Upcoming Trips

Below is a list of upcoming local trips for the weekend of October 24th - 25th, 2009:

American Littoral Society
Saturday, October 24, 2009
NYC Audubon Butterfly and Bird Walk at Plum Beach
Meet at the Plum Beach Round House off the Belt Parkway at the Plum Beach parking lot at 9:30 AM walk begins at 10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.
Call NYC Audubon to reserve at (212) 691-7483.
Leaders: Andrew Baksh and Don Riepe.


New York City Audubon Society
Wednesday, October 21, 6:30 - 8pm (class)
Sunday, October 25, 9am - noon (trip)
Sparrow Identification Workshop
Instructor: Gabriel Willow
Sparrows are one of the most challenging groups of birds to identify, and are often overlooked compared with their showier cousins such as tanagers and warblers. But they are subtly beautiful and fascinating species, especially once they can be distinguished. Learn to identify all those LBJs (little brown jobs). You might be surprised what you'll discover: was that a Swamp Sparrow hopping among the House Sparrows in the park? Learn their behavior, field-marks, songs, and more in this class. Followed by a field session in Central Park to seek out the underappreciated but fascinating sparrows. Limited to 15.
$45 ($40.50 for NYC Audubon members at the Senior/Student level and up)


Protectors of Pine Oak Woods
Saturday, October 24, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Mount Loretto
Come join Howie Fischer to find late migrant birds in the meadows and wetlands of Mount Loretto. Binoculars are necessary, along with comfortable walking shoes. At this time of year there may be some lingering sparrows and we hope to find some raptors such as Red-tailed Hawks and Northern Harrier. Waterfowl may be arriving in the ponds with cooler weather setting in. We’ll meet in the Unique Area parking lot opposite the CYO Bldg of Mt Loretto.
Call Howie at 718-981-4002 for details.

Saturday, October 24, 10 a.m. to 12 noon
Long Pond Park
Our newest undeveloped park—We will look for evidence of animal life, especially deer, raccoons and other mammals as the winter approaches in the woodlands surrounding Long Pond. We’ll also examine the bird life, geology and evidence of past human use of the area during this unhurried stroll through about one and a half miles of the park. Meet at PS 6, on Page and Academy Avenues about 3 blocks NW of Hylan Blvd.
For more information phone Clay Wollney at 718-869-6327.

Sunday, October 25, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Three and ½ mile walk: From the Greenbelt Recreation Center to Egbertville Ravine, then the Amundsen Trailway to Great Kills Park
Meet Sandra Mechanic at the Recreation Center parking lot, 411 Brielle Avenue, off Rockland Avenue. Wear sturdy shoes, bring lunch and beverages.
For more information, phone Sandra Mechanic at 718-967-1037.

Sunday, October 25, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Owl Prowl at Conference House Park
Welcome back Cliff Hagen who now has NYC Parks Department permission to conduct his owl walks in local Staten Island Parks. Meet in the Conference House Parking lot at the foot of Hylan Blvd. Follow Cliff along the trail where he stops momentarily to produce repeatedly, the call of a Common Screech Owl, a tremulous mournful whinny in high pitch. He then may mimic the Great Horned Owl’s call - four or five repetitions of a deep hoot sound, or the call of the Barred Owl, who is reported to say, “who cooks for you, who cooks for you all-l-l-l-l-l-l-l drifting into silence. Repeated calls have often resulted in a distant owl call in response. That responder may then fly to a branch overhead and continue responding to Cliff’s mimic call. Screech Owls come in two color phases, gray and brown. He once attracted one of each color phase on a Protectors’ walk.
For directions or more information call Cliff at 718-313-8591.


Queens County Bird Club
Saturday, October 24th, mini-field trip, 8:00am
Fort Tilden
Meet at Administration Building
Interesting birds can be found this time of year at Fort Tilden (think LeConte’s Sparrow, Dickcissel). With the right winds, there is excellent hawk watching. Or, just watch the birds forage in the community gardens and fields.
Trip Leader: George Dadone, 917-748-5716


Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, October 24, 2009

Nature Scavenger Hunt
1:00 p.m.
Fun for the whole family! Are you up to the challenge of finding some hidden treasures in…
Location: Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx
Cost: Free

Fall Nature Journaling Series (Part 3)
1:00 p.m.
Explore the last forest in Brooklyn as it undergoes fall foliage changes! We will be…
Location: Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Cost: Free

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Ho, Ho, Ho, Green Giant
11:00 a.m.
Tulip trees are the tallest trees in NYC. Learn about the "Alley Giant,"…
Location: Alley Pond Park, Queens
Cost: Free

Creepy Crawlers Creatures Crafts
11:00 a.m.
Learn truths and myths about the animals which spark our primal fears, then create your own…
Location: Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn
Cost: Free

Forever Wild Hike! Hunter Island Hike
1:00 p.m.
Come learn about the history of Hunter Island with the Urban Park Rangers and enjoy some of…
Location: Pelham Bay Park, Bronx
Cost: Free

Autumn Splendor Walk
1:00 p.m.
Join us as we explore the blazing colors that the fall brings to this park.
Location: Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Cost: Free

Creepy Crawlers Extravaganza: Creepy Crawlers Critters
1:00 p.m.
They creep, they crawl, and some of them hide in holes. They have six legs, three…
Location: Blue Heron Park Preserve, Staten Island
Cost: Free

Creatures of the Night
7:00 p.m.
When the sun goes down, they get up. From little brown myosis, to the big gray Procyon…
Location: Central Park, Manhattan
Cost: Free