SHERBURNE – The Chenango Bird Club will be holding their first meeting of 2024 this Wednesday, April 10, in the Visitor's Center at Rogers Environmental Education Center in Sherburne. 

There is limited parking near the Roger’s Visitor Center and a large parking lot off State Rt 80. The center is located across the bridge and to the right, down the tree lined path. 

A brief meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will include a featured presentation.

Member, Dennis Geist, will give a presentation on the Galapagos Islands.  Dennis, a recent devotee to birding, is Emeritus Professor at University of Idaho and Research Associate at Colgate. 

He has been to the Galapagos a staggering 50 times. He initially went to do field research on volcanoes, eventually becoming interested in biologic evolution around 2000, which then led his to conservation work.  He has been in the leadership of the Charles Darwin Foundation for 15 years, and is currently leading fundraising efforts in the U.S.  Friends of the Charles Darwin Foundation.

The presentation will take an overview of the birds of Galapagos, especially taxonomy and their evolutionary biology. Dennis will also talk about travel to the archipelago and how to do so responsibly.

The Chenango Bird Club meets at Rogers Center on the second Wednesday of the month from April to December. The club has speakers at some meetings, short field trips and some longer excursions, publishes a quarterly newsletter and participates in the Christmas Bird Count.

The club welcomes the public to participate in any of their events and invites everyone to become a member. Upcoming meetings include: May 8, Rogers Center – Anne Swaim, Executive Director of Sawmill River Audubon will conduct a presentation on Birding 101. Presentation to start after short meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m.

June 12, Wednesday, 6 p.m., Club Meeting and walk at Adams Farm in Sherburne.

July 10, Wednesday, 6 p.m., Club Meeting and walk at Cush Hill in Sherburne.

For more information, you may reach the club President, John Knapp at 607-372-1242.

- Information form the Chenango Bird Club