As much as plants and animals need light, they also need the dark.  At a moment when we are facing a crisis in extinctions, scientific studies document that light pollution disrupts wildlife and plants, impacts human health, and contributes to climate change.  The loss of dark skies also blocks our most ancient connection with the universe.

From the beginning of time, light and dark, day and night, have been the great clock that orchestrates life on earth.  In addition to the impacts on migrating birds and all other wildlife, we are also losing part of our birthright that joins us with all the generations, the sense of awe at the stars in the night sky.

Mark Grosz, from DarkSky International, will discuss the ecological impacts of the loss of dark skies.  The good news is that we can begin to restore darker skies with relatively simple solutions. 

We will address regional and Rockland specific issues following the talk by Mark Grosz and Q&A. 

Click HERE to join Zoom Meeting. 

Or call: 1 929 205 6099 / Meeting ID: 813 3013 6167

Doors open for refreshments at 7:00pm. Program begins at 7:30pm at Congers Lake Memorial Park Community Center - 6 Gilchrest Road, Congers, NY.

Please join us for the Christmas Bird Count presentation by Alan and Della Wells.  This marks the 125th consecutive year the survey will be conducted by the National Audubon Society. Alan and Della will explain how the count is conducted, what we might find and how you can participate in this community science project. We will also hear about the history of the CBC including the RAS’s first ever Christmas Bird Count.

October Big Day will take place on Oct. 12th!
Open the link below for more information:
https://globalbirding.org/home

Meadowlands Birding Festival - 2 Dekorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst, NJ click here for additional info

Doors open for refreshments at 7:00pm. Program begins at 7:30pm at Congers Lake Memorial Park Community Center - 6 Gilchrest Road, Congers, NY. An Inordinate Fondness: Sharing Our World (and Gardens) with Insects presented by Brittney Hahn

Our world runs on insects! Despite their gruesome reputation, insects are integral parts of our lives and the environment around us, from the rainforests of the Amazon to the urban jungle of Manhattan. They are fascinatingly diverse and interesting animals in their own right, and perform crucial ecosystem services such as pollination, pest control, and being a rich food source (for birds and humans alike!). Please join us for this presentation where we will learn about the natural history of insects, their social and natural significance, and introduce some of those right here in our backyards in Rockland. We will also have the chance to examine some prepared insect specimens from our area.

Movie Night Flyways: the Untold Story of Migratory Shorebirds. As part of our participation in this fall's Citizen Science Bird Migration project, enjoy light snacks provided by the library, with our showing of Flyways , a PBS Nature documentary. Christine Toth, R.A.S. conservation chair will follow up the movie with a short discussion. Location: Fellowship Hall, Pearl River Methodist Church 130 Franklin Ave, Pearl River, NY 10965.

We are pleased to extend an invitation to you for an engaging and informative presentation by Stella Miller.

Click here to register for the event

The forests and woodlands of New York provide ideal habitat for woodpecker species, some which breed here, one which is a regular migrant spending winters with us, as well as a rarity to the area that may not be such a rarity for long. We will learn about the various species of woodpeckers that call lower NYS home, their amazing adaptations, as well as the answer to that age old question, “Why don’t woodpeckers get headaches?”

Date: Wednesday September 18th, 2024

Time: 7-8:30 pm.

Location: Online via Zoom

Please contact rocklandaudubon@gmail.com if you have other questions.

Doors open for refreshments at 7:00pm. Program begins at 7:30pm at Congers Lake Memorial Park Community Center - 6 Gilchrest Road, Congers, NY. Watch hawks, falcons and owls sharpen their hunting skills during an exciting flight demonstration with master falconer Brian Bradley of New Paltz, New York. Hear about the ancient sport of falconry and see live raptors from around the world.

August 4 (Sunday) Rockland Lake

Meet Catherine Parker at 7:30am at the fishing station lot, Parking Lot #6

914-319-1396

Friday, June 7, at 6:30pm is our annual potluck and member share at the Congers Lake Memorial Park Community Center. Please bring a covered dish for the potluck and please bring any photos, crafts, or other bird- and nature-related items you would like to share with other Rockland Audubon Society members. We will eat first, then share!

Friday, May 3 - 7:30pm - Congers Lake Memorial Park Community Center
Presented by Dana Harkrider

Please join us for our May nature program to learn about helping pollinators, presented by Dana Harkrider, an experienced beekeeper and advocate for pollinators and native plants. Dana assists in maintaining hives at Closter Farm and Livestock in New Jersey and Lomar Farms in Palisades and consults on 30 individual hives of homeowners. She developed her expertise by completing the Cornell Master Beekeeping Program. In addition to mentoring beekeepers, Dana also teaches classes to adults and children.

Gather at 7:00 PM at the Congers Lake Memorial Park Community Center for refreshments and conversation with fellow birders and nature enthusiasts. Program starts at 7:30 PM.

(Photo of Ruby-throated Hummingbird from Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources)

Presented by Elizabeth Cherry, Manhattanville College, RAS Board Member

Liz will talk about her book, For the Birds: Protecting Wildlife through the Naturalist Gaze (Rutgers University Press, 2019). Based on interviews with and observations of birders throughout the United States, she argues that learning to pay close attention to nature encourages birders to see people and animals as part of a shared ecosystem, and to participate in citizen science and wildlife conservation efforts.

Books will be available for sale at a discounted price, with a portion of the proceeds going to RAS.

Gather at 7:00 PM at the Congers Lake Memorial Park Community Center forrefreshments and conversation with fellow birders and nature enthusiasts. Program starts at 7:30 PM.

Learn about the amazing variety of bird nests worldwide with this multimedia presentation from Anne Swaim, Executive Director, Saw Mill River Audubon. Birds are master builders; from the massive nests of eagles to walnut-sized hummingbird nests, from cavity-nesters inside trees or burrows to ground nesters with camouflaged eggs, and continuing high up the forest canopy with birds that weave intricately baskets hanging from branches. Find out how you can add bird boxes to help birds that use cavity nests and learn about nestcams that you can watch online to observe nesting eagles, owls and more.

Anne Swaim is Executive Director of Saw Mill River Audubon, a local chapter of National Audubon based in Westchester County New York. She began as Staff Naturalist and sole employee of Saw Mill River Audubon in 1989. Anne has served as Executive Director since 2004 and works together with a board of directors, dozens of volunteers and four staff to maintain eight wildlife sanctuaries and present over 200 free public programs & field trips annually to connect people with nature.

Gather at 7:00 PM at the Congers Lake Memorial Park Community Center for refreshments and conversation with fellow birders and nature enthusiasts. Program starts at 7:30 PM.

Please join us Friday, December 1 for our holiday social and a presentation about the upcoming annual Christmas Bird Count with Alan Wells. This marks the 124th consecutive year the survey will be conducted by the National Audubon Society. Alan will explain how the count is conducted, what we might expect to find, and how you can participate. He will also provide a history of the CBC, including Rockland Audubon’s first ever Christmas Bird Count!

We will also have an open floor and invite you to share your photos, stories, crafts, and goodies. We hope you can make it!

Gather at 7:00 PM at the Congers Lake Memorial Park Community Center for refreshments and conversation with fellow birders and nature enthusiasts. Program starts at 7:30 PM.