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

CWAS Adds 2 New Board Members

We are happy to announce the addition of two new volunteers to our board: Connie Petagine and Victor Ramos.

Connie has been a long-time volunteer at the Greenburgh Nature Center, where, among other duties, she occasionally takes a hawk out for a walk around the grounds. Connie will be in charge of the mailing and distribution of our newsletter.

Victor Ramos has volunteered to be our new field trip leader. Victor, who was born in Mexico and studied biology there, has had a life-long interest in nature and the environment and is eager to share his knowledge and enthusiasm with us.

With the addition of Connie and Victor, we now have 5 new board members who will be an invigorating source of energy and ideas. Those of us who have been on the board for many years look forward to working with our new volunteers.

Household Chemical Clean-Up Days

The Westchester County Department of Environmental Facilities has scheduled May 2 & 3, at FDR State Park in Yorktown Heights, and June 6 & 7 at Westchester Community College in Valhalla, as household chemical dropoff dates. For more information, see the county website: www.westchestergov.com or call the info-line (914)813-5425 .

In Memoriam

On Saturday, February 8, CWAS Board member, John Ferone, passed away. I met John in 1981, when I joined this chapter of Audubon. I always made it a point to be right next to him on field trips, because he had the patience to help me find and learn how to identify birds. He had a great knowledge of birds and all things natural, and enthusiastically shared what he knew.

Long-time members remember John from field trips and his commitment to conservation as a Board member. Newer members remember him for his warm hospitality each spring, when he invited us to walk on a farm near his home in Dutchess County on our annual Kelisky Memorial Walk. Afterwards, he always treated us all to a wonderful and fun luncheon at his home. There, we were treated to views of his resident bluebirds and visiting hummingbirds. He also led us on beautiful autumn walks up a nearby mountain to the fire tower at the top for great views.

John taught English at White Plains Middle School and White Plains High School for many years. As colleagues, we often stopped to chat in the halls about our latest bird sightings or upcoming Audubon trips. John was greatly loved and respected by his students. He enjoyed teaching literature and taking students on field trips, for example, to Sunnyside, Washington Irving's home. He was very proud to be a teacher in White Plains.

How can one summarize the qualities of a man who touched so many lives in such wonderful ways? A gentle man, a gentleman, dedicated, enthusiastic, kind, wise, patient - words can't say enough. We were privileged to have known such a great person. We will miss John very much. The Board extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of John Ferone.

---Susan Fried

CWAS Birdathon 2003

If you want to have an exciting birding experience, please join us on Saturday, May 10th (rain date, May 17) for our annual Birdathon. Early risers can join the advance team at Read Sanctuary at 5:30 AM. This group frequently spots species not seen at the other locations. The rest of us will meet up with the early birders at 7AM at Education House, 5 Homeside Lane, White Plains, to arrange for carpooling, first to Forest Park in Queens and then to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. For those of you who are new to this experience, Forest Park is one of the foremost migrant traps in our area and attracts a wide variety of warbler species as well as other migrant passerines. Jamaica Bay is, of course, well known for its waterfowl on the ponds and passerines, including warblers, on the garden paths. Last year, CWAS birders spotted a record 125 species. We hope to do as well or better this year - the more eyes we have the better the chance of spotting the birds. You do not have to be an expert birder to join in the fun. Just bring your binoculars, spotting scopes (if you have them) and your enthusiasm. Also, you should bring a lunch - you will be hungry after a morning at Forest Park - dress in layers and wear comfortable shoes.

Just as a reminder, in addition to spotting the birds, the purpose of this day is to raise funds for our scholarship program. So whether or not you can join us in birding, please make a generous flat amount contribution or a pledge per species seen. After the Birdathon, contributors and pledgors will receive a list of the birds seen and an invoice for the amount owed based upon their pledge. Birders can also tap friends and family as sponsors - remember they ask you to support their favorite causes. There is a convenient pledge coupon on the back of this newsletter for your use or you can phone in to me or mail to our Post Office Box a list of your sponsors. We will take care of the rest. Questions: call Herb Ruskin, Birdathon Chairman, at 949-4429 or Gladys Goldmann at 949-3486.

Nominating Committee

The nominating committee has met and proposes the following slate of officers to serve from July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2005:
President: Jeanne Alpert
Vice President: Peter da Silva
Elections will be held at the open meeting on May 15, 2003.
Respectfully submitted: Gladys Goldmann, Barbara Ferrari, and Herb Ruskin.

Congratulations to Gladys Goldmann, currently one of our Co-Presidents, who has been nominated to be Chair of the Audubon Council of New York State.

CWAS Awards 15 Scholarships

We are pleased to announce that we have awarded 15 summer camp scholarships. Our scholarship winners come from the White Plains, Port Chester and Harrison School districts.Congratulations to all of you. We look forward to publishing reports about your week of nature and environmental study. Have a great summer!

The Long Island Sound conference on March 29th focused on the plight of the animals who live, not very comfortably, in the Estuary off our shores. The seven speakers reported on various aspects of the increasing threats to the health of animals such as crustaceans, terrapins and shellfish, which have been declining in numbers in recent years.

The most dramatic and disturbing news is the recent lobster die-off which has been occurring mainly in the western section of the Sound, near the Narrows, and has put lobster fishermen out of work. The number of native crabs countrywide is dramatically down, due to predation by introduced species, and shellfish, such as quahogs studied off Staten Island, are showing alarming signs of parasitic attack. Diamond back terrapins, once plentiful in Oyster Bay harbor, have been producing fewer young in recent years.

There are three theories for the plight of these species: pesticides, parasites and environmental change. The changing environment - global warming- is believed to be the major culprit. Increasing temperatures have caused unusually warm water, well above the lobsters' tolerance. Introduced species, many brought here in the water ballast of foreign ships, were noted as an increasing problem. One speaker estimated that 10 thousand types arrive in U.S. harbors every day. Studies in San Francisco Bay have shown that these new creatures such as toads, shipworm, zebra mussels, and plants such as purple loosestrife in wetlands, alter the environment, bring pathogens, and compete with and prey on native species.

The bad news about the animals was encouragingly countered by a video trip through underwater landscapes of the Sound showing good numbers of fin fish such as striped bass, scup and flounder. A recent trawler survey of the Sound proposed that, with proper management in rebuilding, there is hope for a positive response. There was a warning, however, that "chemical cleaning" is not the same as biological cleaning.

We were also treated to LI Sound history lesson by Tom Anderson author of the book, This Fine Piece of Water.

---Louise N. Jones

Westchester Wildlife
Thursday, May 15, 2003
7:00 p.m. in the Cafeteria
Church Street School
295 Church Street, White Plains

What wild animals are living right here in our local forests and backyards?

A Teatown naturalist will introduce you to a number of different live animals that live in Westchester. Learn about these animals' habits and habitats, why they are a vital part of our community, and how to recognize them the next time you''re out walking in the woods!

Children and parents will especially enjoy this program.

Schedule of Field Trips

Saturday, May 3rd, at 9 a.m., Annual Nicole Kelisky Memorial Walk. Meet at ED House, 5 Homeside Lane in White Plains to carpool to John Ferone''s farm in Millwood for the annual Nicole Kelisky Memorial Walk. This year we will also be remembering John, who sadly passed away this winter. John''s family has graciously offered the farm for the outing. Bring a picnic lunch. Advance reservations for this trip are required - call Lois Steirhout at 948-2706.

Saturday, May 10th, 7 a.m., Our Annual Birdathon. (Rain date May 17). See front page article for details.

Saturday, June 7th, at 8:00 a.m., Cranberry Lake Preserve. Meet at the nature center where our new trip leader, Victor Ramos, will introduce us to the sights and sounds of Cranberry Lake. This will be a bilingual walk in English and Spanish. If you have them, bring binoculars. For more information, please call Victor at 761-8994.

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