Bergen County Audubon Society

               Bald Eagle over Oradell Reservoir                                   

      Photo by AL Barrera

BCAS SPRING BIRD COUNT // BIRD-A-THON

 Please celebrate "National Birding Day" on Saturday, May 10.  We are asking members and friends to spend part of this day enjoying the spring migration by watching birds in their local area or in a nearby natural area.  Chapter leaders will be available in many places to help you in identifying birds, but you may also participate on your own, or by forming your own group.  Our goals are as follows:

 1)  Identify as many species as possible in "Greater Bergen County" on that day, and to count HOW MANY birds of each species are present.

2)  Report your bird lists and total number per species to David Hall, who will compile a master list of the total species and number of birds identified. 

3)  The master list is the basis for our "Bird-a-thon" fundraiser (see separate announcement on how to participate).  The more bird species that we identify, the more money BCAS will raise for local conservation and education projects! 

4)  Have fun!!    May 10th is THE DAY, rain or shine.

 We hope to have leaders covering many areas, including Garret Mountain, DeKorte Park, Greenbrook Sanctuary, Tenafly Nature Center, Ramapo Reservation, Allendale Celery Farm, Mehrhof Pond, Overpeck Park, Flat Rock Brook Nature Center and MahWah Green Acres.  Due to security issues, we may have only limited access to Oradell Reservoir property. We would be very happy if you join one of the above groups, or you may chose your own favorite local bird spot and send back a list of what you see. This is perhaps the most exciting time in the birding year, and we encourage you to take part.

 We will have signup sheets and talley sheets at the BCAS meeting on April 16.   Call David Hall (evenings) at 973-226-7825 (email is hall@aecom.yu.edu) to join a group or to volunteer to lead an area. Beginning May 11, call or email to David to report your bird lists, including the total number of birds per species. We are also ready to send you a talley list by email.

The “Joys of Birding”

Birding for Beginners

 The Bergen County Audubon Society presents a course in the Joys of Bird Watching.

The Bergen County Audubon Society presents a course in the Joys of Bird Watching.

The course will be held 5 Sunday Afternoons  at Local Nature Centers around Bergen County.

April 13 - DeKorte

April 20 - Mill Creek

May 4 - Teaneck Creek

May 18 - Celery Farm

June 1 -Tenafly Nature Center

The course is free to Bergen County Audubon members or $20 to non-members which includes a one year membership.

 Participants must be at least 12 years old. 12-15 year olds must be accompanied by an adult

For more information contact Don Torino

Phone #: 201-636-4022

E-mail: greatauk4@aol.com

              Photo of bird watching class participating in beginners course (2006).
"Joys of Birdwatching"
See above for the class in the spring of 2008.

To  Don Torino, Chair of Education Committee  ---  From Edith Wallace, Participant in the 2007  birding course "Joys of Birding".               

On behalf of the members of the 2007 Beginners Birding Class I wish to thank Don Torino, Chair of the Education Committee, for getting us together for some good Sunday afternoon walks in places nearby that some of us had never visited and we saw birds we would not have found on our own. We also had some lessons on how to look and listen for birds that will be of lasting value. And we thank our leaders/teachers/guides Ken Witkowski, Dick Ensberg, Dave Hall, Harold Feinberg and Don Torino for their patience with beginners and for giving up their Sunday afternoons to help us learn.

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.