Natchaug Ornithological Society

Natchaug Ornithological Society no longer holds meetings and is, essentially, inactive with regard to meetings and events. However, we are alive and well in cyberspace. We do maintain this website, a NOSBirds email list where subscribers share local birding information and sightings with other subscribers, and a NOS Facebook page, managed separately, is also online.

This website will be maintained (irregularly) as a resource that may be helpful to birders in the Storrs area.

Publications

Birds of Storrs, Connecticut and Vicinity by George Clark is an invaluable guide for anyone interested in birds and has detailed records of birds seen in the NOS area going back centuries in some cases. The first two editions were written by Jerauld A. Manter and published by NOS in 1963 and again in 1975. The third edition was published December 1999 and contains updated text, new information, maps and artwork. Copies may be obtained from the UConn Co-op, from the Mansfield Town Hall, or by request (send email to the NOS email list). Copies of the 1963 and 1975 editions may be borrowed from the Mansfield Public Library. All editions contain invaluable information about birds and birding in the Storrs CT area. The latest (1999) edition contains detailed information of all documented species, including rarities, that have been found in the NOS area, their habitats, and locations where you may find them in the area. Birds of Storrs, Connecticut and Vicinity sets a new standard for local birding guides and references, one that anyone interested in birds will enjoy enormously from beginning to end, year after year.

History

The idea for a local bird club originated with a subgroup of the Storrs Women's Club. After a few years there was so much interest that a separate group, open to all, was formed. The first meeting was held June 26, 1956. Subsequent meetings resulted in the formation of the Natchaug Ornithological Society. Since its beginning, the Society has remained active in the local birding community, providing a venue for both novice and expert birders. In 1975 total membership was over 100. The society formerly provided local birders with lively programs during its monthly meetings, numerous field trips to birding hot spots both local and distant, and opportunities to participate in censusing and research efforts through such activities as the May and Christmas counts and bird banding. Since the mid-2000's membership and participation declined significantly as "online" resources became more popular. Perhaps the club could be revived at some future date if there was more interest and ambition.

Email List

NOS maintains an email list on Google Groups where members can share information about bird sightings, ask questions and get answers from other subscribers, and discuss birding related topics of interest. Anyone may join the list.

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE:

To subscribe to the NOSBirds Google Group visit this link then click on Ask to join group and follow the instructions. The email account from which you sent your request will be subscribed to the NOSBirds email list.

HOW TO UNSUBSCRIBE:

To unsubscribe from the NOSBirds email list visit this link which is also posted at the bottom of every NOSBirds message.

Local Birding Hotspots

There are many locations to find interesting birds in the NOS area. Check our Hotspots page for more information about a number of locations. Each heading is a link to the general area on Google Maps.

Christmas Bird Count

CBC's are held throughout North America in late December and early January. US and Canadian birders count all the wild birds observed within 15 mile diameter territories. CBC's are organized locally and follow a simple protocol. Census volunteers are assigned to designated areas within the local 15 mile territory where they count all wild birds on the designated count day. Data from each sub-area is compiled and sent to the National Audubon Society where results from all of North America have been collected since 1899. North American census data is published annually and offers researchers short and long term trends of individual species and of the census territories during past and current conditions.

NOS organizes the Storrs area CBC (CTST) for the territory displayed below. This area is subdivided into smaller territories that census participants search during the Christmas CBC and the June breeding birds SBC counts. NOS CBC census data can be accessed on Audubon's Christmas Bird Count website. The Storrs area CBC count code is "CTST". The data can show trends and with local knowledge of habitat changes and other factors, we may better understand how species are affected. One might consider the effect of past and new construction projects on specific and unique habitats in our area and predict how they may impact species and local habitats. CBC census data may also be able to provide local and regional planners with important information that may be used to maintain and improve habitat for resident and migratory birds and other wildlife.