Black River Audubon Society
Welcome to the Black River Audubon Society!
Established in 1958, members of Black River Audubon Society (BRAS) are committed to protecting birds and other wildlife while preserving their ecosystems and natural environment in our community. We are a membership organization dedicated to protecting our environment through conservation, education and advocacy. We have monthly speakers from September to May, as well as monthly field trips to birding hotspots across the state. We engage in conservation through our bird programs, such as our bluebirds and kestrels, and through the preservation of local natural habitats. We advocate for laws and policies that are favorable to our mission.
Please consider getting involved and joining our organization!
Education
Educational programs include monthly speakers, field trips, scholarships and programs for children.
Conservation
Conservation efforts include our bluebird and kestrel programs, creating natural habitats and working in the community.
April 7, 2026
A Bird’s Eye View:
The Sensory World of Birds
Dr. Sarah Mabey
Carlisle Reservation Visitor Center
Did you know that a bird’s eyesight is more than seven times keener than yours? Did you know birds can smell fear? Birds experience the sights, sounds, and smells of the world in a radically different way than we do. Learn about some of the amazing ways birds make sense of their environment.
Dr. Sarah Mabey is a professor at Hiram College where she chairs the Enviornmental Studies Department and coordinates the Natural History Program. Sarah’s expertise ranges from conversation biology, ornithology, and migration ecology to environmental conflict management and collaborative problem-solving. As an ornithologist, she is fascinated by the diverse ways birds solve complex problems. Her research focus on the behavioral ecology, population dynamics and conservation of migratory birds. Sarah has conducted research on migratory songbirds in North and Central America and Europe. She received her B.A. from Bryn Mawr College, M.S. from Univ. of Maryland, Collee Park: and Ph.D. from the Univ. of Southern Mississippi. She conducted post-doctoral research at North Carolina State University as a recipient of the prestigious David H. Smith Conservation Research Postdoctoral Fellowship. In 2019, she earned a Certificate in Environmental Collaboration and Conflict Research Postdoctoral Fellowship. In 2019, she earned a Certificate in Environmental Collaboration and Conflict Resolution from the John S. McCain III National Center for Environmental Conflict. Professor Mabey also serves as a member of the Audubon Society of Greater Cleveland’s Board of trustees. She has a deep fondness for flycatchers.
Advocacy
There are many ways to get involved and work with us to protect nature. We offer memberships and need volunteers.
