October 19 - Annual Open House

Join us for our annual OPEN HOUSE!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19th 10AM-4PM

Aton Forest Headquarters

(270 North Colebrook Rd. Norfolk, CT)

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

10:00 - Noon
Guided Trail Walk
Lead by John Anderson (Executive Director)

Noon - 12:30
Gathering & Refreshments

12:30-1:30
Introduction & Welcome / Aton Forest Year In Review
Lead by John Anderson & Mike Aurelia (President)

1:30 - 2:30
"Focusing on Forests: Identification and Stewardship of Connecticut's Important Forest Bird Habitat"
By Corrie Folsom-O'Keefe (Audubon CT)

2:30-4:00
"Mini Workshops" on Invasive Plants, Wildflowers, Mushrooms, and Birds

3:00-4:00
Field trip to recently washed out beaver pond and birding
Lead by Mike Aurelia

Speaker Bio:

Corrie Folsom-O’Keefe is the Important Bird Area Program Coordinator for Audubon CT. In this position she works with partners (including federal and state wildlife and forestry divisions as well as local conservation groups) on numerous projects with overarching the goals of identifying, protecting, and enhancing habitat important to bird species of conservation concern. She also coordinates, conducts and trains field technicians and volunteers in bird census techniques for a number of projects and oversees the development of conservation plans for IBAs that guide landowners and stakeholders in the management of bird habitat. Prior to joining Audubon, Corrie worked at the Yale School of Public Health, managing a lab and coordinated field research exploring the relationship between avian and mammalian diversity and vector-borne diseases such as West Nile virus and Lyme disease. Corrie completed her master’s degree at Connecticut College; her thesis examined the effects of surrounding landscape on the abundance and breeding success of shrubland birds in powerline corridors. She has participated in numerous field seasons working with birds in Belize, Nova Scotia, the Farallon Islands and CT; gained significant experience as an educator while employed at The Children’s Museum, and currently volunteers as Education Chair for both the New Haven Bird Club and the Quinnipiac Valley Audubon Society.