Wild Birds Unlimited of Syosset is not just a retail store. We believe in advocating for wildlife conservation through education and outreach.  

In addition to our in-store nature programs, we are available to visit your location to present programs in order to connect even more people to nature!

Programs Available:

Why Birds Matter, The Threats They Face, How We Can Help

The New York Times, Washington Post, NBC News and countless other news outlets have headlined the devastating news that since 1970 we have lost 29% of our bird populations. According to the 2019 “State of the Birds Report”, that’s just about THREE BILLION birds. The 2022 report sounds an alarm about steep population losses in virtually all habitats. The report identifies 70 Tipping Point species that have lost half or more of their breeding population since 1970, and are on tract to lose another half or more in the next 50 years. But why should we even care? And what can we do to help? This program will explain why birds matter, the perils they face, and how we can, as individuals and communities, work together to help protect them.

 Gardening for Birds by Creating Backyard Habitats

This comprehensive workshop explains why it is important to landscape for birds and other wildlife, along with tips for creating backyard habitats that include food, shelter and nesting spots. You'll also learn the basics of designing and choosing plants for your wildlife sanctuary.  

 

Silent Shadows: The Owls of New York Revealed

Owls are belong to a group of charismatic birds called Strigiformes. That group is divided into two smaller groups, known as families. The family called Tytonidae includes Barn Owls, which have heart-shaped faces. The second family, Strigidae, includes all other owls, most of which have round faces. Like hawks, eagles and falcons, owls are called raptors, meaning they hunt prey with their formidable weaponry. WBU's Stella Miller will discuss the various owls that call New York home in this program as well as the amazing adaptations that make them such remarkable predators. We’ll also touch on some of the legends and lore that surround this fascinating group of raptors.

 

The Birds in Your Backyard- Spring Edition

Long Island is home to numerous bird species, from the majestic bald eagle to tiny hummingbirds. What birds can you expect to see in your backyard?  We will help you learn to identify the various species of birds visiting our feeders during spring and summer. You'll learn a little bit about each species and there will also be a brief overview on migration, as well as how to attract each species.  

 

The Birds in Your Backyard- Winter Edition

Long Island is home to numerous bird species, from the majestic bald eagle to tiny hummingbirds. What birds can you expect to see in your backyard year round and during the winter? What ARE you seeing in your backyard? This program will provide a brief overview of the various species of birds in our backyards year-round, as well as our winter visitors. We will also learn about the adaptations that help birds survive winter's frigid grip as well as how to tell similar looking species apart.

 

Birding For Beginners

Spending time looking for and observing birds is great for your physical, mental, and emotional health. It connects you to nature in a way that goes beyond just hiking. It teaches you observation skills, and, if you choose, it can open the doors to making new friends.

It's flexible-you can bird only in your backyard, or you can choose to travel the world to see as many birds as possible. It keeps you sharp-because once you have seen a bird, you just want to learn as much as you can about it. It is really the perfect pastime when you think about it! But, how does one actually become a birder? You will learn tips on learning to identify birds, as well as the tools needed to get started in this comprehensive online class. This program can be broken up into two classes.

 

Birding Feeding 101

From tiny hummingbirds, chickadees, nuthatches and titmice to heftier cardinals,  orioles and woodpeckers, we all have the chance to experience the joy of feeding birds and watching their delightful antics wherever we live. How do we attract these birds? What are the best feeders to set up? The best food to use?  How can we deter other hungry critters that seem determined to eat us out of house and home? This program will guide you through all you need to know in order to attract birds to your yard through bird feeding. 

 

The Wonderful World of Woodpeckers

The forests and woodlands of Long Island provide ideal habitat for six woodpecker species, five of which breed here, and one other which passes through as a regular migrant, especially in the fall. This  program will educate us about the various species of woodpeckers that call Long Island home, as well as answer that age old question, “Why don’t woodpeckers get headaches?”.

 

The Raptors of Long Island

All birds, even those as different as a Bald Eagle and a hummingbird, share some common traits, such as feathers, wings, and egg laying. But, certain characteristics set the group of birds called raptors, or birds of prey, apart from other birds. The word raptor comes from the Latin rapere, which means to seize or plunder — the perfect way to describe birds that swoop down on their prey.

All raptors have a hooked beak, strong feet with sharp talons, remarkable eyesight, and a carnivorous diet. The family includes nocturnal hunting owls, day hunting hawks; fish-eating ospreys, go-speed racer falcons, majestic eagles and nature’s clean up crew, vultures. Some are migratory, while others are year-round residents of Long Island. Raptors are apex predators that can be seen everywhere: in your backyard, the city, or in the wilds. In this program you will learn about diurnal birds of prey, their life cycles and how to identify them.

 

Meet the Corvids of New York

The Corvidae is a cosmopolitan family of passerine birds (also known as perching birds) that includes crows, ravens, rooks, magpies, jackdaws, jays, treepies, choughs, and nutcrackers.
Commonly referred to as the crow family or corvids, there are approximately 135 members of this family, including the largest, The Common Raven. 

Corvids are famous for their remarkable intelligence for animals of their size, and are among the most intelligent birds thus far studied. This program will discuss the family as a whole, as well as species accounts of the various family members that call New York home-two species of jays, two species of crows and the Common Raven.

 

Email us to discuss booking a program at your venue!

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About the speaker:

Stella Miller is the Communication, Education and Outreach Manager at Wild Birds Unlimited of Syosset and the former president of Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon.

Since 2006, Stella has spearheaded conservation advocacy efforts including co-founding the Preserve Plum Island Coalition, launching a national campaign to help protect raptors at landfills, coordinating various habitat restoration projects, and conceptualizing a Bird Friendly Communities Initiative which included designing two native demonstration gardens at Sagamore Hill National Historic Site.

She is a recipient of the Norman Stotz Award for Outstanding Chapter Leadership, awarded by Audubon New York, and was honored as one of the Oyster Bay Historical Society’s “Top Advocates for Historic Preservation and Education” for her dedication to preserving Long Island’s natural history. Currently, Stella is a member of the Palisades Interstate Parks League of Naturalists, a public speaker, and is a founding board member of Reel Earth Films, a nonprofit documentary filmmaking organization.