The Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon Society is a chapter of the National Audubon Society serving Northern Oyster Bay and Huntington Townships. Our territory reaches from Fort Salonga in Suffolk County to Centre Island and Oyster Bay in Nassau County....click here to see the complete list.

Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon works to protect birds and other wildlife, and the habitats upon which they depend through education, public advocacy and conservation action.

The leopard (Panthera pardus) is the smallest of the four "big cats" after the tiger, lion and jaguar. Leopards are the most versatile of big cats and occupy all habitats from the Congo rainforest to true deserts. However, even with their remarkable adaptability, leopards have vanished from almost 40% of their historic range in Africa, and from over 50% of their historic range in Asia. Leopards are now extinct in 6 countries they formerly occupied, and their presence in 6 additional countries is very uncertain.

See program page for more and speaker's biography.

Help us raise funds for the Long Island Otter Study!

The Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon Society ("HOBAS") has funded two wildlife surveillance cameras that have been placed in areas where evidence of river otters have been found within the chapter territory.

In Oyster Bay, the cameras will help determine the effectiveness of structures designed to allow otters to travel over dams and other obstacles without crossing roads and, along with data collected from additional wildlife surveillance cameras placed in other known otter territories, they are part of a larger study to document the movements, population size, habitat use and behavior of the island’s river otters.

For information on how you can contribute to this research, including making a donation towards the purchase of additional cameras within the chapter territory, please contact Stella Miller at 516-695-0763 or stella.miller63@yahoo.com.

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Message From the HOBAS President: Spring 2012

Nature and Kids
I have a question for our members of a certain age: do you remember your childhood?  Do you remember growing up before the invention of computers, video games and cell phones?  When playing outside was the norm, not the exception?  When we were not paranoid about germs, getting dirty or playing by ourselves outside, worried about the creepy stranger lurking around the corner?  When you used your own imagination and creativity to come up with games and activities?

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HELP PRESERVE GRASSLANDS IN NASSAU COUNTY STILLWELL WOODS PRESERVE

Stillwell Woods Preserve. Mainly known for its wooded mountain biking trails, many people are not aware that its varied habitats play host to over 80 species of birds as well as butterflies, mammals and other wildlife. This under-appreciated preserve also contains 20+ acres of grassland/meadow area which for years has been mowed into what amounts to a lawn (see photo).

One of Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon's local conservation priorities is to restore a significant majority of these 25 acres into grassland habitat for the benefit of the many species of wildlife that depend upon or utilize field environments to feed or raise their young.

Due to the heavy utilization of this preserve, we realize that reverting the grassland into native vegetation is probably not feasible. What we are aiming for is convince Nassau County officials to allow a significant majority of the grassland/meadow area to grow back in, with an invasive species control program in place, thus providing a l functional grassland habitat for wildlife. Nassau County has the opportunity to restore one of the last remaining parcels of grassland in the county. We urge you to act now to protect this preserve for the benefit of both wildlife and the enjoyment of the community. For further information on this issue, please click here.

Please take a moment to express your support for this important work by signing and sending this letter (Word Doc | Acrobat PDF) to Nassau County Parks Commissioner Carnell Foskey. Pass it on to your friends and neighbors. Your voices are vital in convincing decision-makers to restore the field to a wonderful wildlife rich grassland/meadow. Please take action today!

Action Alert:
Help Preserve one of the Last Remaining
Tracts of Open Space in Cold Spring Harbor!

The DeForest Williams property on Shore Road is one of the last remaining large tracts of open space in Cold Spring Harbor. This 42 acre property, if developed, would change not only the view, but also the overall feel of Cold Spring Harbor. It could also result in negative impacts on water quality as well as jeopardize vital bird habitat. We believe this property should be permanently protected for the community of Cold Spring Harbor as DeForest-Williams Preserve.

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When I heard about this book, I raced out to purchase it.  Predators, or carnivores, are my favorite group of animals and I have been passionate about them since I was a little girl.  I eagerly dug in and was utterly absorbed.

As suburbanites, many of you may be thinking, “Why should I care about predators?” The reasons may surprise you.  Predators are keystone or umbrella species.  Protect them, and the vast habitats needed to sustain them, and you protect everything else that lives within that habitat, including the birds that Long Islanders enjoy during migration.  More..