Hudson River Audubon Society

PROGRAM

Charlie Roberto

The Gaspe, A magical place with magical places

Wednesday, January 22, 2025
In person, at the Lenoir Nature Center, 19 Dudley St, Yonkers
Refreshments at 7 PM; program at 7:30 PM

Charlie Roberto has been under the spell of the Gaspe Peninsula for decades. The peninsula is in southeastern Canada, in the Quebec province, in the Gulf of St Lawrence. For seabirds, the peninsula forms an ideal nesting place, protected from the full brunt of Atlantic winds and waves by the mainland and off shore islands, next to abundant food sources in the Gulf. An enormous colony of Northern Gannets nests on an island off the peninsula – over 80,000. The gannets are monogamous, raise one chick a year, males and females take turns going on fishing trips or guarding the nest. The colony is densely packed; the gannets are constantly active, doing pair bonding dances and mutual preening as well as squabbling with their neighbors. Charlie will talk about them as well as other species, and the stunning beauty of the landscape.

Charlie lives in Croton-on-Hudson with his wife Cheryl and was raised in Mahopac. He worked for the New York City Fire Department for 40 years, and was the Captain of Harlem Ladder Company 26 for 22 years. He was the senior captain of the Whole NYC Fire Dept when he retired.

Currently, he serves as an advisor to the Putnam and Saw Mill Audubon Societies; to Fahnestock State and Croton Point Parks. He is on the board at Teatown; he started a local chapter of the North American Butterfly Association. He had been the lead compiler for the Putnam County Christmas Bird Count for 15 years; he has participated in Christmas bird counts since the mid 80’s.