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NYC Audubon Event Archive 2005-2006

Photography Committee

Amazing Oceans
by Jesus Salillas
10/19/05
Mr. Salillas, a telecommunication engineer from Barcelona, Spain has recently moved to Manhattan. He has been photographing nature subjects underwater and above ground for a decade while traveling worldwide. He uses both film and digital equipment. This slide presentation will focus on underwater life in the coral reefs of the French Polynesian Islands, including Tahiti, Moorea, and Manihi. There will be close encounters with dolphins, manta rays, sharks, and dancing with humpback whales. We will also see some landscapes and aerial views. Please do not miss this beautiful program.

The Catskill Park
By Chris Olney
11/16/05
Chris Olney, Director of the Land Conservation Program at The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, and co-author of the book The Catskill Park: Inside the Blue Line, will give a talk and presentation about the Catskill Park. Last year the Catskill Park turned 100 years old, and Chris helped to celebrate that anniversary by partnering with Norm Van Valkenburgh on an informative and attractive new book about the Catskill Park (Black Dome Press). The book and Chris's presentation contain many photographs of the Park (both color and black and white), and not only highlights the history of the Catskill Park and Forest Preserve, but also offers a perspective on how the Park is managed and why the Park is so unique and important. Books will be available for sale, and Chris will be happy to sign them for you.

You Never Know Where Nature Photography Will Take You
by Tilo & Janice Samter
3/15/06
Tilo and Janice Samter, members of NYC Audubon, have been photographing nature for over 25 years. Their eclectic and ever-evolving style is a reflection of their quest for a different vision. Their photos have appeared in Nature Photographer and Nature's Best Photography. This program will feature digital images of birds, mammals, flowers, abstracts, and landscapes taken in Point Pelee, Point Reyes, Central Park, Colorado, Maine, New Jersey, and Florida.

Special Events

3rd Annual Hudson River Bird Blitz & History of Hudson River Park Boat Ride
9/10/05
NYC Audubon in collaboration with the Friends of Hudson River Park and the Hudson River Valley Trust. Enjoy a Christmas Bird Count-like event in the Fall! Join NYC Audubon volunteer leaders in counting birds on land and water along Hudson River Park. Following the walk, there will be a boat ride on the Queen of Hearts featuring a History of Hudson River Park program.

11am-12:45pm Blitz; 12:45-3:30pm Boat Ride.
$10 for NYC Audubon DIRECT members, includes lunch
Reservations required, call Friends of Hudson River Park at 212-987-2628.

Jamaica Bay Sunset Cruise
9/18/05
Enjoy a three-hour tour of Jamaica Bay. See egrets, ibis, peregrine falcons, osprey, oyster catchers and others during peak migration time. Learn about the history and ecology of this 9,000-acre preserve. Leaders: Mickey Cohen & Don Riepe.

$35 includes wine, cheese, fruit, snacks.
Reservations required, call Don at 718-318-9344.

Moving Ecologies: a multi-disciplinary investigation of our urban landscape
9/19/05
NYC Audubon in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy of New York, Jennifer Monson/BIRD BRAIN/iLAND, and Dance Theater Workshop present a panel with dancer Jennifer Monson, artists Bob Braine and Leslie Reed, naturalist David Rosane, musician/philosopher David Rothenberg, composer David Kean, and author Michael Crewdson, moderated by NYC Audubon's Executive Director E.J. McAdams.

The panel will be followed by the premiere of Flight of Mind, the touring project BIRD BRAIN by choreographer Jennifer Monson, which follows the migratory paths of gray whales, ospreys, ducks, and geese.

Doors open at 6:30 pm for a building migration,
Flight of Mind performance starts at 7:30 followed by post-performance panel discussion at 8:30.
NYC Audubon DIRECT members will receive a 40% discount on tickets to Flight of Mind through the length of its run September 19-24.

Dance Theater Workshop, 219 West 19th Street $15/$25 (NYC Audubon DIRECT members will receive a 40% discount.) Call the DTW box office 212-924-0077 for tickets.

Fall Roost Benefit
9/28/05
You are cordially invited to New York City Audubon's Annual Benefit. Honorees: Mary Tyler Moore & Commissioner Adrian Benepe. Silent Auction featuring works by Allen Blagden.
Tickets start at $175 If you wish to receive an invitation
Contact Emily FitzGerald at 212-691-7483.

Annual Fall Roost Honors Mary Tyler Moore and Commissioner Benepe
9/28/05

Over 200 guests and supporters of New York City Audubon enjoyed warm fall weather and a stunning sunset over The Lake at our annual Fall Roost festivities at the Central Park Boathouse on Wednesday, September 28, 2005. The theme of this year’s roost was “Celebrating Pale Male and Lola”, the world’s most famous Red-tailed Hawks. The funds raised – well over the Board of Director’s expectations – support NYC Audubon’s vital conservation and education programs.

Honorees Mary Tyler Moore and Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe acknowledged our conservation work and spoke movingly of their love of animals and the natural world. Honored for their help last winter in returning Pale Male and Lola to their rightful nesting site overlooking Central Park, both received a handsome, framed photograph of the noted hawks by Rik Davis.

Guests were treated to cocktails and hors d’oeuvres so sumptuous that nobody felt the need of a post-party dinner. The casual, flexible format allowed folks to intermingle, contributing to the congenial and lively spirit of the evening.

Lenore and Peter Mott and Marcia and Bruce Fowle co-chaired the event, which help from a Host Committee of more than 120 people. Champion Metal & Glass Inc., the firm that constructed the new arched structure supporting Pale Male and Lola’s nest at 927 Fifth Avenue, was the generous Supporting Sponsor. Champion’s President Ali Ghahremani was present for the celebration.

Other special guests included NYC Councilmember James F. Gennaro and Peter F. Vallone Jr., who presented NYC Audubon with a framed proclamation in support of Pale Male and Lola’s return, and Buildings Commissioner Patricia Lancaster.

The silent auction, organized by board member Janice Laneve, was a particularly attractive feature of the evening. Several distinguished artists donated artwork: Allen Blagden, a spectacular painting of Pale Male and Lola, an archival inkjet print of the painting, and a watercolor study of Pale Male; Linnaean Society President Alan Messer, a pair of watercolors, Pieter D. Prall, a descendant of the family that settled Pralls Island of Harbor Herons fame, prints of male and female Ring-necked Pheasants; Alexis Rockman, a signed, limited edition poster of his monumental panorama, Manifest Destiny, commissioned by the Brooklyn Museum; Don Riepe, photographs entitled Jamaica Bay Oystercatchers Against a Manhattan Skyline and Sumac Fall Color; Richard Malenky, two bronze sculptures of chameleons; plus two porcelain eagles from Lladró.

Authors were on hand to sign copies of their books for the winning bidders: Marie Winn, Red-Tails in Love; Cal Vornberger, Birds of Central Park; Rick Cech, Butterflies of the East Coast.

Other contributions to the silent auction included: a two-night stay at Little St. Simon’s Island off the Georgia Coast; a week in Ecuador with stays at El Refugio and Hacienda Cusin; private birding and nature tours with NYC Audubon President Peter Rhoades Mott or WildMetro President David Burg; safari luggage and cashmere sweaters from outfitters, F.M. Allen; binoculars and monoculars from Eagle Optics; handcrafts from Women and the Environment, a cooperative in Ecuador; as well as books, books and more books relating to birds from Random House.

The Pale Male and Lola theme continued with parting gift of notecards featuring Pale Male and Lola as well as Vornberger’s photographic field guide to the birds of Central Park.

Special thanks to the evening’s volunteers: Jennifer Anderson, Karen Asakawa, Molly Northrup Bloom, Leslie Chase, Karen Cotton, Geraldine de Haugoubart, Nicole Delacretaz, Peter Surdel, Gabriel Willow, and Jason Woodard.

The NYC Audubon Board of Directors thanks all for their exceptional generosity.

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The Bedside Book of Birds: An Avian Miscellany
by Graeme Gibson
Co-sponsored by NYC Audubon and McNally Robinson Booksellers
11/14/05
Graeme Gibson, chairman of Canada's Pelee Island Bird Observatory and councilmember of World Wildlife Fund Canada, will give a presentation that includes a slideshow and book signing. His book, a stunning assemblage of essays, poems, scientific observations, folklore, paintings, and drawings, pays tribute to the richly varied relationships that people have established with birds over the millennia. In addition to Gibson's own writings, The Beside Book of Birds includes works by T. S. Eliot, Ted Hughes, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Charles Darwin, Farley Mowat, and Barry Lopez.

McNally Robinson Booksellers at 50 Prince Street
(Lafayette and Mulberry)
Free and open to the public. Registration not required.
Light refreshments will be served.

Birds of Central Park
by Cal Vornberger
Co-sponsored by NYC Audubon and McNally Robinson Booksellers
12/03/05
Central Park is a bird magnet. For the past three years, wildlife photographer Cal Vornberger has spent every day in the park photographing its feathered residents resulting in his new book The Birds of Central Park (Abrams, 2005). His images reveal an urban parkland teeming with wildlife. Vornberger captures birds engaged in a wide variety of behaviors, from feeding and bathing to flying, singing, and caring for young. Join the author for an illustrated presentation and book signing.

Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street
Free with Museum admission; special admission for NYC Audubon members: $5.00 Museum Admission $7.00 Adults, $5.00 Seniors, students, children, $15.00 Families with children (max. 2 adults)

For further information: Call 212.534.1672 x 3395
Visit www.mcny.org or email programs@mcny.org

Directions: By subway take #6 Lexington Avenue train to 103rd St.,
then walk three blocks west. #2 or #3 train to Central Park North/110th St.,
walk one block east to Fifth Avenue, then south to 103rd St.
By bus: M1, M3, M4, or M106 to 104th St., M2 to 101st St.
Accessibility: Headsets and neck loops available
for hard of hearing visitors for programs in the Museum Auditorium.
Ramp access is available at the 104th Street entrance.

Highlights from the 2005 Central Park Christmas Bird Count
12/18/05

Close to 100 people showed up on Sunday, Dec. 18, to participate in the Central Park Christmas Bird Count. The CBC, now in its 106 year, is a great way to enjoy bird diversity while taking part in an important conservation initiative. The count was led by NYC Audubon, in collaboration with NYC Dept. of Parks & Recreation, the Park Rangers, and the Central Park Conservancy. This year we counted 6, 953 birds from 65 species. Highlights from the count included a Great Horned Owl, a Northern Saw-whet Owl, a Northern Shrike, and a Merlin (see pictures). Ruddy Ducks were the most numerous species, with 1,462 individuals counted at the Reservoir. After the count, which lasted from 8-noon, the seven groups met up at the Arsenal Building to tally the birds.

Open House Art Show with Wildlife Artist Alan Messer
Thursday, February 2, 2006, 6 - 9pm

Inspired by the landscapes of his native Oregon, Alan Messer has been rendering nature in paint since the 1970s. His work appears in field guides, books and birding magazines. Messer is currently working on the forthcoming New York State Breeding Bird Atlas while serving as President of The Linnaean Society of New York. Paintings, bookplates, original illustration art, and prints will be available for sale. Half of the proceeds will benefit NYC Audubon programs.
NYC Audubon DIRECT members will receive a 10% discount on all prices. Take in nighttime views of the city skyline and enjoy Messer's spectacular work. Please join us for this exciting event. Alan Messer's work will remain on display in the office throughout February.

The Art Show reception, with refreshments, will be held at the NYC Audubon office, 71 West 23rd Street, Room 1523. It is free and open to the public. RSVP to NYC Audubon at 212-691-7483.

Montauk Winter Weekend
1/6/05-1/8/05
Visit the bluffs, beaches, dunes, and woods at the eastern tip of Long Island during peak winter waterfowl birding time. See loons, eiders, scoters and more and visit a harbor seal haulout site. Cost: $325 includes 2 nights at the luxurious Manor House, 5 meals, 5 guided hikes and star watch. Free pickup at the LIRR station. Leaders: Mickey Cohen and Don Riepe.
To reserve call Don at 718-318-9344 or email driepe@nyc.rr.com

Earth Day Celebration outside Grand Central Terminal
Friday, April 21, 2006 - Noon-7pm
Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 11am-5pm Celebrate Earth Day with more than 50 non-profit organizations and environmental companies and thousands of eco-minded citizens at EarthFair, an outdoor two-day festival of music, education and fun. Enjoy hands-on activities for children, sign petitions, sample products and learn about environmentalism in New York and beyond. Visit NYC Audubon's booth as we spread the word about protecting and celebrating wild birds and habitat in NYC.

To help out at our booth, please contact our office at (212) 691-7483.
For more information about EarthFair visit www.earthdayny.org

Vanderbilt Avenue & 42nd Street, Grand Central Terminal

1st Annual City Birding Challenge & 22nd Annual Birdathon!
5/13/05
Like birding?
Enjoy some friendly competition?
Want to raise money for a good cause?

Then we've got some events for you!

On Saturday, May 13, birders of all skill levels and ages will scour the five boroughs in order to count as many bird species as possible and help raise money for New York City Audubon and our work to protect wild birds and habitat in New York City.

Choose your teammates and test your skills in NYC Audubon's City Birding Challenge or join in the fun and fundraising of the Birdathon. Can't tell a pigeon from a peregrine? Don't worry, there's even a Beginning Birdathon. We've got something for everyone so register today!

Partnership Events

The City University of New York (CUNY)

The Saga of Pale Male
4/17/06
Join us for the award-winning film that made the 5th Avenue hawk famous, followed by a discussion with filmmaker Frederic Lilien. We all know and love the bold and daring red-tailed hawk who lives high above Central Park. Now hear firsthand accounts about the nest's destruction and eventual restoration. For more information call NYC Audubon at (212) 691-7483.

CUNY Graduate Center

365 Fifth Avenue (btwn 34th and 35th Sts.)

Cost: $5 seniors, students & NYC Audubon DIRECT members; $10 General public
Free to CUNY students.
To register, contact CUNY at 212-817-8215 or visit their website

New-York Historical Society

Birds Can Save the World
3/7/2006
"Birds are nature's voice to humans." From Avian Flu to the Ivory-billed Woodpecker's warning of extinction, the messages birds carry alert us to environmental changes and their consequences for life on Earth. John Fitzpatrick will discuss the latest programs that use bird studies—many involving public citizens—to help accomplish genuine scientific advances, as well as conservation of birds and their habitats.

John Fitzpatrick is Director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Professor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Cornell University. He has discovered seven new species of birds and is a member of three Endangered Species Recovery Teams including the team that spotted the elusive Ivory-billed Woodpecker.

Birdwatch: Nature's Music
3/17/2006
Concert: $25 (members, students, educators, seniors $20) An evening of music inspired by the sounds of nature, from the melodies of ancient Native American songs to reflections on nature in contemporary music.

David Amram, flutes, pennywhistles, ocarinas, piano, percussion; Kevin Twig, percussion, xylophone; John DeWitt, bass violin; Adam Amram, percussion

Audubon's Aviary Gallery Tour
4/4/2006
Speaking of the first exhibition of Audubon's Aviary, a New York Times reviewer said, "I find myself going back to the Historical Society every day." This year's gallery tour, with the exhibition curator, Roberta J. M. Olson, features a new selection of original watercolors by John James Audubon.

Roberta J. M. Olson is Curator of Drawings at the New-York Historical Society.

Under a Wild Sky: John James Audubon and the Making of The Birds of America
4/18/2006
In the century and a half since his death, John James Audubon's name has become synonymous with wildlife conservation and The Birds of America. Few people know what a complicated figure he was. William Souder evokes a portrait of an accomplished frontiersman, a likeable man who reinvented himself ceaselessly and changed how we see the natural world.

William Souder's Under a Wild Sky: John James Audubon and the Making of The Birds of America was a finalist for the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for biography. He is also the author of A Plague of Frogs: Unraveling an Environmental Mystery.

Birding with an Artist's Eye-View
Individual Programs: $15 (members, students, educators, seniors $12)

Introduction to Bird Identification and Audubon's Aviary Gallery Tour
3/29/2006
Learn how field sketches capture the clues of anatomy and behavior that are used to identify the many bird species that visit Central Park. Wildlife artist Alan Messer will illustrate techniques of field sketching with live drawing demonstrations that will include hawks in the air, warblers in the trees, sparrows on the ground, and waterfowl. Attendees will have an opportunity after this session to tour Audubon's Aviary with the exhibition curator, Roberta J. M. Olson.

Bird Walks in Central Park's Ramble: Rain or Shine
Journey with artist Alan Messer to some of his favorite landscape features in Central Park's wooded Ramble, including the Gil and Tanner Spring, discovering along the way both resident and migrating birds.

April Bird Walk
4/22/2006
During the April walk through Central Park's Ramble you will have a chance to see resident, late winter, and early migrants including common birds at feeders. Chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, finches, and sparrows may be seen during this time.

May Bird Walk
5/6/2006
During Spring migration in May, delight in the colorful warblers, hummingbirds, tanagers, and thrushes.

Alan Messer is a wildlife artist and illustrator whose works appear in books, field guides and periodicals. His artwork has been shown at The Cape May Bird Observatory, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, and Lincoln Center. He is president of the Linnaean Society of New York.


 

September

June 11 - October 31, 2006

Please, Please, Pleased to Meet'cha

Artist Nina Katchadourian presents the outdoor installation Please, Please, Pleased to Meet'cha, featuring sound recordings of human voices speaking transliterated birdsongs. Sound resonates from speakers installed in trees so that visitors encounter the recordings as they stroll the grounds. The work explores the challenge of "translating" bird sounds into human language, through use of diagrams and mnemonics. Please, Please, Pleased to Meet'cha, the project title, is the song of the chestnut-sided warbler, a bird common to Wave Hill.
After research and consultation with New York City Audubon, birds were selected that appear regularly at Wave Hill in summer and fall.
Click here for more information about Wave Hill.

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Wednesday, September 20, 7-9am

New Member Welcome Walk

Are you new to NYC Audubon? If so, we want to welcome you to our community with a birdwalk in Central Park. (If not, join today! Enjoy the peak of fall migration with NYC Audubon President and expert birder Peter Mott. Bring a friend and get to know your fellow members. "Old" members welcome.
Meet at 7am at the Central Park Boathouse.
To register, contact NYC Audubon at 212-691-7483.
FREE

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Wednesday, September 20, 6:45pm

photography committee:

Exploring Nature's Beauty

By Steve Feingold

Steve Feingold is the chairman of the NYC Audubon Photo Committee and is the instructor for the NYC Audubon Nature Photography class. His programs have been presented at numerous camera clubs and nature organizations in NYC and Long Island. His presentation will feature digital images of wildlife from Custer State Park in North Dakota, loons in Michigan, and birds in Florida.

NYC Audubon Photography Committee meetings are held at 71 West 23 Street, Room 1910. A $3 contribution is requested. All meetings are open to the public.

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Sunday, September 24, 8am

birding adventure:

Fall Birding in Prospect Park

Guide: Peter Joost

Join us as we search the secret spots of Prospect Park for a wide range of fall warblers and other birds amid the bright colors of tuning leaves.
Meet at the entrance to the Park at Grand Army Plaza at 8am sharp. No registration necessary!
FREE

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Sunday, September 24, 11am

partnership event: with Friends of Hudson River Park

4th Annual Hudson River Bird Blitz and History of Hudson River Park Boat Ride

Join NYC Audubon volunteer leaders in counting birds on land and water along Hudson River Park. Following the walk, there will be a boat ride on the Queen of Hearts featuring a History of Hudson River Park program. We begin with the Bird Blitz at 11am and end with a boat ride on the Hudson River.
Meet on the NW corner of Chambers Street & the West Side Highway.
Bring your lunch or purchase on board the boat. You can also pre-order lunch when you register.
To reserve, call Affairs Afloat at 212-987-2628, ext. 305.
$10 NYC Audubon DIRECT Members, $15 General public.

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Wednesday, September 27, 6-9pm

The Fall Roost Benefit

Central Park Boathouse

You are invited to NYC Audubon’s annual fundraiser in the spacious Lake Room of the Central Park Boathouse. Please join us for a sumptuous cocktail reception as we honor The Hugh L. Carey Battery Park City Authority for its environmental sensitivity and its gardens that are so welcoming to birds.

With over 35 acres of open space and parks, Battery Park City has become a haven for migrant and resident birds. More than 70 species rely on its secluded safe spaces to find rest and refueling during spring and fall migrations. Battery Park City is also home to The Solaire, the world’s first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified high-rise residential building.

As we raise a glass to Battery Park City, we can enjoy park views from the Lake Room veranda and bid on unique items in our Silent Auction We hope all our members and friends join us for an evening of festivities.

Proceeds from The Fall Roost Benefit directly support NYC Audubon’s on-going conservation and education programs in the five boroughs.

Tickets start at $200. Please contact Emily FitzGerald at (212) 691-7483 or by email.

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Wednesday, February 7, 6pm

Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change
By Elizabeth Kolbert with Sarah Murdock

2006-2007 lecture series:

In her most recent book, Elizabeth Kolbert approaches global warming from every angle. She travels to the Arctic, the North of England, Holland, and Puerto Rico, interviews researchers and environmentalists, draws frightening parallels to lost ancient civilizations, unpacks the politics, and presents the personal tales of those who are being affected most. By the end of the century, the world will probably be hotter than it’s been in the last two million years, and the sweeping consequences of this change will determine the future of life on earth for generations to come. Field Notes is a description of the realities of global warming and a passionate plea for action while there is still time.

Elizabeth Kolbert was a reporter for The New York Times for fourteen years before becoming a staff writer covering politics for The New Yorker. She is the author of The Prophet of Love. Sarah Murdock is the Senior Policy Advisor on Climate Change for The Nature Conservancy.

Book sale and signing will follow the program.
Co-sponsored by The Nature Conservancy of New York and Columbia University

Special Location:
President’s Room at Columbia University Faculty House
400 West 117th Street
(Enter through main gate at 116th Street between Amsterdam Avenue and Morningside Drive).
All lectures are open to the public free of charge - no registration necessary.

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Tuesday, February 20, 6:30pm

RAW or JPEG: which format is best for me?

By Cal Vornberger

PhotoSIG

Cal Vornberger, a professional wildlife photographer and author of Birds of Central Park, assumed the chairmanship of the Photo Committee at the end of 2006. One of his first official acts was to update the name of the Photo Committee, henceforth known as the NYC Audubon Photography Special Interest Group or PhotoSIG for short.

In addition to being a professional wildlife photographer, Cal has a strong interest in education and will refocus the mission of PhotoSIG in that direction. Programming for 2007 will feature a mixture of educational programs and slide presentations by wildlife photographers. Some of the topics covered will be "An Introduction to Digital Photography," "RAW vs. JPEG," and "The Top Ten Nature Photography Sites in New York and New Jersey." If you would like to make a presentation please contact Cal.

Cal has created a website where members of NYC Audubon's PhotoSIG can share information and post their photographs. There are also a calendar of events, tutorials, news articles, and other helpful features. The Web site is now fully functional and will be open to the general public through January 31, 2007. After that, full access to the site will only be available to registered DIRECT members of NYC Audubon. Nonmembers can browse the site but will not have access to any of the features. The URL of the new site is www.nycaphoto.org and registration instructions are available on the site. You can find out more about Cal and his work on his website - www.calvorn.com

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