Girl Scouts Silver Award Project at Brookside

Girl Scouts Troop 559 is working toward our Silver Award. We plan to landscape the entrance of Brookside County Park on Brook Street (across the street from Sayville High School). The park is the meeting place for the Young Naturalists Club and the Great South Bay Audubon Society (GSBAS). We hope to raise awareness about this special place and help to preserve it.

This bird sanctuary is part of the original estate of architect Isaac H. Green, who designed many of the beautiful historic homes and buildings in our area. The park recently suffered some vandalism, and we hope to raise awareness of this beautiful historic park. We want to help the Suffolk County Historic Services and the GSBAS to preserve the park.

The Great South Bay Audubon Society works hard to maintain the park and supports our project. We hope to add to the historic beauty of this location and make people aware of how fortunate we are for Brookside County Park. Please help spread the word about this project!

If you would like support us, we will gladly accept donations: Peat moss and mulch, Hosta plants, a cherry tree, daffodil bulbs, gloves and gardening tools.

Please download the flyer for more information and how to support the troop in this effort...

Annual Dinner Photos and Recap

Recap by Ken Thompson

Our Annual May Dinner fundraiser was held at Capt. Bill’s Restaurant in Bay Shore on Monday, May 6, 2013. Thanks to the generosity of our members and friends we had many lovely prizes. The dinner was a huge success and all who attended had a grand time.

See the full recap and photos

Hempstead State Park Nature Walk Photo and Recap

Recap by Ken Thompson

Spring birding Fall weather?

On clear crisp cool, forty degrees or so, spring day the GSBAS trip was at Hempstead State Park. It started off very nicely with extended viewing of multiple Wood Ducks in the near pond. We then proceeded to the woods along the creek and around to the field. We saw lots of Myrtle Warblers and afew Black and Whites. In the woods along the field we some more warblers. We saw Blackburnian, always a crowd pleaser and Magnolia. A hardy few hiked up the stream trail and saw a Solitary Sandpiper.

Then in the cars and off to Jones Beach. On the approach road to the West End entrance there was a Red-headed Woodpecker sitting alongside the roadway. What a spectacular bird, the sun was lighting it up and the colors were brilliant.

Another really good trip for,our Tuesday GSBAS folks to participate.

See all field trip/event recaps and photos

Breakfast and Birding Photos and Recap

Photos and a recap of the May 4th Breakfast and Birding Event at Connetquot River State Park have been posted.

The morning of 4th May came clear and bright. Over forty people showed up at Connetquot Preserve to enjoy a delicious continental breakfast of bagels, cinnamon bread, assorted cakes, fruits and cheese, with beverages. The splendid repast was sponsored by the Friends of Connetquot with bagels and spreads donated by Melville Deli.

Read the complete recap and see photos

Brookside Butterfly Garden Club Spring Garden Clean-up

On Saturday, March 30, 2013, the Brookside Butterfly Garden Club held their Spring garden clean-up. Four volunteers spent a beautiful morning removing much debris deposited over the winter from the Nor’easters and Superstorm Sandy. With the cold weather behind us, and under sunny skies with temperatures in the low 50’s, the grass was raked free of accumulated brush, leaves and litter surrounding the deck, sheds and garden area. The planters were filled with brightly colored spring flowers as a welcome sight to all who visit. The lawn looked beautiful speckled with purple and white crocus! During our visit, a red fox scampered across the lawn and headed to the weir, his distinct scent lingering long after he had disappeared.

Anyone interested in participating in the Butterfly Garden Club activities are welcome to join us on Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 10:00 A.M. at Brookside to begin planning the additions to the garden. Feel free to participate in as many or few of the meetings and activities that are held as many hands make light work!

See the Butterfly Garden Club page for photos

2nd Annual Tri-Hamlet Community Celebration on June 1

Will you give a few hours for the birds you love? GSBAS would like to host a table at the 2nd Annual Tri-Hamlet Community Celebration on June 1. The day will be at the Long Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex in Shirley. It will be held in conjunction with the 6th Annual Pine Barrens Discovery Day. This year’s theme is International Migratory Birds. It will be a fun and informative event for all ages. You can volunteer a few hours then make a day of enjoying the event. GBSAS needs 3 pairs of volunteers for 2 hours periods to chat with people, promote birding and do a bird craft (to be determined – would love suggestions.) We can’t do this without enough volunteers. If you are interested, please contact Annette Brownell at nettiesbaskets2@optonline.net or 631-665-4405 as soon as possible. We are supposed to let them know by April 1st if we are in!