons and either drop them off at the school or mail them to our post office box. We have found these coupons on General Mills cereals and on the cover of a jar of Old El Paso Salsa. I am sure that many more products carry them. The Church Street School PTA has dedicated the proceeds of all coupons received to the garden.

Let us know you want to be a volunteer by phoning or e-mailing Jeanne Alpert (phone and e-mail on the masthead to the left). We will get touch with you in the spring when more of the details are settled.

jsa

Long Island Sound

Stewardship Initiative (LISSI)
The Long Island Sound Stewardship Initiative is a public/private partnership that has been working together for more than a decade to identify, protect and enhance special areas around the Sound to increase habitat protection, access, and recreational opportunities. Stewardship sites have been identified to help focus efforts, and now is the time to implement on the ground actions to help promote the concepts developed by LISSI.

On November 14th a group of us met at Reid Sanctuary with Jillian Liner of Audubon and Jeff Main of Westchester County Parks to identify the areas in the County to promote the concepts of habitat protection, access to the Sound and recreational opportunities. Successful completion of the planned projects, with community support, will facilitate the passage of pending legislation that would bring $25 million to further the mission of LISSI.

According to Jillian, Audubon NY received a grant from the NFWF to work with stakeholders at two Important Birds Areas (IBA's) on Long Island Sound to develop action plans for each focus area. This project will serve as a model for future projects at LIS stewardship sites, and will provide feedback on how such projects can be successful. Public outreach that targets local residents and key stakeholders is also an important part of this project.

As a first effort, the group agreed to focus on a small stretch of the Sound between the two IBA's, Marshlands Conservancy and Edith Read Sanctuary.

The next meeting of this group will probably be in January and will address project targets (e.g. enhancing bird habitat for migrating birds, access points for recreation, improving water quality) and strategies for achieving these targets.

If you are interested in attending the next meeting of the Stewardship Committee, please call Jeanne Albert at 914-946-1780, or e-mail her at jsalpert@optonline.net.

Summer Camp Report

Dear Ms. Goldmann,

Thank you and the others on the Scholarship Committee for giving me a scholarship to Cranberry Lake Center this summer. I am sorry this letter is a little late.

I learned a lot about nature and had a lot of fun. I really enjoyed when we went ponding and looked for frogs and tadpoles. We also played a game called "Predator and Prey" that was fun and interesting.

The counselors were really great. They taught us a lot but they always made it interesting.

Thank you very much for choosing me to participate in the Summer Ecology Program.

Very truly yours,
Christopher Lennon

CWAS Offers Camp Scholarships

CWAS will again offer camp scholarships to elementary school students who reside in the communities served by our chapter. Children entering grades 2 through 6 by September 2006 are eligible for 1-week scholarships this coming summer to the Westchester County Ecology Camps at Marshlands Conservancy in Rye and Cranberry Lake in North White Plains, or the Audubon Adventures Summer Programs for Children at the Audubon Center in Greenwich.

Around mid-January we will be mailing applications to the principals of the schools in the communities we serve for distribution to teachers in the appropriate grades. If you wish your child to apply for a scholarship, ask your child's teacher or principal. In addition applications will be available at the children's section of your local library, at the Marshlands and Cranberry Lake Nature Centers, and on our website. This year the applications will be available in Spanish. You may also call Gladys Goldmann at 949-3486, for information.

Ninth Great Backyard Bird Count
February 17-20, 2006

CWAS Home Page	Newsletter, January - February, 2006 Programs *Stories of the Hudson* Thursday, January 19, 2006 7:30PM in the Cafeteria Church St. School 295 Church St., White Plains Speaker: Bob Walters Bob Walters has a passion for the Hudson River. A former Executive director of the Beczak Environmental Education Center and Hudson River activist for 20 years, Bob has paddled the river from Lake Champlain to Long Island Sound. Over the years he has spent time with commercial fishermen and has met many of the old-timers who have passed on to him the history of the river. He will tell us some of their stories as well accounts of environmental challenges and fights to clean up the river. Please join us to welcome this Hudson River story teller. *"Pale Male"* Thursday, February 16, 2006 7:00PM in the Auditorium Church St. School 295 Church St., White Plains At our February meeting we will present "Pale Male," the award-winning documentary produced and directed by Frederic Lillien and narrated by Joanne Woodward. This film recounts the history of a Red-tailed Hawk that took up residence on a ledge of a luxury Fifth Avenue apartment building, just across from Central Park. Attracting the attention of curious onlookers and inspiring the devotion of New Yorkers of all ages, Pale Male courts a mate, breeds and teaches his offspring to fly. Please join us to witness this heart-warming story which shows how a connection to nature can unite people across the entire spectrum of age, race and economic status. To this date, the followers of Pale Male are still recording his story and that of his offspring. Current history of this amazing predator can be found at www.palemale.com. Field Trips Unless otherwise indicated, all trips will start at Education House, 5 Homeside Lane in White Plains. Car pooling will be available. If you have questions call Jeanne Alpert at 914-946-1780 or Victor Ramos at 914-310-7742. Trips which are led by Victor Ramos are bi-lingual in Spanish and English. You should bring a snack, even for a half day trip. It is most important to bring water, especially in the warm weather. Always wear sturdy shoes and dress in layers. A few loaner binoculars will be available. If you need loaner binoculars, please call us before the trip to reserve one of the few pairs we have. We encourage beginners to join in the fun of birding.. Directions to Education House. Homeside Lane is located off North St. in White Plains. Going south on Mamaroneck Avenue from downtown White Plains, make a left turn on Ridgeway. Go down Ridgeway to the traffic light (firehouse on the left) and turn right on to North Street. Homeside Lane is the third right and Education House is the first building on the left. Parking is available in the circular driveway. Sunday, January 29, 2006, 8AM Pelham Bay Park, Daytime Owl Prowl. A winter walk in search of Saw-whet, Great-horned and Long-eared Owls. This is also a good location for a variety of wintering ducks. Meet at Orchard Beach parking lot, left front corner toward the beach as you enter the lot. This walk is co-sponsored with Bronx River/Sound Shore Audubon. The leader is Doug Bloom, 834-5203. Saturday, February 4, 2006, 8AM Croton Point Park & possibly George's Island. This is our annual trip in search of wintering Bald Eagles. Meet at Ed House for car pooling and directions. Leader is Hank Weber of the Wild Bird Center in Scarsdale, which is co-sponsoring this trip. Sunday, February 12, 2006, 9AM to 3PM Teatown's Hudson River Eagle Fest. This program will be conducted at several sites: Teatown Lake Reservation, spots along the Hudson, several nature centers, and the Jacob Burns film Center: At Teatown: Educational programs exhibits and children's crafts ($1.00 each). The Eagle Institute and NYS D.E.C. present: 12:00pm: "Photographing & Viewing Eagles" 2:00pm: "History of Eagles on the Hudson" "Close Encounters with Birds of Prey" Live raptors. Shows at 11:00am and 1:00pm. Along the Hudson River: Guides with scopes located at: Croton Station boat ramp, George's Island, Montrose; Charles Point Park, Peekskill; Route 6/202 overlook. Warming tents and hot chocolate. For information on the Nature Centers and Jacob Burns Film Center call Teatown at 762-2912 or visit their website: www.teatown.org. The Courtyard Garden A Progress Report Our dream of a beautiful habitat garden in the courtyard of the Church Street School is about to become a reality. A grant proposal for funds to create the garden has been submitted to Audubon New York which expects to make its decision by the first of the year. Board members Beth Da Silva and Libby Wagner have chosen from a list of native trees, shrubs and perennials plants that have the most value for wildlife, and Libby has drawn a beautiful colored scale diagram of the project placing the selected plant materials within the garden plot which will measure 24 feet by 48 feet. We also envision a small circulating pool to provide water- an essential part of the habitat. This garden is a substantial undertaking and will require volunteer help to dig and plant as well as financial help to complete the project. We do not expect that Audubon New York will supply all of the funds. What can you do to help? · Volunteer a few hours to help prepare the soil and plant the garden. · Volunteer the use of your SUV, truck or wagon to pick up the plants at the nursery. · Volunteer to be on a maintenance committee. This will be a low maintenance garden, but will require some tending to, especially during the first few years. · CHECK your packaged, canned, and jarred goods for "Box tops for Education" coupons and either drop them off at the school or mail them to our post office box. We have found these coupons on General Mills cereals and on the cover of a jar of Old El Paso Salsa. I am sure that many more products carry them. The Church Street School PTA has dedicated the proceeds of all coupons received to the garden. Let us know you want to be a volunteer by phoning or e-mailing Jeanne Alpert (phone and e-mail on the masthead to the left). We will get touch with you in the spring when more of the details are settled. jsa Long Island Sound Stewardship Initiative (LISSI) The Long Island Sound Stewardship Initiative is a public/private partnership that has been working together for more than a decade to identify, protect and enhance special areas around the Sound to increase habitat protection, access, and recreational opportunities. Stewardship sites have been identified to help focus efforts, and now is the time to implement on the ground actions to help promote the concepts developed by LISSI. On November 14th a group of us met at Reid Sanctuary with Jillian Liner of Audubon and Jeff Main of Westchester County Parks to identify the areas in the County to promote the concepts of habitat protection, access to the Sound and recreational opportunities. Successful completion of the planned projects, with community support, will facilitate the passage of pending legislation that would bring $25 million to further the mission of LISSI. According to Jillian, Audubon NY received a grant from the NFWF to work with stakeholders at two Important Birds Areas (IBA's) on Long Island Sound to develop action plans for each focus area. This project will serve as a model for future projects at LIS stewardship sites, and will provide feedback on how such projects can be successful. Public outreach that targets local residents and key stakeholders is also an important part of this project. As a first effort, the group agreed to focus on a small stretch of the Sound between the two IBA's, Marshlands Conservancy and Edith Read Sanctuary. The next meeting of this group will probably be in January and will address project targets (e.g. enhancing bird habitat for migrating birds, access points for recreation, improving water quality) and strategies for achieving these targets. If you are interested in attending the next meeting of the Stewardship Committee, please call Jeanne Albert at 914-946-1780, or e-mail her at jsalpert@optonline.net. Summer Camp Report Dear Ms. Goldmann, Thank you and the others on the Scholarship Committee for giving me a scholarship to Cranberry Lake Center this summer. I am sorry this letter is a little late. I learned a lot about nature and had a lot of fun. I really enjoyed when we went ponding and looked for frogs and tadpoles. We also played a game called "Predator and Prey" that was fun and interesting. The counselors were really great. They taught us a lot but they always made it interesting. Thank you very much for choosing me to participate in the Summer Ecology Program. Very truly yours, Christopher Lennon CWAS Offers Camp Scholarships CWAS will again offer camp scholarships to elementary school students who reside in the communities served by our chapter. Children entering grades 2 through 6 by September 2006 are eligible for 1-week scholarships this coming summer to the Westchester County Ecology Camps at Marshlands Conservancy in Rye and Cranberry Lake in North White Plains, or the Audubon Adventures Summer Programs for Children at the Audubon Center in Greenwich. Around mid-January we will be mailing applications to the principals of the schools in the communities we serve for distribution to teachers in the appropriate grades. If you wish your child to apply for a scholarship, ask your child's teacher or principal. In addition applications will be available at the children's section of your local library, at the Marshlands and Cranberry Lake Nature Centers, and on our website. This year the applications will be available in Spanish. You may also call Gladys Goldmann at 949-3486, for information. Ninth Great Backyard Bird Count February 17-20, 2006 www.audubon.org/gbbc/index.shtml
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	Central Westchester Audubon Society
	Elmsford, Greenburgh, Harrison, Purchase, Rye, Rye Brook, Port Chester and White Plains
	P.O. Box 359, White Plains, NY 10602 email: cwas@centralwestchesteraudubon.org