Last updated 1/27/12

• To promote conservation through education of the public by lectures, nature walks and related programs.
• To promote research in the fields of ornithology and conservation by active participation or monetary support.
• To provide the opportunity for the study and observation of birds and other wildlife.
   

PROJECTS

We participate in:

• National Audubon Society's Annual Christmas Bird Count.
• May Bird Census in Dutchess County.
• Breeding Bird Survey for the Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Interior.
• Nest Record Card Program for Cornell University.
• January Waterfowl Count for NYSOA (New York State Ornithological Association).
• Bluebird nesting box provision and maintenance throughout Dutchess County.
• The Breeding Bird Atlas Project (Atlas 2000) sponsored by NYSOA and NYSDEC.

We are members of:   

• The New York State Ornithological Association (NYSOA)
• The New York State Young Birders Club (NYSYBC)
• The New York State Bluebird Society (NYSBS)

We contribute to like-minded Organizations. Recent donations have been made to:   

• Friends of the Great Swamp
• Ferncliff Forest Preserve
• Friends of Peach Hill Park

ACTIVITIES - All activities are open to the public.

See our Calendar of Events for our current schudule.

Meetings

Regular monthly meetings feature guest speakers who make presentations on birds and other wildlife, environmental issues, and many other topics of interest to nature lovers.  Meetings are held on the fourth Monday of each month, September through June with the exception of November and December.  The annual meeting is the regular October meeting.  The November meeting is the annual banquet.

Field Trips

Regularly scheduled field trips are conducted each Wednesday and on some weekends throughout the year.  Most of these are in Dutchess County but periodically trips are made outside of the county to Jamaica Bay, the Connecticut Shore or neighboring counties.
 

PUBLICATIONS

Newsletter

The club newsletter, Wings Over Dutchess, is published and distributed monthly to all members. View a sample issue.

Checklists

Two checklists are available at club meetings and walks, or can be obtained by request with your name and postal address. Please specify which of these two checklists you'd like us to send you:

	A Field Check List of the Birds of Dutchess County (also available on this website).
	When and Where: The Birds of Dutchess County, Stan DeOrsey, 4th Edition, Oct. 2009.  A reference guide listing all birds known to occur in Dutchess County, with historical data and monthly abundance and breeding status shown in bar graph format for each species.  Also includes the map from Where To Bird in Dutchess County identifying good birding sites.

Books

	Birds of Dutchess County. Ludlow Griscom, 1933. Out of print.
	Birds of Dutchess County 1933—1964. Eleanor Pink and Otis Waterman. Out of print.
	Birds of Dutchess County 1965—1979. Eleanor Pink and Otis Waterman. Out of print.
	Where To Bird in Dutchess County, Barbara Butler, Ed., 1977, 2nd edition 1990.This book is out of print. However, the map and summary information are available on this website.
	The Birds of Dutchess County, Stan DeOrsey and Barbara Butler, 2006.  The book is now out of print but is available in its entirety on the Dutchess bird book page of this website.
	Ralph T. Waterman 50th Anniversary, 1958-2008, Stan DeOrsey, Barbara Michelin, and Barbara A. Butler, 2008.  Limited edition, distributed to members December 2008.

 
EDUCATION

• We prepare and show exhibits.
• We arrange and conduct field trips.
• We conduct Adult Education courses on bird identification.
• We are a proud partner of the New York State Young Birders Club (NYSYBC).
• We offer slide presentations and lectures on Natural History to school groups, Senior Citizens and other interested groups and organizations.
• We maintain an extensive library of bird and nature books for our members' use.

RECORDS

• Permanent and continuous records of the birds of Dutchess County are compiled and maintained. Monthly records are published in Wings Over Dutchess and on this website.
• Quarterly reports are submitted to the regional compilers for The Kingbird, the journal of the New York State Ornithological Association, and for North American Birds, the American Birding Association's publication of bird population records.