Putnam Highlands Audubon Society

PO Box 292
Cold Spring, NY
10516-0292

The Blue-winged Warbler was incorporated in the PHAS logo because this pretty bird is common in Putnam County while being uncommon in much of its North American range.

Polar Bears of Churchill, Manitoba

Sunday, January 29th 2pm

Free of charge
Family program - North Highlands Fire House,
Fishkill Road, Cold Spring.

PARK IN THE BACK

Presented by Pete Salmansohn, former eco-tourism guide in Churchill
Sponsored by the Putnam Highlands Audubon Society

FIELD TRIPS

Sunday March 4 9:00 am

Eagles Out

The coming of spring means that wintering eagles are headed north. Join Charlie Roberto at the Croton Boat Ramp for a last view of migrating eagles. (Co-sponsored with Teatown Reservation.)

Saturday April 14 8:00 am

Bluebirds and Early Spring Migrants at Clffdale Farm

What sign of spring is more alluring than a bluebird on a budding branch? Charlie Roberto will lead a hike through the Cliffdale meadows looking for early spring migrants. Co-sponsored with Teatown Reservation. Call Teatown for more information. 914 762 2912 x135)

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If not, email us to be placed on the distribution list.

Frog Watch USA Update

We launched our first initiative by training several PHAS Audubon members in the Frogwatch USA citizen scientist monitoring protocols for frog calling surveys in and around the Hudson Highlands. We hope to expand that program next year by planning several training sessions for volunteers in late winter and early spring, so we get more volunteers and more frog monitoring sites. We are also looking for local student research ideas in and around the Highlands, as we hope to expand our research activities in natural areas of the Highlands.

Scott Silver

If you would like more details, please contact Scott Silver at ssilver@wcs.org (718 271 3622).

PHAS Programs

PHAS has resolved to provide a more regular schedule of programs, including bird walks, educational programs, field trips, and guest lectures. These programs are intended to appeal to a wide range of interests and ability levels.

To receive the newsletter electronically, please send your e-mail address to <newsletter@putnamhighlandsaudubon.org>; put “PHAS Newsletter” in the subject line and your name in the body of the message. We will take care of the rest. Your e-dress will be kept in the same strict confidence as your postal address. However, you also will benefit from occasional updates or reminders on PHAS programs or events of interest. Our e-contact with you should not be burdensome.

If you would prefer receiving a print copy of our newsletter, please email newsletter@putnamhighlandsaudubon.org or write to Newsletter, PHAS, PO Box 292, Cold Spring, NY 10516, to arrange for special continued postal delivery of your newsletter.

With your critical cooperation, our newsletter can succeed in GOING GREEN.

The existing Cedar Ridge Trail (part of the NYNJ Trail Conference system) is now extended through PHAS' Watergrass Sanctuary. Come explore our beautiful Sanctuary -- the trail head is north of the Sanctuary sign on Route 9.

View Watergrass Sanctuary on a larger map

Stairway to Heaven

© Dan North

THE KESTREL’S WINGS
“Others . . . A hundred years hence . . . Will enjoy the sunset, the pouring in of the flood-tide, the falling back to the sea of the ebb-tide.
It avails not, neither time or place – distance avails not”
- Walt Whitman, “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry”

Within an hour in a big-sky high pasture in October I see three kinds of hawks: a kestrel (sparrow hawk), a northern harrier (marsh hawk) and a redtail. The wispy- tailed kestrel flaps busily over the meadow, then hovers as it peers down for grasshoppers or mice. The spot-tailed harrier soars low, tilting left and right as it searches for similar prey. The big redtail presides regally from a dead white pine branch, perhaps waiting for the right thermal to begin its lazy upward spiral. None of the hawks are unusual, but seeing all three nearly together excites me, and I begin some fanciful reflections on their lifestyles. High soaring birds like the redtail have always attracted me. Maybe I want to be above the action, an observer who’s present but safe. But there’s something embarrassingly passive there, and I move on to the harrier. A little more like it – close to the fray, swiveling this way and that to see better, always ready to pounce down into the midst of things. The swift, darting kestrel seems even more engaged, plunging regularly to earth, then returning up to hunt again. But the kestrel has another quality that fascinates me. Its hovering seems to stop action and freeze time into a unified whole. As I watch it suspended motionless over the field by invisible wings, I remember my first kestrel as it hovered over a former apricot orchard, soon-to-be housing tract south of San Francisco. I remember the smell of eucalyptus, the bright California sun, the girl in the car with me, the thick white fog creeping in through passes in the peninsula mountains. That moment half a century ago, spun down to me from the kestrel’s wings, is as palpable as the present. It remains part of me. Restarting the clock, today’s bird dips a few feet, levels off and flies away to the east. Linear time resumes. But I know the kestrel has the magic to make time one again.

PHAS Chapter Officers:

President: (Position open)
Vice President: Connie Mayer-Bakall
Treasurer: Margaret O'Sullivan
Secretary: Karen Riner

Board of Directors

Audubon Membership:

To join the National Audubon Society and Putnam Highlands Audubon (Chapter R-25) call Audubon Customer Service at 1-800-274-4201 and get the advantaged rate of $21/yr for up to 3 years and pay by credit card! It’s important that you specify that you wish to join Chapter R-25.

To renew your membership call Audubon Customer Service at 1-800-274-4201 and renew by credit card at $21/yr for up to 3 years. The usual renewal rate is $35/yr.

Newsletter Only Option: If you prefer not to join as a member, you can still receive the Chapter’s newsletter to thank you for your fully tax-deductible contribution of $25 or more, which should be mailed to PHAS, PO Box 292, Cold Spring, NY 10516