Programs

Sunday, April 13, 8 AM Read Sanctuary and Marshlands Conservancy. Meet 8 AM at Read. A visit to 2 nature centers to find spring migrants. Co-sponsored with Bronx River/Sound Shore Audubon. Leader: Doug Bloom.

Saturday, May 3, 8AM, Kelisky/Ferone Memorial Walk. Meet at 8am at Ed House for carpooling. This year our annual Kelisky/Ferone Memorial Walk will again be held at the Institute for Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook New York, about 1 1/2 hour's drive from White Plains. Rest rooms and picnic tables will be available and we ask that you bring a sandwich and drink. CWAS will provide the dessert. If you wish to join us, please call Lois Stierhout at 948-2706 to register for this trip.

Wednesday Warbler Walks in May (7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, rain or shine) Hosted by Rye Nature Center, co-sponsored by CWAS. The Nature Center will open at 7:45 for coffee and tea. The walks will start promptly at 8 AM. Leader: Hank Weber. Loaner binoculars available. Rye Nature Center is a hot spot for warblers and the walk is easy.

Saturday, May 10, 7 AM, Our Annual Birdathon. Rain Date: May 17th. Meet at Education House for car-pooling. At the height of spring migration, we will visit Forest Park in Queens and the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Dress in layers and bring a lunch. Binoculars are a must; spotting scopes if you have them. Facilities at Jamaica Bay.

Sunday, May 18, 7 AM, Doodletown Rd. Meet 7 AM at Ed. House or 8 AM at Doodletown Rd. This is a hotspot for migrating songbirds. We should see a variety of warblers, flycatchers, indigo buntings, orioles, and perhaps cuckoos. The trail is a bit steep and rocky at the beginning, so sturdy shoes are a good idea.. No facilities. Be sure to bring water. Co-sponsored with Bronx River/Sound Shore Audubon.

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.

Recent Sightings

February 2nd trip to Croton Point Park: 4 Long-eared Owls in a pine grove; several Bald Eagles, both mature and immature, flying and perched in the park and at the boat ramp at the end of the Croton Harmon Station .

Sharp-shinned Hawk, passing through a porch screen at the home of member Al Gassman, followed the next day by a fox investigating the barbecue.

Birdathon 2008

On a recent cold day in February CWAS went on its annual Eagle walk which produced not only Eagles but also a fabulous sighting of four Long-eared Owls. We did not see many other species that morning, but most would agree that the excitement generated by the Eagles and especially the Owls more than compensated for the frosty fingers and toes many of us experienced. Fast forward to May 10th, the date of our annual Birdathon. The weather will be comfortably warm and the day's outing should yield close to 100 or more species, among them migrating warblers wearing their spring finery and singing to establish territory and attract mates. Without question, our annual Birdathon is the best and most important field trip of the year-important because we depend on this event to raise the funds that will provide scholarships to send eager elementary school children to the ecology camps run by Westchester County.

We have a dedicated corps of our members who make a contribution to the Birdathon every year and we are so grateful for their support. We would like to increase the number of contributors to our fund drive, so if you have never pledged before, please consider doing so this year. Remember that we welcome all contributions in whatever amount you feel you can give. Please fill out the coupon below to pledge either an amount per species or a flat amount or respond positively when a board member calls to ask for a pledge. The more species we see, the more money we raise from those who pledge a per-species amount. As a guideline for those donors, we usually tally about 100 species-last year we had 99.

The routine for the Birdathon on May 10th (rain date May 17th) is as follows: early birders will begin at 5:30 am at Read Sanctuary in order to give us a head start on our count; the rest of us will meet at Education House at 7:00 am for car-pooling, first to Forest Park in Queens and then to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge where we will have lunch and then go on to bird the refuge. We will end up at about 4 pm to tally the species and then head for home, birding along the way.

In order to maximize our species potential we need birders. You do not have to be expert to join in the fun. Beginners are welcomed and those with more experience are willing to share their expertise to make sure that you see as many species as possible. I hope to see you on May 10th-it should be a great day for birding.

If you have any questions, please call Jeanne Alpert at 946-1780 or e-mail to jsalpert@optonline.net

Click here for our Birdathon 2008 Pledge Coupon

The exhibit focuses on the original watercolors by John James Audubon that portray endangered and extinct bird species as well as birds that have come back from the brink. Also featured are recorded bird calls and video from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

BIOMIMICRY: Growing Green With Nature
A Natural History Exhibit at the Greenburgh Nature Center
February 3 - June 19

Biomimicry is a science that studies nature's models and takes inspiration from their designs and processes to solve human problems. Exhibit includes animals, plants, pictures, hands-on displays and other media that will interest adults and children.

Audubon Issues and Actions-Global Warming

Global warming is the biggest environmental threat of our lifetime. How can you be part of the solution to reduce consumption of fossil fuels and production of greenhouses gases? The National Audubon website lists actions we can all take now:

· Drive less. Take public transportation, walk, bicycle or carpool.
· Switch to energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs.
· Reduce home heating and cooling.
· When you replace your refrigerator, look for the Energy Star label. An energy efficient refrigerator uses about 50% less energy than a ten or fifteen year old model.
· Use less hot water. Wash clothes in cold or warm water; run your dishwasher only when full.
· Plant trees around your house.
· Select organic produce grown without pesticides
· Buy local produce and goods, which don't have to be refrigerated and transported for long distances.
· Buy only what you need. .
· Support the work of local, state and national government to curb global warming. Be informed about the issues and let your representatives know your opinions. For more information go to www.audubon.org and follow the link to Issues and Actions.

--Catharine Raffaele, Conservation Chair