Upcoming Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips within NYC's five boroughs for the weekend of May 11, 2013 - May 12, 2013:

Brooklyn Bird Club
Saturday May 11, 2013
"The Birdathon", International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD)
A global event celebrating the beauty of birds and their habitats. This event encourages fundraising for conservation causes. For this year, a cause will be discussed and adopted by the club or independent Birdathon members, posted on the Prospect Sightings blog.
Meet 6:30 am at Grand Army Plaza Stranahan Statue for walk by Prospect Park Birdathon leader Paul Keim 718 -875-1151
If you are interested in forming a team with other members or friends, or need more information, please contact the Trips Organizer/BBC Birdathon coordinator Bobbi Manian at roberta.manian@yahoo.com.
This year's theme is "LIFE CYCLES OF MIGRATORY BIRDS: Conservation Across the Americas"
See www.birdday.org about the Birdathon, IMBD

Sunday May 12, 2013
Photographing songbirds and more in Prospect Park
Lead photographer: Rusty Harold
Meet at the Stranahan Statue at 7:00 AM.
Note: Open to all skill levels of photographers; all cameras types welcome.

Sunday, May 12, 2013
Green-Wood Cemetery
Leader: Dennis Hrehowsik
Meet 7:45 am at the main gate 25th Street and 5th Ave.
Nearest train "R" line to 25th St. www.hopstop.com
Site profile: http://www.green-wood.com

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Gowanus Dredgers
Saturday, May 11, 2013, 1pm – 5pm
Canoe Gowanus Canal
Where: 164 2nd Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231
Bring a friend for a self-guided Canoe trip sponsored by the Gowanus Dredgers to raise awareness of Harbor Issues
http://www.gowanuscana​l.org

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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, May 11, 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, May 11, 2013, 6:00am – 5:30pm
Van Cortlandt Park Birdathon
Rain Date: Saturday, May 18 With the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy and NYC Department of Parks & Recreation Meet at Van Cortlandt Park for a great day of birding and support the park at the same time, whether you’re a birding beginner or a pro! Come any time between 6am and 7pm to participate in Van Cortlandt Park’s first bird-a-thon. Count the number of bird species you spot and get your supporters to chip in for each species you find! Experts will be on hand to help with identification. For more information and to learn about pledge collection, visit www.vcpark.org or call 718-430-1890. (The event is not up on their website yet, but hopefully will be soon.)
Bring binoculars. No limit. Free

Saturday, May 11, 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

Saturday, May 11, 2013, 9am – 3pm
Beginning Birding Field Trip: Jamaica Bay
Classes: Thursdays, May 9 and 16, 6:30-8:30pm Trips: Saturday, May 11, 9am-3pm (Jamaica Bay) and Saturday, May 18, 8-11am (Central Park) Instructor: Tod Winston Learn to identify the spectacular variety of birds that migrate northwards through New York City from Central and South America. Includes two classes and two trips—one to Central Park to see warblers, tanagers, and vireos, and one to Jamaica Bay to see herons, egrets, and shorebirds.
Limited to 13. $85 for package of 2 trips and 2 classes.
Click here to register

Sunday, May 12, 2013, 9:30am – 11:30am
Birding at Wave Hill
Guide: Gabriel Willow With Wave Hill Meet at the Perkins Visitor Center and search for spring migrants in the beautiful gardens and woodlands of Wave Hill. Advanced registration is recommended, either online, at the Perkins Visitor Center, or by calling 718-549-3200 x305. (Walks run rain or shine; in case of severe weather call the number above at x245 for updates.) Ages 10 and up welcome with an adult.
Walks are free; please visit www.wavehill.org for Wave Hill admission pricing. NYC Audubon members enjoy two-for-one admission

Sunday, May 12, 2013, 10am – 11am
Birding for Families
Guides: NYC Audubon Offered by the Central Park Conservancy Meet at the Dana Discovery Center (inside the Park at 110th Street between Lenox and Fifth Avenues). Bring the kids and visit one of New York City’s richest bird habitats. Learn as a family how to spot and identify our feathered neighbors in their natural surroundings. Binoculars can be borrowed from the Visitor Center. For weather cancellation information, call 212-860-1370. Limited to 20. Age 5 and up. Free.
Click here to learn more and register

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North Shore Audubon Society
Saturday, May 11, 2013, 6:30am
Big Day
Alley Pond Parking Lot, 76th Ave.
After lunch, continues at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
NSAS leader: Ian Resnick 917-626-9562

Walks are for beginners and experienced birders alike.
Weather permitting, walks start at 9:30 a.m. unless indicated otherwise.
If in doubt, call the trip leader.
Please note: all phone numbers are code 516 unless otherwise shown.
In most cases, your contacts are the trip leaders.
For directions, click sitefinder view.
We encourage carpooling where feasible.

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NYC Wildflower Week
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Botanical Walks, Brooklyn: Sunrise Listening Tour

Garden Tours, Bronx: Rediscovering NY's Native Plant Communities Workshop and Native Plant Share

Sunday, May 12, 2013
Garden Tours, Manhattan: Native Plant Habitat at LCBH Community Garden

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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
Saturday, May 11, 9:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Spring Ten-Mile Walk of the SI Greenbelt
We’ll walk at a comfortable pace to see wonderful vistas, beautiful, spring woodlands. Meet at the beginning of the blue line trail at the end of Staten Island Boulevard (at the end of the road right above Petrides School which intersects Ocean Terrace). Bring lunch, a beverage and sturdy walking shoes.
For more details call Dominick Durso at (718) 967-0379 or Chuck Perry at (718) 667-1393.

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Queens County Bird Club
Saturday, May 11, 2013, Allday Event
Queens County Big Day
Big Day is the spring analogue of the CBC. We try to amass the biggest species list for every corner of Queens County. Compilation dinner to follow.

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Staten Island Museum
Saturday, May 11, All Day/Round-up at 8:00pm
Big Day Bird Count
Free
Grab your binoculars and bird watch! Teams of 2-4 bird watchers are invited to visit their favorite Island birding locations to count as many species as they can. Join other birders at the round-up to hear what they found.
For more information contact Seth Wollney at 718.483.7105.

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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Birdathon at Van Cortlandt Golf House (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
6:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Drop in any time this day to have fun birding or learning to bird and help out the park at the same time.

Bird Walks at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
8:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
Bird Walks focus on wildlife happenings in the park and are led by NYC Audubon experts or the Urban Park Rangers.
Free!

Birding at Bloomingdale Park Playground (in Bloomingdale Park), Staten Island
9:00 a.m.
We offer birding programs throughout the year and for all skill levels.
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.

On A Wing: International Migratory Bird Day at Belvedere Castle (in Central Park), Manhattan
12:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m.
Did you know that Central Park is part of the Atlantic Flyway and a vital resting stop for migratory birds each year? Learn how the Conservancy manages the Park as a habitat for these birds.
Free!

Sunday, May 12, 2013
Birding for Families at Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Experience Central Park as a precious bird habitat and learn how to spot our feathered neighbors on a walk with NYC Audubon.
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!

Birding: Piping Plover at Beach 59th Street (in Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk), Queens
10:00 a.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers on a birding trip to spot and learn about the Piping Plover
Free!