Natchaug Ornithological Society Information

Meetings and Events:

NOS meets monthly October through May usually on the first Friday of the month from 7-9:30pm at the Mansfield Library Buchanan Auditorium at 54 Warrenville Rd. Mansfield CT (directions). Meetings usually follow a loose agenda. Generally a discussion of recent and upcoming events is followed by a presentation from a guest speaker.

Visit the NOS Event Calendar for information concerning NOS meetings, field trips, counts, and other activities in the area.

Membership Information:

NOS is actively seeking to expand its membership. Learn more about birds and their fascinating behavior. Beginning birders are very welcome to join us at our next meeting or outing before deciding to become a member. If you enjoy visiting this site regularly please consider becoming a member. An online NOS Membership Form can be printed and sent to us by US mail.

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 at NOS meetings, the UConn Co-op, and the Mansfield Town Hall. 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 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.

NOS also publishes a newsletter reporting on trips, events, monthly meetings, sightings and other interesting information.

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. In recent years membership has held steady at about 80. The society has upheld throughout its existence a tradition of providing 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.

E-mail List:

NOS maintains an e-mail list for the purpose of disseminating information about upcoming events, bird sightings, questions and answers from other subscribers, and other birding related topics of interest. All interested parties may join the list.

Local Birding Hotspots:

There are many good places to find birds in the NOS area. Check our hotspots link for more information and maps.

Christmas Bird Count (CBC) Census Data:

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 census for the territory displayed below. This area is subdivided into smaller territories that census participants search during Christmas, May, and June counts. We currently have NOS CBC census data from 1956 to 1992 available online offering you a "picture" of what has been happening in the Storrs area since 1956. For example, the local Canada Goose population has increased dramatically in recent years while the American Kestrel is declining significantly as it has elsewhere in the Northeastern US. Many other trends can be observed 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.

[ The Storrs Christmas Bird Count Circle ]

Other Related Local Sites:

Joshua's Trust One of the oldest local conservation and historic trusts in the State of Connecticut with numerous land holdings in the Storrs area and surrounding towns. Connecticut Museum of Natural History at UConn in Storrs Many excellent events, exhibits, and activities throughout the year.
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