2019 Events
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Downybrook Reserve Spring Trek in Partnership with the North Country Bird Club
April 24, 2019 9:30 AM - Everyone is welcome! Downybrook 24353 Perch Lake Road, Brownville, NY Spring is in the air at Downybrook Nature Reserve! Join Corky Marlowe, North Country Bird Club President, as she helps us Identifiy the spring bird activity at Downybrook! Downybrook is a 178-acre wildlife sanctuary complete with marshlands, white pine forest, ponds, grassland and a unique alvar community. Get Involved with OBI Land Trust April 25, 2019 5:30 PM Pete’s Trattoria, 111Breen Ave. Watertown, NY Conservation starts with people. We are looking for friendly faces interested in conservation and helping us fulfill our mission. Join us at Pete’s, enjoy an appetizer while meeting board members. Your talents and interests are just what we are looking for! Not a good night for you? Email us, info@obilandtrust.org, we can discuss opportunities at your convenience! Spring Trek through Downybrook Reserve in Partnership with the North Country Bird Club Downybrook Rerserve 24353 Perch Lake Road Brownville, NY May 14, 2019 - 9:30 AM everyone is welcome! Join OBI and the North County Bird Club Director, Dick Brouse, for a Birding trek through Downybrook Nature Reserve. With 1.5 miles of trails, this is a perfect time to observe the wonders of spring! Downybrook is a 178-acre wildlife sanctuary in the Town of Brownville, complete with marshlands, white pine forest, ponds, grassland and a unique alvar community. Wine and Birdsong June 8, 2019 10:30-1:30 Enjoy a very special tour of a private bird preserve along the sandy beaches of Lake Ontario! Birdsong will be at peak as we identify birds, their communication and what they mean. This tour will be led by Lee Ellsworth, OBI Land Trust Land Steward. A catered lunch, along with a bottle of wine from White Caps Winery, will be provided. Travel by van to the preserve will be available. OBI Land Trust in Partnership with White Caps Winery will make this an event to remember! Travel to and from Winery, lunch and wine $45.00/person This event has limited space and priority will be given to Friends of OBI. Not a friend? It is easy to become one!! |
An Evening at the Barrens
June 19, 2019 5:00 arrival at White Caps Winery Pt. Salubrious Join us for an exciting and fun evening of exploration of one of the areas most unique and fascinating ecosystems, Chaumont Barrens. There will be an Informational presentation by Lee Ellsworth, OBI Land Trust Steward, prior to visit to the Barrens where Lee will lead a tour. 6:00 carpool to Chaumont Barrens 7:30 return to White Caps for a light meal and White Caps Winery wine. Ecology Tour at Downybrook June 27, 2019 9:30 AM Downybrook Nature Reserve Join Lee Ellsworth, OBI Land Trust Land Stewardship, as he leads us through the wonders of Downybrook Nature Reserve. Downybrook is recognized as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. Bring your binoculars! Grassland Birds of Cedar Grove Farms Nature Preserve July 6, 2019 at 9:00 am White Caps Winery, Point Salubrious Sponsored jointly by OBI Land Trust and White Caps Winery, this free program, led by Land Steward Lee Ellsworth, will explore some common vanishing birds, celebrate those to be still found on the farm and the lakeshore lands, and help us understand what we can do to promote their preservation. There will be a presentation in the winery’s new pavilion, followed by an optional walk on Cedar Grove Farm’s trails behind the winery. Cedar Grove Farm was a regional participant for nearly nine years in the St. Lawrence Valley Land Owners’ Improvement Program, aimed at stabilizing the bird populations at risk in our area. White Caps, a local farm winery, is open seven days a week in July and August, with access by water or on 11544 County Route 125, Point Salubrious, Chaumont, NY. We hope you’ll join us for this insightful discussion on our local birds! Annual Friendraiser Cookout August 5, 2019 Crescent Yacht Club, Chaumont, NY Join us for our summer gathering at the Crescent Yacht Club! The annual event helps us fund operations for our all volunteer land trust and continues the tradition that brings together OBI supporters and those looking to learn more. |
Keep checking, we are adding events on a regular basis!
Winter Birding on Pt. Peninsula, Saturday, January 12, 2019
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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.
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Species Spotted:
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Anniversary Celebration
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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! |
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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.
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.
