Winter 2011

Message from the HOBAS President Stella Miller

As I look out my window at yet another dumping of snow on the ground (I cannot believe I used to think that shoveling was "fun" and "good exercise," now, as those first flakes fall, I just wonder if I have enough Advil and Ben-Gay in the medicine cabinet!) my mind wanders to the spring time. In a few weeks we will be treated to the first "konk-er-ees" of the red winged blackbird, followed in March by the return of the osprey to its nesting sites. Spring seems so far away, but I promise you, it will be here before we know it!

With that in mind, I want to remind you all that our Birdathon will again be taking place in May. This is one of our biggest fundraisers and is the equivalent of an annual appeal. Last year we raised over $5,000 for our chapter. This money goes towards our public education programs as well as conservation efforts. Since last year’s Birdathon we have accomplished many wonderful things that we are so proud of. Some of our achievements include sending schoolchildren to nature camp, and taking on a leadership role in the efforts to preserve Plum Island from development. We are working with Assemblyman Englebright on legislation that would require all newly constructed buildings in New York State to be built with safeguards in place to reduce bird mortality, as well as encouraging him to renew efforts on two other bills he had sponsored: one protecting birds of prey at landfills, and the other one banning the commercial harvest of sea-horses. We are spearheading a "Keep Your Cats Indoors" awareness campaign, with the American Bird Conservancy as a partner. We visit nursing homes, playing Bird Bingo with the residents, while teaching them about the natural world. We work with teenagers who are interested in conservation, fostering a sense of responsibility and mentoring these youths so that they will grow up to be future leaders in the conservation movement. We continue to sponsor monthly public education programs, lead regular field trips, and much, much more.

When I was first elected president of Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon Society, I set two major goals for myself and the chapter within that role. One was to increase our involvement in conservation issues and the other was to reach out to younger people and encourage them to care, become involved and take action. I can proudly say that we have made great strides towards meeting these goals but of course, there is always so much more we can do!

With that in mind, I hope that you will be generous with your sponsorship this year. Please sponsor a Birdathon team member or consider joining a team and raising money yourself in May. By doing so, you will ensure that we can continue our efforts to protect wildlife and its habitat through education, conservation advocacy and responsible recreation! Look for the annual appeal/sponsorship forms to arrive in the mail in late April.

In the meantime, despite the cold, wind and snow, keep your ears tuned to the skies…in just a few weeks, as promised, those first "konk-a-rees" will fill the air, and we can smile, knowing that spring is then but a few short weeks away!