If You ever visited Sterling Forest Preserve upstate-renown for its abundant birdlife and fauna, you should thank Mary Yrizarry, who spearheaded the preservation campaign years ago saving Sterling from development. Mary along with many other preservationists and public officials battled courageously for its now pristine state.
This past week was Mary's birthday ( July 21st) of which she would' ve been 94 years old.Mary passed away last December 26th.
More importantly Mary was one of our own in the Brooklyn Bird Club family having married John Yrizarry , a charismatic legend , former Bird club president from 1964-1966, a prolific bird artist and brilliant naturalist who moved upstate to Tuxedo ro retire. .John passed away in 2023 at the age of 97.
So there were special people out there always fighting for preservation of habitat and open space. If we love birding and nature, we have to fight for what we love.
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" Preserve and cherish the pale blue dot,the only home we've ever known"
--Carl Sagan
