Newsletter, September - October, 2007

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Gardening With Children II: Planting Gardens in Autumn
Thursday, October 18, 2007
7:00 PM in the Cafeteria
Church Street School
295 Church Street, White Plains

Speaker: Senta Stich

Because of the enthusiastic response to Senta's May program on gardening with children, we are bringing her back again this fall for a workshop on fall gardens.

Our workshop will engage families in hands-on activities involving the examining of sample bulbs, tubers and roots and the planting of bulbs in mini-pots to carry home. We will learn about the various plants that grow from bulbs and tubers and which ones can be planted outdoors in autumn for beautiful flowers in the spring. Bulbs can also be planted indoors in autumn for early winter blooms on windowsills. We will learn which bulbs and tubers are planted in spring for summer blooms. We will discuss the proper planting of bulbs and tubers for a successful garden. You can apply knowledge you gain from this workshop to both your home gardens and the school garden.

Senta Stich is an educator and a Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener.

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Birdathon 2007 Report

Saturday, May 12th dawned bright and sunny with comfortable temperatures – the first Birdathon Day in a while when we didn’t have some anxiety about the weather. Early birders, Clarence and Nancy, racked up 50 species at Read Sanctuary in the hour and a half between 5:30 am and meeting the rest of the group at 7 am. The most spectacular sighting at Read was a Common Loon in full breeding plumage - a species seen only once before (in 1997) in our 17 years of Birdathon record keeping. Not so spectacular but a first for our birdathon was a Rusty Blackbird. Clarence also managed to track down the Blue-winged Warbler, apparently a sure thing in Silver Lake Park near where he lives.

About 7:15 we headed out to Forest Park in Queens where we had high hopes for the water hole, there having been abundant rain in the days before the birdathon. Our hopes were dashed when we came upon, not the water hole, but a large swampy area which proved not to be a magnet for the warblers. There were no local residents sitting around – a bad sign – and we struggled to find the birds, most of them high in the canopy, adding only 18 new species in the three and a half hours spent at the park. On the way to the water hole, we did manage to get satisfactory looks at Baltimore Oriole, Scarlet Tanager and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

With 68 species under our belt, the pressure was on as we drove to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge for lunch. During lunch the sky darkened and a cold wind came up, boding ill for the rest of the day. Luckily, this was a rapidly passing front as blue skies and comfortable temperatures followed us for the rest of the day. Our walk through the garden proved most fruitful, allowing us great looks at the birds we struggled to see in Forest Park. Particularly gorgeous was a Blackburnian Warbler (of the fiery orange throat) who seemed eager to show himself from all vantage points.

After a very satisfying walk through the garden, it was time to gather up our scopes and head for the West Pond. As in the recent past, duck species were in short supply, though we did see an American Wigeon, a species not counted since 1997. Among the wading birds we spotted were American Oystercatcher, Tri-colored Heron and Little Blue Heron. We counted only 1 shorebird, a Willet, at the ponds, the other shorebirds having been seen earlier at Read. The resident Osprey gave us a good show as we watched him eating a fish, and then later at the end of the day we saw him swooping down over some Canada Geese and harassing them. Way to go!!!

On our way back to the nature center we found what proved to be a life bird for many of us and another first for the birdathon – a pair of Gull-billed Terns. We had great, long looks through the scopes and binoculars, noticing the heavy black bill that distinguishes this bird from other tern species. This was the final sighting for most of us, an exciting end to the day. When we sat down at the nature center to tally our sightings, we found that we had 91 species, which was somewhat short of our expectations. So when the rest of us left to go home, Nancy and Susan crossed the highway to the East Pond and found 4 additional species, including a Ring-necked Duck making its first appearance in our records. Earlier in the day, Rena, Barbara and Joan had gone back to Westchester to bird the Larchmont Reservoir where they saw 4 more species, including the reliably present Wood Duck. This brought our total to 99 species for the day. With 3 new species records, a life-bird for most, 15 warbler sightings, and the camaraderie of birding with a congenial group, the CWAS team was well pleased with the results of the day.

We thank all the members of the CWAS team for their persistence, patience and birding expertise. To all of our sponsors, we thank you for your financial support which will help fund our scholarship program.

Team Members:
Frank Alpert, Jeanne Alpert, Joan Coffee, Susan Fried, Barbara Hanan, Clarence Holmes, Liz Jamison, Nancy Moore, Catharine Raphaelle, Rena Wertzer.

Jeanne Alpert

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Field Trips

Saturday, September 29, 9AM at the Audubon Center in Greenwich. Meet at the Center. (613 Riversville Rd., Greenwich 203-869-5272) . This is a manned hawk watch site, so there will be plenty of counters to help us with identification of the hawks as they fly by on their annual southward migration. If you wish, bring a lawn chair as there is no seating at this site. Terrain is level.

Saturday, October 13, Chestnut Ridge Hawk Watch at Butler Sanctuary. Meet at 9AM at Education House for carpooling to the site, or meet us there about 9:30AM. There is a rather steep, somewhat rocky, but short upward climb to the platform which has bleacher type seating. Bring water. There are no facilities here.

Sunday, November 11, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Meet 8:30AM at Education House for carpooling to the refuge. Join us for an easy, level walk along the dikes and in the gardens of this urban oasis. Among the highlights of this trip will be snow geese, a variety of wintering ducks and perhaps some late migrants. Dress in layers and bring a lunch. Co-sponsored with Bronx River/Sound Shore Audubon and the Wild Bird Center.

Note: If you are a passenger in a car pool, it would be polite to offer reimbursement for gas and tolls to the driver.

The County Parks sponsor many bird walks. For a schedule, go to www.westchestergov.com or pick up a brochure at one of the parks.

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.

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On a beautiful day in June, Frank and I visited both the Courtyard Garden and the Science Fair. The garden shrubs are growing well and look very healthy. Some had already flowered and produced seed. The blueberry bushes had blueberries and the elderberries were about to flower. The only plants that seem not to have survived the winter were the wild geraniums. The school district's maintenance crew has installed a railing on the stairs going to the lower garden level and weeded and mulched the beds. A sun dial, a gift from the 5th grade class of 2006, has been installed on the wall of the lower garden, and on the sunny day we were there, reflected the time fairly accurately.

All in all, the garden is very attractive to both wildlife and students. The nest boxes are full and some of the students had the fun of watching robins nesting and rearing their young. Fourth grade teacher and board member Joan Conca has been feeding the birds over the summer so that when the students start school in the fall, there will be birds around for her bird club to watch. On one of her visits to the garden she spotted a Killdeer with young-a very interesting sighting.

As one of their projects the Courtyard Scientists and Artists planned a "Courtyard Scavenger Hunt Using Our Senses" for the 2nd and 4th grades. Each student received a booklet describing an activity to be performed in relation to each of the 4 stations representing one of the senses. By all accounts, this was a great success.

The garden also inspired some projects presented at the school Science Fair. There was a photo and drawing exhibit of the garden in winter, a selection of "Fantastic Courtyard Poems" by Mrs. Dwyer's 4th grade class (a sample of which is below), and a project involving a skull found under the spruce tree which motivated some biological research. A photograph of the skull was taken and enlarged to show detail leading the students to conclude that the skull was of a small mammal, perhaps a chipmunk or squirrel.

It is clear that the Courtyard Garden has been a big success with both students and teachers. For the coming year we look forward to increased activities in the garden and more opportunities for the students to both enjoy and learn from the ever changing garden scape.

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Cardinal With its feathers so soft And his beak so small I could almost feel him touching me I hear his chirp In my head And I always see His color red By Abraham Miro 4th grade

Copyright © 2007 Dick Budnik Photography http://mysite.verizon.net/DickBudni

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“Herpetology” is the study of reptiles and amphibians. Seven CWAS members had a large does of “herps” on the annual Kelisky-Ferone Memorial Walk held at the Institute for Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY on June 2.

Drawn close to a pond by the sight of painted turtles sunning themselves on branches and rocks emerging from the still water, we had to step cautiously. Camouflaged in the grass and at the base of the cattails that ringed the pond, were green frogs, pickerel frogs and wood frogs. Handy identification pamphlets, left in convenient boxes around the pond, helped us with identifications, including that of what we think was a black rat snake, dozing on the matted, dried grass at the pond’s edge. Leaving the pond area did not end our encounters with “herps”. Hiking through a mixed hardwood forest, our small group came upon a large snapping turtle at the side of the path. We kept our distance, respecting the powerfully-jawed reptile.

A bog, a small, cool depression filled with nitrogen-poor soil, had unique plants. Carnivorous pitcher plants had maroon flowers on tall stalks. Labrador tea, with its fuzzy, brown lower leaf surfaces that help to retain warmth, had clusters of small white flowers.

Near a fern glen that revealed cinnamon fern, maidenhair fern and a variety of other species, was a lovely river overlook in a wooded setting. We paused here to remember past CWAS President Nicole Kelisky and past Board member John Ferone. Members of the respective families shared humorous, uplifting and inspiring memories. It was a beautiful tribute.

We did actually see birds on this walk, but we heard more than we saw. A pair of bluebirds entertained us as they flitted between trees at the edge of a field, very closed to our path. A red-tailed hawk spiraled high in the distance, showing off its distinctive, namesake tail. Also, among the 21 species of birds identified, were wood thrush singing like flutes; the “studious” ovenbird crying “teacher, teacher, teacher”; a phoebe, bragging his name; a trilling chipping sparrow; and the indescribable call of the veery.

The formal gardens served as our picnic area. Brilliant magenta, red and pink peonies were in bloom, along with lavender iris and a host of other spectacular botanicals. Koi carp eyed us from the bottom of a fish pool.

One more thing favorably impressed the group. We unanimously agreed with Jeanne Alpert’s observation, that visitors were provided with a “five-star port-a-potty” complete with running water, soap and no smell!

Susan Fried

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B & B —-That’s Birds and Butterflies!

Ward Pound Ridge was the setting for the final field trip of the season. Cosponsored by Central Westchester Audubon, Hudson River Audubon and Bronx River/Sound Shore Audubon on June 30, this trip served up at lease a dozen varieties of butterflies and more than twice as many bird species.

The butterfly of the day was the red admiral, a black, white and red standout that perched on the roadways and waling paths in its quest to supplement its diet with minerals. Red Admirals were everywhere! We saw satyrs and nymphs, admirals and skippers. A painted lady butterfly posed for photos and a question mark butterfly had us guessing at first.

Splendid views of indigo buntings, a ruby-throated hummingbird, a cedar waxwing, bluebirds and a pair of scarlet tanagers enthralled the group. A tremendous learning opportunity presented itself when both a turkey vulture and a black vulture circled over us together. We heard a cuckoo, a great crested flycatcher and a worm-eating warbler, which I have been trying to see for the last four years.

There were several deer foraging within view. We also had opportunities to see emerald damselflies, dragonflies with black markings on transparent wings, a brown papery gall on a leaf, and a large ambush bug that landed on one of the people in the group.

The trip leader, Mike Bochnick from Hudson River Audubon, was very knowledgeable and willing to teach the group about identifying the various species seen. He planned a great walk on both the main road through the park and on Michigan Hollow Road. With perfect weather, lighting and abundance of birds and butterflies, it was a great way to end the year.

Susan Fried