Upcoming Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips within NYC's five boroughs for the weekend of June 23, 2012 - June 24, 2012:

Audubon Center in Prospect Park (Brooklyn)
Sunday, June 23, 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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Brooklyn Bird Club
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Insectivora of Staten Island
Trip Leader: Steve Nanz
Focus: Insects, especially dragonflies
Car Pool fee: $22.00
Registrar: Heidi Steiner email heidi.steiner [AT] verizon.net or call before 8 PM (718) 369-2116
Registration period: June 12th-June 21st

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Gowanus Dredgers
Saturday, June 23, 2012, 1pm – 5pm
Canoe on the Gowanus Canal
Bring a friend for a self-guided Canoe trip sponsored by the Gowanus Dredgers to raise awareness of Harbor Issues www.gowanuscana​l.org

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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, June 23, 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, June 23, 2012, 8am – 9:30pm
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.

Saturday, June 23, 2012, 11am – 2pm
Horseshoe Crabs and Terrapins at Jamaica Bay
Guide: Don Riepe With Gateway National Recreation Area With Meet at the the Jamaica Bay NWR Visitor Center for a hike around the West Pond to look for mating horseshoe crabs and shorebirds. We'll also look for diamondback terrapins coming ashore to lay their eggs. Bring boots and binoculars. To register, contact Don Riepe at 718-318-9344 or donriepe [AT] gmail.com. Limited to 25. Free

Sunday, June 24, 2012, 10am – 1pm
The Parakeets of Green-Wood Cemetery
Guide: Gabriel Willow With Green-Wood Cemetery Meet at the cemetery entrance at 5th Ave and 25th St., Park Slope, Brooklyn. While it might seem an odd place to go birding, Green-Wood Cemetery is rich in both history and wildlife. It is also the highest point in Brooklyn, affording marvelous views. We will explore its environs in search of spring migrants and its most unique avian residents: the huge flocks of brilliant green monk parakeets that nest there. Native to South America, these charming immigrants are surprisingly hardy and flourish even in our harsh winters. Limited to 15. $30. Click here to register

Sunday, June 24, 2012, 3pm – 6pm
Jamaica Bay Sunset Cruise
Guides: Don Riepe, Mickey Cohen With American Littoral Society Meet at Pier 2 in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. Enjoy a three-hour narrated cruise aboard the 100-foot boat “Golden Sunshine.” Visit backwater marshes near JFK Airport, and learn about the 13,000-acre Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. See nesting peregrine falcons, ospreys, egrets, shorebirds, and waterfowl. Includes refreshments. To register, contact Don Riepe at 718-318-9344 or donriepe [AT] gmail.com. Limited to 140. $45

Sunday, June 24, 2012, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Sunset EcoCruise to the Harbor Heron Islands
Guide: Gabriel Willow With New York Water Taxi Meet at South Street Seaport's Pier 17. We're excited about this summer's ecocruises; we’ve expanded our explorations of the City's island rookeries to three different locations! Depending on which weekend you choose, cruises may visit the fascinating Brother Islands, the large egret and cormorant colonies on Hoffman and Swinburne Islands, or the great expanses of Jamaica Bay. Whichever your destination, you'll experience the wonders of New York's famous harbor at sunset and see some of the three thousand herons, egrets, and ibis nesting on these urban island treasures. To learn about specific cruise dates and register, visit New York Water Taxi online or by phone at 212-742-1969. Limited to 90. Pricing varies by destination.

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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
Saturday, June 23, 2012, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Crooke’s Point in Great Kills Park
Visit the Point and all its summer glory. Witness the bright greens of summer growth and hear the songs of breeding birds. See too the obvious scars of “restoration.” Speak with Ellen Pratt as she tours Crooke’s Point and rediscover why Crooke’s Point, a sandy peninsula, is exactly the wrong place for “restoration.” Meet in the parking lot closest to Crooke’s Point.
For more information call Ellen Pratt at (718) 948-2662.

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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, June 23, 2012

Birding
8:00 a.m.
New York City is home to an amazing abundance of wildlife. From falcons and salamanders, to...
Location: Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
Free!

Van Cortlandt Park-Bird Walks
8:00 a.m.
Bird Walks focus on wildlife happenings in the park and are led by NYC Audobon experts and...
Location: Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
Free!

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Birding
9:00 a.m.
New York City is home to an amazing abundance of wildlife. From falcons and salamanders, to...
Location: Conference House Park Visitors Center (in Conference House Park), Staten Island
Free!

Hudson River Park Wild!
9:00 a.m.
Hudson River Park is bringing some attention to its vital role in creating one of the...
Location: Hudson River Park's Pier 40
Free!

Birding by Canoe (Advanced)
10:00 a.m.
Very few experiences compare with being on the open water in New York City. The rhythm...
Location: Marine Park, Brooklyn
Free!