Upcoming Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips within NYC's five boroughs for the weekend of February 23, 2013 - February 24, 2013:

Audubon Center in Prospect Park (Brooklyn)
Saturday, February 23, 9 a.m.
Bird Watching Tour through Prospect Park with “The Urban Birder”
Free
New York City Audubon and the Prospect Park Audubon Center present an exciting opportunity for bird-watchers and nature lovers of all skill levels. Join David Lindo (better known as “The Urban Birder”) for a two-hour walk to some of the best bird watching spots in Prospect Park.

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Brooklyn Bird Club
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Prospect "Friends" Walk
Meet at the Eastern Parkway BBG entrance 10 am.
Note: Brooklyn Botanic Garden is free during winter weekends; this walk should continue after lunch at the café if optional, to Prospect Park.

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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, February 23, 2013
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 23, 2013, 8am – 9:30pm
Van Cortlandt Bird Walks
Guide: Andrew Baksh or Urban Park Rangers (first Saturday of the month) With the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy and NYC Department of Parks & Recreation
Meet at Van Cortlandt Nature Center, Influential birders such as Roger Tory Peterson and Allan D. Cruickshank learned their craft on Van Cortlandt Park's ecologically diverse grounds, and these walks celebrate the tradition set by them. Participants will look for resident and migrant species and discuss a wide range of avian topics.
For more information, please call 718-548-0912. No registration necessary. No limit. Free

Sunday, February 24, 2013, 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
Saturday, February 23, 12 noon to 2:00 p.m.
Great Kills Park
Sandy altered the topography of Great Kills park. Rising tides breached the dunes and crossed the spit of land connecting Crooke’s Point with the mainland. We will walk the interpretive trails through the grasslands to look for evidence of winter wildlife and birds as we survey the changing environment of the area. Meet in the first beach-side parking lot approximately ¼ mile within the park.
For more information call Clay Wollney at 718-869-6327.

*Sunday February 24, 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon
Wild Weed Walk
Weeds and garden herbs look different in winter mode. Join herbalist Gert Coleman as she share tips to identifying wintering plants by investigating their seed pods, bark, and other characteristics. Meet in the Conference House public parking lot at the end of Hylan Boulevard.
For more information call Gert Coleman at 718-356-9235.

Walks with an asterisk (*):
As of the publication date, most Staten Island parks were still closed because of storm damage. If you see an asterisk next to a date, you should contact the walk leader to confirm if the walks are on.

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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Birding: Eagles at Dyckman Fields (in Inwood Hill Park), Manhattan
8:00 a.m.
We offer birding programs throughout the year and our Exploration series focuses on unique wildlife viewing opportunities during particular seasons.
Free!

Woodland Discovery Kit in Central Park at Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Visit The Wild Garden: Discovering Central Park Woodlands exhibit and start exploring the North Woods on your own by borrowing a North Woods Discovery Kit stocked with binoculars, a hand lens, and…
Free!

Bird Walks at The New York Botanical Garden at Watson Building, Room 302 (in Bronx Park), Bronx
11:00 a.m.
The diverse habitats of the Botanical Garden offer visitors a chance to see dozens of species of birds throughout the year. Bring your binoculars and walk the Garden grounds with an expert.

Birding: Winter Birds at Fort Greene Park Visitor Center (in Fort Greene Park), Brooklyn
1:00 p.m.
We offer birding programs throughout the year and our Exploration series focuses on unique wildlife viewing opportunities during particular seasons.
Free!

Sunday, February 24, 2013
Woodland Discovery Kit in Central Park at Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Visit The Wild Garden: Discovering Central Park Woodlands exhibit and start exploring the North Woods on your own by borrowing a North Woods Discovery Kit stocked with binoculars, a hand lens, and…
Free!