Bergen County Audubon Society makes presentation at Paramus Ridge Ranch Elementary School

 Presentation of several items obtained through grant money by B.C.A.S.

 Don Torino, B.C.A.S. Education Chair,  sharing program of bird photos.    

         Great Backyard Bird Count at Ridge Ranch Elementary School February 13, 2009. Harry Byrne and students identifying birds.  The class is using Binoculars and Field Guides donated by Bergen County Audubon.Society.

  The bird counters with Miss Manzi following identification of many birds in the Courtyard.

Bergen County Audubon Society participates  in Saddle   Brook High School /Middle School Courtyard Dedication

 Beth Goldberg accepts Certificate of Appreciation on behalf  of B.C.A.S. for our efforts with the school's courtyard project.

 Bergen County Audubon Society applied/received $750 Grant from National Audubon Society for continued support of courtyard project at Saddle Brook Middle/High School.

BCAS recently applied for, and received,  a $750 collaborative funding  grant from National Audubon Society for our continued support of the courtyard project at Saddle Brook Middle/High School.   This grant money enabled us to purchase numerous field guides, binoculars, nesting boxes with mounting poles and a birdcam nesting box which will enable the students to witness nesting box activity from within their classrooms.  On February 26^th, these items were presented to the school by BCAS Education Chair Don Torino, and Secretary Beth Goldberg.  Pictured with the BCAS members are James Sarto, Principal, and teachers Gayle Dunlap and Kim Altamura who serve as advisors to the environmental club.

Previously, BCAS efforts have resulted in securing grant money for the purchase of nesting boxes for Overpeck Preserve, tree identification guides for Flat Rock Brook and Ridgefield Nature Preserve, and chimney swift towers for the Walkill NWR. 

Bergen County Audubon Society adopts Saddle Brook High/Middle School's "Environmental Club" in a mentoring partnership----- on February 14, B.C.A.S. worked with 130 seventh grade science students on the Great Backyard Bird Count.

On February 14^th, members of Bergen County Audubon participated with the 7^th grade science classes at Saddle Brook High/Middle School to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count.  As you may know, our chapter has “adopted” the Saddle Brook school’s Environmental club in a mentoring partnership.  This idea grew out of the initial efforts of Education Chair Don Torino to coordinate and plan a school courtyard landscaping and birdscaping project with the school’s science teacher and environmental club advisor, Gayle Dunlap.  What started as open space, is now established as a natural bird friendly area complete with native plantings, feeding stations, weather station, large pond, heated greenhouse and benches and tables to enjoy the efforts of the students at the school.  Through Don’s efforts and that of the students and advisors, the courtyard has now has been certified by the National Wildlife Federation as an official Schoolyard Wildlife Habitat.  In addition, the school recently received a $750 grant from our chapter to assist in continuing efforts to expand the courtyard program. 

 On the day of the count (school was closed Feb. 15-18), Don, accompanied by Ken Witkowski, Dave Hall, and Beth Goldberg, worked with  130 7^th grade science classes in observation, identification, recording and sketching of the birds seen throughout the day in the school courtyard.  Mourning doves and juncos were noted in greatest numbers, but the students also observed sparrows, goldfinches, a ring billed gull and red tailed hawk among others.  Armed with binoculars and field guides, the students learned about the importance of the GBBC and gained a better appreciation of the work of citizen scientists, no matter how young.