You Should Join the New York State Ornithological Association

The New York State Ornithological Association Inc. (NYSOA) is not new. It has worked to protect birds, and support people interested in birds, for over 50 years as the Federation of New York State Bird Clubs. Many individuals from across the United States and Canada, as well as bird clubs around the state, are members.

If you join as an individual member, there are many benefits. Members receive two publications. The Kingbird is NYSOA’s quarterly journal where New York State bird sightings are documented. NYSOA divides New York State into ten Regions for birding purposes. A regional editor receives bird observations for the four seasons of the year from the birders in their region and sends them to The Kingbird editor for publication. When you receive The Kingbird, you get information on bird populations, frequencies, locations, and rarities. There are also photographs and articles relating to specific species, behaviors, breeding, migration, and other subjects. There is also a quarterly newsletter, New York Birders, that keeps members current on happenings such as conservation projects, field trips, and the annual publication of members’ State and County lists.

NYSOA has an Annual Meeting one weekend every fall somewhere in New York State. There are many field trips to local birding spots led by local birders. A variety of exhibitors have paintings and merchandise for sale. On Saturday, the member club delegates meet to hear updates from the Officers and the Chairs of various committees. Elections are held. Issues important to our members are discussed and appropriate action is taken as needed. In the afternoon, there is a Papers Session with topics of interest to birders. Saturday evening’s banquet includes awards presentations and a main speaker.

The most recent meeting was held in Ithaca in September, hosted by the Cayuga Bird Club. The next one will be held in Albany hosted by Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club. This year’s meeting began on Friday night with a buffet and tour of the new facilities at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. The Papers Session included a report of the effect of West Nile Virus on the crow population in New York, results of a habitat restoration project for Golden-winged Warblers, and a presentation that showed snow burrowing by Common Redpolls. At the Saturday banquet, the director of the Lab, John Fitzpatrick, gave a presentation: Birds Can Save the World:

NYSOA follows both state and federal legislation related to preserving birds and their habitats. We are well known to legislators and have a very strong working relationship with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Currently, one of NYSOA’s major projects is coordinating New York’s second Breeding Bird Atlas project. In 1998 NYSOA published Bull’s Birds of New York State, which documents the status, range, migration, and history of each species found in the state. We also maintain and publish the Checklist of the Birds of New York State which currently lists 460 species accepted by our Avian Records Committee as having occurred in the state.

Please consider joining the New York State Ornithological Association as an individual member. We need your support in documenting the ornithology of the state, encouraging interest in and appreciation of birds, and protecting birds and their habitats. For more information, contact Brenda Best, NYSOA Membership Chair, at P. O. Box 95, Durhamville, NY 13054 or membership@nybirds.org.