The mission of the Eaton Birding Society is to promote the appreciation of birds and nature through educational programs at monthly meetings, field trips, and financial support of projects relating to ecological enhancement.
 

The Eaton Birding Society focuses on birding in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State, primarily in Ontario, Seneca, Wayne and Yates Counties. Occasionally birding trips are organized to destinations as far away as Arizona and Texas. We have regular field trips throughout the year, and meetings are held at the Finger Lakes Welcome Center, 35 Lake Front Dr, Geneva, NY on the first Monday of the month, October through April. Each year we participate in the Audubon Christmas Bird Count.
 

The Eaton Birding Society was organized as Geneva Bird Club in 1932 by a group of birders who had studied with Elon Howard Eaton. They later changed the name to the Eaton Birding Society in his honor. Elon H. Eaton, Ms.C, Sc.D, was a biology professor at Hobart and William Smith Colleges from 1908-1934. He published the first edition of Birds of New York in 1910 while serving as the New York State ornithologist.

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Every other year, EBS confers the Elon Howard Eaton Award in his honor to an individual who has contributed to the study of avian biology, habitat conservation, or related fields. The award is open to any undergraduate or graduate student conducting research in Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, or Yates counties of New York State or within the boundaries of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex. The winner gives a program describing the work at one of our regular meetings the following year.