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Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society (DOAS)

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

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The Lost Bird Project – Friday, September 20, 7:30pm

The Delaware-Otsego Audubon’s fall monthly meetings will host as the first program the incredible one hour documentary, titled, The Lost Birds Project. This is an elegy to five extinct North American Birds, by Todd McGrain, sculptor to bring back their stories through recreating their forms in elegant evocative bronze memorials, and placing the memorials at the location of each bird’s demise. This film has been entered into numerous film festivals, and shown on American Public Television.

Todd McGrain traveled from the swamps of Florida, to a tiny Island off the coast of Newfoundland to find how and why each bird became extinct. His belief is, “these birds are not commonly known and they ought to be, because forgetting is another kind of extinction. It’s such a thorough erasing.”

Through his grassroots efforts, he has brought to a large audience of adults and children a new awareness of the importance of protecting what we have. DOAS is planning a trip to the Carey Conference Center in Rensselaerville, NY, to view about three to four of these sculptures first hand. The sculptures are on loan to the Center till the beginning of October.

The program will begin at 7:30PM on Friday, September 20, and is at the Elm Park Methodist Church, Chestnut Street, Oneonta, NY. Free and open to the public, refreshments are served.  The trip to the Carey Conference Center is scheduled for Saturday, September 21 trip information in this issue for details.

Contact information is: Eleanor Moriarty, 607-435-2054.

WatchtheTrailer

 

A fishing boat passes by the bronze sculpture of the Great Auk on Joe Batt’s Point on Fogo Island, Newfoundland.  The sculpture is part of artist Todd McGrain’s project to memorialize the extinction of five North American birds; the Carolina Parakeet, Great Auk, Passenger Pigeon, Heath Hen and Labrador Duck.   The documentary film, The Lost Bird Project, follows McGrain as he searches for the locations where the birds were last seen in the wild and negotiates for permission to install his large bronze sculptures there.  (Todd McGrain/Lost Bird Project)

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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.
Becky Gretton
Becky GrettonDOAS Co-President
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.
Andy Mason
Andy MasonDOAS Co-President
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.
Susan O'Handley
Susan O'HandleyDOAS Co-President

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We envision a healthy world where people and wildlife thrive and natural resources are protected.
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.
 

Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society
P.O. Box 544
Oneonta, NY 13820
(607) 397-3815
info@doas.us

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Images and drawings on this site are used with permission of the artists and are subject to copyright.

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