Burroughs Audobon Nature Club Orientation

 Wednesday, June 26, 2024   -  6 - 7:15 PM

The Burroughs Audubon Nature Club (BANC) is an all-volunteer-led organization dedicated to promoting the natural sciences, ecology, and conservation through high-quality educational programs and field trips, regular habitat restoration activities, and nature-centered social gatherings. For over 100 years, BANC has been committed to providing its members lifelong learning opportunities about all aspects of the natural world.

 

This Orientation event will be at Burroughs Audubon Nature Club Sanctuary, 301 Railroad Mills Road, Pittsford, NY for new and prospective members. Learn what BANC is all about! Presentation followed by sanctuary tour.

 

It was a cool and rainy evening when Joe Hurley gave us a wonderful overview of the Burroughs Audubon Nature Club.  Here are the notes.

Purpose: Promote the study of ecology, conservation, nature sciences through:

 *High Quality programs and field trips

*Regular habitat restoration activities

 *Nature centered social gatherings

*Yes, birds, but not just birds!

Garden vs HABITAT

301 Railroad Mills Road - 31 acres with club house (kitchen, compostable toilets, porch) 

Slater property - 90 acres south of Dansville with rustic cabin and not yet trails

Burroughs Audubon Nature Club began as a book club in 1913 by William B Hoot. A full collection of books by John Burroughs is available to appreciate at the club house.

There was a Woolston homestead that burned down in 1972.  The current clubhouse was constructed in 1981.  In 2022 BANC received a NYS Trails Grant which is being used to improve trails and help remove invasive species/manage native species.

 

Check out the website:    https://www.bancny.org/

BANC has 122 members.  

Membership is easily obtained online: https://www.bancny.org/join-or-renew

BANC is a 501(c)3 charitable organization

all volunteer with an executive council and following by laws and policies

Revenues: membership dues, donations, endowment (Warren Crandell)

Expenses: maintenance and repair, insurance

 

Benefits of membership: free access to grounds, newsletter (Tanager), preserving natural resources, member activities

 

LOTS OF VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES!

power hours (habitat restoration), fundraising, bird box housing, semiannual work days

 

Future initiatives: Trail projects, accessibility, increase membership, TBD by members and executive council

Afterwards Marigrace Piazza and Julie Clayton gave us a quick tour of the sanctuary grounds.  

 

Burroughs Audubon Club House

Honoring founder: William B Hoot

gold seal

Canada Lily

overlooking the wetlands

 

Taking a closer look: protection from the deer and other critters

skunk cabbage

BANC members are also not deterred by wet weather