Upcoming Birding and Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for Saturday, November 5, 2016 to Sunday, November 6, 2016:

Audubon Center in Prospect Park
Sunday, November 6, 2016, 8am – 9am
Early Morning Bird Walk: Feathered Friends
Join the Prospect Park Alliance and observe some of the Park’s feathered friends including chickadees, early winter residents such as Northern Shovelers and species of ducks that spend the winter in the Lake. Tour leaves promptly at 8 am. Led by the Brooklyn Bird Club.

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Brooklyn Bird Club
Saturday November 5, 2016
An Autumn Rarity Quest
Leaders Bobbi Manian and Dennis Hrehowsik
Focus: Pursuit of good or rare birds to locations based on the week’s birding alert reports
Registrar: Dennis Hrehowsik email deepseagangster@gmail.com
Registration Period: Oct 29th - Nov 3rd

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Gateway National Recreation Area
Saturday, November 5, 2016, 8:30PM to 10:00PM
Stargazing
Fee Information: Free
Join the Staten Island Chapter of the Amateur Astronomer's Association for public stargazing at Great Kill's main parking lot, Lot A. Binoculars and telescopes are provided, you may also bring your own. Inclement weather will cancel this event.

Sunday, November 6, 2016, 3:00PM to 4:30PM
Fall Hike and Fort Tour
Fee Information: Free
Join a NPS ranger to hike the overlook loop at Fort Wadsworth. Bring binoculars and comfortable shoes. Reservations are required, please call 718-354-4655.

Sunday, November 6, 2016, 1:30PM to 3:00PM
Owl Prowl
Fee Information: Free
Kid ages are invited to join a park ranger to earn their very own Junior Ranger badge, and to get started on the way toward earning their Junior Ranger patch! Junior Rangers will go on an owl adventure to learn about these beautiful birds and their diet by investigating owl pellets. Be prepared to take a hike along the west pond trail to search for owl habitat. Bus: Q52, Q53; A Train to Broad Channel.

Multiple Days: 11/06/2016, 10/02/2016 10:00AM to 12:00PM
Walking Tour of Fort Tilden
Fee Information: Free
Join a Park Ranger for a walking tour of historic Fort Tilden, and its role in the 20th century coastal and air defense.

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Hudson River Audubon
Saturday, November 5, 2016
Jones Beach – Late Fall Migrants
Meet at 8AM at the Coast Guard Station in West End IIThis is a good time for a rarity or a western stray to show up such as winter finches, Western Kingbird or Lapland Longspur. A variety of birds should be seen from seabirds, ducks, hawks, shorebirds and late land migrants. If time allows we will head over to Point Lookout in search of Purple Sandpipers and Harlequin Ducks. Bring lunch and expect to return midafternoon.
Directions: http://hras.org/wtobird/jonesbeach.html

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Linnaean Society of New York
Saturday, November 5, 2016
Prospect Park in November
Leader: Peter Dorosh — information only prosbird@aol.com
No registration
Public transportation: F Train to 15th Street Station, Prospect Park. Meet at the Bartel Pritchard entrance at 8am

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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturdays -- 9/3/2016 - 6/24/2017: 11:00 a.m.
Debbie Becker leads a free bird walk at the Garden every Saturday from 11am to 12:30pm beginning at the Reflecting Pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center

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New York City Audubon Society
Saturdays, September 3-November 26, 8-9:30am
Van Cortlandt Bird Walks, The Bronx
Guides: NYC Audubon, Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy with the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy
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 212-691-7483. No registration necessary. No limit. Free

Saturday, November 5, 2016, 9am-3pm
Ducks, Raptors, and More at Pelham Bay Park, The Bronx
Guide: Gabriel Willow
Come explore the lovely coves and rocky outcroppings of Pelham Bay Park, looking for wintering ducks, migrating raptors, and more. Pelham Bay Park's combination of open water, salt marsh, rocky shore, both young and old growth forest, rare coastal tall grass meadows, and patches of dry and wet oak savanna are not just unique within the City, but also on this continent! Bring lunch and water. Transport by passenger van included. Limited to 12. $102 (71)
Click here to register

Sunday, November 6, 2016, 8-11am
Morning Fall Migration Walk in Prospect Park
Guide: Gabriel Willow
Meet under the arch in Grand Army Plaza. Join Gabriel Willow for a leisurely walk to get to know the fall migrants of 'Brooklyn's Backyard', beautiful Prospect Park. Prospect Park has a wide variety of habitats that attracts a number of both breeding and passage migrant bird species, with even more recorded than in Central Park. We will explore the park's meadows, forests, and waterways in search of migratory warblers, vireos, thrushes, tanagers, waterfowl, and more. Limited to 15. $36 (25)
Click here to register

Sunday, November 6, 2016, 9:30am-7pm
Snow Geese and Tundra Swans of Brigantine, NJ
Guide: Joe Giunta, Happy Warblers LLC
Brigantine, part of the National Wildlife Refuge System, is one of the East Coast's premier sites for waterbirds, offering a diversity of species and panoramic views. Bring lunch and water. Transport by passenger van included. Limited to 12. $125 (87)
Click here to register

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North Shore Audubon Society
Saturday, November 5, 2016
Kissena Park
Leader: Rich - 509-1094

Walks are for beginners and experienced birders alike. Weather permitting, walks start at 9:30 AM unless indicated.
If in doubt, please call the trip leader.
Please note: all phone numbers are area code 516 unless otherwise indicated. In most cases, the contacts are also leaders for the respective walks. We would like to encourage carpooling, where possible.
Please note there is a $10 per car fee at Sands Pt. Call leader for parking ideas.
Schedule note: *** indicates 8 am official start time
*indicates new parking location

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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
Saturday, November 5, 2016 @ 9:15am – 3:15pm
10-Mile Fall Greenbelt Walk
Cost: Free
Protectors of Pine Oak Woods invites everyone to join us a Staten Island adventure. Everyone is encouraged to enjoy the crisp air and bright sun of autumn. Colors should be at peak though some contrasting green leaves remain. Wear comfortable boots and long pants. We walk ten, moderate miles in all weather. Participants will gather at the Greenbelt Nature Center and enjoy a measured hike throughout the surrounding areas of the Greenbelt. Bring lunch and adequate beverage. For more information call Dominick Durso at (917) 478-7607, or Don Recklies at (718) 768-9036.

Saturday, November 5, 2016 @ 12:00pm – 2:00pm
High Rock Park and Pouch Camp
Cost: Free
Join Ray Matarazzo for a fall foliage hike to Stump’s Pond. Investigate this unique corner of the Greenbelt with one of Staten Island’s finest environmental educators. The walk will focus on the identification of trees, some of the most colorful species, Hickory, Maple, Sweetgum and Tupelo. Participants will meet in the parking lot at 200 Nevada Avenue. For more information contact Ray Matarazzo at (718) 317-7666.

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Queens County Bird Club
Saturday, November 5, 2016
Kissena Park w/ SMR Aud.
Leader: Eric Miller - 917-279-7530
Meet by 7:45
**If a rarity shows up, we will chase it**

Trip Etiquette Notify the leader well in advance so they can coordinate car pooling and notify you of last minute meeting time or location changes. Be on time. We depart promptly.

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South Shore Audubon Society
Sunday, November 6, 2016
Mill Pond Park

All walks start at 9:00 A.M.
There is no walk if it rains or snows or temperature is below 25°F.
For more information or in case of questionable weather conditions, please phone Joe at 516 467-9498
For directions to our bird-watching locations, click here

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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, November 5, 2016
Bird Walks at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
8:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
About 230 different bird species have been recorded in Van Cortlandt Park and over 60 species breed here!
Free!