Upcoming trips

Below is a list of upcoming local trips for the weekend of January 9th -10th, 2010:

Protectors of Pine Oak Woods
Saturday, January 9, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Great Kills Park
Meet naturalist and educator, Howie Fischer, at the parking lot near Hylan Boulevard with your binoculars and warm, winter wear for the cold, winter conditions. We will look for waterfowl in and around the park as well as the usual flock of wintering Horned Larks that prefers the grassy areas near the parking lot. If all goes well we may find a Longspur or Snow Bunting in the mix. Hopefully, the Nature Center staff will have filled their birdfeeders so an assortment of sparrows and finches may be on order. Raptors, always present in the park, are also a possibility.
Call Howie at 718-981-4002 for more information.

Saturday January 9, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Von Briesen Park: Tree Identification Walk and Winter Scavenger Hunt
Join Sandra Mechanic, Naturalist and Photographer for a winter scavenger hunt. If you want to relieve cabin fever, come on out and find acorns, leaves, twig buds, animal burrows, holes in trees, dried flowers, rose hips, oak and maple leaves, tree fruits and more. We will look at the Northern Catalpa and American Basswood and see why the leaves are similar. Bring a brown paper lunch bag, pencil, note paper. Meet in parking lot of Von Briesen Park on Bay Street. The park is located before entering Fort Wadsworth.
For more information contact Sandra at 718-967-1037.


Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, January 9, 2010

Early Morning Birding
8:00 a.m.
Learn everything you need to know about birds with the Rangers.
Location: Marine Park, Manhattan
Cost: Free

Early Birding
8:00 a.m.
On our morning bird walk through Inwood Hill Park we'll be looking for waterfowl,…
Location: Inwood Hill Park, Manhattan
Cost: Free

Winter Wilderness Survival
11:00 a.m.
Do you know how to build a fire without matches? Do you know how to build a…
Location: Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn
Cost: Free

Winter Wonderland
11:00 a.m.
Discover all that Fort Totten Park has to offer as we guide you through this historical and…
Location: Fort Totten Park, Queens
Cost: Free

Forever Evergreen
1:00 p.m.
They're more than holiday decorations. Learn to identifiy the many types of pine,…
Location: Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Cost: Free

Denizens of the Dark
5:00 p.m.
Join us for an after-hours hike as we search for bats, raccoons, owls and…
Location: Alley Pond Park, Queens
Cost: Free

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Early Birding
8:30 a.m.
The early bird gets the worm! Be sure to set your alarm clock and join us for this…
Location: Forest Park, Queens
Cost: Free

Making Tracks
1:00 p.m.
Learn how to identify animal tracks found in and around woodland areas. You will be…
Location: Fort Totten Park, Queens
Cost: Free

Winter Tree ID
2:00 p.m.
Test your identification skills in a hike through the North Woods and study trees in their…
Location: Central Park, Manhattan
Cost: Free

Making Tracks
2:00 p.m.
Learn how to identify animal tracks found in and around woodland areas, then make your own…
Location: Blue Heron Park Preserve, Staten Island
Cost: Free

Winter Tree ID
2:00 p.m.
How do you identify a tree when there are no leaves flowers, or fruit? Come with us and…
Location: Clove Lakes Park, Staten Island
Cost: Free

Seal-shore Safari
2:30 p.m.
Seals hang out by the beach between December and March and you'll get to see them during…
Location: Pelham Bay Park, Bronx
Cost: Free

Astronomy Club
6:00 p.m.
Gaze at the heavens through our high powered telescope, as we identify constellations,…
Location: Blue Heron Park Preserve, Staten Island
Cost: Free