Naturalists' Club Projects and Activities

Whatever your interests are, whether you are four or twice forty, there is something for you as a club member: learning the song of the bluebird, finding a tiny orchid you never saw before, seeing one of your slides shown at a club meeting or one of your nature stories in print. Best of all, finding new friends with whom to share your experiences.

· Monthly Meetings: The club meets at 7:15 pm at the Vestal Public Library on the fourth Wednesday of the month from September throught June (except the second Wednesday in November and December, and for the October annual dinner).
· The Gnatcatcher: The club's monthly newsletter lists upcoming events and items of interest, including monthly bird statistics
· Weekly "Weed" Walks: Wednesday morning walks are held in some nearby natural area, except in winter. Bring binoculars, field guides, camera, or just lunch.
· Family Field Trips: Nature hikes suitable for all ages are held occasionally.
· Bird Song Classes: On Saturday mornings in May the public is invited to join members on outings to study birds by sight and song.
· Unusual Bird Alert: The club operates a phone relay for local unusual bird sightings.
· Christmas Bird Count: The club joins others throughout the US in the National Audubon Society's census of birds in each area during the Christmas season.
· Federation of NYS Bird Clubs: The club is a member of the Federation. Our bird reports are included in the Federation's quarterly publication, The Kingbird.
· Waterfowl Census: Members participate in the January waterfowl count, a joint effort of the Federation of NYS Bird Clubs and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation to assess population levels.
· Breeding Bird Census: The club joins the US Fish and Wildlife Service in this June Count of nesting birds.
· North American Migration Count: Our members participate in the nation-wide count of birds the second Saturday of each May.
· North Amercian Bluebird Society: We cooperate with the Society by encouraging the building of bluebird houses to establish bluebird trails. Some members are active in the Society.
· Bird Banding: Public bandouts are occasionally held by club members licensed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
· Advice and Assistance: The club provides expertise in leading field trips, developing nature trails and exhibits, and supplying nature information through talks and slide programs.

Some Naturalists' Club Accomplishments

  • Publications:
    • The Gnatchatcher , our monthly newsletter.
    • Trees of Broome County , written and illustrated by club members.
    • Four Seasons Afield by Claude Howard illustrated with photographs and drawings by club members.
    • Broome Birds and Byways by Marie Petuh which describes the flora and fauna of nearby natural areas.
  • Projects:
    • Otselic Bog: The club purchased three acres along this quaking bog to assure its preservation.
    • Breeding Bird Atlas Project: Club members have completed the local New York Atlas Project and have assisted Pennsylvania.
    • Apalachin Marsh Nature Preserve: Members of the club were instrumental in saving this fifty-acre waterfowl habitat.
    • Wetlands Survey: In 1974 and the mid-1980's members collected data for the evaluation of Broome County wetlands for the Environmental Management Council and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.
    • Local Park Studies: Club members have helped make check lists of the flora of Cole, Greenwood, and Jones Parks and the birds of Chenango Valley State Park.
    • Eldorado Beach: Over $8,000 was raised through club efforts for the preservation of this Nature Conservacy sanctuary on Lake Ontario.

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This document maintained by bcnatclub@gmail.com.
Material Copyright © 1998 Naturalists' Club of Broome County, Inc.