DOAS News

Otsego County Board Passes Resolution Recognizing the Importance of Birds

Why Birds Matter On behalf of the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society Board of Directors, chapter members and friends, we thank the Otsego County Board of Representatives

November 7, 2018

Mohican Farm – Red-tailed Hawk Release

October 14, 2018

2018 Open House Image Gallery

Despite the ‘on and off’ rain in the early afternoon, we enjoyed a great day at the DOAS Hawkwatch Open House last weekend (October 6).

October 9, 2018

Audubon Bird Seed Fundraiser 2018

Supporting Our Local Chapter – Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society Preorders Accepted Now through October 27 [ONEONTA, NY – REGIONAL] The Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society will be accepting

September 7, 2018

Now Accepting Donations for the Eagle Conservation Fund

Use the button below to donate specifically to the Eagle Conservation Fund. This is a dedicated fund that at the current time will be used

August 31, 2018

Financial Support Needed For Wind Project Eagle Surveys

DOAS is a supporter of environmentally-sound wind power but believes wind projects should be sited and designed to minimize impacts on birds. Most recently we have taken

August 31, 2018

Audubon Camp – Summer 2018 – Photos

DOAS 2018 Nature Camps We had a wonderful summer camp season this year with a total of three sessions and 32 children attending. Our camp

July 18, 2018

2018 Camp Programs

[Oneonta, NY- REGIONAL] Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society (DOAS) has announced the dates for the 2018 John G. New Audubon Summer Day Camp Sessions, special natural history

April 9, 2018

2018 Eagle Trip Follow Up

Successful Eagle Trip Thirty-five eagle seekers turned out on Jan. 20 for this year’s excursion to the Delaware County reservoirs and rivers. It was a pleasant,

January 22, 2018

50th Anniversary Charter Dinner Photos

View images from our 50th Anniversary Charter Dinner! Thank you to all who came out and attended the event.

October 25, 2017

2017 Volunteer/Internship Opportunity for Admin Support

DOAS is seeking a volunteer/intern for the fall and spring semesters to help with various tasks for administrative support. Work for this internship would be

October 16, 2017

Interesting Bird at Hawkwatch

The bird was seen several times interacting with normally plumaged Red-tailed Hawks. It resembles a juvenile Krider’s Red-tailed Hawk but some experts think it might

October 13, 2017

2017 Open House Image Gallery

Thank you to Jennifer Hyypio for sharing your photos from the Open House at Hawkwatch this year! We appreciate all who attended the event on

October 13, 2017

Bluestone Wind Project – Funding Needed for Surveys & Data

Last month we wrote about a large wind project adjoining western Delaware County in the Broome County towns of Sanford and Windsor. The Bluestone Wind farm would be in the

October 2, 2017

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Why Birds Matter...

Birds are important because of the role they play in the natural world as pollinators and seed disbursers, assisting with the balance of nature by eating insects. They also clean up things that would go unattended otherwise. Birds are important TO ME because of the kinship that I feel with another living species, and the joy that they bring to me year around. Encountering spring migrants feels brand new every time! I feel responsibility for their well-being and take care not to disturb their nesting with unnecessary sounds, disturbance or habitat destruction. I respect the incredible work they do to bring about future generations.

Birds have always been an early warning system for our environment–the “canary in the coal mine.” It was the decline in bird species high on the food chain that tipped us off to the dangers of DDT and other chemicals. More recently, high altitude and high latitude birds are demonstrating the first definitive effects of global change. If science had been more advanced in the 1800s, the extinction of the Passenger Pigeon could have served as a warning about habitat destruction. This not just about protecting the birds–although that is a worthy goal–but all of these threats will ultimately reach the human race.

In addition to being indicators for environmental health, birds matter because they allow people all over the world to enjoy and appreciate nature. Caring about birds often leads to caring about their habitats and creates a stewardship ethic to protect our natural resources. Birds connect communities.

Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society (DOAS)

Established in 1968 – A Chapter of the National Audubon Society since 1970