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GREAT SOUTH BAY AUDUBON SOCIETY
ANNUAL PLAN – 2007

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, 2007 THRU JUNE 30, 2008

Accomplishments
GSBAS at the State level continued to send representatives to Audubon New York's Fall ’07 and Spring ‘08 Council Meetings. Additionally, GSBAS submitted comments on its co-sponsored Audubon’s Conservation Policy Resolutions (i.e., Feral Cats, Long Island South Shore Estuary Reserve and Atlantic Ocean Beaches and Bays, and Pesticides). GSBAS’s Chapter representatives, at the local level, attended both Long Island Audubon Council Meetings ("LIAC") in November ‘07 and April ‘08.
GSBAS thanks to Board Member and naturalist, Tom Cullen, held a Dragonfly Program at its Brookside Preserve, Sayville, NY on Saturday, August 4, 2007 for children ages 10 and up. Several attendees made use of newly purchased Chapter equipment (nets, field guides, etc.) for this special program.
GSBAS introduced Audubon New York’s new Long Island Bird Conservation Coordinator, Carolyn Spilman, : i) at its September 20, 2007 General Membership Meeting; and ii) presented Carolyn’s PowerPoint lecture on Beach Nesting Bird Conservation at its February 21, 2008 General Membership Meeting.
GSBAS in February 2008 purchased the new Piping Plover socks from Terry Precision Cycling Website which purchases supported Audubon New York’s Grassland Bird Conservation Program.
GSBAS also introduced Audubon New York’s new Director of Centers and Education, Pam Musk, at its March 20, 2008 General Membership Meeting; Pam’s title presentation was “Global Warming and New York: What Can You Do”
GSBAS thru Audubon New York's Collaborative Funding Grant application secured the funds to sponsor GSBAS's young Chapter member, Patrick Davis for a bird monitoring internship at Bayard Cutting part of the Connetquot Estuary together with the purchase of children's Field Guides and children's binoculars for future use at Brookside Preserve for family oriented programs. And also enabled GSBAS to present its Children’s Piping Plover Program, presented by Carolyn Spilman, Audubon New York, Long Island Bird Conservation Coordinator, held on March 15, 2008 at Brookside, Sayville, NY, together with the snacks provided for the children. Also funds were allocated for Chapter members who volunteered to monitor Piping Plover nesting sites on Long Island's beaches with Carolyn Spilman. My thanks to Jillian Liner, IBA Coordinator and Laura McCarthy, Grassroots Coordinator at Audubon New York for working out the many details of its revised grant.
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.
GSBAS held eight (8) General Membership Meetings with scheduled Speakers at Connetquot River State Park Preserve, Oakdale, NY - GSBAS’s newly adopted IBA -, meeting the third Thursday of the month, September 2007 thru April 2008. These meetings are free and open to the public and are both published in GSBAS’s newsletter, The Sandpiper, and posted to its Website, http://www.gsbas.org. These were our outstanding Speakers and their respective presentations at GSBAS’s General Membership Meetings held September 2007 thru April 2008:
1. September 20, 2007, Paul Adams, Biologist and Neurobiologist presented “The Baiting Hollow Hummingbird San ctuary;”
2. October 18, 2007 Peter Capainolo, associated with the American Museum of Natural History and CCNY presented “The Biology and Ecology of North American Birds of Prey”
3. November 15, 2007, Dr. Ivan Rothman, a physician presented a series of musical slide presentations entitled, “Birds, North and South”
4. December 20, 2007Annual Holiday Member Participation Night together with poetry by Dr. John Potente and music by Larry Moser.
5. January 17, 2008 Robert DeCandido, Ph.D. presented “The Birds of Southeast Asia"
6. February 21, 2008 Carolyn Spilman, Audubon New York, Long Island Bird Conservation Coordinator, presented “Beach-nesting Bird Conservation on Long Island."
7. March 20, 2008, Pam Musk, Director of Centers and Education for Audubon New York spoke on “Global Warming and New York: What Can You Do?”
8. April 17, 2008, naturalist Tom Cullen and USDA Education Interns presented “Dragonflies, Damselflies and Tiger Beetles.”
Program Chair, Alice Heller, 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. These 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 at Brookside Preserve, 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’s newsletter seeks its members’ participation with the submittal of nature stories, poems and related wildlife articles for publication.
GSBAS’s Mailing Chair, Ken Thompson, and his Mailing Committee volunteers, continue to make certain that GSBAS’s 900 +/- members receive their Chapter newsletter – no easy feat!
GSBAS has a new Annual Dinner Chair, Board Member Juliane Wohler.
GSBAS welcomes its new Chapter Librarian, Kate Zorn this year.
GSBAS welcomes its new Bird Feeder Survey coordinator/compiler Board Member, Judy Davis.
GSBAS, held 46 Mid-Week and Weekend Field Trips during this reporting period thanks to Chapter Field Trip Coordinator, Larry Merryman, and Chapter Field Trip Leaders, Mike Cooper, Steve D’Amato, Jack Finkenberg, John Gluth, Bob Grover, Alice Heller, Kathleen Kozakiewicz, Larry Merryman, Peter Murphy, and Ken Thompson. These field trips are also free and open to the public, many of which are attended by members of other local Long Island Audubon chapters. Chapter run field trips have resulted in GSBAS gaining many new Chapter volunteers which help GSBAS accomplish its mission! GSBAS's Weekend Field Trips flyer (for period August - May of each year) is printed courtesy of Board Member, Peter Murphy and inserted in The Sandpiper, detailing these weekend field trips for the upcoming year and which information is also posted to its Website. GSBAS thanks Board Member, Peter Murphy, for donating the printing of the Weekend Field Trip Flyer.
GSBAS’s official Website, www.gsbas.org, at its new .org address continues to remain fully reinvigorated thru the efforts of our paid Webmaster, Eric Larson and with material posting oversight by Chapter President, Alice Heller.
GSBAS’s Mission Statement was changed to reflect Audubon New York’s position on the protection of “native” birds, plants and wildlife.
GSBAS’s Board approved and donated August 2, 2007 the sum of $200.00 to Starflower Experiences, Inc., Jericho, NY, a local not- for-profit educational organization to be used for its Earth Rangers and summer programs of Earth Explorers for youngsters from Wyandanch - their Earth Rangers.
GSBAS held monthly Audubon Reading Groups (formerly referred to Environmental Literature Reading Group), Chaired by Past President, Jack Finkenberg. The generous donation of books from the students at Suffolk County Community College’s Brentwood Campus in 2007 made the “Audubon Reading Group” a reality.
As an activity for GSBAS's Adoption of Connetquot River State Park Preserve, Oakdale, NY as its IBA, has scheduled on Saturday, September 13, 2008 at 8:00 A.M. "BREAKFAST & BIRDING." Further Chapter activities to be scheduled for 2008/2009.
GSBAS's new Chapter Librarian, Kate Zorn, will soon be taking over the duties for Joel Horman, former Chapter Librarian. Library materials are available to members on Sundays and Wednesdays when Tour Guides are present at Brookside.
GSBAS sponsored the Captree Christmas Bird Count (“CBC”) on 12/28/07 that listed 123 species observed, which is the biggest since 1999 (123) and 1995 (128) per Mike Cooper, our CBC Coordinator . Ample food and beverages were provided to feed over 30 people for the compilation at the end of the count at Connetquot River State Park Preserve as advised by Past President, Jack Finkenberg. Mike Cooper having served as the Captree CBC Coordinator and Co -Compiler/Compiler for a total of 37 years has retired and announced that the new coordinators of the Captree CBC are Pat Lindsay and Shai Mitra.
GSBAS’s members participated in a Bird Feeder Survey covering over a dozen locations in our area. Chapter Chairs, Robert & Edith Wilson, compiled the number of bird species postings submitted by Chapter members and the species results were then published in The Sandpiper. After Chairing the Chapter's Bird Feeder Survey for 15 years and three (3) months, Chapter Chairs, Bob & Edith Wilson, have retired. Board Member, Judy Davis, has volunteered to take over the Survey's compilation.
GSBAS’s members also took part in Audubon’s 11th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count, 02/15 - 18/2008. Posters and brochures for display and distribution to Chapter members were secured from Audubon to promote awareness and encourage participation. GSBAS further encouraged its members to participate by posting this information on its website and publication in our newsletter, The Sandpiper.
GSBAS’s members continue to participate in the Piping Plover recovery project, as wardens on the south shore of Long Island, designated to protect the nesting and fledging areas of this endangered species.
GSBAS’s members continue to participate in the Fire Island Hawk Watch which, over the past 24 years, has contributed greatly to the sum of knowledge about hawk migration. The Hawk Watch provides numerical data of hawk distribution, and collaborates with the nearby raptor bird banding station engaged in capturing and releasing hawks with identifying bands, so that additional knowledge concerning their habits, wintering and nesting locations can be compiled. 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, N Y.
GSBAS’s Beach Cleanup Chairpersons, Ed Davis and Jack Isaacs, directed and coordinated numerous Beach Cleanups that focused on surveying and cataloging what kinds of debris is washing up on our local beaches at Robert Moses State Park and at Sailor’s Haven on Fire Island in conjunction with the American Littoral Society’s annual September beach cleanup.
Chapter Fund Raisers
GSBAS held its May Annual Dinner this year on Monday, May 5, 2008 at Captain Bill's BayShore, NY. GSBAS had in attendance 157 persons and presented three (3) prestigious Chapter awards. GSBAS honored:
Larry Merryman, GSBAS’s Past President & Conservation Chair, as the recipient of its Bob Laskowski Conservation Award.
Jack Finkenberg, GSBAS’s Past President & Education Co-Chair was the recipient of its Fran File Award.
Tom & Mary Plant, were the recipients of its President’s Award.
Guest speaker, Ian Rothman, M.D., presented his program “Creatures Large and Small” musical slide picture presentation, including Birds of Florida and California; Butterflies; Captive North American Predators and the Mammals and Birds of Tanzania. Members and guests thoroughly enjoyed the dinner, its speaker, the Silent Auction with several original art works (especially the beautiful painting and pencil sketching from Board Member and artist, Steven D’Amato of a Dickcissel and Eastern Screech Owl Owlets); a Chinese Auction with unique bird related gifts, and the many door prizes 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. GSBAS's 2008 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 2008 newsletter.
GSBAS successful conducted two (2) Chapter Seed Sales: i) its Fall Seed Sale held on October 13, 2007; and ii) its Mid-Winter Seed Sale held on February 8, 2008 thanks to the efforts of our Seed Sale Chair & Past President, Jack Finkenberg, and his team volunteers: Bob & Edith Wilson and Helga & Larry Merryman, together with the support of Chapter Members participating 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.
GSBAS’s Annual Appeal, in addition to helping finance Stewardship Activities at its Brookside Preserve, is also used to help supplement funds to finance Chapter expenses for:
1) Speakers fees at its:
  a) General membership meetings; 
  b) May Annual Dinner
  c) Annual June Outdoor Program at Brookside
2) Newsletters printings and mailing costs
3) Chapter attendance at local Community Outreach Events
4) Special education programs at Brookside
5) Paid Webmaster, Eric Larson, to keep Chapter’s Website: www.gsbas.org updated
6) Verizon Wireless service for its phone service for #631-563-7716 and email address: greatsouthbayaudubon@verizon.net.

GSBAS’s 2007 Annual Appeal was printed courtesy of its Board Member, Peter Murphy. GSBAS also thanks and recognizes each and everyone one of its important Chapter Annual Appeal supporters
with a printed supporter’s sheet published in The Sandpiper!
GSBAS's Cookbook Chair, Edith Wilson, advises that the Chapter’s total net sales thru 6/19/08 for 162 cookbooks totals $1,806.69. The proceeds from the sale of these Chapter Cookbooks will continue to go to finance future educational programs at Brookside Preserve and participating in the 2008 – 2009 school year with the purchase of Audubon Adventures educational materials.
Chapter Community Outreach Events
GSBAS was able to participate at the following community outreach events:
1) Dragonfly Program at Brookside Preserve on Saturday, August 4, 2007 thanks to Board Member & Instructor, Tom Cullen for children ages 10 and up.
2) Long Island Maritime Museum's 2007 Seafood Festival, West Sayville, New York on August 25, 2007 thanks to Vice President & Chair, Kathleen Kozakiewicz and Chapter Volunteers.
3) October 27, 2007 GSBAS hosted Sayville Historical Society visitors who came in two (2) buses to its Brookside Preserve to see where the Isaac Green Estate had been before burning down in 1970; Chapter Volunteers, Kathleen Kozakiewicz, Kate Zorn, and Judy Davis gave the Sayville Historical Society visitors a Tour of the preserve and building.
4) Long Island Bayscaping Symposium, co sponsored by the Peconic Baykeeper & SWEEP at Sayville High School, Sayville, NY on Saturday, 03/08/08 which promoted sustainable landscape practices by area residents as an important step toward managing the detrimental effects of stormwater runoff pollution.
5) Piping Plovers and their Beach Nesting Habitat Program for 3rd to 5th grade students, at Brookside Preserve, Sayville, NY on Saturday, 3/15/08 with a slide presentation and discussion by Carolyn Spilman, Long Island Bird Conservation Coordinator.
6) Earth Day Celebration at Heckscher State Park, East Islip, NY on 4/27/08 this year, giving away 250 native white pine trees to the public thanks to Chapter Chair, Kathleen Kozakiewicz and Chapter Volunteers.
7) Audubon’s International Migratory Bird Day on Saturday, 05/10/08 by joining Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge, Shirley, NY thanks to Chapter President, Alice Heller, Board Member & Chair, Kathleen Kozakiewicz and Co-Field Trip Leader, Michael McBrien
8) Co-sponsored Breakfast with Dragons & Damsels in the Pine Barrens, at Connetquot River State Park Preserve on June 14, 2008; by Board Member and naturalist, Tom Cullen and his students
9) Presented Backyard Birds at the West Babylon Public Library on June 17, 2008 thanks to Past President & Education Co-Chair, Jack Finkenberg.
10) Attended Melissa Santoro’s Gold Award Presentation at the Suffolk County Girl Scouts, Bayport, NY on June 18, 2008.
11) GSBAS & Seatuck Environmental Associations' Joint Program presentation to the local community: Atka, an Arctic Wolf, on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at Brookside Preserve, Sayville, NY and introduced Melissa Santoro, who received her Girl Scout Gold Award from Girl Scouts of Suffolk County for her “eBird” project at Brookside.
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:
The dedication of the Sayville F.A.A. property into the Sayville National Wildlife Refuge on September 4, 2007 attended by NYS Assemblywoman Ginny Fields and U.S. Congressman Steve Israel. It is generally recognized that our late Past President Bob Laskowski was the guiding force in preserving this 100 + acres of natural grassland area from development.
New York State Ornithology Association’s (“NYSOA”) Draft Resolution Wind Power: Conservation Chair, Larry Merryman and Chapter President, Alice Heller, at the request of Andrew Mason, NYSOA reviewed and commented on NYSOA's Draft Resolution on Wind Power on 09/26/2007.
GSBAS has taken a leading role in advising Long Island Audubon Council ("LIAC") and Audubon New York ("ANY") re the negative impact of free roaming cats, especially as it concerns the growing number of feral cat colonies springing up all over Long Island ("LI"), whereby misguided individuals set up colonies of abandoned cats and feed them. GSBAS is particularly concerned with the proliferation of these colonies on various types of parklands on LI. Carolyn Spilman, Audubon New York's Long Island Bird Conservation Coordinator was attempting to have a cat colony removed from a north shore beach as it was seriously endangering a Piping Plover nesting area.
Kittatinny-Shawangunk Ridge with Donald S. Heintzelman: GSBAS sent a letter of endorsement dated November 5, 2007 in support of the establishment of a migration corridor to help safeguard raptors.
GSBAS's Conservation Chair, Larry Merryman, along with our South Shore Estuary representative, attended a meeting consisting of a consortium of environmental organizations, including Audubon New York, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Sierra Club, and other important stakeholders, whose purpose is to advance a proactive agenda to restore and protect New York's ocean and estuarine resources. This consortium is moving to guide conservation efforts regarding the legislation passed by the state entitled the "New York Ocean and Great Lakes Ecosystem Conservation Act," by developing a plan that defines critical executive and legislative actions needed to integrate ecosystem management with existing agency programs, the goal being the revival of the health of our ocean and coastal resources.
GSBAS continues to work with the "Fire Island Wilderness Committee" to see that a comprehensive plan is developed to ensure the Wilderness Area remains wild. All recent indications are that things are progressing well and a positive outcome is expected.
Riverhead Grasslands at former Grumman Plant, Riverhead, NY: GSBAS on November 27, 2007 joined thru Nature Conservancy “The Coalition for Open Space at EPCAL. And on May 13, 2008 GSBAS made a monetary donation to the “Group for the East End” for the “EPCAL fund” to help legal counsel expenses to defend against the development of the former Grumman facility at Riverhead, sent c/o Jennifer Skilbred, Environmental Advocate, Group for the East End; and GSBAS on June 24, 2008 by Chapter President, Alice Heller, commented on the Coalition’s draft letter to the DEC.
GSBAS in February 01, 2008 nominated the LaSalle property in Oakdale thru Audubon’s Public Policy Division for the Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) priorities for Fiscal Year 2009 (FY08). Chapter President, Alice Heller, submitted same to Connie Mahan, Audubon Policy Office, Director, Grassroots Outreach, Washington, DC thru an extension of time (deadline for submitting a nomination was January 25, 2008) granted to GSBAS. My thanks for help, with the LWCF nomination process, from Conservation Chair, Larry Merryman, Past President, Kathleen O’Connor and Legislative Ginny Fields and Bob Grover respectively.
GSBAS by its Conservation Chair, Larry Merryman, at the request of Alison Tews, South Shore Nature Center reviewed an issue concerning Duck Hunting in the immediate area of the Nature Center and its residential neighbors February 25, 2008 and agreed Audubon wasn't going to stop legal duck hunting as per Audubon New York's position.
GSBAS participated in the Peconic Bay Keeper & SWEEP’s Long Island Bayscaping Symposium at Sayville High School on March 8, 2008 that was designed to alert the surrounding community about the hazards of dirty and poisonous runoffs into Great South Bay thru stormwater drains and underground runoff which negatively affect water quality.
GSBAS by Chapter President, Alice Heller, submitted comments due on “DEIS, 357 Units- Great River Development, via its March 14, 2008 correspondence addressed to the Town of Islip again writing to advise of GSBAS’s continued (correspondence previously sent 6/14/06 with respect to the same property) concerns with respect to the development of the Great River property and in support Assemblywoman Ginny Fields’, New York Assembly, 5th Assembly District, constituents’ objections to this proposal.
With respect to the LIAC's objections to Open Marsh Water Management ("OMWM") - that issue remains static and ongoing. The use of OMWM to reduce saltwater mosquito populations was passed by the Suffolk County Legislature over the objections of their own conservation advisory council's strenuous objections, as well as the objections of numerous LI environmental groups. It remains to be seen what will occur in this area of concern whereby the use of ponds and canals gouged out of the fragile saltwater wetlands is wrongly used to control mosquitoes.
Regarding the ill advised and costly Offshore Wind Farm south of Jones Beach, GSBAS labored along with their sister Chapters in the LIAC to defeat this project - although there are still other wind farm proposals "in the wind" so to speak. This project was deemed unacceptable; however, other wind farm proposals will have to be reviewed on their own terms to see if this form of energy production is feasible in the crowed LI area.
GSBAS supported the South Shore Audubon Society's and LIAC's effort April 12, 2008 to defeat Donald Trump's proposal to significantly enlarge the footprint and plan of the Trump restaurant at Jones Beach. GSBAS attended the meeting along with South Shore Audubon Society.
GSBAS also at the LIAC April 12, 2008 meeting put on its agenda a request, from Dr. Tannecredti, Dowling College, who heads up the Horseshoe Crab Network (“HSC”) – Hotline #631-244-3394, seeking to recruit enough volunteers to adopt a beach on Long Island to participate in a horseshoe crab count and help “right” overturned horseshoe crabs on the full moons in June and July 2008.
GSBAS supported Carolyn Spilman, Long Island Bird Coordinator's Beach-nesting bird conservation on Long Island with the presentation of Carolyn's program at its February 21, 2008 General Membership Meeting, with its Children's Piping Plovers & their Beach Habitat presentation on March 15, 2008 program, with articles in GSBAS's May/June 2008 newsletter, and with an Alerts posted to its Website asking for Piping Plover volunteers with nest monitoring efforts to help our threatened Piping Plover on our local shores this year.
With respect to the Bigger Better Bottle Bill ("BBBB"), GSBAS labored long and hard with emails, phone calls and letters to get the BBBB passed in an acceptable manner, but which same recently failed yet again. GSBAS will support when same is presented again for passage next year.
GSBAS by Chapter President, Alice Heller, sent its May 7, 2008 correspondence addressed to Congressman Israel, Bishop and King urging their signature as co-sponsors of HR 4093 the Migratory Bird Treaty Act Penalty and Enforcement Act and expressed its deep concern with respect to pigeon hobbyists on the west coast trapping and killing migratory raptors in an illegal attempt to protect their birds.
GSBAS by Chapter President, Alice Heller, sent its May 7, 2008 correspondence to Honorable Sheldon Silver, Speaker of The Assembly re:A09870/S6728: The Transfer of Certain Lands to the Oak Brush Plain State Preserve – Edgewood-Oak Brush Plain State Preserve advising GSBAS’s support of the legislation and preservation of part of the State Nature and Historic Preserve – the largest parcel of open space west of Brookhaven and second largest remnant of pitch-pine scrub oak habitat in New York State. And further applauded Senators Johnson, Trunzo and Flanagan and Assemblymen Ramos, Raia and Engelbright for their visions and leadership in introducing this important legislation.
GSBAS continued to support the Edgewood Preserve's bill that would significantly assist in preserving that natural area in the heart of western Suffolk County - an oasis of green in the middle of concrete, macadam and development.
GSBAS by its Conservation Chair, Larry Merryman, at a formal meeting awarded U.S. Congressman Steve Israel with an Award of Excellence for his constant efforts to enhance conservation goals on Long Island. This represents our Chapter's target of recognizing those elected officials who can be counted on to support important environmental legislation at the Federal Level.
GSBAS by its Chapter President, Alice Heller, attended Melissa Santoro's Gold Award
Ceremony, on June 18, 2008 at 7:30 PM at the Suffolk County Girl Scouts
of Suffolk County Camp in Bayport and presented Ms. Santoro with a letter and Certificate of Recognition for the completion of her Girl Scout Gold Award. Melissa for her Gold Award project updated a website of recorded bird sightings in her community using Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society's website, "eBird." The data entry was of Brookside birds for the years 2001 through 2006 and her project required over sixty-five hours.
GSBAS's Conservation Chair, Larry Merryman, volunteered to serve on Audubon New York's Climate Change Committee.
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:
“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"
"Friends of Fire Island Lighthouse"
"Friends of Fire Island National Seashore"
"OPRH/Robert Moses Golf Course"
New York State Ornithological Association, Inc. (“NYSOA”)
“ABC-Cats Indoors!”
GSBAS has partnered with Friends of Connetquot, Friends of Wertheim, Friends of Fire Island Lighthouse and Seatuck Environmental Association to present birding field trips, internship, workshops and joint educational programs and supported organizational events through attendance, letters in support of issues and monetary donations.
GSBAS’s Community Outreach at
Brookside Preserve:
GSBAS and Seatuck Environmental Association hosted on June 19, 2008 its Annual June Outdoor Meeting at our Brookside Preserve which featured a jointly presented program by the Wolf Conservation Center, South Salem, NY entitled, Atka, the Arctic Wolf. This outdoor meeting was free, opened to the public and was attended by over 200 people from the local community. Also Melissa Santoro, recipient of the Girl Scout Gold Award from the Suffolk County Girl Scouts, Troop 243, Service Unit #32 announced her completion of the “eBird” project at Brookside.
GSBAS’s Annual Appeal was again a success, helping finance GSBAS's stewardship activities at its Brookside Preserve with the: 1) purchase of seed and suet for bird feeders; 2) maintenance of Butterfly Garden; 3) building maintenance expenses incurred, i.e.: alarm system, telephone and internet services, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, roof repairs and grass cuttings at premises. GSBAS in recognition of the many Chapter supporters of its Annual Appeal prints an Annual Appeal sheet which is inserted in our newsletter. GSBAS thanks Board Member, Peter Murphy, for donating the 2007 Annual Appeal printing and also thanks each and everyone one of its important Chapter supporters!
GSBAS’s Brookside Preserve
GSBAS’s trained volunteer Tour Guides allow Brookside Preserve to be open to the public twice a week and upon appointment. On Sundays and Wednesdays tours are given at Brookside Preserve, 59 Brook Street, Sayville, NY and its local historical history shared.
Annual Spring cleanups at Brookside Preserve spruce up the trails, the butterfly garden and the building. Additional improvements are in the planning stages.
Brookside Preserve continues to be utilized by many students from classes at both Sayville and East Islip High Schools 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 Preserve.
Maria Brown, a teacher of AP Environmental Studies, Sayville High School and her students, continue to be involved with many projects at Brookside Preserve. GSBAS thanks Maria Brown, and her wonderful students, for their continued work and involvement at Brookside Preserve.
And GSBAS thanks Mrs. Lynch, a teacher of Environmental Studies, East Islip High School, for having sent many of her students to Brookside to participate in the "bird walks" at the Preserve. GSBAS wishes Mrs. Lynch a wonderful retirement and thanks her for introducing her students to their local Audubon Chapter.
GSBAS’s Board Member & Volunteer Surveyor, Thomas P. Cullen and his students met weekly at Brookside Preserve for Dragonfly Meetings co-sponsored by USDA and Sayville High School, as Partners in Education Partnership, and affiliated with Audubon up until the end of June 2008. Also the survey was done under the auspices of New York State Natural Heritage Program with data supplied to them. Additionally Instructor, Thomas Cullen, presented a Power Point Presentation at the Chap ter's April 17, 2008 General Membership Meeting on Dragonflies & Damselflies, along with his USDA’s Partners in Education Students: Patrick Davis, Bridget Shaughnessy and Tim Carey and it was one of GSBAS’s most exciting and informative evenings - thoroughly enjoyed by all in attendance – we had a packed house that night! It is with sadness that we say goodbye to Board Member, Tom Cullen, has he retires and moves to his summer home upstate New York.
GSBAS has 112 Bird Species and counting at Brookside Preserve.
Girl Scout, Melissa Santoro, received her Gold Award from Suffolk County Girl Scouts, at a special Ceremony held on July 18, 2008 for her project of entering Brookside Preserve’s bird species lists for the last six (6) years to the “Cornell eBird site.” Congratulations Melissa!
GSBAS this spring arranged to lend its assistance to Sean Rostrup with his Eagle Project, to build a Bluebird Trail in Heckscher State Park, East Islip, NY. GSBAS donated several Bluebird Nest boxes kits for Sean’s project. Conservation Chair & Past President, Larry Merryman is Sean’s contact person on this project.
Challenges and Shortcomings
Recruiting new Officers, Board Members, Committee Members, and Tour Guides and volunteers to carry on GSBAS’s 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 Preserve, working together with our Brookside Director and Brookside Committee to maintain and protect the building and grounds.
Focus on:
1) Educational programs for children at Brookside.
2) Continued Chapter attendance at Community Outreach events to increase membership and promoting awareness of Audubon and their local Audubon Chapter's mission and goals.
3) Schedule additional activities at Connetquot River State Park Preserve, GSBAS’s Adopted IBA
4) Continue to present the Chapter's Annual June Outdoor Program as another form of community outreach to make local residents aware of GSBAS’s Brookside Preserve - 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:
1) On local issues
2) On concerns of the Long Island Audubon Council
3) On behalf of Audubon New York and National Audubon issues.
With our new Education Chair in place, GSBAS looks forward to:
1) Presenting more educational programs for children at Chapter R11’s headquarters at Brookside Preserve, Sayville, NY
2) Sponsoring Audubon Adventures at our local area schools.
Work on scheduling additionally activities at Chapter's IBA adoption of Connetquot River State Park Preserve in Oakdale, NY. Possibly submit grant under Audubon New York’s 2008/2009 Collaborative Funding for funding of a Birding Intern and additional Chapter activities at Connetquot.
Continue with the sale of the Chapter’s printed Cookbook and use of its sale proceeds for educational programs and the sponsor of Audubon Adventures kits for use at local schools.
Continue to hold the monthly established Audubon Reading Group (formerly referred to as the environmental literature reading group).
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 for its Brookside
Preserve.
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