Sign up for the GSBAS
email newsletter to receive notifications of upcoming events,
alerts, notices and other news related to the community and our organization.
Have you found injured or displaced wildlife? For help contact...
GREAT SOUTH BAY AUDUBON SOCIETY ANNUAL PLAN – 2011
The Primary Mission of the Great
South Bay Audubon Society is to advocate for the conservation of
habitats for birds and other wildlife on
Long Island.
REVIEW OF THE PAST YEAR –
JULY 1, 2010 THRU JUNE 30, 2011
Overview of Accomplishments
GSBAS at the State level continued to send representatives
to Audubon New York's Fall ’10 and Spring ‘11 Council Meetings.
GSBAS’ Chapter representatives, at the
local level, attended Long Island Audubon Council
Meetings ("LIAC") on November 13, 2010 and April 9, 2011.
GSBAS continued its Blue Bird Nest
Box Program at Connetquot River State Park Preserve,
Oakdale, NY. Co-chairs Edith and Bob Wilson, along
with volunteers Steve D’Amato, Judy and Patrick Davis, Ken
Thompson, Mary and Tom Plant, monitored 22 nest
boxes that had been erected in 2009. A Birdcam was installed on
one of the boxes known to have Bluebirds. Two nest boxes
successfully fledged Bluebirds. Unfortunately, a raccoon
predated boxes 1 through 18. This raccoon not only overcame the
baffle obstacle, it also worked a lever and opened several of
the boxes. An unknown number of Tree Swallow nestlings and eggs
were lost.
GSBAS continued to participate in the
American Kestrel Restoration effort funded
through a TogetherGreen national
innovation grant secured by Audubon New York. This breeding
season, a second box was installed at Connetquot River State
Park Preserve. Co-chairs Alice Heller and Juliane
Wohler along with volunteers Jody Banaszak, Joe Brodtman, Bob
Grover, Johnna Vullo, and Tom Plant monitored
America kestrel nest boxes in St. Charles Cemetery, Farmingdale,
NY, Heckscher State Park, East Islip, NY, and Connetquot River
State Park Preserve, Oakdale, NY. One box at St. Charles
Cemetery was successful.
GSBAS received an $800 Audubon New
York Collaborative Funding Grant to jump-start its
partnership with local resident, Cathy Wilvert,
in her Northern Bobwhite Quail Restoration Project at
Connetquot River State Park Preserve (CRSPP). The goal
of this project is to restore the quail population to a
self-sustaining level while educating the community about
wildlife and the environment, as well as naturally reducing the
tick population within the preserve. The GSBAS instituted an
Adopt-A-Quail
campaign to raise additional funds needed and to involve its
members in the project. The GSBAS also supported a “Help
Feed the Quail” day where volunteers planted berry
bushes, a natural food source for the quail, at CRSPP.
On June 18, 2011, 620 Northern Bobwhite Quail were released in
the preserve.
GSBAS under the auspices of
Education Chair, Juliane Wohler, signed up
eight local teachers interested in using Audubon
Adventures in their classrooms. A total of 11 Audubon
Adventure Kits were provided. This is the result of an outreach
program at Staples’ 2010 Teacher Appreciation Day,
Patchogue, NY. Thanks to volunteer Jody Banaszak
for representing the GSBAS at this event and to
Juliane Wohler for working with the teachers.
GSBAS continued its scholarship
program to graduating high school seniors within its
chapter area planning to major in an environmental science at
college. Four scholarships totaling $1500 were awarded
to students from Smithtown, Lindenhurst, and Patchogue-Medford
high schools.
GSBAS continues to purchases
Audubon Shade Grown Coffee, which is served at its
general membership meetings, Annual Outdoor Program at Brookside
and other Chapter functions (thanks to Helga
Merryman’s purchase of same on behalf of GSBAS).
GSBAS held ten (10)
General Membership Meetings with scheduled Speakers at
Connetquot River State Park Preserve, Oakdale, NY - GSBAS’
adopted IBA - meeting the third Thursday of the month, September
2010 thru April 20011. These meetings are free and open
to the public and are published in GSBAS’ newsletter,
The Sandpiper, posted to its Website,
http://www.gsbas.org, posted on its Facebook page, and sent out
in an email blast. These were our outstanding speakers and their
respective presentations at GSBAS’ General Membership Meetings
held September 2010 thru June 2011:
September 16, 2010:
Gertrude R. Battaly and Drew Panko presented “Fire Island Raptors”
October 21, 2010: Speaker
cancelled last minute. DVD movie night,
“Winged Migration”
November 18, 2010: Peter
Priolo presented “Monarchs: Wing Tag
Migration Study”
December 16, 2010: Annual
Member Participation Night. GSBAS’ Members: shared
birding slide presentations and experiences.
Thursday, January 20, 2011:
Astrophysicist Kevin Manning presented, “A
Journey To The Stars!”
February 17, 2011: Cathy
Wilvert presented, “Northern Bobwhite Quail
Restoration at Connetquot River State Park Preserve”
April 21, 2011: Eric
Salzman presented, “Birds of Israel.”
May 2, 2011:
General meeting held at Capt. Bill’s Restaurant. Speaker:
Lloyd Spitalnik, Lloyd Spitalnik Photography
presented, “Shorebirds – So Few, So Difficult?”
June 16, 2011: Out
door general meeting at Brookside County Park. Sue
Krause from Sweetbriar Nature Center presented “Birds of Prey.”
Thanks to Program
Chair, Alice Heller, who secures the speakers for
these meetings and thanks to Chapter Publicity
Chair, Helga Merryman, the scheduled speakers and
their programs get advertised in local papers.
Thanks to Hospitality Chair, Mary Plant, and the
many monthly Chapter volunteers, these general membership
meetings are well supplied with food and beverages. Our monthly
General Membership Meetings help GSBAS keep a constant presence
in the local community, connect GSBAS with the public at large,
and keep its members active and involved with Chapter advocacy
and events.
GSBAS convened ten (10)
Board Meetings held September 2010 – June 2011 at its Brookside
County Park, 59 Brook Street, Sayville, NY where the overall
mission, goals, activities and programs designed to achieve them
were reviewed, formulated and set into motion.
GSBAS continues to publish six (6)
editions of our award winning chapter newsletter,
“The Sandpiper” thanks to our
Newsletter Editor, Harry Anderson. Through its
newsletter, GSBAS communicates conservation issues, which are
important to Audubon at the local, state and national levels.
GSBAS’ newsletter seeks its members’ participation with the
submittal of nature stories, poems and related wildlife articles
for publication.
GSBAS’ Mailing Chair, Ken Thompson,
and his Mailing Committee volunteers,
continue to ensure that GSBAS’ 1,100 +/- members receive their
Chapter newsletter – making the huge bi-monthly mailings a
mission accomplished!
GSBAS, held 46 Mid-Week and Weekend Nature
Walks during this reporting period thanks to Chapter Nature Walk
Coordinator, Larry Merryman, and Chapter Field Trip Leaders,
Mike Cooper, Steve D’Amato, Jack Finkenberg, John Gluth, Bob
Grover, Alice Heller, Nicholas Laviola, Michael McBrien, Helga
Merryman, Larry Merryman, Peter Murphy, Ken Thompson, Bob
Wilson, and Edith Wilson. GSBAS thanks its Nature Walk
Coordinator, Larry Merryman and each of its respective Nature
Walk Leaders for having made these 46 field trips a reality!
Members of other
local Long Island Audubon chapters often attend the nature
walks, which are free and open to the public. Chapter run
nature walks have resulted in GSBAS gaining many new Chapter
volunteers, which help GSBAS to continue to accomplish its
mission! GSBAS' Weekend Nature Walks flyer
(for period August - May of each year) is printed and
inserted in The Sandpiper, detailing
these weekend field trips for the upcoming year. This
information is also posted to its Chapter’s Website, Facebook
page, and sent out in an email blast.
GSBAS through its Treasurer, Dennis
Lenz, CPA, has for 14 years provided the Chapter’s
Financial Reports protecting its Not-for-Profit 501(c)(3)
status. Thank you Dennis Lenz!
GSBAS’ official Website, www.gsbas.org and
Facebook page continue to remain fully reinvigorated through the
efforts of our paid Webmaster, Eric Larson
and with material posting oversight by President,
Judy Davis.
GSBAS’ Board approved and made a monetary
donation in May 2011 to Starflower Experiences, Inc.,
Jericho, NY, a local not-for-profit educational
organization, to sponsor two children to attend its
Earth Keepers Camp at West Hills County Park, Melville,
NY.
GSBAS donated funds to help defray the
costs of the dinners for participants of the compilation at the
end of the count, for the 49th Annual Captree Christmas
Bird Count (“CBC”), coordinators Pat Lindsay and Shai Mitra,
on January 3, 2010 that listed 109 species observed.
GSBAS’ members participated in a Bird Feeder Survey covering over a dozen locations in
GSBAS’ Chapter territory, east from Amityville to Blue Point,
New York. Survey Compilation Chapter Chair, Helga Merryman, compiled the number of bird species
postings submitted by Chapter members and the species results
were then published in The Sandpiper. GSBAS thanks
Survey Compiler, Helga Merryman!
GSBAS’ members (thanks to Steve
D’Amato, Edith & Bob Wilson, Ken Thompson, John Gluth, Bob
Grover and Linda Puglielli - some of GSBAS’ regulars)
continue to participate in the Fire Island Hawk Watch
which, has contributed greatly to the sum of knowledge about
hawk migration. The Fire Island Hawk Watch is held every year
from September thru November with FIRE (Fire Island Raptor
Enumerators), Parking Lot #5, Robert Moses State Park, Long
Island, NY.
GSBAS’Beach Cleanup
Chairperson & Board Member, Carol Jansch, directed
and coordinated the Ed Davis Memorial Beach Cleanup
held at Sailor’s Haven, Fire Island in
conjunction with the American Littoral Society’s
Annual New York State Beach cleanup on September 25, 2010.
GSBAS’ members Judy Davis and Helga
and Larry Merryman attended a meeting of the New York State Horseshoe Crab Coalition to
discuss ways to help this imperiled species.
Chapter Fund Raisers
GSBAS held its May Annual Dinner
this year on Monday, May 2, 2011 at Captain
Bill's Bay Shore, NY. GSBAS presented three (3) prestigious
Chapter awards. GSBAS honored:
Shai Mitra as the recipient of its
Bob Laskowski Conservation Award;
Ken Thompson, as the recipient of its
Fran File Award;
Steve D’Amato as the recipient of its
President’s Award.
Guest speaker, Lloyd Spitalnik, presented his program,
“Shorebirds – So Few, So Difficult?”
Members, guests, and friends thoroughly enjoyed the dinner,
the speaker, the Silent Auction with several original art
works (especially the beautiful painting of Northern
Bobwhite Quails and a pencil sketch of a Lesser Yellowlegs
and Stilt Sandpiper from Board Member and artist, Steven
D’Amato); a Chinese Auction with unique bird related gifts;
and many door and raffle prizes. GSBAS was again fortunate
to be supported by many donors comprised of its Board
Members, Members, local businesses and donations from the
families and friends of members and Chapter supporters.
GSBAS' 2011 Annual Dinner Prize Donors flyer
acknowledges each donor and the gift(s) donated and was
distributed to each table the night of the dinner and this
year also copied and inserted in its July/August 2011
newsletter.
GSBAS successfully conducted two
(2) Chapter Seed Sales.
its Fall Seed Sale held on October 23, 2010
chaired by Judy Davis.
its Winter Seed Sale held on February 19, 2011
chaired by Judy Davis.
Thanks to Seed Sale Chair Judy Davis and
volunteers Bob & Edith Wilson, and Helga & Larry
Merryman and
Chapter Members who participated in “prepaid orders.”
GSBAS has partnered with Gary Fortcher and Kathleen
Mulligan, owners of Wild Birds Unlimited, Oakdale, NY, to
run its bi-annual seed sales.
Adopt-A-Quail program raised funds needed for the GSBAS’ Northern Bobwhite Quail Restoration Program at Connetquot River State Park Preserve.
Annual Appeal, in addition to helping
finance Stewardship Activities at Brookside County Park,
is also used to help supplement funds to finance
Chapter expenses for:
Speaker fees at its:
General membership meetings;
May Annual Dinner;
Annual June Outdoor Program at Brookside;
Connetquot River State Park meeting room fees for
general membership meetings;
Newsletters printings and mailing costs;
Chapter attendance fees at local Community Outreach
Events;
Special education programs at Brookside;
College scholarships to graduating high school seniors
intending to major in one of the environmental sciences;
Purchasing Audubon Adventure kits for classroom use by
teachers in our local schools;
Paid Webmaster, Eric Larson, to keep its Website and
Facebook page updated (thank you Eric for
another great year as our Chapter’s Webmaster);
Verizon service for its phone
service for #631-563-7716 (thank you
Board Members, Steve D’Amato for retrieving
messages and Genevieve Lee for updating the recorded
messages) and for the Chapter’s email
address: info@gsbas.org (thank you
Board Member Juliane Wohler, Communication Committee as
the Chapter’s email responder);
Insurance policies;
Brookside Butterfly Garden;
GSBAS’ library at Brookside County Park. Thank you librarian,
Vera Capogna!
GSBAS’ 2010 Annual Appeal was printed courtesy of
its Board Member, Peter Murphy. Chapter kudos to Peter
Murphy for again donating this printing job! GSBAS also
thanks and recognizes each and everyone one of its important
Chapter Annual Appeal supporters with a printed
supporter’s sheet published in its July/August 2011
issue of The Sandpiper! AGAIN GSBAS THANKS ANNUAL
APPEAL DONORS ONE AND ALL!
Chapter Community Outreach Events At Brookside County Park and Offsite
GSBAS was able to participate at the following community outreach events:
Volunteer, Jody Banaszak,
represented the GSBAS at the Staples’ Teacher
Appreciation Day on 21 August 2010 in
Patchogue, NY.
GSBAS had a booth at the Friends Of Connetquot Gala
held on 3 October 2010 at Connetquot River State Park
Preserve, out adopted Important Bird Area. In keeping with
the gala’s theme of “The Birds of Connetquot.” GSBAS
provided photos of a Tree Swallow nest box taken by the
Birdcam, photos of common birds found at CRSPP, and general
education about birds commonly found on Long Island.
Thank you GSBAS volunteers Steve D’Amato, Carol Jansch,
Helga Merryman, and Judy Davis for manning the booth at
the gala.
Children’s Art Time was held on 3 October
2010 at Brookside County Park, 59 Brook St., Sayville, NY.
Thank you Education Co-Chairs Juliane Wohler and
Janet Gremli.
On February 26, 2011, the GSBAS partnered with the
Long Island Maritime Museum in Sayville to
celebrate National Bird Feeding Month.
Board member and past president Jack Finkenberg
presented his Birding 101 program followed
by a walk through the museum grounds. Thank you
volunteers Jack Finkenberg, Michael McBrien, Steve
D’Amato, and Larry and Helga Merryman.
A Children’s program, “Sea Shore Safari”
was held at Brookside County Park on March 6, 2011. Tracy
Marcus, Marine Educator from Cornell Cooperative Extension
taught the children about local saltwater creatures.
Thank you Education Co-Chairs Juliane Wohler and Janet
Gremli.
Eco-Carnival held at Seatuck in Islip on 30
April 2011. Thank you Helga and Larry Merryman
for representing the GSBAS at this event.
Earth Day Celebration at Sayville, New York
on 30 April 2011. Thank you event chair Kathleen
Kozakiewicz and volunteers Jody
Banaszak, Juliane Wohler, and Ray
Kozakiewicz.
Audubon’s International Migratory Bird Day
on Saturday, 14 May 2010, at Wertheim National
Wildlife Refuge, Shirley, NY. Thanks to trip leader
Alice Heller and volunteer Kathleen Kozakiewicz.
Board member and past president, Jack Finkenberg,
presented his program on John James Audubon
to the Babylon Historical Society and the
Bay Shore-Brightwaters Historical Society.
He also presented his Backyard Birding
program to students at Sayville High School.
Thank you Jack Finkenberg for sharing your
multi-faceted educational programs.
A Family program, “Northern Bobwhite Quail” was held at
Brookside County Park on June 5, 2011. Guests were able to
view several Northern Bobwhite Quail being raised by Cathy
Wilvert and to learn about our partnership with her to
restore the quail to Connetquot River State Park Preserve.
Thank you Education Co-Chairs Juliane Wohler and Janet
Gremli.
GSBAS’ Annual June Outdoor Program, “Birds of Prey” by
Sue Krause, Sweetbriar Nature Center, was presented to the
local community on 16 June 2010 at Brookside County Park,
Sayville, NY.
Young Birders’ Club held the first Sunday of every month
at Brookside County Park from 1 to 3 pm. Thank you Education
co-chairs Juliane Wohler and Janet Gremli.
Chapter Conservation Advocacy
GSBAS has
been active in the arena of public opinion in the ongoing
efforts to save necessary wildlife habitat and reduce pollution.
We have testified at local zoning and conservation meetings, and
written correspondence to political leaders concerning global
and local environmental problems. We have also provided support
to organizations seeking to preserve and conserve natural
resources. Among our efforts:
GSBAS continued to provide support to the
“Friends of Edgewood” in that
organization’s efforts to prevent the DOT proposal to utilize a
portion of Pilgrim State as a Truck-Rail Intermodal. The
“Friends of Edgewood” position advocated that the proposed
Intermodal property was a fragile natural ecosystem adjoining
the Edgewood Oak-Brush Plains State Preserve, and was originally
designated to be included in the preserve. GSBAS agreed and also
pointed out the area of concern is part of a deep flow aquifer
recharge area designed as a Special Groundwater Protection area
and a major source of drinking water on Long Island.
GSBAS is a member of a coalition of
environmental groups dedicated to preserving grasslands in the
Enterprise Park at Calverton (“EPCAL”)
called the Calverton Grasslands which is the largest contiguous
grassland habitat on Long Island and home to several state
threatened, endangered, and special-concern species. GSBAS has
made monetary donations to oppose the dramatic development at
EPCAL which includes the use of large grassland areas as a giant
theme park.
GSBAS participated in a grant project
sponsored and run by the Sierra Club and the Water
Sentinels designed to provide base line testing
and the reporting of the pollution levels of waters entering
from the many tributaries emptying into the Great South Bay.
This project ran through January 2011. Thank you
Jack Finkenberg for being the GSBAS’
representative in this project.
GSBAS continues to support and work with
the “Fire Island Wilderness Committee”
in an effort to see that a comprehensive plan is developed
ensuring that the “Otis Pike Wilderness Area” within the Fire
Island National Seashore remains in an untouched wild state.
Conservation Chairperson, Larry Merryman met
with representatives of Senator Charles Schumer
and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand to further this
purpose.
GSBAS participated in the preparation of
Audubon New York’s Strategic Plan, and
its Conservation Policy Resolutions
which includes language that requested Audubon NY to actively
seek removal of free-roaming and feral cats from parkland
property belonging to New York State Office of Parks, Recreation
& Historic Preservation (NYS Parks) and language included in the
above Audubon NY documents that focused on seeking a ban on the
harvesting of Horseshoe Crabs in New York State. This was
necessary to assist in dealing with their diminishing numbers,
as well as helping many shorebirds, including the plummeting
populations of Red knots that depend on their survival during
their long migrations by feeding on Horseshoe Crab eggs.
GSBAS participated in Audubon New York’s
Chapter Lobby Day on March 28, 2011. Under the guidance of ANY’s
Sean Mahar and Laura McCarthy, the GSBAS joined other New York
chapters in Albany to lobby our representatives on matters such
as: New York State’s Water Management Program, the dangers of
Hydraulic Fracturing for Natural Gas, bird collisions with
office building windows, and the problems of managed feral cat
colonies in our state parks.
GSBAS met with Long Island Regional
representatives of New York State Parks to
discuss the ever-increasing problems of
managed feral cat colonies in New York State Parks. Thank
you Helga and Larry Merryman and Judy Davis for representing
the GSBAS at this meeting.
GSBAS supported Audubon New York’s many
positions/campaigns/action alerts via email.
Chapter Partnering
GSBAS and its
members also belong to and serve as board members in other
important organizations that have a focus on conservation, thus
providing additional energy and coordination in solving
important environmental issues. These organizations include, but
are not limited to:
“Sierra Club: LI Water Sentinels”
“South Shore Estuary Reserve”
“Open Space Preservation Trust”
“Native America”
“The
Friends of Connetquot State Park”
“Seatuck Environmental Association"
“Friends of Wertheim NWR”
"Fire Island Raptor Enumerators (“FIRE”)”
"South Shore Nature Center"
"Starflower Experiences"
“Friends of Edgewood Preserve”
“Coalition to Save EPCAL”
"Suffolk County Sporting Advisory Council"
"Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society"
"Fire Island Wilderness Committee"
"Coalition to Save Plum Island"
New York State Ornithological Association, Inc. (“NYSOA”)
“ABC-Cats Indoors!”
“HOBAS’ Cat Indoors program partner”
“New York State Horseshoe Crab Coalition”
GSBAS has partnered with Friends of Connetquot, Friends of
Wertheim, Friends of Fire Island Lighthouse, Seatuck
Environmental Association and Edgewood Preserve to present
birding field trips, internships, workshops and joint
educational programs and supported organizational events through
attendance, letters in support of issues and monetary donations.
GSBAS’ Stewardship at Brookside County Park
GSBAS’ trained volunteer Tour
Guides are available every Wednesday and Sunday from 1
pm to 3 pm to give tours of Brookside County Park, 59 Brook St.,
Sayville, NY. Tour guides share their knowledge of the natural
beauty and local history of the park.
Annual Spring cleanups at Brookside County
Park spruce up the trails, the butterfly garden and the
building. Additional improvements are in the planning stages.
Brookside County Park continues to be utilized
by Eagle Scouts and many students from classes
at both Sayville and East Islip School Districts
allowing Advanced Placement Students and science students to
work on various projects. These projects are important in
continuing to foster community interest in the Brookside County
Park.
The Brookside Butterfly Garden Club
was established to focus on regenerating the butterfly garden at
Brookside County Park. Thanks to chairperson Janet
Gremli and volunteers Jody Banaszak, Judy Davis, Mary
Engelbert, Kathy Kozakiewicz, Gen Lee, Barbara & Megan McBrien,
Helga Merryman, Mary Plant, and Edith Wilson the
garden in once again a beautiful focal point at the park.
Thanks to a grant provided by Audubon New York,
Sayville High School teacher Maria Brown
and student Sarah Monastero will
intensively test the waters of Green’s Creek from May 2010 to
April 2011.
GSBAS has 118 Bird
Species and counting at Brookside County Park.
Continuing Challenges and Shortcomings
Recruiting new Officers, Board Members, Committee Members,
and future volunteers needed to carry on GSBAS’ local Audubon
mission and goals.
Increasing Chapter educational outreach activities for
children.
The chapter’s efforts to enlist a Birdathon Coordinator
continue to be unsuccessful.
Five Year Strategic Planning
Continue Chapter Stewardship at Brookside County Park,
working together with our Brookside Director and Brookside
Committee to maintain and protect the building and grounds.
Focus on:
educational programs for children at Brookside County Park;
educational programs for adults at Brookside County Park;
continued Chapter attendance at Community Outreach events to
promote awareness of Audubon and its local Audubon Chapter's
mission and goals and try to increase membership;
continue Breakfast & Birding activities at Connetquot River
State Park Preserve, GSBAS’ Adopted IBA;
continue to present the Chapter's Annual June Outdoor
Program as another form of community outreach to make local
residents aware of GSBAS’ Brookside County Park- right in
their own backyards – and get them involved.
Continue our chapter’s efforts to influence local, state and
federal authorities concerning vital conservation issues through all
forms of advocacy available: written correspondences, emails,
telephone calls, scheduled meetings and conservation/environmental
partnerships.
Plans For The Upcoming Year
Continued strong conservation advocacy:
on local issues;
on concerns of the Long Island Audubon Council;
on behalf of Audubon New York and National Audubon issues.
Continue with GSBAS’ Education Chair to look forward to:
presenting more educational programs for children at Brookside
County Park, Sayville, NY;
Work on scheduling additional activities at Chapter's adopted
IBA, Connetquot River State Park Preserve in Oakdale, NY.
Continue to build upon the previously listed successful
accomplishments of the past year.
Continue to plan for the orderly succession, and training of
new officers for the Great South Bay Audubon Society Board and
Chair positions and Tour Guides as part of its stewardship at
Brookside County Park.
Continue to work on broadening the range of interest via
enlisting Field Trip Leaders who are conversant with various
wildlife topics in addition to bird study.
Again seek a volunteer to Chair a Birdathon.
Continue to follow up and measure our progress by assessing
the success our chapter has in meeting stated goals.
GSBAS - P.O.
Box 267, Sayville, NY 11782 · 631-563-7716