Upcoming Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for the weekend of October 12, 2013 to October 13, 2013:

Audubon Center in Prospect Park
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Introduction to Birdwatching
Free
Explore the Park's natural areas and learn how to look for amazing birds.

Sunday, October 13, 2013, 12 – 3 p.m.
Raptor Fest.
Learn about the amazing birds of prey known as raptors.

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Brooklyn Bird Club
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Marine Park by Public Transportation
Meet 7:30am outside the IRT Grand Army Plaza Station stop (Plaza St and Flatbush Ave)
Trip Leader: Dennis Hrehowsik
Focus: fall migrating songbirds, water birds and colonial birds
Note: This is a public transportation oriented walk
Site profile: www.saltmarshalliance.org

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Gowanus Dredgers
Saturday, October 12, 2013, 1pm – 5pm
Canoe Gowanus Canal
Bring a friend for a self-guided Canoe trip sponsored by the Gowanus Dredgers to raise awareness of Harbor Issues www.gowanuscana​l.org
Today's event is in collaboration with Open House NY www.ohny.org so expect a line!

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Linnaean Society of New York
Saturday October 12, 2013
Central Park – Starr Saphir Memorial Fall Migration Walk
Leader: Lenore Swenson – information only 212-533-9567
No registration – public transportation
Meet at Central Park West and 103rd Street at 7:30 am

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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Debbie Becker leads a free bird walk at the Garden every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. beginning at the Reflecting Pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center

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New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, October 12, 2013, 8:00am – 9:30am
Van Cortlandt Bird Walk
Guides: NYC Audubon Naturalists or Urban Park Rangers With the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, and Urban Park Rangers. Meet at Van Cortlandt Nature Center. The history of birding and Van Cortlandt Park are inseparable. Influential birders such as Roger Tory Peterson and Allan D. Cruickshank got their starts on Van Cortlandt’s ecologically diverse grounds. These walks celebrate the tradition set forth by these great ornithologists. Participants will look for various species of residents and migrants and discuss a wide range of avian topics.
For more information, please call 718-548-0912.
No registration necessary. No limit. Free.

Saturday, October 12, 2013, 9am – 12pm
Randall's Island Fall Migration Walk
Guides: Gabriel Willow, Christopher Girgenti With Randall's Island Park Alliance, Inc. Meet on the N.W. corner of 102nd Street and the FDR Drive. We'll walk across the foot bridge to Randall's Island, an under-explored location in the East River that hosts restored freshwater wetlands and salt marsh. We'll look for fall migrants (both waterbirds and land birds) as we explore the results of recent restoration efforts. Two miles of walking and some modest climbs.
Limited to 20. $25 Click here to read about the restoration of Randall's Island's salt marsh and freshwater wetlands.
Click here to register!

Sunday, October 13, 2013, 9:30am – 6:00pm
Raptor Trust and Great Swamp
Guides: Don Riepe, Tod Winston Enjoy a private tour of the Raptor Trust rehabilitation center and see many owls and hawks up close. Afterwards, we'll hike the boardwalk trails of the beautiful Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge to look for raptors, waterfowl, reptiles, and amphibians. Bring lunch. Transport by passenger van included; meet in front of the NYC Audubon office at 71 West 23rd Street.
Limited to 11. $75
Click here to register!

Sunday, October 13, 2013, 9:30am – 11:30am
Birding at Wave Hill
Guide: Gabriel Willow With Wave Hill Meet at the Perkins Visitor Center. Naturalist Gabriel Willow contributes his extensive knowledge of bird species and their behaviors on these captivating walks. Wave Hill’s garden setting overlooking the Hudson River flyway provides the perfect habitat for resident and migrating birds. Ages 10 and up welcome with an adult. Reservations recommended; register online at www.wavehill.org, by calling 718-549-3200 x305, or at the Perkins Visitor Center. Severe weather cancels; for updates call 718-549-3200 x245 by 8am the day of the walk.
NYC Audubon members enjoy two-for-one admission.

Sunday, October 13, 2013, 10am – 11am
Birding for Families
Dana Discovery Center, Central Park, New York, NY
Sundays, September 1 - November 24, 10-11am Guides: NYC Audubon Offered by the Central Park Conservancy Meet at the Dana Discovery Center (inside the Park at 110th Street between Lenox and Fifth Avenues). Bring the kids and visit one of New York City’s richest bird habitats. Learn as a family how to spot and identify our feathered neighbors in their natural surroundings. Binoculars can be borrowed from the Visitor Center. For weather cancellation information, call 212-860-1370. Limited to 20. Age 5 and up. Free.
Click here to learn more and to register

Sunday, October 13, 2013, 2pm – 5pm
Sparrow ID Workshop (Field Trip)
Instructor: Gabriel Willow Sparrows are one of the most challenging groups of birds to identify, yet beautiful and fascinating once they can be distinguished. Learn to identify those LBJs (little brown jobs) by learning behavior, field marks, and songs. Sparrow species seen in prior years include field, swamp, savannah, white-crowned, and Lincoln's.
Limited to 12. $45 for package of class and field trip.
Click here to register!

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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods
Saturday, October 12, 2013, 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
New Dorp Beach Discovery
Join NRPA, in cooperation with the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, for an It’s My Park Day celebration at the new termination of New Dorp Lane, adjacent to Miller field. Participants will visit the park’s trails and discuss how hurricane Sandy impacted the people and the wildlife of the area, as well as ways we can assist reestablishing native species of flora and fauna.
For more information call Jim Scarcella 718-873-4291

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Queens County Bird Club
Sunday, October 13, 2013, 7:30am – 8:30am
Fort Tilden, Riis, Floyd Bennett Field Minitrip
Leader: Seth Ausubel 917-842-4002
Birding Sites Maps

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Staten Island Museum
Sunday, October 13, 10:00am - 3:00pm
The Big Sit: Birders Flock Together
Location: Clove Lakes Park (Royal Oak Road)
Free
Join Howie Fisher and the Staten Island Museum join forces for bird event that goes all day!
*Rain date, Saturday, October 19.

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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Bird Walks at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
8:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
Bird Walks focus on wildlife happenings in the park and are led by NYC Audubon experts or the Urban Park Rangers.
Free!

Raptor Walk with Mike Feller at Margaret Corbin Circle (in Fort Tryon Park), Manhattan
9:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
Join expert naturalist Mike Feller for a nature walk observing Manhattan's birds of prey in Fort Tryon Park.
Free!

Birding: Raptor Migration at High Rock Ranger Station (in High Rock Park), Staten Island
11:00 a.m.
We offer birding programs throughout the year and our Exploration series focuses on unique wildlife viewing opportunities during particular seasons. Birding programs are…
Free!

Sunday, October 13, 2013
Birding Walk at Wave Hill at Perkins Visitors Center (in Wave Hill), Bronx
9:30 a.m.
Naturalist Gabriel Willow contributes his extensive knowledge of bird species and their behaviors on these captivating walks.

Birding for Families at Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Take the kids on a walk through one of New York City’s richest bird habitats — the North Woods. Learn how to spot and identify our feathered neighbors in their natural surroundings...
Free!