Meetings include a brief business segment, a summary of recent trip reports and bird sightings, followed by a nature program.

North

2012 PROGRAMS

 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2012

7:00 PM – Refreshments

7:30 PM – Regular Meeting

St. James Episcopal Church,

1018 Farmington Ave, West Hartford

SPEAKER: Dr. Sylvia Halkin

How Squirrels Thwart Nut-Thieves

Eastern gray squirrels depend on nuts they find and store to sustain them through the winter.  Squirrels use a remarkable diversity of strategies to protect the nuts they find from potential thieves, and change their nut-storing behavior in response to recent theft.  Dr. Sylvia Halkin, Professor of Biology at Central Connecticut State University, will tell us about the research that she and her students and colleagues have been doing to understand this complex behavior of an extremely familiar species.

 

TUESDAY, MARCH 13. 2012

7:00 PM – Refreshments

7:30 PM – Regular Meeting

St. James Episcopal Church,

1018 Farmington Ave, West Hartford

SPEAKER: Robert DeCandido

Night Migration From the Empire State Building: Are Skyscrapers Killing Our Birds?
Dr. DeCandido will speak on the night migration of birds and how their collisions with some of the famous landmarks of New York informed scientists on how birds migrate. He will discuss  the history of birds flying into buildings at night, the differences that lighting can make, the importance of weather and the observations he has made while watching night migration. “Birding Bob”, as he is known in New York City, regularly leads bird walks in Central Park and is an urban ecologist and nature photographer. He has done research in raptor migration, American Kestrels, Eastern Screech Owls, and the flora of New York City.

TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2012
7:30 PM – Regular Meeting
Wood Memorial Library
783 Main St., South Windsor

SPEAKER: Michael Corcoran
Birdscaping: Native Plants for Our Native Birds
Michael Corcoran will share some steps he took in removing  invasive  species on his property  to create bird-friendly habitat utilizing native plants, trees, and shrubs. He’ll provide tips on design and plant selection for making even small spaces more attractive to native songbirds. With a  simple understanding of how our native songbird and native plant communities are linked, he created a safe haven for breeding birds, and a migratory “stop-over” for birds during their seasonal movements. His yard-list boasts 126 species over 12 years.

Michael Corcoran has a particular passion for migratory songbirds. Over the past 20 years, he participated in many citizen-based bird population studies. A Connecticut Audubon Society volunteer since 1994, Michael helped maintain a migratory bird banding station at CAS’s Birdcraft Sanctuary in Fairfield, CT. He takes knowledge gained through these experiences and  has applied it to his own 3 acres in S. Glastonbury.
 

TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012

6:00 PM Annual Meeting and Banquet

The Pond House                

Elizabeth Park, West Hartford

Celebrate the end of our birding year and enjoy good friends and food at the beautiful Pond House in Elizabeth Park. In addition to dinner, there will be the election of officers, the presentation of the Member of the Year award and the President’s address. Call Zellene Sandler for details at 860-242-4167.

TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2012

6:30 PM - Annual Picnic

Northwest Park, 145 Lang Rd, Windsor

What could be more fun than a combination of picnicking and birding? Family and friends are welcome. Arrive early  and  search for the Orchard Oriole, Indigo Bunting and other potential nesters. Bring your own picnic basket as we set up under one of the warming sheds equipped with picnic tables. We will have a report on the Spring Census and hold a short meeting. For additional information, call Zellene Sandler at 860-242-4167