Join us on the first Monday of every month for our public programs!
Join us for our monthly field trips! All are welcome!
Report your feeder Surveys Observations Online!
© 2019 Eastern Long Island
Audubon Society
"From the Barrens to the Bays"
Eastern Long Island Audubon Society, Inc.
A New York Chapter of National Audubon Society
Serving communities from Patchogue to Montauk including Southampton, East Hampton,
Western Riverhead and Brookhaven
Two ways to stay in touch and be on our mailing list!
We would like to stay in touch with you! ELIAS is now using Constant Contact in addition to Facebook to remind our members and friends about meetings and walks. Click on the sign up form to be added to our list. Or text ELIAS to 42828 to get started.
Watch Us On
HERE IS WHAT IS COMING UP!
ALL PROGRAMS AND WALKS ARE FREE.
Volunteers needed for the
Waterfowl Census
This long standing census is conducted and organized by New York State Ornithological Association. Each January, NYOSA members and supporting groups visit lakes, rivers and shorelines to count waterfowl (ducks, geese, swans, loons, grebes, etc.). The results are published in The Kingbird, NYSOA's magazine.
The count begins on the Saturday before Martin Luther King Day, (the third Monday in January). It lasts a week giving leaders options to pick the a day or days to avoid snow storms or other bad weather days.
In most years more than a quarter of a million birds are tallied. In addition to being an enjoyable (but usually cold) outing, DEC has acknowledged this to be a useful survey for long-term monitoring of waterfowl populations wintering in New York. If you would like to participate, contact one of the compilers listed below.
Saturday, January 19-26, 2019
(target date - Sunday, January 20, 2019)
Territories & contacts for our area:
Smith Point to Shinnecock Inlet
Contact Jay Kuhlman at sjkuhlman@aol.com or
631.878.446. Target date for this survey is Sat. January 19th.
Yaphank to Peconic Bay
Contact Rosemary Valente at 631-882-2464 or
hobbesmom4ever@gmail.com
Montauk to Shinnecock
Contact Frank Quevedo at 631.537.9735 or
sofoexdir@optonline.net
Reeves Bay to Noyack Bay & Fresh Pond to Sag Harbor
Contact John McNeil at 631.281.2623 or
birdwchr@gmail.com
Birders & Photographers:
DEC Needs Your help Finding Marked Brant
Last year, DEC kicked-off a five-year Atlantic brant migration and breeding ecology study with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the Canadian Wildlife Service. Crews began marking brant with geolocators attached to red and white plastic-colored leg bands, which have a three-digit code of letters and numbers on them (left photo). The geolocators themselves are clear, plastic electronics about the size of a "fat nickel" and have a plastic cable lock tie. In addition, crews will begin marking brant with two smaller colored leg bands, one on each leg. These bands will consist of one letter or number on a white background (right photo). Some birds also have GPS transmitters on their backs (middle photo).
How can you help? Sightings and/or photographs of color bands and birds with transmitters are very helpful to the study.
If you see a brant with either type of colored leg band, please report the observation to the Patuxent Bird Banding Laboratory website. When you complete the report, the bird banding lab will e-mail you a certificate of appreciation for your time and assistance.
If you see a bird with a transmitter on its back, but no color leg bands, please e-mail us to report your observation. Pictures of the bird would be greatly appreciated.
Eastern Parcel at Washington County Grasslands Wildlife Management Area Closed for the Winter
SATURDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 2, 2019, MEET AT 8:30 AM
ANNUAL TREK TO MONTAUK!
Leader: Eileen Schwinn
We will be meeting at the Point – and what’s the Point?? The Montauk Lighthouse Parking Lot! Meeting time: 8:30 am, to view (hopefully) the hundreds – or thousands – of sea ducks! With luck, Razorbills and other alcids will be present, and perhaps, wintering gulls and terns. Moving on to Camp Hero, we will also view the southern shore and ocean, and continue the day with visits to The Ranch, Lake Montauk, Ditch Plains, and various great birding spots which make up the Must Do List of the Winter in Montauk Birding Experience! The itinerary may change if any rare or noteworthy birds are reported in the area. Dress for the weather – which will be cold, windy, and downright nasty! There are heated restrooms at The Point, and various other spots, and be sure to bring snacks and water. There are some local restaurants and delis which are open, but you may want to pack a lunch. We will spend the morning birding. Contact Eileen Schwinn, beachmed@optonline.net, for more information. (And since it’s Groundhog Day, we might be forced to do the same thing on the following Day!!)
MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 4, 2019 AT 7:15 PM
Fire & Ice
Two Countries, Very Different –
with a Common Factor – Great Birds!
Eileen Schwinn
In May of 2015, Eileen, along with her husband, Hans, and two friends, spent 15 days exploring all the major regions of Iceland by car. Although not specifically a birding trip, it was impossible not to notice the abundance of bird life - especially since it was breeding season.
In February, 2017, Eileen again hit the road – this time on a structured, two-week citizen-science bird survey trip to Cuba, along with members of Massachusetts Audubon and the Caribbean Conservation Trust.
Two very different countries, environments, and climates – but each containing some elements in common, such as welcoming, open people, and some pretty neat birds.
Join us for a photo presentation of both Iceland and Cuba, and maybe your interest will push you toward similar trips of your own, to these unique places.
A Baltimore Oriole was The Spark Bird for Eileen Schwinn, which she saw at age seven. The birding bug really bit and infected her about 50 years later – the rest is history. Past President and current Vice President of ELIAS, Eileen is the Trip Leader for the club. Her interests outside of birding are few – a history book club and, of course, her four, dear little grandchildren. You can usually find her roaming Dune Road or any place a rare, slightly rare or not nearly rare bird is reported in Suffolk County!
FEBRUARY 15-18
GREAT BACKYARK BIRD COUNT
PLANNED FOR MARCH
ELIZABETH MORTON NWR
This is always a special walk. Just at the edge of winter, you will be greeted by lots of hungry birds, that eat right out of your hand. Frequently there are pockets of over-wintering birds. Great photo ops as you are close to the birds. Meet at the Refuge parking lot at 8 am. It is roughly a 2 mile walk to the beach and around the refuge. Dress warmly and appropriately. Bring binoculars! Bird seed will be provided.
The Elizabeth Morton NWR is off Noyac Road on the way to Sag Harbor (if you are coming from the west).
MONDAY EVENING, MARCH 3, 2019 AT 7:15 PM
WARBLERS!!!
Dianne Taggart
Warblers!! Springtime brings beautiful warblers to Long Island! Come and join us as Dianne Taggart (long time LI birder) tells us all about these remarkable birds. Using photos and many interesting and fun facts, the evening will get you ready for spring migration and the return of the Warblers!!
Dianne Taggart has lived on LI all her life but came to be a birder late in life. However that quickly became a passion that has lasted for over 30 years. She ran the “LI Birds” website for many years and is currently the administrator for the “LI Birds” FaceBook Group.
ELIAS Meetings are held at
Quogue Wildlife Refuge
Meetings are held at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge, 3 Old Country Road, Quogue, NY. 11959. Everyone is welcome, there is no charge.
From LIE, Exit 70 take Rte 111 south to Rte 27 - Sunrise Highway East. From Sunrise, Exit 64S, go south 2 miles on CR 104 to Old Country Road. Turn right and go .7 miles to entrance on right.
From Riverhead, take 104 from traffic circle. Follow signs to Quogue. See directions above (CR 104 etc.).
From Montauk Highway, go north on Old Main Road (one block west of traffic light in Quogue, east of Quantuk Creek). Cross LIRR. Entrance is straight ahead.
How to Become a Member
All memberships run from January to January. Dues are $20.00 per year. Send your membership dues to Eastern Long Island Audubon Society, PO Box 206, East Quogue, NY 11942. Print the For your convenience you can print a membership form.
If you include your email you will be added to our Constant Contact email notification list and you will receive notices about upcoming events a few days before the event or changes to programs if the weather or other circumstances come up.
Do you have a suggestion?
If you have a suggestion for a bird walk, please contact Eileen Schwinn at beachmed@optonline.net
If you have a suggestion for a program please contact Suzi Stewart at suzizny@aol.com or Bob Adamo at radamo4691@gmail.com.
LINKS & SUCH
