Start the New Year by Getting Outside: January Environmental Education Events with Bedford Audubon

January 1 starts a fresh year, and a new bird list! You can start adding to your list right away by joining Bedford Audubon for a winter walk this month! We welcome new and experienced birders and lovers of nature– if you need to borrow binoculars or a field guide, just let us know. Can’t wait to see you on the trail!

January means it’s time to get out for Science in Action with EagleWatch! It begins on January 9^th and runs on Thursdays in January + February about 1.5 hours before sunset. Naturalist Tait Johansson and his team from Bedford Audubon and Saw Mill River Audubon will monitor roosting Bald Eagles within the Lower Hudson Valley Important Bird Area (IBA). If you’re interested in this citizen science project, please email Tait at tjohansson@bedfordaudubon.org or call 914.232.1999.

Join a century old tradition of collecting data that is a treasure chest for scientists and gives us insight into the long-term health + status of bird populations in North America.
It’s still Christmas Bird Count time! This early-winter bird census is a National Audubon Society community science program that relies on volunteers across the Western Hemisphere to go out over a 24-hour period on one calendar day to count birds. There are two Counts left in our area this season. Each Count is organized by a Compiler who assigns volunteers to specific routes through a 15-mile diameter circle. New or inexperienced birders will be paired with more experienced groups, and fun is almost guaranteed!

• Wednesday, January 1, Pawling, NY Christmas Bird Count. Email Compiler Carena Pooth for details and to sign up at pawlingcbc@watermanbirdclub.org.
• Saturday, January 4, Putnam County Christmas Bird Count. Email Compiler Charlie Roberto for details and to sign up at chasrob@optonline.net.

Feeling overwhelmed about all of the climate change talk?
If so, you won’t want to miss our Monthly Lecture on Climate Change. Robert Whittaker will explore the essential facts we need to know to understand global warming and climate change, including the role humans play compared to nature, the current and future consequences and their projected timeline, viable clean energy options to fossil fuels, and finally, specific actions that we can take both as groups and individually to mitigate the damage and protect future generations. Mr. Whittaker is a recently retired trial attorney whose specialty included cases involving complex scientific and medical issues. Trying hundreds of such cases, Mr. Whittaker became skilled at explaining scientific concepts and data in language and using illustrations that non-scientists can easily understand. He now uses that skill as a presenter for the Climate Education Project (CEP).
Wednesday, January 8th, 7:30 pm. Join us at 7:00pm for refreshments; lecture begins at 7:30pm. Katonah Village Library. Cost: Free. Advance registration is not required.

Start the new year right by getting outside to experience life… and nature!
It might be cold, but you’re sure to enjoy our popular Field Trip to Greenwich Point Park with Naturalist Tait Johansson. Last year, our large group saw a couple of owls, including a Great Horned that was sleeping atop a large evergreen. Plus, we’re likely to see Brant, Long-tailed Ducks, scoters, goldeneyes, loons, and other waterbirds, some interesting songbirds, and more!
Saturday, January 11, 8:00am-12 noon. Depart Bylane at 7am or meet there in the lot on the right after the gatehouse at 8am. Cost: Free. Level of difficulty: Easy. Dress warm! Please register with Susan at info@bedfordaudubon.org or 914-302-9713.

Embrace the cold weather by cozying up with a novel that has spent over 60 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List and learn for yourself why this “lyrical debut” is such a hit.
Then come to our Book Club to discuss Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. This novel is “painfully beautiful… at once a murder mystery, a coming-of-age narrative, and a celebration of nature (NY Times Book Review)
Monday, January 13, 6:30-8:00pm. Cost: Free. Sips + snacks at 6:30pm; discussion begins at 7:00pm. Bylane Farm, 35 Todd Rd., Katonah. For planning purposes, please register with Susan at info@bedfordaudubon.org or 914.302.9713.

Jump start your day by coming out on a walk with some friendly people!
Pop over to our Third Thursday’s Bird Walk on Maple Avenue in Katonah to see what’s hanging around! There are no guarantees, but there’s sure to be something to make your day!
Thursday, January 16, 7:30am-9:30am. Meet at the intersection of Maple Avenue + Reservoir Road (right at the dam). Cost: Free. Level of difficulty: Easy. Please register with Susan at info@bedfordaudubon.org or 914-302-9713.

Don’t judge a tree by its leaves!
There are lots of ways to identify trees, and you can learn all about them by joining Naturalist Tait Johansson on a Nature Walk: Winter Tree Identification at Muscoot Farm. Co-sponsored with Friends of Muscoot Farm. Tait will explain how to use a tree’s structure, bark, and other clues to ID it even after the leaves have fallen. Family friendly, but all children must be accompanied by an adult.
Sunday, January 26, 10:00am-12:00pm. Cost: Free. Level of difficulty: Easy. Dress warm. Please register with Susan at info@bedfordaudubon.org or 914-302-9713.

Photo Credit: Blue Jay by Susan Fisher