Upcoming Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips within NYC's five boroughs for the weekend of February 18, 2012 - February 19, 2012:

Audubon Center in Prospect Park (Brooklyn)
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Introduction to Birdwatching
Every Saturday, 12 – 1:30 p.m.
Explore the Park's natural areas and learn how to look for amazing birds.

Sunday, February 19, 2012
Discover Tour
Every 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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Linnaean Society of New York
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Floyd Bennett Field and Dead Horse Bay
Leader: Rob Jett aka "The City Birder"
Registrar: Kathleen Howley (kathleenhowley [AT] gmail.com)
Registration opens Monday 2/6. Ride: $15.

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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, February 18, 2012
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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New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, February 25, 2012, 8:00am – 9:30am
Van Cortlandt Bird Walk
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 residents and migrants and discuss a wide range of avian topics. For more information, please call 718-548-0912. No registration necessary. No limit. Free.

Sunday, February 19, 11am – 1pm and 2pm – 4pm
Winter Seals and Waterbirds Eco-Cruise
Meet at South Street Seaport’s Pier 17 and come aboard NY Water Taxi’s eco-friendly vessel for a winter adventure in New York Harbor! Look for harbor seals on the rocky shores of Governor’s Island and the more remote Hoffman and Swinburne Islands. Learn about the surprisingly diverse winter birds of New York City, including ducks, geese, loons, and sandpipers, many of which migrate south from the Arctic. See the Statue of Liberty and pass under the Verrazano Bridge. Dress warmly and bring your binoculars. Limited to 60. To register, contact New York Water Taxi at 212-742-1969 or visit their website. $35 for adults; $25 for children 3-12 (no member discount)

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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
Saturday, February 18, 2012, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Forest Restoration Workshop on the Red Dot Trail at High Rock
Meet in the Nevada Avenue parking lot at High Rock Park. We will follow the Red Dot Trail that loops behind the administration buildings down to the extension of Altamont Street where we will remove invasive plants and cut alien vines that strangle young trees. If you don’t have your own, Protectors will supply tools, gloves and refreshments. After a two hour work session (our 188th consecutive monthly workshop) we will take a short walk over nearby trails.
For more information call Don Recklies at 718-768-9036 or Chuck Perry at 718-667-1393.

Sunday, February 19, 2012, 12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Willowbrook Park: Gateway to the Greenbelt
We'll take an easy walk on the white trail to Rockland Avenue and the nature center. Learn why this is a wet woods! Please wear waterproof shoes. Meet at the parking lot by the archery range, accessed by car via Eton Place off Richmond Avenue. Look for the sign for the carousel.
For more information, contact Hillel Lofaso at (781) 751-6629.

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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, February 18, 2012

Bird Walks
8:00 a.m.
Focus on wildlife happenings in the park with NYC Audubon experts and the Urban Park...
Location: Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
Free!

Wave Hill Birding Along The Hudson River: Lenoir Preserve
9:30 a.m.
The Hudson River valley hosts an impressive diversity of bird species, even during the...
Location: Wave Hill, Bronx

Compost and Healthy Soils Workshop
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Part I: Crazy for Composting with Jodie Colón, NYC Compost Project in the Bronx...
Location: New York Botanical Garden (in Bronx Park), Bronx
Free!

Caribbean Garden at The New York Botanical Garden
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Discover the Haupt Conservatory’s permanent collection, including orange-yellow...
Location: New York Botanical Garden (in Bronx Park), Bronx

Wilderness Survival
11:00 a.m.
What would you do if you found yourself lost in the woods? Do you know how to build your...
Location: Bloomingdale Park Playground (in Bloomingdale Park), Staten Island
Free!

Nature Photography: Winter Landscapes
1:00 p.m.
It has been said that art takes nature as its model. The beauty of nature has inspired many...
Location: Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
Free!

Animal Tracks Exploration
1:00 p.m.
New York City is home to an amazing abundance of wildlife. From falcons and salamanders, to...
Location: Salt Marsh Nature Center (in Marine Park), Brooklyn
Free!

Night Hike (Light)
5:00 p.m.
Hiking is the ultimate way to enjoy the outdoors and reduce stress. Regardless of the...
Location: Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens
Free!

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Caribbean Garden at The New York Botanical Garden
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Discover the Haupt Conservatory’s permanent collection, including orange-yellow...
Location: New York Botanical Garden (in Bronx Park), Bronx

Nature Exploration (Moderate)
11:00 a.m.
Hiking is the ultimate way to enjoy the outdoors and reduce stress. Regardless of the...
Location: High Rock Ranger Station (in High Rock Park), Staten Island
Free!

Birding: Owls
1:00 p.m.
New York City is home to an amazing abundance of wildlife. From falcons and salamanders, to...
Location: Alley Pond Park Adventure Center (in Alley Pond Park), Queens
Free!

Garden and Conservatory Walk at Wave Hill
2:00 p.m.
Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the...
Location: Perkins Visitors Center (in Wave Hill), Bronx