Upcoming Trips

Below is a list of upcoming local trips for the weekend of November 14th - 15th, 2009:

New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, November 14, 11am - 12:30pm
Winter Wildlife Preparation at Alley Pond Park
With City of New York, Department of Parks and Recreation, Urban Rangers
Guide: Urban Park Rangers
Meet at the Alley Pond Park Adventure Center off of Winchester Blvd (not to be confused with the Alley Pond Environmental Center on Northern Blvd). As the weather gets colder, some animals go into hibernation while others tough it out. Learn about the amazing adaptations of wildlife. Limited to 20. Free


Protectors of Pine Oak Woods
Saturday, November 14, 12 noon to 2 p.m.
Conference House Beach
Life in the Intertidal Zone—Past and present blend in the Conference House Park where history stretches back thousands of years with the seasonal occupation of the Lenape and hundreds of years with the habitation of the Dutch and English. In addition to the local history we’ll observe the geology of the area and look for what the debris at the high tide line has to reveal. As the tide goes out we’ll move into the intertidal zone to find out what sorts of living things survive in this challenging environment. It’s going to be muddy so dress appropriately. Meet at the parking lot at the end of Hylan Blvd. on the left.
For more information phone Clay Wollney at 718-869-6327.

Saturday, November 14, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve
Pine Barren Trees and Wildlife—Find out why Protectors urged the preservation of this parkland and how we got our name in 1975. It has rare Southern pine and oak trees, nothing like our Greenbelt forest. With a park permit, Sandra will lead us into the restricted area where few have trod. We will check in the sand, snow or mud for deer prints throughout the park. We’ll find the diseased clones of the American Chestnut that has produced flowers and fruit the past few years and the healthy 7 to 8 inch diameter chestnut tree, now 20+ feet tall and 9 to 10 inches in diameter and still disease free. The normal trunk-splitting at the base is not indicative of chestnut blight unless a fungus growth is observed. Meet at the old park office building at the end of Carlin Avenue, off Sharrotts Road in Rossville. Wear waterproof shoes.
Call Sandra Mechanic at 718-967-1037, for more information.

Saturday, November 14, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Graniteville Quarry Tour
A Geology tour of Graniteville Quarry with renowned SI geologist, Dr. Alan Benimoff—Learn from Dr. Benimoff about Staten Island’s geologic history and why this site where trap rock was mined many years ago is world famous among geologists and students of geology. It has a very special rare rock called Trondhjemite, some 200 million years old, that lies in the midst of a huge deposit of Palisades Diabase, the same kind of rock that makes up the New Jersey Palisades. It is attached underground to the N.J. Palisades as well as to the rock quarry just before the Bayonne Bridge in Elm Park. At the Graniteville Quarry, the top surface of the underlying Palisades Diabase rock also shows visual evidence of glacial polishing and scouring from the continental glacier that melted on S.I. 22,000 years ago. Protectors, along with the late Assemblywoman Elizabeth Connelly, was instrumental in having this geologic treasure preserved as a small community park. We meet by the park on Forest Ave. near Van Name Ave. Find parking on Van Name Ave. or Simonson Ave.
For more information, call Alan at 718-477-1974.

Sunday, November 15, 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Best of the Blue Trail
Join Hillel Lofaso on a walk of the highlights of the Blue Trail in the autumn woods of the Greenbelt. We meet at the entrance to High Rock Park at the top of Nevada Avenue. Explore swamps, ponds, glacier sculpted terrain and a million dollar view from the overlook. Bring lunch to eat while we enjoy the view and share our impressions about Staten Island’s natural areas and environment. Beverage, snacks and sturdy shoes recommended. This is a moderately long, level walk, suitable for youngsters.
Call Hillel at (718) 751-6629 for more details.

Sunday, November 15, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Page Avenue Woods
Explore the woodlands with Clay, above the beach at the bottom of Page Avenue off Hylan Blvd. Besides the wildlife we’ll be looking for old foundations and evidence of human occupation in the past few centuries. Dress sturdily, with water-proof footwear and warm clothes.
For more information phone Clay Wollney at 718-869-6327.


Queens County Bird Club
Sunday, November 15th, 2009
Floyd Bennett Field
Leader: Arie Gilbert
Meet: 7:00am Lower Alley or 8:00am Floyd Bennett Ranger Station
Owls, Raptors, Sparrows and a mix of other fall migrants are found on this fall favorite.


Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, November 14, 2009

Early Birding
8:00 a.m.
Join us for bird watching.
Location: Marine Park, Brooklyn
Cost: Free

Riverside Raptor Romp
10:00 a.m.
Now a popular nesting site for red-tailed hawks, kestrels, and the odd falcon, this narrow…
Location: Riverside Park South, Manhattan
Cost: Free

The Giving Tree
11:00 a.m.
You will be surprised by how many different species of trees are located within Fort Greene…
Location: Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn
Cost: Free

Winter Wildlife Preparation
11:00 a.m.
As the weather gets colder, some animals go into hiberation while others tough it…
Location: Alley Pond Park, Queens
Cost: Free

Nature Hike
12:00 p.m.
Participate in a tranquil hike through Manhattan's last old growth forest. Open to…
Location: Inwood Hill Park, Manhattan
Cost: Free

Fall Colors II
1:00 p.m.
In the second of our autumn leaf walks, we'll hike the newly restored Seton Falls Park and…
Location: Seton Falls Park, Bronx
Cost: Free

The Deciduous Conifer: Nature's Oxymoron
1:00 p.m.
Come explore the Lullwater Trail at Prospect Park and learn the difference between…
Location: Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Cost: Free

Astronomy Club
6:00 p.m.
If you have a May birthday, now is the time to check out your constellation in the sky.…
Location: Blue Heron Park Preserve, Staten Island
Cost: Free

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Fall Bird Migration Walk
9:00 a.m.
Thrushes, warblers, sparrows, and herons are just a few of the species we may see during…
Location: Central Park, Manhattan
Cost: Free

Fall Foliage
11:00 a.m.
"Hue" should definitely experience the color palette of this beautiful wooded park.
Location: Highland Park, Queens
Cost: Free

Mysterious Mushrooms and Treacherous Toadstools
11:00 a.m.
We'll trek in search of witches' butter, scaly tooth, jack-o'-lanterns, turkey tails,…
Location: Bloomingdale Park, Staten Island
Cost: Free

Astronomy
6:00 p.m.
Partner up with the Ubrban Park Rangers and gaze at the heavens through our high-powered…
Location: Pelham Bay Park, Bronx
Cost: Free