Volume 53 Number 1 January 2021 Coming Florida Reflections Activities January Virtual Program with Rick Bunting Please check for changes at https://doas.us/events/ The January program features bon Society in Florida. everyone’s favorite naturalist/ Since his retirement from SUNY January photographer, Rick Bunting. Rick Potsdam and the Crane School of will present “Florida Reflections.” Music, Rick Bunting pursues his January 3 – Delaware County Particpants will get to view and passion for photography full time. Christmas Bird Count hear about photos of some of Rick’s Also an accomplished and well- January 5 – Climate Action Panel favorite birds found in the Fort known musician, Rick photographs Discussion Meyers/Sanibel area where he has wherever he travels. January 15 – Virtual Program, visited for many years. “Florida Reflections” Quoting Rick, “It is the kind of Join us on Zoom, January 17 – Waterfowl Count program that will hopefully be a January 15th at 7:30 p.m. January 19 – DOAS Board Mtg mid-winter, Covid 19 pandemic Pre-Registration is required. January 23 – Eagle Trip CAN- spirit-lifter, at least for me!!” The REGISTER TODAY AT CELLED program was originally put togeth- https://bit.ly/2Wsfh0m February er for the Sanibel-Captiva Audu- February 19 – Virtual Program, “Great Gray Owls” March March 2 – DOAS Board Mtg March 19 – Virtual Program, “Highlights from Down Under” April April 16 – Virtual Program, “Members and Friends Photo Share” April 20 – DOAS Board Mtg Roseate Spoonbill Great Egret Photos by Rick Bunting More information on page 7 doas programs Save the date: February 19, 2021 are free and open to “Great Gray Owls” with wildlife photographer Kyle Dudgeon the public Like us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/DelawareOtsegoAudubonSociety The Delaware - Otsego President’s Message Audubon Society Looking to the Future Founded 1968 by Co-president Andy Mason Newsletter Editor: Janet Potter Will we be seeing each other on Board of Directors bird walks this Spring? That seems Co-Presidents Becky Gretton like a dream in this Covid era, and Andrew Mason Susan O’Handley realistically it will probably remain Franklin Mountain Hawkwatch just that. As health experts and the Photo by Landa Palmer Treasurer Charlie Scheim media emphasize, even with the Secretary Dorian Huneke Trees on the Sanctuary property advent of vaccines, social distanc- Directors have been cut, but the main prob- ing and avoiding group gatherings lem is trees on adjoining property. Jane Bachman will be necessary for the foresee- We have had excellent relations Kathryn Davino able future. Bird walks and other and cooperation from our neigh- Landa Palmer field trips result in clusters of bor, and are exploring agreements Pamela Peters observers, despite good intentions, to clear an area here, but need to Janet Potter so will have to wait a while for the be very thoughtful and consider- Tom Salo all clear. Maybe Spring 2022! ate with any additional work on Rod Sutton Despite the inability to meet this property. face-to-face, our Chapter has Committee Chairs* In July, DOAS purchased an continued to function remote- and Assignments approximately 13-acre parcel that ly, and the board of directors is Conservation*: Andy Mason also contains blocking trees; trees addressing issues and challenges. Education*: Susan O’Handley that will likely become more prob- One major concern has been loss Fundraising*: Dorian Huneke lematic in the future. This land of view at the Franklin Mountain Hawkwatch*: Andrew Mason was available at a reasonable price Hawkwatch, due to tree growth. Tom Salo and this was an opportunity to act This has been an ongoing prob- Hospitality*: Kathryn Davino proactively, as well as protect the lem for a number of years, and Membership*: Andy Mason parcel. now threatens the viability of this Programs*: Becky Gretton Another hawk watch option popular and important activity. Publicity*: Susan O’Handley considered has been constructing The hawk watch is our greatest Sanctuary*: Andrew Mason a viewing tower. However, such a contact with non-members and Bird Counts: Sandy Bright structure would be expensive, un- is a large part of our identity with Charter Dinner: Kathryn Davino sightly, a liability risk, and unlikely other Audubon groups, birding Finance: Gray Mason to provide space for all visitors to organizations and the general Historian: Rod Sutton have a clear view. public. In addition, it represents Sales*: Jane Bachman We continue to move cautiously a decades-long research effort, Address Correspondence to: in our considerations of the best providing data on raptor popu- Delaware Otsego Audubon Society solution to this dilemma, but the lations and movements, and has P.O. Box 544 board has decided that the hawk led to outgrowths including our Oneonta, NY 13820 watch is a key part of our Chapter wintering Golden Eagle and sat- Email: [email protected] and worthy of saving. We will ellite-tracking projects, as well as keep you informed of activity On the web: www.doas.us efforts to reduce lead poisoning of regarding this effort. www.facebook.com/DelawareOtse- eagles, and impacts from large- goAudubonSociety Meanwhile, let’s keep our fingers scale wind facilities. crossed for a return to enjoying To contribute notes or articles for There are no easy solutions to those Spring warblers in each oth- The Belted Kingfisher, email: the view issues on the mountain. er’s company! [email protected] Volume 53 Number 1 THE BELTED KINGFISHER January 2021 Page 2 Conservation and Legislation by Andy Mason NY Takes Big Step Forward in DiNapoli announced that the Halting Fossil Fuels—The move- $226 billion NY State Common ment to reduce the world’s reli- Retirement Fund had adopted a A Big Step in Washington too— ance on fossil fuels and resulting goal to transition its portfolio to Also in the climate change are- climate change takes a number of net zero greenhouse gas emissions na, the pending inauguration of forms—political, scientific, grass- by 2040. This process will include Joseph Biden on January 20 looks roots, and perhaps most effective- completion within four years of a to bring a major reversal of the ly—economic. As long as there review of investments in energy Trump administration’s unrelent- is money to be made exploring, sector companies, with divest- ing attack on science and global drilling, producing and selling ment of companies failing to meet efforts to address CO2 and other coal, gas and oil, there will be minimum standards of climate-re- greenhouse gas emissions. Biden companies willing to do it, regard- lated investment risk. The aim is has vowed to immediately return less of the larger consequences. for these firms to transition to a the US to the Paris Climate Agree- One pressure point is invest- non-carbon future or lose NY’s in- ment, has appointed John Kerry ments in these companies. With- vestment dollars. As the third larg- as special presidential envoy for out value in their stocks, they est public pension fund in the US, climate, and has repeatedly prior- are less able to raise capital for this action will be viewed widely itized the issue both in his cam- increasingly expensive and de- and used as an impetus for others paign and since election. creasingly competitive operations. to consider similar divestment. What You Can Do—The Presi- A push has developed for colleges, What You Can Do—Comptroller dent-elect has a daunting list of churches, non-profits, and other DiNapoli deserves kudos for this Trump environmental wrongs to institutions to divest from the bold action. He has been a careful, address, but this is a good place to fossil fuel industry. Another target cautious trustee of the retirement start. He should be encouraged for is government investment funds, fund, but clearly sees this as a facing the issue head-on and be and in this department, NY State necessary environmental and fi- assured of our support going for- Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli duciary step. A note of thanks is in ward. Joseph R. Biden, 918 Penn- has set an example for other states order: Office of the State Comp- sylvania Avenue S.E., Washington, and municipalities to follow. troller, 110 State Street, Albany, DC 20003; www.facebook.com/ In December, Comptroller NY 12236; www.osc.state.ny.us. joebiden; www.joebiden.com. Oneonta Christmas Bird Count Highlights made up for the frigid tempera- reported were the flock of Red tures that heralded this year’s Crossbills observed by Peter Oneonta Christmas Bird Count Fauth and a lone Fox Sparrow on December 19th. Hardy partic- discovered by Bill Ehmann. Bob ipants bundled up and ventured Donnelly reported Winter Wrens out despite the cold and the record and a Brown-headed Cowbird, snowfall from two days earlier, and Marilyn Leahy found several Snowy Day which affected bird activity and American Robins. These and the Photo by Rick Bunting limited access to some areas of the Eastern Bluebirds seen near the Sun sparkling off fresh white count circle. county jail may have regretted not snow. Bushes bejeweled with hoar The most uncommon species flying further south. Watch for the frost. Blue skies. These factors full report in the next Kingfisher. January 2021 THE BELTED KINGFISHER Volume 53 Number 1 Page 3 Choosing equipment for Wildlife Photography by DOAS Director Rod Sutton I am often asked what photo- to-use design similar to point-and- equipment, I select- graphic equipment I use to photo- shoot models. The capabilities of ed a 600mm super graph wildlife. Never in the history these cameras are amazing. Before telephoto lens. This of photography has there been so digital cameras became available was mounted on a many choices, from cell phones, most wildlife photography was DSLR camera.