Upcoming Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips within NYC's five boroughs for the weekend of May 28th - May 29th, 2011:

Audubon Center in Prospect Park (Brooklyn)
Saturday, May 28, 2011

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 Tour
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, May 29, 2011

Discover Tour
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

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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, May 28, 2011
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

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Brooklyn Bird Club
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Shorebirding at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Trip Leader: Peter Dorosh
Focus: Shorebirds, colonial waders, terns, breeders, late passerines & stragglers
Car pool fee: $ 10.00 (if cars are available); otherwise public transportation by A train
Registrar: Peter Dorosh, Email Prosbird [AT] aol.com or TEXT Message 347-622-3559
Registration period: May 17th - May 26th
Note: High Tide is 6:46 am

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Linnaean Society of New York
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Inwood Hill Park
Leader and Registrar: Lenore Swenson
Registration opens Monday 5/16.
Public transportation.

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Littoral Society
Saturday, May 28, 2011 (4-7pm)
Jamaica Bay Sunset Cruise
Learn about the history, ecology and wildlife of the bay aboard the 100' boat " Golden Sunshine" leaving from pier 2 in Sheepshead Bay. See egrets, herons, peregrine falcon, osprey, oystercatcher, terns, shorebirds and waterfowl.
Cost: $45 includes narrated tour plus wine and cheese, drink, fruit, snacks.
Call (718) 318-9344 to reserve; e-mail: donriepe [AT] gmail.com. With NYC Audubon

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New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, May 28, 2011, 7:30am – 10:30am
StarrTrips in Central Park
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday mornings in Central Park, Saturday, April 2 – Wednesday, June 1 Join Starr Saphir for bird watching in Central Park. On Mondays and Wednesdays, meet at 7:30am sharp at 81st and Central Park West (SE corner). On Tuesdays, meet at 9am sharp at 103rd and Central Park West (parkside). On Saturdays, meet at 7:30am sharp at 103rd and Central Park West (parkside). All Starr Trips are non-smoking. No registration necessary. For more information, call Starr at 917-306-3808. $8 ($4 for full time students)

Saturday, May 28, 2011, 8:00am – 9:30am
Van Cortlandt Bird Walks
Guide: Andrew Baksh or Urban Park Rangers. With the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, and Urban Park Rangers. Meet at Van Cortlandt Nature Center. The history of birding and Van Cortlandt Park are inseparable. Influential birders such as Roger Tory Peterson and Allan D. Cruickshank got their starts on Van Cortlandt’s ecologically diverse grounds. These walks celebrate the tradition set forth by these great ornithologists. Participants will look for various species of migrants and discuss a wide range of avian topics. For more information, please call 718-548-0912. No registration necessary. No limit. Free.

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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods
Saturday, May 28, 2011, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Page Avenue Beach
We’ll begin with a look at the local geology then move to examining the flotsam and jetsam accumulated at the high tide lines to see what nature's debris has to tell us. As the water recedes with the tide we'll move into the inter-tidal zone to find out what sorts of living things survive in this challenging environment. A variety of crabs, snails, clams, worms and small fish are likely to be discovered. It's going to be muddy so dress appropriately. Meet at the parking lot at the bottom of Page Avenue below Hylan Blvd.
For more information phone Clay Wollney at (718) 869-6327.

Sunday, May 29, 2011, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Red Trail Loop
Easy/moderate closed circuit 4-mile hike in the middle of the Greenbelt through Buck's Hollow and Heyerdahl Hill. This loop trail begins and ends at Historic Richmond Town and St. Patrick's Place off Richmond Road. Bring beverage, snack and wear comfortable shoes.
Contact Hillel Lofaso at (718) 751-6629 for more information.

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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, May 28, 2011

Early Birding Walk at Van Cortlandt Park
8:00 a.m.
Spring is back and so are our fine-feathered friends! Let's search for birds on a...
Location: Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
Cost: Free

From the Garden to the Pines
11:00 a.m.
Take a walk around the beautiful Shakespeare Garden to discover what's in bloom. The...
Location: Belvedere Castle (in Central Park), Manhattan
Cost: Free

Spring Bloom Bike Tour
12:00 p.m.
We'll start our botany bike journey a the boat basin of Riverside Park, ride along the...
Location: West 79th Street Boat Basin (in Riverside Park), Manhattan
Cost: Free

Spring Birding
1:00 p.m.
Along with the temperatures, migration season is heating up. Warblers, waterfowl, and...
Location: Oakland Lake, 46th Avenue and Cloverdale Boulevard (in Alley Pond Park), Queens
Cost: Free

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Canoeing the Lagoon
11:00 a.m.
Get ready for an adventure paddling through the sparkling blue waters and green marsh...
Location: Canoe and Kayak Launch (northwest corner of Orchard Beach parking lot) (in Pelham Bay Park), Bronx
Cost: Free

Virgorous Hike: Highbridge
11:00 a.m.
Traverse the hidden trails of Highbridge. Take in fabulous view of Morris Jumel...
Location: W 158th Street and Edgecombe Avenue (in Highbridge Park), Manhattan
Cost: Free

Vigorous Hike: Red Trail Adventure
2:00 p.m.
Take the road less travelled and challenge yourself on the hills of High Rock.
Location: High Rock Ranger Station (in High Rock Park), Staten Island
Cost: Free

Owl Prowl
7:00 p.m.
Take a night hike in the North Woods in search of the Eastern screech owl. Sunset is...
Location: West 100 Street and Central Park West (in Central Park), Manhattan
Cost: Free

Spring Tide Lovers
8:00 p.m.
On moonlit nights, horseshoe crabs return to the shores to mate. Marvel as the...
Location: Plumb Beach Comfort Station, Manhattan
Cost: Free