Upcoming Trips

Below is a list of upcoming, local trips for the weekend of June 5th - 6th, 2010:

Audubon Center in Prospect Park (Brooklyn)
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Introduction to Birdwatching
Every Saturday, 12 - 1:30 p.m.
Explore the Park's natural areas and learn how to look for amazing birds.

Discover Tours
Every Saturday and Sunday, 3 p.m.
Discover the Prospect Park you never knew! Meet birds and other wildlife on this walk, guided by a naturalist.

Sunday, June 6, 2010
Discover Tours
Every Saturday and Sunday, 3 p.m.
Discover the Prospect Park you never knew! Meet birds and other wildlife on this walk, guided by a naturalist.

Morning Bird Walk: Local Nesters
Sunday, June 6, 8 a.m.
Meet the amazing birds who use the Park as a migratory layover on this expert-guided walk. Start your Sunday morning surrounded by nature!


New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Debbie Becker leads a free bird walk at the Garden every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. beginning at the Reflecting Pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center.


New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, June 5, 10:30am -12:30pm
Eco-Tour of Bronx River By Rowboat
Chrissy Word with Rocking the Boat
With Gateway National Recreation Area
Meet at the Dock at Hunts Point Riverside Park located at the intersection of Lafayette Avenue and Edgewater Road in the Bronx.
Explore the Bronx River aboard a hand-built wooden boat led by experienced rowers.The Bronx River is the only true river within New York City’s borders and harbors an abundance of wildlife including birds such as herons and egrets, osprey, and belted kingfishers. Tours will visit current and future restoration sites and participants will learn about the Bronx River’s unique eco-systems and discuss the social and cultural histories of the area. Participants will be given time to view wildlife with binoculars and take photos and field notes.
Limited to 20.
$35 for adults, $25 for ages 18 and under. ($31.50 for adult members and $22.50 for members 18 and under. Discount applies to NYC Audubon members at the Senior/Student level and up)

Sunset Eco-Cruises To Harbor Heron Islands
Sundays, June 6 through August 29
South Street Sea Port, Pier 17, 7–8:30pm
Guide: Gabriel Willow
With New York Water Taxi
Meet at South Street Seaport's pier 17.
Experience the wonders of New York's famous harbor at sunset and see some of the three thousand herons nesting on islands around the harbor. To register, contact New York Water Taxi at 212-742-1969 or www.nywatertaxi.com.
Limited to 100.
$35 for adults, $25 for children under 12


Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
Sunday, June 6, 10 a.m. to 12 noon
Long Pond Park
We will look for evidence of the plants and animals, especially reptiles and amphibians, as we survey the woodlands surrounding Long Pond. We’ll also examine the geology and observe 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 Avenue and Academy Avenue about 3 blocks NW of Hylan Blvd.
For more information phone Clay Wollney at (718) 869-6327.

Sunday, June 6, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Old Mill Road Walk
Park at the end of Old Mill Road, near the old St Andrews Church in Richmondtown. Do not park in the church’s main parking lot. We’ll stroll along Old Mill Road, a newly designed multi-use trail, next to Fresh Kills, below the hills of Latourette Golf Course, and turn right at the end toward Richmond Hill Road. We’ll see the flow of the famous Hessian Springs as it crosses the road. We may return by the Blue Trail with higher views to appreciate. This area hasn’t been accessible for many years and is now open. We are surrounded by beautiful, lush woodlands where the very tall, state rare, Gamma Grass and American Strawberry Bush Grow.
Registration is required.
Contact Sandra Mechanic at (718) 967-1037 for more information.


Staten Island Museum
Saturday, June 5, 8:30-10:00am
Clay Pits Pond State Park Preserve
Meet at the Interpretative Center, 2351 Veteran’s Road West
(Weekend Ecology Walks are offered by the Nature Section. FREE monthly walks!)
Wear comfortable shoes, and bring binoculars if possible.
To register and confirm meeting places call Seth Wollney at (718) 483-7105.

June 6, 11:00am-1:00pm
S.I. Dragonfly Atlas, High Rock Park
This walk will search for some habitat specific species that inhabit Staten Island’s largest park. Meet in the High Rock parking lot at the end of Nevada Ave.


Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, June 5, 2010

Early Morning Birding
8:00 a.m.
A weekly Ranger-led birding walk of the Salt Marsh Nature Trail.
Location: Salt Marsh Nature Center (in Marine Park), Brooklyn
Cost: Free

Van Cortlandt Bird Club: Flap Versus Glide
9:00 a.m.
Catch the flight patterns of flappers and gliders figure out why birds do one or the other.…
Location: Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
Cost: Free

Fresh Kills Tours
10:00 a.m.
Witness the dramatic transformation, as well as the turkey vultures, red-tailed hawks, and…
Location: Freshkills Park/William T. Davis Wildlife Refuge, Staten Island
Cost: Free

Common Shorebirds
11:00 a.m.
This intrductory walk will highlight the summer shorebirds of Marine Park.
Location: Salt Marsh Nature Center (in Marine Park), Brooklyn
Cost: Free

Fresh Kills Tours
1:00 p.m.
Witness the dramatic transformation, as well as the turkey vultures, red-tailed hawks, and…
Location: Freshkills Park/William T. Davis Wildlife Refuge, Staten Island
Cost: Free

Family Camping
6:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m.
Enjoy a night under the stars. The evening will be filled with fun group activities…
Location: Central Park, Manhattan
Cost: Free

Family Camping
6:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m.
Enjoy the time-honored tradition of camping in the woods. There will be a barbecue…
Location: Alley Pond Park Adventure Center (in Alley Pond Park), Queens
Cost: Free

Family Camping
7:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m.
Enjoy a fun evening of activities, followed by a night under the stars. Please bring…
Location: Blue Heron Nature Center (in Blue Heron Park Preserve), Staten Island
Cost: Free

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Basic Canoeing
11:00 a.m.
This quiet lake is a perfect place to learn the basics of canoeing. Bring water, sun…
Location: Van Cortlandt Golf House & Lower Putnam Trail (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
Cost: Free

D-Day White Island Landing
11:00 a.m.
Canoe down Gerritsen Creek to take a look at the current restoration project and learn…
Location: Burnett Street and Avenue U (in Marine Park), Brooklyn
Cost: Free

Shore Birds
11:00 a.m.
Gulls and geese and oystercatchers, oh my! From the common to unusual, the beach…
Location: Orchard Beach Nature Center (in Pelham Bay Park), Bronx
Cost: Free

Orienteering
11:00 a.m.
Learn the basics of map reading, compass skills and exploration. After this…
Location: Fort Totten Visitor's Center (in Fort Totten Park), Queens
Cost: Free

Park to Park: Moses Mountain
11:00 a.m.
Test your knowledge with this A-Z nature hike to see if you can find something to cover…
Location: High Rock Ranger Station (in High Rock Park), Staten Island
Cost: Free

Buggin' Out
1:00 p.m.
Calling all nature detectives as we go in search of and learn all about the wonderful…
Location: Crotona Nature Center (in Crotona Park), Bronx
Cost: Free

The Crabs Are Coming!
3:30 p.m.
Horseshoe crabs have been spawning along the Altantic coast since the time of the…
Location: Broad Channel American Ball Fields, Queens
Cost: Free

Evening Night Hike
8:00 p.m.
Search for owls, skunks, raccoons, bats, and other notcurnal creatures that inhabit the park.
Location: Inwood Hill Nature Center (in Inwood Hill Park), Manhattan
Cost: Free