Small Birds, Extraordinary Memory: What Chickadees Reveal about the Brain
Black Rock Forest celebrated its annual Benefit Luncheon at Tavern on the Green, in NYC, on May 13, 2026, welcoming 145 supporters, partners, and Friends of the Forest for an inspiring afternoon in support of science, education, and conservation. Board Chair Hume Steyer opened the program, followed by Consortium President Dr. Hilary Callahan, who presented the Dr. William T. Golden Award for Innovative Leadership in Science and Education to Ellen V. Futter, President of the Markle Foundation and President Emerita of both American Museum of Natural History and Barnard College.
Following the lunch, Executive Director Dr. Isabel Ashton introduced Dmitriy Aronov, Associate Professor at Columbia University Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, who delivered the keynote address, “Small Birds, Extraordinary Memory: What Chickadees Reveal About the Brain.” His engaging presentation highlighted the remarkable ways in which studying the natural world can deepen our understanding of cognition and behavior.
The Benefit raises critical funds to advance Black Rock Forest’s research, education, and conservation programs. We are deeply grateful to Benefit Co-Chairs Drs. Catherine and Michael Diefenbach, the Benefit Committee, our generous corporate sponsors, and the many Friends of the Forest whose continued support makes this work possible.
Here is a recording of the event to listen to all the speakers and presentations:
For a complete list of benefit donors
Photos by Jennifer Rakovsky, video by Wizard Studios, and editing by Rachel Strader.
BENEFIT GALLERY
BENEFIT DONORS
Lidth’s Jay (Garrulus lidthi)
Valerie Colas-Ohrstrom & Wright R.S. Ohrstrom
Catherine & Michael Diefenbach
William & Eileen Glaser
Hume R. Steyer
Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)
American Museum of Natural History
Barnard College
Columbia University | Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brian Behavior Institute
The Dalton School
Douglas Land & Lynn Peebles
Overhills Foundation & Christopher “Kim” Elliman
Northwestern Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos caurinus)
Philip V. Ammirato
Andrew Jacobs & Lotus Do
Daniel Johnson-Chyzhykov
Open Space Institute
Riverdale Country School
The School at Columbia University
The Sturges and Deull Family
Christie Van Kehrberg
Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)
Phebe T. Banta
Hilary S. Callahan
Vivien Collens
William Constantine & Margaret Wellington
Fenella G. Heckscher
Raju Hormis
Martin E. Karlinsky & Christine Ruppert
Samuel T. Keany
George & Judy Muser
Jeannette Redden
William & Frances Schuster
Nathaniel & Tracy Stillman
Cheryl & Elliot Tetenbaum
Gray-headed Chickadee (Poecile cinctus)
Emily Ashton
Jean W. Ashton
Cornwall Central School District
Cynthia C. Bell-Bucha
Kurt Chowanski
Flora S. Davidson
Marianne Duggan O’Brien
Doreen & Tom Gleason
Eugene R. Gorman
Paul R. Gottsegen
James Harbison
Elizabeth Levy
Terryanne Maenza-Gmelch & Jeffrey Gmelch
Hanna Makowski
Matthew I. Palmer
Hannah Roth
Lisa & Jay Shambaugh
Catherine Sidamon-Eristoff
Carolyn Smith
Jenepher Stowell
Lisbeth Uribe
Philip White
RBT CPAs, LLP
The Storm King School
Event Underwriters
Richard & Kerri Bartlett
Dean Dorman
Lucy R. Waletzky
Event Contributors
Joe Cavallo
Dorothy Denberg
Veronica Dunham
Pam Golden & Ross Zimmerman
Bill & Tina Kelly
Anne & Frederick Osborn III
William Plotch
Reverend Suzanne Toro
RBT CPAs, LLC
BENEFIT SPONSORS
