BEDFORD AUDUBON SOCIETY

Programs: Bylane farm, native garden, and sanctuaries: improvements to bylane farm, the leon levy native garden and 3 main sanctuaries continue to make the properties more accessible, reduce our ecological footprint, and to create a sense of place. Volunteerism in both the garden and the hunt-parker, franklin-fels, and palmer lewis santuaries is increasing across multiple demographics. The garden continues to demonstrate a bird-friendly backyard and community principles as its expansion and renovation moves forward. Management plans continue to be developed for the sanctuaries and include improving trails and signs, monitoring for emerging invasive species, and managing existing invasive species for native plant regeneration.

education & outreach and science & research: approxiamately 300 people attended our monthly lecture series and more than 300 individuals took part in 35 nature walks and field trips and 4 workshops. A new constituent management system and email platform were implemented to improve member communications and engagement. More than 1,100 individuals are sent our monthly e-newsletter and more than 2,200 households receive the quarterly print newsletter. We reached an additional 2,500 people through outreach events. 200 individuals volunteered with us, putting in more than 1,500 hours of volunteerism. We highlighted our engagement and conservation research efforts at our centennial celebration in september. More than 250 people participated as citizen scientists in our conservation research projects. In addition to our chestnut ridge hawkwatch, monitoring avian productvity & survivorship and eaglewatch projects, we added a 2-year wood thrush study in partnership with the smithsonian migratory bird center and national audubon's international alliances program. 22 male wood thrush were outfitted with geolocators to determine where their migratory route is, where they overwinter, and their possible interactions with other breeding populations during migration and wintering. The geolocators will be removed in summer 2015 for data analysis.

henry morgenthau preserve: the henry morgenthau preserve continues to be a driving force for the invasives project-pound ridge. Seasonal forums, volunteer work parties and workshops engage pound ridge's citizens and partnering organizations.