Four Harbors Audubon Society

On my way to Brookhaven Town Hall the other day I saw a large patch of wildflowers along side of the road. Getting out to inspect it turned out to be fern-leaved false foxglove, a native species. While not rare, it was the largest patch I've ever seen....Will bloom until mid-to-late September....apparently pollinated by bumblebees.....

If you have a fondness for wild things.......

Nature Matters: Hemispheric Globetrotters | TBR News Media Nature Matters: Hemispheric Globetrotters AnimalsArts & EntertainmentColumnsCommunityEnvironment & NatureNature MattersPhotography by John Turner - August 31, 2024 0 37 1 of 6 American Oystercatcher. Photo by Craig Turner Ruddy Turnstone. Photo by Craig Turner Red Knot. Photo by Craig Turner Semipal...

My most recent '"Nature Matters " column on horseshoe crabs. We can stop the slaughter of horseshoe crabs. The NY State Legislature has passed the bill and we need Governor Hochul to sign it into law. Please help...the article tells you how to.....

Nature Matters: The Horseshoe Crab — A brighter future for a living fossil? | TBR News Media Nature Matters: The Horseshoe Crab — A brighter future for a living fossil? Arts & EntertainmentColumnsEnvironment & NatureNature Matters by John Turner - August 2, 2024 0 365 Horseshoe crabs at Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai. Photo by John Turner By John L. Turner John Turner Spending the first five ...

So, Bob McGrath's post, illustrating an in-bloom white-fringed orchid, reminded me to visit a very special place, in western Suffolk County, where this wildflower blooms. I counted 272 orchids this afternoon, the most I've ever seen. A remarkable population - I think it must be the largest on LI and I wonder if its one of the larger populations in NYS........

THERE IS GOOD NEWS ABOUT HORSESHOE CRABS!
BUT WE STILL NEED YOUR HELP!

Legislation to prohibit the harvest of horseshoe crabs has passed the New York Assembly and Senate (A. 10140/S.3185-A) and awaits action by the Governor Kathy Hochul.

Please take a moment to urge that she sign the bill into law. You can do this by:

1. Calling her office at (518) 474-8390.
2. Sending a letter of support to the following address:

The Honorable Kathy Hochul
Governor of New York State
New York State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224

or

3. Go to this site: https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form and type in a comment in the message box.

We have never been closer to stopping the killing of tens of thousands of horseshoe crabs (NYS regulations allow baymen to kill 150,000 annually for bait) and your voice in needed!!

Horseshoe Crabs have declined significantly over the past several decades and an interstate commission earlier in 2024 determined that New York’s horseshoe crab fishery is in poor shape. This species, known as living fossil, plays a vital role in the coastal ecosystem with their eggs being eaten by a number of migratory shorebird species including the Red Knot, which is protected by the federal Endangered Species Act. Their eggs are eaten by many fish species too and the adults are consumed by sea turtles, also listed in the federal Endangered Species List.

We expect opposition from baymen, and it is vital the public expresses its support for the ban! Please contact Governor Hochul today!

Governor Contact Form If you are requesting information under the Freedom of Information Law, you will need to complete a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) Request.

Today's (July 13) Second Saturday bird walk at Avalon Park and Preserve is cancelled due to rain.

https://tbrnewsmedia.com/nature-matters-a-forest-bath/
July's "Nature Matters" column on forest bathing. I hope you take a bath!

Nature Matters: A forest bath | TBR News Media Nature Matters: A forest bath AnimalsArts & EntertainmentColumnsEnvironment & NatureNature Matters by John Turner - July 5, 2024 0 234 Forest leaves in the canopy. Pixabay photo By John L. Turner John Turner I had walked for 20 minutes before reaching the intended destination: Hunter’s Garden in E...

https://femalebirdday.wordpress.com/

This email announcement just went out. Not on our mailing list? Contact us at fourharborsaudubonsociety@gmail and let us know you want to be added. See next post for Celebrating Female Birds.

https://tbrnewsmedia.com/nature-matters-a-wetlands-ambassador/

You "otter" take a minute to read May's "Nature Matters" column......

Nature Matters: A wetlands ambassador | TBR News Media Nature Matters: A wetlands ambassador AnimalsArts & EntertainmentColumnsEnvironment & NatureNature Matters by John Turner - May 12, 2024 0 109 A river otter caught on a trail camera in Bellport. Image courtesy of Luke Ormand By John L. Turner John Turner I slung on the backpack, shut the car door an...

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Lily Pond Walk and Cleanup scheduled for Monday, April 22nd has been canceled.

February's "Nature Matters" column......

Nature Matters: Interconnectedness — natural ties that bind | TBR News Media Nature Matters: Interconnectedness — natural ties that bind AnimalsArts & EntertainmentColumnsCommunityEnvironment & NatureNature Matters by John Turner - February 16, 2024 0 81 The banning of DDT in the United States in 1972 helped the bald eagle population rebound. Photo by John Dielman By John ...

If you have bird feeders you might especially like the January "Nature Matters" column.

Nature Matters: Two winter friends | TBR News Media Nature Matters: Two winter friends AnimalsArts & EntertainmentColumnsEnvironment & NatureNature Matters by John Turner - January 17, 2024 0 89 1 of 2 White-throated Sparrow. Photo courtesy of Unsplash Dark-eyed Junco. Photo courtesy of Unsplash By John L. Turner John Turner Walking along the edge of...

If you want to learn more about the concept of rewilding......

Book Review: The Book of Wilding — A Practical Guide to Rewilding Big and Small | TBR News Media Book Review: The Book of Wilding — A Practical Guide to Rewilding Big and Small AnimalsArts & EntertainmentBook ReviewEnvironment & NatureGardening by John Turner - December 22, 2023 0 65 Reviewed by John Turner We humans have done a pretty good job at mucking up the planet, scraping away the plan...

Thank you Governor Hochul! “Over the last decade, neonics have come under increasing scrutiny because of their negative impacts on birds, pollinators, other wildlife, and people,” said Erin McGrath, Senior Policy Manager, National Audubon Society. “Science has shown us that even low doses of neonics can prevent songbirds from orienting themselves for their migration, cause significant weight loss, and interfere with their reproductive success. Due to these impacts, the use of neonicotinoid insecticides should be greatly reduced to help reverse the steep declines observed in many bird populations. We thank Governor Hochul for taking swift action to curtail the unrestricted use of neonic pesticides and championing birds and the places they need to survive.” Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary and Audubon Center National Audubon Society TBRNews Frank Melville Park

Governor Hochul Signs "Birds And Bees" Act, Nation-Leading Legislation to Protect New Yorkers and Wildlife From Harmful Pesticides Governor Hochul has signed into law Legislation S.1856-A/A.7640, known as the Birds and Bees Protection Act.

Join us on January 18th at 7 p.m. for our Winter Lecture (held on Zoom). Guest speaker, Jennifer Ackerman discusses her latest book in "What Owls Know". Registration at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZErdemrpjwiE9ZIfLKH892TRto8HMrXEtq0

This is excerpted from a recent NY Times article on Climate Change. Makes me a bit more hopeful during the holiday season.....what do you think?

"While there’s plenty of bad news to go around, it’s not unreasonable to imagine that enduring progress is within reach. Practically every day, there are encouraging new signs that after decades of dithering, the world is finally getting more serious about tackling climate change.

Wind and solar power are cheaper than ever and are being built at record rates around the globe. Advances in critical new technologies, from carbon capture to fusion power, are occurring with startling speed. Sales of electric vehicles are booming, and badly needed charging stations are being built.

Emissions from China, the world’s largest polluter, will peak within the next couple years, many researchers believe. In the United States, the transition to clean power is happening faster than many realize. Those two countries just agreed to accelerate their efforts to reduce emissions, delivering a much-needed jolt of ambition ahead of climate talks in Dubai this month".

An ode to butterbutts.
If you like my work and want to see a blog post breaking down each comic, support me here: https://www.patreon.com/birdandmoon

Read about our 2023 Stony Bridge Nighthawk Watch in this article written by Patrice Domeischel and John Turner. Frank Melville Park TBRNews

4HAS Stone Bridge Nighthawk Watch wraps up for 2023 | TBR News Media 4HAS Stone Bridge Nighthawk Watch wraps up for 2023 AnimalsArts & EntertainmentCommunityEnvironment & NatureVillage Times Herald by John Turner - October 19, 2023 0 104 Participants of the 2023 Stone Bridge Nighthawk Watch. Photo by Kathy Ishizuka By John Turner and Patrice Domeischel The 2023 seaso...

Save the Date! Our autumn lecture features speaker, Carl Safina, discussing his new book, " ALFIE & ME: What Owls Know, What Humans Believe". Join us on Tuesday, November 14th at 6:30 p.m. at the Bates House, One Bates Road, East Setauket, NY.

Our Summer Lecture - Butterflies, Birds & Habitats has been rescheduled! The new date is Tuesday, August 22, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.
See the updated flyer below.

POSTPONED - BUTTERFLIES, BIRDS & HABITATS

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Butterflies, Birds & Habitats lecture scheduled to take place on August 2, will have to be postponed. We'll be sure to post the new date as soon as it has been determined.

Learn about shorebirds at a Zoom workshop, then test your shorebird identification skills at a field trip to Cupsogue Beach!

NEXTGEN BIRD WALK FOR TEENS

Saturday, June 17, 2023, 11 a.m. Frank Melville Memorial Park

Join Gabe Finger on a walk through Frank Melville. We’ll be looking for some of our resident breeding birds such as Warbling Vireo, Baltimore Oriole, Barn Swallow, Yellow Warbler, and Song Sparrow.

Meet in the parking lot opposite the old post office.
One Old Field Road, Setauket, NY

JUNE 7, 2023 GOATSUCKER WALK CANCELED

Unfortunately tonight’s Dwarf Pine Plains - Goatsucker walk will have to be canceled due to the poor air quality caused by the smoke drifting from Canada.

Tomorrow evening, Wednesday, May 3rd at the in Stony Brook get inspired by a speaker from the Landcraft Garden Foundation and on Saturday, May 6th, come stock up on native plants at our Tree Fest on the grounds of the in Setauket. ,