Upcoming Trips

Below is a list of local field trips for the weekend of April 25th - 26th, 2009:

Brooklyn Bird Club
Saturday, April 25th, 2009
Owl's Head Park, Bay Ridge

Meet 7:30 upstairs on Bay Ridge Avenue and Fourth Ave west corner accessed from "R" subway line at Bay Ridge Ave stop. We will walk down 68th street 4 blocks to Owl's Head Park entrance. The walk will continue south through the park towards 95th street "R" train stop on Fourth Ave. Approximate birding time: 3 hours. Volunteer event in Prospect Park will followed for those interested.
Description: A coastal park along the Belt Parkway, Owl's Head can be productive for incoming migrants who drop into this thin strip of greenspace. Only 27 acres, nevertheless, any green habitat, regardless of size, is a welcoming site for tired, hungry migrating birds. Owl's Head Park maintains an extensive array of pines, locusts, oaks, maples, corks, beeches, and one amazing S-shaped tulip poplar, all popular locations for spring migrants. Furthermore, the views of NYC Harbor with the Verranzano Bridge is a spectacular panorama.
Trip Leader: Peter Dorosh
Focus: Spring migrants
Contact: Peter Dorosh, Email Prosbird@aol.com or TEXT Message 347-622-3559


New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, April 25th, 2009, 10am-1pm
Spring Migration at Jamaica Bay
Guide: Don Riepe
Meet at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge visitor center for an easy hike around the ponds and gardens. Come see the warblers, tanagers, egrets, herons, and other beautiful migrants at the Refuge. Limited to 25.
Free
For information and reservations, call 718-318-9344.


Protectors of Pine Oak Woods
Saturday, April 25th, 2009 , 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Migrant Songbirds, Frogs and Wildflowers at High Rock
We'll observe migrant songbirds that should be in the woodlands of the Greenbelt at this time, including Blue-headed Vireo and a number of warblers. Frogs should be active in Loosestrife Swamp and some early wildflowers will be in bloom. Skunk Cabbage which was blooming in mid February may still have its flower or fruit.
Meet in the Nevada Avenue parking lot. Bring binoculars and wear comfortable shoes for walking.
For more information, phone Dick Buegler at 718-761-7496 or Howie at 718-981-4002.

Saturday, April 25th, 2009, 10 a.m. to 12 noon
Long Pond Park, Wildlife and Wildflowers
With Clay Wollney, we’ll be looking for evidence of animal life, especially reptiles and amphibians as the spring warms up in the woodlands surrounding Long Pond. We’ll also identify wildflowers and examine the geology of the area during this unhurried stroll through about one and a half miles of the park.
Meet at PS 6, on Page Avenue and Academy Avenue about 3 blocks NW of Hylan Blvd.
For more information phone Dick Buegler 718-761-7496 or Clay Wollney at 718-869-6327.

Saturday, April 25th, 2009, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Celebrate Earth Day at Bloomingdale Park
Join naturalist and photographer Sandra Mechanic to look for colonies of May-apple or Mandrake with its beautiful white flowers hidden underneath the paired large umbrella-like leaves at the trail entrance. We will also find Trout Lily, Canada Mayflower and other woodland flowers in this rich woodland forest. Look for a rare fragrant Bush Honeysuckle, "Standishii" along the Drumgoole side. Walk along S.I.'s only true meandering stream with Pinxter Azaleas and violets.
Meet at the intersection of Maguire Ave.and Drumgoole Road West.
For more information, phone Dick Buegler at 718-761-7496.


Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, April 25th, 2009
Early Morning Birding
8:00 a.m.
MARINE PARK

John Muir Trail
11:00 a.m.
Multiple Parks Locations

Fresh Water Fishing
12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Multiple Parks Locations

Global Climate Change
2:00 p.m.
Multiple Parks Locations


Brooklyn Bird Club
Sunday, April 26th, 2009
Green-Wood Cemetery
Meet 8:00 am INSIDE THE MAIN GATE 25TH Street and Fifth Avenue.
Nearest public transportation: "R" subway line to 25th Street stop; B#63 Bus.
No registration necessary.
Description: Warblers, grosbeaks, orioles, buntings, and tanagers all awaken the spring air with their joyful presence. With Greenwood's magnificent trees in spring bloom, the migration seizes the day with the sounds of birds. This historic 19th century Victorian-styled cemetery enchants visitors with its knobs and knolls, its sloped walkways, its curvy roads, its brick-lined ponds, its ornate architecture, and its serenity. Trees spread out evenly and singly offer excellent views of migrants; thickets, small ponds, and fruiting trees all enhance the experience. One could truly get lost in this historical cemetery. Few know that Greenwood's Battle Hill is Brooklyn's highest point, a ridge of terminal moraine suited for great views. In older days, it was customary for people to picnic here! But in the whole context, Greenwood's neotropic migrant birds are the lure--a testament to the spirit of nature.
Trip Leader: Paul Keim
Focus: spring migrants


New York City Audubon Society
Sunday, April 26th 2009, 9-11am
Birding at the Marine Park Salt Marsh
Guide: Urban Park Rangers
In partnership with Urban Park Rangers, City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation
Join NYC Audubon and the Urban Park Rangers for a walk around one of Brooklyn's most important natural resources, the Marine Park Salt Marsh (meet at the Nature Center, East 33rd Street and Avenue U). Look for several unique species that inhabit and visit the area.
Limited to 20
Free


Protectors of Pine Oak Woods
Sunday, April 26th 2009, 10 a.m. to 12 noon
Corson's Brook Woods, Staten Island's Greatest Secret
Celebrate Earth Day with a visit to a magnificent native wildflower display. See tens of thousands of white Spring Beauties and hundreds of yellow Trout Lily in bloom, plus Wild Leek, Canada Mayflower and dozens of red flowered Skunk Cabbage. Meet on Forest Hill Road, corner of Jasper St., opposite rear entrance road to the CSI campus. Wear proper footwear to expect some wet walking. Few places can match this superlative display of wildflower, fern, shrub and tree beauty and diversity in 21 protected acres.It also has the rare Bladdernut, Corn Lily, Zigzag Goldenrod and Dwarf Ginseng. Few people, other than Cathy Zelonis and Dick Buegler, know how to find this site and can find most of the plant species mentioned. Please bring cameras and field guides.
For more information, phone Dick Buegler at 718-761-7496 or Cathy Zelonis at 917-596-4198.


Urban Park Rangers
Sunday, April 26th 2009
Earth Day Event
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Multiple Parks Locations

Earth Day Celebration
11:00 a.m.
Multiple Parks Locations

Insect Insanity
11:00 a.m.
Multiple Parks Locations

The Last Algonquin
1:00 p.m.
Multiple Parks Locations

Dark Trails
7:00 p.m.
Multiple Parks Locations