Volume 51 Number 7 September 2019 COMING ACTIVITIES What Made Me an Odonate Enthusiast? A Brief Natural History of Dragonflies and Damselflies. September September 17 – DOAS Board Mtg Join Us for the September Program! September 20 – Program, “Drag- onflies and Damselflies” October If you visited a pond, marsh or parks. Although not an expert on October 5 – Fall Open House lake this summer, you may have odonates, Pete is excited to share October 15 – DOAS Board Mtg seen a dizzying display of drag- with you some of the natural October 18 – DOAS Charter onflies and damselflies. During history of these easy-to-observe Dinner this presentation, you will learn and fun-to-watch insects. Pete’s November from Dr. Peter Fauth of Hartwick primary research involves con- College about the taxonomy, life servation of bird populations and November 2 – Bird Seed Order cycles, feeding habits, and behav- communities. Pete earned a M.S. Deadline iors of Odonates, with emphasis in zoology at the University of November 9 – Bird Seed Pickup on some common species in Maryland and a Ph.D. in biolo- November 15 – Program, “Forest our region. Come find out why gy at Purdue University. Pete is Plants” these colorful, aerial acrobats currently the chairperson of the December are worthy of attention on your Biology Department at Hartwick December 3 – DOAS Board Mtg next outdoor adventure... at least College, where he teaches ecol- December 14 – Oneonta when the birding is slow! Join ogy, evolution and ornithology Christmas Bird Count us on September 20 at Elm Park courses and conducts forest January Methodist Church, at 7:30 PM. monitoring projects at Robert V. January TBD – Delaware Dr. Peter Fauth’s admiration of Riddell State Park. Christmas Bird Count odonates (dragonflies and dam- January 21 – DOAS Board Mtg selflies) developed during two odonate surveys at local state Photos by Peter Fauth. More information on page 11 DOAS PROGRAMS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Marsh Bluet Crimson-ringed Whiteface President’s Message— The first, focused on dragonflies The Delaware - Otsego and led by Peter Fauth was a big hit Audubon Society Review of the Past Year with both kids and adults. August Founded 1968 by Co-president Andy Mason brought a program on how herps make a living, with board member Newsletter Editor: Janet Potter When I first became involved Rod Sutton. This is a great oppor- with DOAS, close to 40 years ago, tunity to use and explore the varied Board of Directors summer was the “off-season”, a habitats of the Sanctuary. Co-Presidents Becky Gretton time when Chapter activities nearly Susan O’Handley also spent a Andrew Mason stopped, in large part due to other lot of time and her design talents Susan O’Handley distractions, vacations, etc. Al- Treasurer Charlie Scheim though we still take a July and Au- Secretary Dorian Huneke gust hiatus from public programs Directors and newsletters, summer is hardly Jane Bachman a slow-down period any longer. Kathryn Davino This summer was particularly Pamela Peters busy, so here’s an update. Tom Janet Potter Salo did yeoman’s work on the Tom Salo Bluestone Wind project, preparing Rod Sutton testimony and briefs, and spending Vacancy three days at the cross-examination as well as grant-writing skills to Committee Chairs* hearing in Deposit. The Article fund new entrance signs for the and Assignments 10 process that all large energy Sanctuary. These will be state-of- Conservation*: Andy Mason projects in NY State must now the-art with QR codes that will Education*: Susan O’Handley go through is very involved and allow visitors to access a trail map, Field Trips*: Bob Donnelly legalistic, and we were experienc- Hawkwatch information, report Hawk Watch*:Andrew Mason ing it for the first time, going up bird sightings, find other local Tom Salo against a team of lawyers hired by attractions and much more. It will Hospitality*: Kathryn Davino the wind developer. Although we also provide us with information Membership*: Andy Mason made some errors—and were chid- on visitation and allow comments Programs*: Becky Gretton ed by the judge—I think we made and feedback. Along with this, Publicity*: Susan O’Handley our case well. The outcome is still we are planning improvements to Sanctuary*: Andrew Mason pending—see the Conservation the entrances to go along with the Bird Counts: Sandy Bright page for more details. signage. The Sanctuary will have a Charter Dinner: Kathryn Davino The expanded John G. New new look! Finance: Gray Mason Audubon Summer Day Camp was On the political front, Susan, Jane Historian: Rod Sutton again a great success with co-direc- and Janet Potter met with a repre- Sales: Vacant tors, Liz Brown and Chris DeCe- sentative of Congressman Antonio Address Correspondence to: sare, and assistant, Rob Katz. Two Delgado in July to discuss environ- Delaware Otsego Audubon Society sessions were held at the DOAS mental issues. This is a relationship P.O. Box 544 Sanctuary and one with the One- we hope to cultivate to convey our Oneonta, NY 13820 onta World of Learning at Fortin concerns to Washington. Email: [email protected] Park. Susan O’Handley organizes There was much more going on On the web: www.doas.us the camp, handling registrations, this season—definitely not a sleepy payments, health forms —a big summer for DOAS. Thanks to all www.facebook.com/DelawareOtsego- AudubonSociety effort! our talented and hard-working Also at the Sanctuary, board leadership for their efforts. To contribute notes or articles for member Jane Bachman has begun The Belted Kingfisher, email: summer family-oriented programs. [email protected] Volume 51 Number 7 THE BELTED KINGFISHER September 2019 Page 2 Conservation and Legislation by Andy Mason Local Issues—Two proposals af- Eagle loss, as required by law. We access and use of the forest; control fecting birds and the environment are accepting donations to our of invasive species; watershed pro- in our region are being addressed Eagle Conservation Fund toward tection; maintaining old-growth by DOAS, and members can help this anticipated action. forest; and acquisition of adjacent with our efforts. The first is the Documents related to the Blue- lands and inholdings. These are all ongoing review of the proposed stone Wind project can be found worthy goals, and support DEC’s Bluestone Wind Project in Broome at www.dps.ny.gov and searching mission and vision. County. We have monitored rap- for Case 16-01988. Donations can However, there is a proposal tors in the project area in fall 2017 be made at www.doas.us, or by from the all-terrain vehicle com- and late winter and spring of 2018 mail at PO Box 544, Oneonta, NY munity, including ATV dealers and and 2019 and found high numbers 13820. We are appreciative of the state-wide organizations, to open of Bald and Golden eagles in close support already received to carry up the forest to off-road vehicles. proximity to proposed turbine on this effort. This point of view was well-repre- locations. Treaty Line State Forest Man- sented at a public hearing in July. As part of the review process, agement Plan—NYS DEC has A similar proposal was rejected over the summer we submitted proposed an updated manage- by DEC nearly 20 years ago in the testimony, exhibits and briefs in ment plan for the Treaty Line Unit existing management plan. the quasi-judicial proceeding. Un- which consists of several state for- ATVs, which already are an fortunately, the NYS Department ests totaling nearly 20,000 acres lo- illegal problem on state lands, of Environmental Conservation cated in Chenango, Delaware and damage soil, vegetation, waterways and the Department of Public Ser- Broome counties. Over 16,000 and other resources where they vice, while recognizing the threats acres of this sprawling forestland are used. Disturbance of wildlife, to eagles, accepted proposals from has been designated as an Im- including nesting birds, has been the wind developer to monitor portant Bird Area by the National documented, and their presence is and mitigate for eagle presence Audubon Society. The plan calls incompatible with other, low im- and deaths. In our view, this is for protection of at-risk species pact uses, such as hiking, wildlife unacceptable, however the support of wildlife, including birds; mod- observation and photography. of these agencies will likely carry est improvements to recreational What you can do—A public com- more weight than our assessment ment period is open until Novem- in the final determination on the ber 1. Let DEC know that off-road project. vehicles do not belong on our DOAS is considering a legal public lands and are a threat to the challenge to the project if it is well-being of state forests. Com- approved. We believe the develop- ments can be sent to Nathan Funk, er’s estimates of eagle deaths over NYSDEC, 65561 State Route 10, the life of the project are too low, Stamford, NY 12167, or emailed-- and also that there is no effective Rutted ATV Trail [email protected], with method to mitigate for Golden Photo by Martin Kernan subject “Treaty Line UMP”. DOAS Officers Elected The Board met in August and elected officers for the 2019-2020 term. All incumbent officers were re-elected. They are co-presidents Becky Gretton, Andy Mason, Susan O’Handley; secretary Dorian Huneke; and treasurer Charlie Scheim. We thank them for their willingness to serve. September 2019 THE BELTED KINGFISHER Volume 51 Number 7 Page 3 Annual Charter Dinner, October 18th Mark Your Calendars for the Delaware-Otsego Potsdam and the Audubon Society’s Annual Charter Dinner on Friday Crane School of October 18, 2019 at the Quality Inn (formerly the Music, Rick pur- Holiday Inn) on State Highway 23 in Oneonta.