Wednesday, May 8, 2013 7:00 PM

Long Island River Otter Research Project Update with Michael Bottini

The river otter is a top-of-the-food-chain, semi-aquatic mammal whose populations suffered dramatic declines during the fur trade era. It is an important member of freshwater and estuarine ecosystems, and many states - including New York - have implemented otter re-introduction programs to assist the recovery of extirpated populations. Join us tonight to learn about the ecology and habits of river otters, as well as the latest findings based upon the camera trap project currently in progress, including 3 camera sites within HOBAS’ territory!

Mike Bottini studied elk in Banff National Park while earning a Master's degree at The University of British Columbia. Since returning to Long Island, his wildlife research has included spotted turtles, tiger and spotted salamanders, and piping plovers, in addition to river otters. Mike also enjoys teaching, and has taught field biology and environ- mental science courses at St. Lawrence University, Southampton College, and CUNY, as well as leading nature walks and paddles on eastern Long Island.

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FOR FAMILIES

Sunday, May 19 2:00 PM

Little Naturalists Storytime and Outdoor Ramble for Kids: Wildlife Lullabies

In honor of Mother's Day, today we will gather around to read aloud from "If You Were my Baby: Wildlife Lullaby" as we discuss wild animal moms. After we learn about wild animal mommies and their babies, we will wander outdoors to explore the trails of Cold Spring Harbor State Park, looking for signs of maternal activity while enjoying a spring day!

For ages 2 to 6.  No unregistered siblings please.  Registration is a must, group size is limited.

Location: Cold Spring Harbor Library, located at 95 Harbor Road (Route 25A), next door to Cold Spring Harbor State Park. Meet in upstairs story room.

Leader: 631-903-5556

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Wednesday, June 12, 2013 7:00 PM

Little Nest on the Prairie: America’s Vanishing Grasslands and the Birds That Call Them Home with Shaibel Mitra, PhD

Tallgrass prairies once covered 140 millions acres across the United States. Today, all that remains is between 1 and 4% . Short and mixed grass prairies are also declining. As grasslands are our fastest declining habitats, so are the birds utilize them. Of the 48 species of birds breeding in grasslands, approximately 50% of them are in trouble. Tonight we will explore these vanishing ecosystems and their inhabitants.

Shai Mitra has studied birds in the northeastern United States and around the world for more than thirty years. He received a BA in Biology from Cornell University in 1989 and a PhD in Evolutionary Biology from the University of Chicago in 1996. From 1996- 2000 he operated a major bird-banding station at the Fire Island Lighthouse, on the South Shore of Long Island. Currently, he is an Assistant Professor of Biology at the College of Staten Island, with research interests in the areas of avian ecology, evolution, and conservation. Shai is Editor of The Kingbird, the quarterly publication of the New York State Ornithological Association; co-compiler of bird records for the New York City and Long Island region; Chair of the Rhode Island Avian Records Com- mittee; and co-compiler of three Christmas Bird Counts on Long Island and Rhode Island.

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Wednesday, July 17, 2013 7:00 PM

Beat the Heat Summer Film Series - Green Fire Documentary Encore

Many of you missed our Long Island premier of this wonderful film due to a stormy weather forecast. Join us tonight for a special encore screening of Green Fire, the first full-length,high-definition documentary film ever made about the legendary conservationist Aldo Leopold and his environmental legacy. Many of you missed our Long Island premier of this wonderful film due to a stormy weather forecast. Green Fire shares highlights from his extraordinary career, explaining how he shaped conservation and the modern environmental movement. It also illustrates how Leopold's vision of a community that cares about both people and land continues to inform and inspire people across the country and around the world, highlighting modern projects that put Leopold’s land ethic in action in a multitude of ways.

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Wednesday, August 14, 2013 7:00 PM

Beat the Heat Summer Film Series - Crash: A Tale of Two Species

This is the story of the fabric of life, and how every species is interconnected – each one important, no matter how big or small. At its center is the humble horseshoe crab, a creature which has remained virtually unchanged for 350 million years. Its annual spring spawning produces millions of eggs that are the lifeline for a tiny bird called the red knot, which migrates 10,000 miles from South America to the Arctic each year. Scientific and medical communities have discovered that the crab also provides an indispensable testing agent for drugs and vaccines, as well as resources for human optics and burn treatment. But horseshoe crab numbers are plummeting from their new use as bait for the fishing industry, dropping by two-thirds or more since 1990. And the precious pyramid depending on this age-old creature is about to come crashing down. Please join us tonight for a special screening of this important film.

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