Upcoming Events
For directions to meeting places, arrangements to meet you along the way, and other information, contact Bill Ostrander at 607-207-0000 or browncreeper9@gmail.com. CVAS is committed to increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in our conservation and education programs and to welcoming all who wish to work and learn with us. Any person, regardless of age, race, religion, ability, or gender identity, who is interested in wild life study, protection, and conservation, may be enrolled as a member upon receipt of the first payment of dues.
CVAS Events
| Nov 8 | 8:00AM | Erin Hotspots Meet at the Park and Ride on State Route 13 north of the Byrne Dairy traffic circle. We’ll visit a birding hotspot or two in the Town of Erin. We’ll be looking for waterfowl, raptors, and late migrants. |
| Nov 13 | 7:00PM | CVAS Book Club Join us as we discuss A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko. Two friends make a year-long, 750-mile trek on foot through the heart of the Grand Canyon, a deep, rich, complex journey that nearly killed them both. Directions: We meet at Appleridge, 168 Miller St, Horseheads, NY 14845. Use Parking Lot A and enter the front door to the lobby. Proceed to the large staircase on your right and go up one floor. At the top of the stairs turn right. The Conference Room is the first door on your right. Or, use an elevator to the left of the staircase in the lobby. You can download our reading list here. |
| Nov 15 | 8:00AM | Mark Twain State Park Meet at the trailhead parking lot at the State Route 14 entrance to the Murray Athletic Center. We’ll look for dabbling ducks and forest and shrubland birds. |
| Nov 20 | 7:30PM | CVAS Monthly Meeting Josh Teeter will be our guest speaker at the November Audubon meeting. He has been an environmental educator for the Finger Lakes region of NYS Parks for 15 years. He has a master’s degree in recreation management, studied primitive and survival skills in Wilderness Awareness School and is the president-elect of the New York State Outdoor Education Association. "The mission of New York State Parks creates many challenges but also affords opportunities to better serve our patrons and protect our natural, cultural and historic resources. The presentation will focus on the agency’s increased stewardship priorities and how we are communicating our activities to inspire future generations of stewards." Meet at Appleridge, 168 Miller Street, Horseheads, NY, for a lively discussion about birding and a presentation from one of our knowledgeable hosts. A bird identification workshop precedes the program at 7:00 p.m.; the program begins at 7:30p.m. All are welcome to these free events. Appleridge is wheelchair accessible. You can connect on Zoom by sending a request to |
| Dec 6 | 8:00AM | Downtown Elmira Meet in the parking lot behind 303 W Water Street, Elmira. We’ll study gulls, look for waterfowl and watch for Bald Eagles and other raptors. |
| Dec 11 | 7:00PM | CVAS Book Club Join us as we discuss The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elizabeth Tova Bailey. Bailey's account of survival and resilience shows how an underappreciated small creature gave her a greater understanding of her own place in the world. Directions: We meet at Appleridge, 168 Miller St, Horseheads, NY 14845. Use Parking Lot A and enter the front door to the lobby. Proceed to the large staircase on your right and go up one floor. At the top of the stairs turn right. The Conference Room is the first door on your right. Or, use an elevator to the left of the staircase in the lobby. You can download our reading list here. |
| Dec 13 - 14 | 6PM - 6PM | Corning Christmas Bird Count Count birds in the field in an assigned area or in your yard. [For yard counts, count the highest number observed at one time for each species.] We’ll meet for dinner at Bob Evans Restaurant, 1 S Buffalo St, Riverside at 5:30 pm to tally our numbers. Contact Bill Ostrander (607-207-0000) for an area assignment. Materials will be available at the November 20 meeting. |
| Jan 1 | 6PM - 6PM | Elmira Christmas Bird Count Count birds in the field in an assigned area or in your yard. [For yard counts, count the highest number observed at one time for each species.] We’ll meet for dinner at Curly’s Chicken House, 2100 Lake Road, Elmira, NY 14903 at 5:30 pm to tally our numbers. Contact Bill Ostrander (607-207-0000) for an area assignment. Materials will be available at the December 18 meeting. |
| Jan 8 | 7:00PM | CVAS Book Club Join us as we discuss Of Time and Turtles: Mending the World Shell by Shattered Shell by Sy Montgomery. Hopeful and optimistic, this compassionate portrait of injured turtles and their determined rescuers invites us all to slow down and slip into turtle time. Directions: We meet at Appleridge, 168 Miller St, Horseheads, NY 14845. Use Parking Lot A and enter the front door to the lobby. Proceed to the large staircase on your right and go up one floor. At the top of the stairs turn right. The Conference Room is the first door on your right. Or, use an elevator to the left of the staircase in the lobby. You can download our reading list here. |
| Feb 12 | 7:00PM | CVAS Book Club Join us as we discuss The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery. Montgomery illuminates the intelligence and behavior of octopuses and the bonds they form with humans. From problem-solving to changing colors, each octopus she met was clever and fascinating. Directions: We meet at Appleridge, 168 Miller St, Horseheads, NY 14845. Use Parking Lot A and enter the front door to the lobby. Proceed to the large staircase on your right and go up one floor. At the top of the stairs turn right. The Conference Room is the first door on your right. Or, use an elevator to the left of the staircase in the lobby. You can download our reading list here. |
| Mar 12 | 7:00PM | CVAS Book Club Join us as we discuss The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan. Tan maps the passage of time with daily entries, thoughtful questions, and beautiful sketches of the familiar birds that brought her peace and connection during a troubling year. Directions: We meet at Appleridge, 168 Miller St, Horseheads, NY 14845. Use Parking Lot A and enter the front door to the lobby. Proceed to the large staircase on your right and go up one floor. At the top of the stairs turn right. The Conference Room is the first door on your right. Or, use an elevator to the left of the staircase in the lobby. You can download our reading list here. |
| Apr 9 | 7:00PM | CVAS Book Club Join us as we celebrate National Poetry Month! Please bring a favorite short nature poem to share. Directions: We meet at Appleridge, 168 Miller St, Horseheads, NY 14845. Use Parking Lot A and enter the front door to the lobby. Proceed to the large staircase on your right and go up one floor. At the top of the stairs turn right. The Conference Room is the first door on your right. Or, use an elevator to the left of the staircase in the lobby. You can download our reading list here. |
| May 14 | 7:00PM | CVAS Book Club Join us as we discuss Flight Paths: How a Passionate and Quirky Group of Pioneering Scientists Solved the Mystery of Bird Migration by Rebecca Heisman. This is an exciting, behind-the-scenes account of groundbreaking discoveries by scientists from many disciplines who worked to answer an age-old question: how and why do birds migrate? Directions: We meet at Appleridge, 168 Miller St, Horseheads, NY 14845. Use Parking Lot A and enter the front door to the lobby. Proceed to the large staircase on your right and go up one floor. At the top of the stairs turn right. The Conference Room is the first door on your right. Or, use an elevator to the left of the staircase in the lobby. You can download our reading list here. |
| Jun 11 | 7:00PM | CVAS Book Club We will meet to discuss our next book list. Directions: We meet at Appleridge, 168 Miller St, Horseheads, NY 14845. Use Parking Lot A and enter the front door to the lobby. Proceed to the large staircase on your right and go up one floor. At the top of the stairs turn right. The Conference Room is the first door on your right. Or, use an elevator to the left of the staircase in the lobby. You can download our reading list here. |
Other Events
| Sep 19 - 21 | NYSOA 2025 The 2025 New York State Ornithological Association Conference takes place on September 19 - 21, 2025, at the Ithaca Downtown Conference Center, hosted by the Cayuga Bird Club. The keynote speaker is Peter Kaestner, author of In Search of the Orange-tufted Spiderhunter, with speaker Adrianna Dokter (Birdcast) presenting on Friday night. Explore the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Visitor Center, enjoy field trips to Area Hotspots, engage in the afternoon papers session and silent auction, join NYS Atlas Coordinator Julie Hart for the Breeding Bird Atlas celebration and lunch, and so much more! Visit NYSOA2025.org for more information. |
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| Wednesdays | 2:00PM | Birdability Outreach Program Webinar Series These webinars will cover various topics related to accessible birding and outdoor exploration for people living with spinal cord injuries and other disabilities. These webinars are open to everyone—whether you’re new to birding, an experienced birder with a disability, or an advocate for accessible outdoor spaces. You can register for individual sessions or the entire series, and each event will feature opportunities to ask questions and connect with others in the community. Register here. |
| All Season | Montezuma Audubon Society |
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| All Season | Birding Festivals |
