CWAS Newsletter January - February, 2007

Newsletter, January - February, 2007

Programs

Invasive Plants of Westchester
Thursday, January 18, 2007, 7:30 PM
Rye Nature Center
873 Boston Post Road, Rye

Speaker: Chris Murray

What makes a plant invasive and why are invasives a problem? What are the 20 most invasive plants in our county and what can we do about them? These are some of the topics and issues that will be discussed in this hour-long slide show and lecture.

Chris Murray has a certificate in Landscape Management from the NY Botanical Garden and is a Master Gardener with the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester with a special interest in invasive plants and the native plants they are displacing. She currently tends two public gardens, the Native Plant Garden at the Rye Nature Center and the Bee & Butterfly Garden at Teatown Lake Reservation in Ossining, as well as her own in Harrison.

For directions log on to: www.ryenaturecenter.org or call 967-5150.

Whales, Dolphins & Porpoises
Thursday, February 15, 2007, 7:30 PM
Scarsdale Public Library
54 Olmstead Rd., Scarsdale

Speaker: Dr. Joy S. Reidenberg

Dr. Joy Reidenberg is an Associate Professor of Anatomy and Medical Education at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York and an internationally recognized research scientist in the field of comparative anatomy and marine biology. Her research focuses on adaptations of animals living in extreme environments, particularly marine mammals. She will talk to us today about some of her favorite animals: cetaceans, the order that includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. We'll get to hear about who they are, what they look and sound like, where they live, when they do certain behaviors, why their bodies differ from land mammals, and how their survival is threatened. We'll hear about Dr. Reidenberg's own research, and will also be treated to a "show and tell" of real, natural items from whales that you can touch.

Co-sponsored with Bronx River/Sound Shore Audubon.

Field Trips

Sunday, January 28, 2007, 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 and Hudson River Audubon.

Saturday, February 3, 2007, 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 11, 2007, 9AM to 3PM (Alternate date in case of bad weather will be February 18) Teatown's Hudson River Eagle Fest: the annual celebration of the winter return of Bald Eagles to the Hudson Hills and Highlands. There will be educational programs, exhibits and children's activities and Bald Eagle viewing at several locations along the Hudson River. Warming tents and hot chocolate will be available at several sites. For complete details and for weather and program updates check the website: www.teatown.org or call 762-2912, Ext. 110.

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.

Church Street School Courtyard Garden

What's New in the Garden
Even as the winter season approaches and plants are now dormant, enhancements to the garden continue to be made. Students have fashioned plant labels from left over bathroom tiles decorated with mosaic chips, inscribed them with the name of each individual plant, and set them out in the garden. Two giant concrete leaf sculptures by Wendy Podell, art teacher, and Bruce Riggs, garden advisor, have been placed strategically in the garden beds; a charming rabbit sculpture by artist-in-residence, Helen Gurny, occupies a prominent space near the top of the hill; and multi-colored sculpted letters announcing "art is fun" and "birds, bees and butterflies" have been added. All of these art projects give the garden an inviting look.

From a practical standpoint, the Building and Grounds Department has installed the all-important outdoor electrical outlets so that we can have a heated bird bath this winter and a waterfall come spring. As a safety measure a fence along the wall separating the upper garden from the lower will be erected shortly.

On the lower garden level, 4th grade teacher, Joan Conca, has put up three bird feeders. Thanks to the to the generosity of the many parents and visitors to our November hawk program, enough money was raised to buy birdseed for the season. From the remainder of the Audubon grant, we were able to purchase two pair of binoculars and a bird bath de-icer

Two lunchtime clubs, each meeting about once a week, have been formed. Under the direction of Ms. Conca, bird club members will identify and count the number of birds and observe their behavior as they come to the feeders and bird bath. Students will be able to watch the bird activity from a glassed in corridor which faces the courtyard.

A Courtyard Scientist's Club of 32 fifth graders has been formed under the direction of the enrichment teacher, Loretta Cannito. The scientists' first project is to use all of their senses to capture seasonal changes in the garden. Also, they are planning to develop a booklet describing a scavenger hunt in order to get the younger grades involved in appreciation of the garden's possibilities for nature discovery.

It is clear that the courtyard garden has generated a great deal of excitement and enthusiasm among the students; we look forward to publishing the results of their inquiries in future newsletters.

-- jsa

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 2007 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. This is a wonderful opportunity to encourage in your children an appreciation of the natural world.

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. See the letter below from a very happy camper.

Letter from a Happy Camper

Thank you Audubon Society for giving me a scholarship. I went to Marshlands Conservancy in Rye for camp. I liked it a lot! I went seining. It was really fun. We found a lot of silver sides and even more hermit crabs. We also found a green crab and some shrimp. We put the animals in a tray and observed them. We learned about what lives in the salt marsh and what kinds of things the animals need to live. We went on a hike in the forest and went to a creek. We learned about different animals and plants. We saw seven deer! I'm glad I went to camp!

Jacob Brady
Post Road School
White Plains

10th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count
February 16-19, 2007

· Discover more about the birds around you.
· Track results in real time online.
· Count anywhere-in your backyard, balcony, schoolyard, park, refuge.
· All ages and skill levels welcome.
· No fee or registration required.
Take part by visiting: www.birdsource.org/gbbc

Conservation

Use Green Cleaners: To Help the Environment
and Safeguard Your Family's Health

Minimize your impact on the environment and on your family's health when you use effective household cleaning products (either commercial or homemade) that won't harm the environment.

There are a number of green cleansers available today. These products are made without the petrochemicals, chlorine, phosphates and other toxins that are contained in many common cleaning products. The site http://www.newdream.org/consumer/cleaners.php will give you a fairly comprehensive list of ecological cleansers.

It is also possible to make your own cleansers with a few simple ingredients such as vinegar and baking soda. Studies have shown that a 5% solution of vinegar kills 99 percent of bacteria, 82 percent of mold, and 80 percent of germs (viruses). Two tablespoons of vinegar can be dissolved in two cups of water to create a basic household cleanser. For many great tips on homemade cleansers see http://www.care2.com/channels/lifestyle/home#55.

Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of products used in the home and school. This has prompted New York to become the first state to institute green cleaning legislation requiring all schools and government agencies to use environmentally benign cleansers. To read more about this, see http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/facplan/greenclean.htm.

-- From "Ask Audubon"

Save Energy: Do Your Part in
the Fight Against Global Warming

Here are some actions you can take to reduce your impact on global warming:
· Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs and save 500 pounds of coal with each bulb.
· Purchase appliances and electronics with the "Energy Star" label. Buy wood products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
· Recycle aluminum cans, glass bottles, plastic, paper, cardboard and newspapers which will reduce the energy needed to make new products.
· Turn down your water heater to 120 to 140 degrees F. Install a programmable thermostat to save energy. Change or clean your furnace and air conditioner filters regularly to keep heating and cooling systems running efficiently. Conduct a home energy audit.
· Regularly check your car's tire pressure-poorly inflated tires waste gas. Buy a fuel efficient vehicle such as a hybrid car. Better yet, carpool or take mass transportation whenever possible.

-- From National Wildlife Federation

It's Time to Re-Order Birdseed.

Deadline to submit orders: Thursday, January 18, 2007
Pickup dates: Wednesday, January 24th through Sunday, January 28th
Pickup location: Wild Bird Center, 400 Central Park Ave., Scarsdale (Across from Office Depot).

Click here to view our order form.

CWAS Home Page	Newsletter, January - February, 2007 Programs *Invasive Plants of Westchester* Thursday, January 18, 2007, 7:30 PM Rye Nature Center 873 Boston Post Road, Rye Speaker: Chris Murray What makes a plant invasive and why are invasives a problem? What are the 20 most invasive plants in our county and what can we do about them? These are some of the topics and issues that will be discussed in this hour-long slide show and lecture. Chris Murray has a certificate in Landscape Management from the NY Botanical Garden and is a Master Gardener with the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester with a special interest in invasive plants and the native plants they are displacing. She currently tends two public gardens, the Native Plant Garden at the Rye Nature Center and the Bee & Butterfly Garden at Teatown Lake Reservation in Ossining, as well as her own in Harrison. For directions log on to: www.ryenaturecenter.org or call 967-5150. *Whales, Dolphins & Porpoises* Thursday, February 15, 2007, 7:30 PM Scarsdale Public Library 54 Olmstead Rd., Scarsdale Speaker: Dr. Joy S. Reidenberg Dr. Joy Reidenberg is an Associate Professor of Anatomy and Medical Education at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York and an internationally recognized research scientist in the field of comparative anatomy and marine biology. Her research focuses on adaptations of animals living in extreme environments, particularly marine mammals. She will talk to us today about some of her favorite animals: cetaceans, the order that includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. We'll get to hear about who they are, what they look and sound like, where they live, when they do certain behaviors, why their bodies differ from land mammals, and how their survival is threatened. We'll hear about Dr. Reidenberg's own research, and will also be treated to a "show and tell" of real, natural items from whales that you can touch. Co-sponsored with Bronx River/Sound Shore Audubon. Field Trips Sunday, January 28, 2007, 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 and Hudson River Audubon. Saturday, February 3, 2007, 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 11, 2007, 9AM to 3PM (Alternate date in case of bad weather will be February 18) Teatown's Hudson River Eagle Fest: the annual celebration of the winter return of Bald Eagles to the Hudson Hills and Highlands. There will be educational programs, exhibits and children's activities and Bald Eagle viewing at several locations along the Hudson River. Warming tents and hot chocolate will be available at several sites. For complete details and for weather and program updates check the website: www.teatown.org or call 762-2912, Ext. 110. 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. *Church Street School Courtyard Garden* What's New in the Garden Even as the winter season approaches and plants are now dormant, enhancements to the garden continue to be made. Students have fashioned plant labels from left over bathroom tiles decorated with mosaic chips, inscribed them with the name of each individual plant, and set them out in the garden. Two giant concrete leaf sculptures by Wendy Podell, art teacher, and Bruce Riggs, garden advisor, have been placed strategically in the garden beds; a charming rabbit sculpture by artist-in-residence, Helen Gurny, occupies a prominent space near the top of the hill; and multi-colored sculpted letters announcing "art is fun" and "birds, bees and butterflies" have been added. All of these art projects give the garden an inviting look. From a practical standpoint, the Building and Grounds Department has installed the all-important outdoor electrical outlets so that we can have a heated bird bath this winter and a waterfall come spring. As a safety measure a fence along the wall separating the upper garden from the lower will be erected shortly. On the lower garden level, 4th grade teacher, Joan Conca, has put up three bird feeders. Thanks to the to the generosity of the many parents and visitors to our November hawk program, enough money was raised to buy birdseed for the season. From the remainder of the Audubon grant, we were able to purchase two pair of binoculars and a bird bath de-icer Two lunchtime clubs, each meeting about once a week, have been formed. Under the direction of Ms. Conca, bird club members will identify and count the number of birds and observe their behavior as they come to the feeders and bird bath. Students will be able to watch the bird activity from a glassed in corridor which faces the courtyard. A Courtyard Scientist's Club of 32 fifth graders has been formed under the direction of the enrichment teacher, Loretta Cannito. The scientists' first project is to use all of their senses to capture seasonal changes in the garden. Also, they are planning to develop a booklet describing a scavenger hunt in order to get the younger grades involved in appreciation of the garden's possibilities for nature discovery. It is clear that the courtyard garden has generated a great deal of excitement and enthusiasm among the students; we look forward to publishing the results of their inquiries in future newsletters. -- jsa *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 2007 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. This is a wonderful opportunity to encourage in your children an appreciation of the natural world. 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. See the letter below from a very happy camper. Letter from a Happy Camper Thank you Audubon Society for giving me a scholarship. I went to Marshlands Conservancy in Rye for camp. I liked it a lot! I went seining. It was really fun. We found a lot of silver sides and even more hermit crabs. We also found a green crab and some shrimp. We put the animals in a tray and observed them. We learned about what lives in the salt marsh and what kinds of things the animals need to live. We went on a hike in the forest and went to a creek. We learned about different animals and plants. We saw seven deer! I'm glad I went to camp! Jacob Brady Post Road School White Plains 10th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count February 16-19, 2007 · Discover more about the birds around you. · Track results in real time online. · Count anywhere-in your backyard, balcony, schoolyard, park, refuge. · All ages and skill levels welcome. · No fee or registration required. Take part by visiting: www.birdsource.org/gbbc *Conservation* Use Green Cleaners: To Help the Environment and Safeguard Your Family's Health Minimize your impact on the environment and on your family's health when you use effective household cleaning products (either commercial or homemade) that won't harm the environment. There are a number of green cleansers available today. These products are made without the petrochemicals, chlorine, phosphates and other toxins that are contained in many common cleaning products. The site http://www.newdream.org/consumer/cleaners.php will give you a fairly comprehensive list of ecological cleansers. It is also possible to make your own cleansers with a few simple ingredients such as vinegar and baking soda. Studies have shown that a 5% solution of vinegar kills 99 percent of bacteria, 82 percent of mold, and 80 percent of germs (viruses). Two tablespoons of vinegar can be dissolved in two cups of water to create a basic household cleanser. For many great tips on homemade cleansers see http://www.care2.com/channels/lifestyle/home#55. Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of products used in the home and school. This has prompted New York to become the first state to institute green cleaning legislation requiring all schools and government agencies to use environmentally benign cleansers. To read more about this, see http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/facplan/greenclean.htm. -- From "Ask Audubon" Save Energy: Do Your Part in the Fight Against Global Warming Here are some actions you can take to reduce your impact on global warming: · Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs and save 500 pounds of coal with each bulb. · Purchase appliances and electronics with the "Energy Star" label. Buy wood products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. · Recycle aluminum cans, glass bottles, plastic, paper, cardboard and newspapers which will reduce the energy needed to make new products. · Turn down your water heater to 120 to 140 degrees F. Install a programmable thermostat to save energy. Change or clean your furnace and air conditioner filters regularly to keep heating and cooling systems running efficiently. Conduct a home energy audit. · Regularly check your car's tire pressure-poorly inflated tires waste gas. Buy a fuel efficient vehicle such as a hybrid car. Better yet, carpool or take mass transportation whenever possible. -- From National Wildlife Federation *It's Time to Re-Order Birdseed.* Deadline to submit orders: Thursday, January 18, 2007 Pickup dates: Wednesday, January 24th through Sunday, January 28th Pickup location: Wild Bird Center, 400 Central Park Ave., Scarsdale (Across from Office Depot). Click here to view our order form.
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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