OBI LAND TRUST 2022 EVENTS

Volunteer Clean Up Day at Donnybrook 
9:30 AM May 15, 2022 Downybrook Nature Reserve, 24353 Perch Lake Rd, Brownville, NY 
Join OBI board members and others in walking the trails and picking up debris from winter! Bring your gloves and wear mud boots! We will meet at west side parking lot. 

Springtime Birdsong
8 AM June 4, 2022 Henderson, NY
Serious birders will experience a special tour of a private bird preserve along the sandy beaches of Lake Ontario!  Birdsong will be at peak as we identify birds and their communication. Dress for comfort and bring binoculars! Space is limited and RSVP required: email info@obilandtrust 

An Evening at Chaumont Barrens
5 PM Thursday, June 9, 2022
White Caps Winery, 11544 County Route 125, Point Salubrious, Chaumont, N.Y.
Join us for an evening of exploration at one of the area’s most unique ecosystems, the Chaumont Barrens. Meet at White Caps Winery at 5 pm then carpool to the Barrens. Lee Ellsworth, OBI Land Trust Land Steward, and award-winning botanist Anne Johnson will lead a tour of Barrens. It will be followed by a light meal with wine at nearby White Caps Winery, which is partnering to offer this special event.
Space is limited and RSVP required. Email  whitecapswinery@gmail.com for details.

Ecology Tour at Downybrook Nature Reserve
9 AM Sunday, June 12, 2022
​Downybrook Nature Reserve, 24353 Perch Lake Rd, Brownville, NY 
Join Lee Ellsworth, OBI Land Trust Land Steward, as he leads us through the wonders of Downybrook Nature Reserve, a 178-acre wildlife sanctuary, complete with marshlands, white pine forest, ponds, grassland and a unique alvar community. Bring your binoculars and boots!

All about Bluebirds - Bluebird House Building Workshop
11 AM Saturday, July 9, 2022
White Caps Winery 11544 County Route 125, Point Salubrious, Chaumont, NY
Learn more about our state bird and build a house while enjoying the beauty of the winery! White Caps is partnering to host this fun event. Materials provided.
Space is limited and RSVP required: info@obilandtrust

Annual OBI Land Trust  “Friendraiser” – Save the Date!
5 PM Monday, August 1, 2022 Wise Guys Ristorante, Main Street, Chaumont.
Our summer gathering is once again at Wise Guys!  We had such a successful event in 2021 and hope you can join us for this popular get-together. The event helps fund operations for our all-volunteer land trust and continues the tradition that brings together OBI supporters to further land conservation along Jefferson County’s shoreline communities.

The Home Scale Forest Garden
Sunday, August 14, 2022 4:00 
White Caps Winery, 11544 County Route 125, Point Salubrious, Chaumont, NY
‘Learn how to create an edible forest garden from groundcover to canopy, modeled after nature―perfect for gardeners and growers at any scale!” OBI Land Trust and White Caps Winery invite you to join us and Dani Baker, author of The Home Scale Forest Garden, How to Plan, Plant, and Tend a Resilient Edible Landscape 
for a conversation and book signing.
Space is limited and RSVP required: info@obilandtrust


Have an idea for an event? Let us know by emailing info@obilandtrust.org or calling 315-649-6045

WINTER BIRDING TRIP EVENT RECAP!
Saturday January 9, 2021 

Northern Harrier, Bald Eagle, Tundra Swans, Rough-legged Hawk and Red-tailed Hawk were among the species spotted during a very successful wintertime bird watching tour hosted by OBI Land Trust on January 9, 2021.
The event observed social distance guidelines and was done by car caravan. Lee Ellsworth, Land Steward for OBI Land Trust, led the group text event and provided informative messages about the bird life that was being spotted and their location. Participants brought their cameras, binoculars (and face masks, of course) as they enjoyed the driving tour around Point Peninsula in the Town of Lyme. The day included sightings of many species, including raptors and waterfowl. However, it has been noted that there have been fewer sightings of the ever-popular Snowy Owl, compared with the last few years. 
The wintertime bird-watching tour is always popular and we appreciate those who participated. Look for more OBI events for 2021 to be listed here on our website in the coming weeks!

Events Gallery

Winter Birding on Pt. Peninsula, Saturday, January 12, 2019
Picture
Update: What a great day! We were joined by 11 participants as we toured Pt. Peninsula with field guide and OBI Land Steward Lee Ellsworth. It was a clear, blue sky with temperatures 12-15 degrees Fahrenheit.  Most of Chaumont bay frozen. Open water with ice forming at Isthmus. Ice fishing at Long Point State Park and Chaumont Boat Launch.
Species Spotted:
  • 3 Snowy Owls                                   
  • 2 Bald Eagles, adults                          
  • 1 Kestrel                                             
  • 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk                      
  • Red-Tailed Hawks – many                 
  • Rough-legged Hawks – many            
  • Northern Harrier – most were females or first-year birds
  • Canada Geese
  • Tundra Swans
  • Bufflehead duck
  • Goldeneye duck
  • Crows
  • Chickadees
Anniversary Celebration
Oh, What a Night!
OBI Land Trust Celebrates 25 Years of Conservation and Honors Two Loyal Supporters
 
At OBI Land Trust, we think a quarter-century of conservation is a great reason to celebrate.

This year’s annual fundraiser – held August 6, 2018 at Crescent Yacht Club - was extra special as our volunteer land trust marked 25 years of service to Jefferson County’s shoreline communities. The celebration was our most successful fundraiser ever and drew dozens of supporters, including Rep. Addie Jenne. She presented Citations from the New York State Assembly to both OBI Land Trust and our guests of honor, Urban and Sally Hirschey.

The Hirscheys, formerly of Cape Vincent, are the epitome of the volunteer spirit and we were grateful to honor them in the presence of our other OBI “friends” – our loyal supporters and volunteers who join us each year for our annual summer gathering. Our success depends on all of you!

Rep. Jenne said that OBI’s success and 25-year milestone was “a testament to the people in the community and the strength and dedication” that has allowed our volunteer land trust to survive and thrive in Jefferson County, where tourism and agriculture are a way of life.

Rep. Jenne praised the Hirscheys as “wonderful people” who are examples of how commitment to your community can truly make a difference at the local level. The Citation to the Hirscheys noted their involvement in OBI and various other local causes. Sally has retired as the longest serving board member on OBI’s board of directors. The couple has been among OBI’s top donors and donated their time and talents to our land trust. The Hirscheys have been named Emeritus members of the OBI Board of Directors.

OBI wishes to thank everyone who participated, including SUNY Potsdam Professor Glenn Johnson, who brought along his students to help educate people about the plight of the Blanding’s turtle, a threatened species in New York State. Other reptiles and amphibians were also featured and guests were able to ask questions about conservation close to home.

The summer gathering is an annual event that helps fund operations for our Chaumont-based land trust and also is a tradition that brings together OBI supporters and those looking to learn more about our land trust.

OBI Land Trust greatly appreciates the Citations presented by Rep. Jenne and we also are grateful for the supporters who make our land trust a success. Thank you to all who joined us for this truly wonderful night and let’s get set for even greater success for OBI Land Trust in the next 25 years!

The 2018 New York State Conservation
Partnership Program Grants have been announced!

On April 24, 2018, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced, with the Land Trust Alliance, the awarding of conservation grants given to 51 non-profit land trusts statewide, totaling approximately $2.3 million. This is the 15th year the New York State Conservation Partnership Program (NYSCPP) has been administered by the Land Trust Alliance, in coordination with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. In all, 70 grants were funded through New York's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF).
Ontario Bays Initiative, Inc, is pleased to announce the reception of a $15,000 capacity grant to fund field conservation and stewardship, enabling OBI to build on its multifaceted efforts to educate and connect with community members through outreach, field trips, presentations, and events. We look forward to the work in the coming months made possible through the acquisition of this capacity grant.