A Ring-billed Duck and Greater Scaup visit Mead Pond in Norwich. The Chenango Bird Club Bird invites the community to their first in person bird club meeting of the year at 6 p.m, Wednesday, April 1, at 2721 State Route 80, located in the Rogers Environmental Education Center, Sherburne. (Photo by Mike Dewispelaere.)

SHERBURNE — The Chenango Bird Club Bird invites the community to their first in person bird club meeting of the year at 6 p.m, Wednesday, April 1, at 2721 State Route 80, located in the Rogers Environmental Education Center, Sherburne.

Parking will be in the main lot off NY RT 80. Then take a short walk across the pond to the Visitor Center. There is also a small parking lot next to the main building with an easier walk for handicapped individuals.

“We will open our main season with a potluck dinner and time to socialize with fellow members,” said Chenango Bird Club Communications Chair Dan Pfeifer.

Pfeifer asks participants to bring a dish to pass, serving utensils, individual plate, and silverware, cup or drink. Juice will be available.

A short presentation will be given by horticulturist and wildlife enthusiast Alyssa Wisehart, of Wild Ginger Farm, a co-managed native nursery in West Winfield, New York.

“Restoring this area’s native plants, insects, and birds is their main goal,” said Pfeifer. “Wild Ginger Farm cultivates native plants to help support pollination and to benefit insects.

He noted Wild Ginger Farm was established in 2021 as a mixed garlic and vegetable operation with a heavy emphasis on growing food naturally; without the use of pesticides or herbicides.

According to the Wild Ginger Farm website, the ecological restoration improves their crops and provides the local area with nutritious and healthy foods.

Wisehart looks forward to not only selling their products at the farm but educating people on the species that once dominated the areas forests, meadows, prairies and wetlands.

As a way of thanking paid club members, Pfeifer explained they will have a bird friendly native plant giveaway and raffle prizes.

“This will be a fun and interesting meeting,” he said. “By taking small measures such as planting a native plant species, we all can have an effect on birds, insects, and wildlife in our little corner of the world,” said Pfeifer.

“Every backyard matters,” he added.

For more information on the Wild Ginger Farm, visit  www.wildgingerfarmny.com.

Bird Club questions can be emailed to Club President Loretta Brady at  lorettajbrady@gmail.com.