Community /
Bird, Tree & Garden Club


Program information will be available in April, 2013.

The next BTG House Tour will be in July 2014.  Applications will be available in February 2014.

The fascinating, new history book celebrating the centennial of the club, 100 Years of Beauty, will be available at the Chautauqua Book Store and at Smith-Wilkes Hall at the beginning of the 2013 Season.

Founded in 1913, the purpose of the Chautauqua Bird, Tree & Garden Club is to help keep Chautauqua beautiful.

The organization advocates the protection of birds and bats, the conservation and expansion of Chautauqua's tree canopy and the maintenance of the gardens of the Chautauqua Institution. The club’s offerings include a lecture program, nature walks, bird walks, tree talks, bat chats and biennial nature pilgrimages and house tours.

  • Margie Buxbaum, president—mobuxbaum@gmail.com
  • Barbara Zuegel, vice-president
  • Subagh Winkelstern, rec. secretary
  • Anna Scherb, cor. secretary
  • Hugh Butler, treasurer
  • Betty Lyons, assistant treasurer

Membership Application (PDF)

2013 CWC Monday Lake Walk Presentations

Presenters and attendees are to meet at the lower lake-side porch of the Youth Activities Center (YAC) near Heinz Beach at 6:30 PM Special instructions are included below if an alternative meeting site is appropriate.

June 24

John Rappole | Breeding Birds and Migration on Chautauqua Lake
Dr. John Rappole is scientist emeritus at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute where he conducts research on the ecology and evolution of migration, avian diversity in south Asia, bird-mediated movement of viruses, and effects of climate change on bird populations.

July 1

Paul Swanson | Lake Harvester: See One In Action
Paul has served as the general manager of the Chautauqua Lake Association for the past thirty years. Paul manages approximately twenty employees who operate harvesters, transport barges, loaders, trucks and more. This operation is part of the management of the plant life in Chautauqua Lake. Come see the operation of a harvester and understand there is more to this management than just mowing the grass.

July 8

Ryan Kiblin | Soaking It In at Fletcher Hall
NOTE: Participants should meet at the main entrance to Fletcher Hall
Ryan is currently the Manager of Grounds, Gardens and Landscaping and has served Chautauqua Institution since 2004. Her talents and vision can be seen in every aspect of the Institution grounds and its gardens. Listen to her share her understanding of the ties between the land and the water. Touring this site away from the lake will prove why the use of the land everywhere in a watershed helps the lake. See how water flow was key to the designing of both the building and it surroundings.

July 15

Tom Cherry | Water – Before and After
Tom is the Operations Supervisor for the Chautauqua Utility District. The District is responsible for providing you with clean drinking water from Chautauqua Lake and removing your waste water to the sewer system. What he does is critical, what he knows is amazing!

July 22

Deb Naybor | How Special is Chautauqua Lake
Deb returns to Chautauqua Institution as a PhD candidate in the Geography Department of The University at Buffalo. Her world-wide experiences have allowed her to explore a variety of watersheds. She knows, first hand, that the gift of fresh water is to be treasured. Come and find out just how special the Chautauqua Lake watershed really is.

July 29

Twan Leenders | Life in Two Worlds: The Biology of Local Amphibians
Twan is President of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute. He is a conservation biologist specialized in amphibians and reptiles, is an avid nature photographer and writes and illustrates field guides. Twan will discuss how local frog and salamander species rely on different bodies of water and explain how such habitat preferences have shaped these animals’ extremely variable and fascinating life histories. He will also take you on a journey to Thunder Bridge ravine to look for some real life examples.

August 5

Jennifer Schlick | Contemplative Photography
Jennifer is program director at the Audubon Center & Sanctuary in Jamestown, New York. She has exhibited her photographs in several group shows and her spring wildflower photos were the subject of a solo show in 2011. We will begin by considering the differences between a conceptual and a perceptual approach to photography. The conceptual approach has its place, but here we will discard ideas and artifice and turn our attention to pure perception. After examining a few examples of photos taken using this approach, we will stroll the grounds looking for inspiration. Bring your camera (fancy or plain - or even your iPhone) and let your creative juices flow.

August 12

Rick Constantino | Is there a view of the lake through the trees?
Rick is senior biologist and eco-services manager at the Jamestown-based company, Forecon, Inc. Rick also served as the former Chautauqua County Watershed Coordinator. One of his specialties is trees. His experiences will explain a unique perspective to combine beautiful trees with a beautiful view. Chautauqua Lake needs trees, both in its watershed and by its shoreline. Explore with Rick the importance of a view of the lake through the trees.

August 19

Dean Gowen | A New Vision for the Shoreline of Chautauqua Institution
Dean is a registered landscape architect based in Buffalo. He is the former Director of Park Design and Restoration for the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Inc. He is the designer of the landscaping that surrounds Fletcher Hall. In the past year he was asked to design a plan that would make the shoreline of the Institution more environmentally friendly. Walk with Dean and see why you have always been attracted to the shore and then see how it can become even more beautiful.