“Climate change is the single greatest threat to North American birds. Solutions are plentiful, but to protect more than 300 species at risk, we must act now.” —National Audubon Society, September 2024.

Approximately 30% of greenhouse gas emissions come from residential and commercial sectors in the U.S. (The breakdown for the remainder is 30% from industry, 30% from transportation and 10% from agriculture.)

2024 broke records for global temperatures and severe weather events. The 10 warmest years in the historical record have all occurred in the past decade (2014-2023). The financial costs of climate change are already being seen with evidence from record breaking damages from severe weather events over the last year. Repair costs are staggering and insurance claims are being denied.

Our community households and local businesses can work towards minimizing our collective impact.

Join Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society (DOAS) on Friday, February 21, 2025 at 7:30 PM on Zoom for a presentation with DOAS Education Chair, Susan O’Handley to look at ways to reduce your household carbon impact and why it is important to take action.

Register at https://mobilize.us/s/AVfczt .

Susan’s program will focus on seven areas where our households, businesses and community operations have carbon impact and will provide an overview of tools and resources to help you establish baseline data and how to track your progress.

Susan will also briefly overview her family’s own journey toward a carbon-neutral household, along with the financial and quality-of-life benefits realized through investing in energy retrofits to their 1902 Victorian Farmhouse in Hartwick.

Presenter Bio

Susan O’Handley has been involved with local Audubon chapters for over 30 years and has served on the Board of Directors for the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society since 2012 (10 years as a Co-President). Susan also works with the Audubon NY/CT Council Board which is composed of 27 Audubon Chapters in NY State and 6 Chapters in CT, and serves on the Advisory Board for Audubon NY/CT Regional Office as the Chapter Representative. She owns and operates a small digital marketing agency in Hartwick, NY.

Learn About Using Native Plants & Supporting Natural Habitats Through Landscaping

Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society is proud to organize the Habitat & Ecosystems Land Pro (HELP) Conference & Endorsement Training. The HELP program features new curriculum developed and presented by the Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary and Audubon Center.

Join us for this special 3-day program for landscaping professionals who work in Upstate NY and the surrounding regions.

The conference will take place at Hartwick College’s Pine Lake Environmental Campus, 1894 Charlotte Creek Road Oneonta, New York 13820 with a Zoom option for two of the three days.

This training is for:

• Landscape professionals
• Landscape architects
• Municipalities or parks agencies
• Upstate NY and the surrounding regions
• Students in a landscape professional program are also welcome to attend.

Why Attend?

Ecological landscaping makes it possible to create rich habitats in a variety of spaces that support birds, insects, and other wildlife. This knowledge also improves our ecosystem services and is highly sustainable. 

✅ Learn strategies to create sustainable habitats through landscaping, as well as how to advertise and leverage these highly-desired services to your clients.

✅ Earn continuing education credits.

✅ Get listed as an Endorsed Eco-scaper on the HELP Program web page, National Audubon Plants for Birds and Native Plants Databases, and the Homegrown National Park website.

Join DOAS Board Director, Chris DeCesare, on Saturday, March 15 (rain date: March 22) for a birding field trip to Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge and the adjacent Wetlands Complex to view migratory waterfowl and shorebirds on their annual journey north to their breeding grounds. The area is comprised of 50,000 acres of wetlands and upland habitat north of Cayuga Lake and is a globally significant Important Bird Area because of the number of waterfowl that stop there during migration season. Past sightings include a variety of ducks, snow geese, swans, bald eagles, herons and sandhill cranes.

Above: Snow Geese, Photo by Rod Sutton

Participants can plan to meet at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters at 10:00 a.m. Those wishing to carpool can meet at the Dietz Street Parking Lot, across from the YMCA in Oneonta at 7:30 a.m.

The trip will begin at the refuge headquarters and then proceed by car to hotspots around the complex. There may be a small amount of walking on level ground; restrooms are available at the refuge headquarters. There is no charge for admission.

This is an all-day trip with an expected return to Oneonta around 5:00 p.m. Participants should plan on bringing a bag lunch, snacks, water, etc. For more details, contact Chris DeCesare at 607-244-5496 or chris.decesare444@gmail.com.

About Trip Leader Chris DeCesare:

Like many on the board, I’ve had a lifelong love of nature and being outdoors. This led me to study wildlife biology in college and environmental education in graduate school. It was my ornithology professor who introduced me to the interesting world of birds from nesting bald eagles to the mating ritual of the woodcock and the songs of backyard birds. My favorite memory is sneaking up on woodcocks at dusk in a scrub field with my classmates and throwing ourselves to the ground as a bird twittered to earth from its sky dance.

My work experience includes being a seasonal park ranger at a US Fish and Wildlife Refuge, a seasonal Biological Technician for the US Forest Service and an environmental educator for the NYSDEC. The latter was my career for over 20 years. I currently manage a grant for afterschool program as the Program Director for the Creating Rural Opportunities Partnership (CROP) program.

I have been a part of DOAS as a camp director, a program leader for adults and families, and a Christmas Bird Counter. I’m excited to be on the board to help further the mission. My interests include paddling, hiking, gardening, and spending time with my dog Koa participating in sports such as Scentwork and Dock Diving. Though I love birds, I also have a fondness for insects…Shh!

Register for the Trip

Back to DOAS Homepage

It is estimated that over 1 billion birds die as a result of window collisions each year in North America with 99% of these occurring at residential and low-rise buildings.  It is considered to be the third highest cause of bird mortality, following habitat loss and predation by domestic cats.

•  Up to 50% of bird-window collisions leave no evidence at all. 
• Many of the birds that fly away are likely to die later of their injuries. 
• Birds most often suffer concussions and internal injuries which can take days to kill them. 
• If a collision kills a parent bird, the young will most likely also die. 
• This is all preventable if people take action at their own homes.

Learn more about this issue at our April 18 Program, 7:30pm on Zoom – Register Here

Delaware Otsego Audubon Society is providing FREE workshops this Spring for homeowners in our communities to make and take home window treatments for up to three windows at their homes to help prevent collisions. Our workshop schedule is below. Pre-registration is required so that we can have ample materials available.

We have limited funds available for free window treatments, so please register early and consider a donation for providing additional materials for this program.

March 22, Sidney, NY – Register Here

11am – 1pm at at Sidney Memorial Public Library, Smart Community Room
Assisted by Binghamton University Audubon Society Campus Chapter

Contact Susan O’Handley at s.ohandley@doas.us or by phone at 607-397-3815 (leave a message) for more information or if you have any questions.

RETURN TO DOAS HOME PAGE

The mission of Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society is to protect our natural environment and connect people with nature  to benefit birds and other wildlife through conservation, education, research and advocacy. We envision a healthy world where people and wildlife thrive and natural resources are protected.

Other Area Workshops

March 29 Oneonta, NY – Register Here

11am – 1pm at Southside Mall, Oneonta, NY
Assisted by SUNY Oneonta Environmental Science Club

April 12 Cobleskill, NY – Register Here

10am-12pm at SUNY Cobleskill Center for Agricultural and Natural Resources
Assisted by SUNY Cobleskill Wildlife Society

April 26 at Earth Festival, Milford, NY – Register Here

10am-3pm at Milford Central School
Assisted by Hartwick College FORCES (Environmental Sustainability Club)

May 3 Delhi, NY – Register Here

10am-12pm at SUNY Delhi (campus location details pending)
Assisted by SUNY Delhi Sustainability Club