BIRD ATLAS – 7:30 p.m. Learn about history, importance of the third Breeding Bird Atlas with project coordinator Julie Hart and Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society. Elm Park United Methodist Church, 401 Chestnut St., Oneonta. In process of shifting to a virtual event people will be able to participate in from home computers. Follow the link for updates. 607-397-3815 or visit www.facebook.com/DelawareOtsegoAudubonSociety/
YULE BALL – 8 – 10 p.m. Dress up with your friends for Harry Potter themed ball featuring mocktails, food, games, some vendors. Admission, $5 with proceeds to support charity Reading is Fundamental. Ballroom, Hunt Union, SUNY Oneonta.
WINTER PROGRAMS – 1 – 3 p.m. Bring the kids for some learning fun over February break. Choose from programs ‘Forest as a Habitat’ featuring interactive games on how action of animal & humans affect the forest, or ‘New York State Breakout Box’ families try to open the Breakout Box with their knowledge of NYS social studies. Free, open to public. Oneonta History Center, 183 Main St., Oneonta. 607-432-0960 or visit www.oneontahistory.org/index.htm
BOWLING LEAGUE – 1 – 3 p.m. Bring the kids to have fund & learn to bowl with instructor Gus Lampo, professional bowler, Art Rigas, long-time high school bowling coach. Cost, $10/child for shoes & 3 games. Thru 3/28. Holiday Lanes, 5198 St. Hwy. 23, Oneonta. 607-287-2540 or visit www.facebook.com/OneontaBowling/
PRESENTATION – 7:30 p.m. Join Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society to hear from Kathryn Davino about the amazing birds on Heron Island & Lamington National Park on her 2018 trip to Australia. Free, open to public. Refreshments will be served. Elm Park United Methodist Church, 401 Chestnut St., Oneonta. 607-397-3815 or visit www.facebook.com/DelawareOtsegoAudubonSociety/
FIRST DAY HIKE – 10 a.m. Start the New Year with fun 1.5 mile hike with bird aficionado Becky Gretton. Followed by hot drinks, refreshments. Nature Center, Glimmerglass State Park, 1527 Co. Rt. 31, Cooperstown. 607-547-8662 or visit www.facebook.com/GlimmerglassStatePark/
HOLIDAY RUN – 10 a.m. Race through Cooperstown in your ugliest holiday sweater. Runners receive free coffee/hot chocolate upon completion. Registration 8:30 – 9:30. Cost, $25/individual. Start at Santa’s house, Pioneer Park, Main St., Cooperstown. 607-547-2800 or visit www.clarksportscenter.com/events/2019-rockin-around-cooperstown-ugly-sweater-runwalk/
AUDUBON SOCIETY – 7:30 p.m. Presentation “Collected stories of 2019” featuring photographs of birds, foxes, butterfly’s, other natural subjects by local photographer Rick Bunting. Will feature stories about favorite events from this year. Quality Inn, 5206 St. Hwy. 23, Oneonta. 607-397-3815 or visit www.facebook.com/DelawareOtsegoAudubonSociety/
SCI-FI & HORROR – 11 a.m. Day 2 of the strange and horrific festival. Features authors, vendors, speakers, activities, more. Cost, $6/person for day pass. Foothills Performing Arts Center, Oneonta. Visit www.facebook.com/SciFiHorroFest/
At this hour, Tom Salo, a mainstay of the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society for decades, is being celebrated as OCCA Conservationist of the Year at the Otsego County Conservation Association’s annual dinner in Templeton Hall, Cooperstown. Here, Salo is joined by, from left, the OCCA’s new executive director, Leslie Orzetti, his wife Jo, and OCCA President Vicki Lentz. In recent years, Salo, of West Burlington, has been studying means of protecting raptors, particularly golden eagles, in the region. He has been promoting use of non-lead ammunition for deer hunting to reduce accidental lead poisoning of eagles. (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)
