Early Bird Sanctuary supporters Barbara & Russell Miller with Rob Alvey. The 2005 membership drive for Garden City’s community nature preserve is underway. Join the Garden City Bird Sanctuary as it celebrates its 10th Anniversary in 2005! Since its beginning in 1995 the 9 acre Nassau County storm water storage basin on Tanners Pond Road has been adopted and changed into an attractive and thriving nature center through the volunteer efforts of many community residents and friends. As a result of the successful initial efforts, the GC Bird Sanctuary, Inc. was established in 1998 with membership a significant source of the funds needed to help manage, maintain and improve the area. Your support is needed, and all residents are urged to join for 2005.

Yearly dues are only $25 for families or $15 for individuals. Donations are tax deductible; the GC Bird Sanctuary is a certified nonprofit 501’3 organization. Please send donations to The Garden City Bird Sanctuary, P.O. Box 7507, Garden City, NY 11530-7507. For information on how you can help, contact Rob Alvey at 326-1720 or e-mail him at Robalvey@aol.com. There is also a new “Group” e-mail for the GC Bird Sanctuary where you can share info on birds, gardening, and community events. The Bird Sanctuary is a member of the Garden City Community Fund.

The Bird Sanctuary has a quarterly newsletter, “Sump-Thing Happenings” and has several events scheduled to celebrate its 10th year. A 10th Anniversary Festival is scheduled for Saturday May 14th with music, song, educational lectures, food, drinks, a plant sale and live hawks, owls, and eagles on display. A new 10th Anniversary guidebook for the Bird Sanctuary is scheduled to be issued to commemorate the occasion. In the Spring, there will also be another dedication service for new trees and shrubs donated by friends and families in memory or honor of loved ones along the “Memorial Walk”. New for 2005, the GC Bird Sanctuary is sponsoring an essay contest for Middle School students, and will finish the year with a wildlife art exhibit and display in December at the Garden City Public Library. If your group or organization is looking for a good topic and speaker for a meeting, the Bird Sanctuary has a good selection of slide shows available.

Over the last ten years, the Garden City Bird Sanctuary, Inc. has been changed from a simple “sump” into a thriving community nature preserve. A dozen scouts have earned either Eagle or Gold Awards for their efforts and countless other volunteers have donated a sum of over 100,000 hours of community service. There are nearly 100 nest boxes, innumerable trees, shrubs, and thousands of flowering bulbs. Fencing, ponds, signage and arbors, new gates and equipment sheds have been added. Nearly three quarter miles of walking trails have been carved out, and small rock walls highlight many plantings. Over 80 different species of birds have been identified, and many nest at the sanctuary. It is open to the public from March to November on Sundays and by arrangement.

The success of the Garden City Bird Sanctuary’s pilot program with Nassau County for dual use of storm water basins by communities has lead to the establishment of an even bigger Bird Sanctuary and Centennial Gardens in Floral Park, and practice fields for Garden City High School and Kellenberg School. With your continued support, we’ve only just begun. Thank you all!