Upcoming Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for the weekend of Saturday, February 21, 2015 to Sunday, February 22, 2015:

Audubon Center in Prospect Park
Saturday, February 21, 2015, 12 PM – 1 PM
Introduction to Birdwatching
Look! Up in the sky, it’s a bird! But what kind of bird is it? Join the Prospect Park Alliance to learn about the magnificent array of birds that call Prospect Park home. Led by the Brooklyn Bird Club.

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Brooklyn Bird Club
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Sunset Park Neighborhood Birding Tour
Leader: Peter Dorosh (347-622-3559 text only)
Focus: winter passerines, ducks, waterfowl, gulls
Itinerary: This long winter walk will pass through the cemetery, then Sunset Park after the cemetery exit at 4th Ave, before heading northwest to the coast to the new Bush Terminal Pier Park. An option if continuing will be the former Army terminal Pier 4 eight blocks west along 1st Avenue. At least 3.5 miles walking. Nearest train afterwards will be the R line at either 45th or 53th or 59th St stops.
Meet: No registration necessary. Meet 8 am at the Greenwood Cemetery's east entrance, Prospect Park West Avenue and 20th Street. Nearest subway: F train to 15th St/Prospect Park, walk 3 blocks west on Prospect Park West Avenue to GWC meeting site.

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Littoral Society
Saturday, February 21, 2015, 09:00am
Winter Water Fowl and Seal Walk
Bring your binoculars and join us on a trek to coastal estuaries and ponds for a look at the seals and water fowl that over winter at Sandy Hook. Afterwards return to our headquarters and warm up with snacks and toasty beverages.
Call to reserve.
Where: Building 18, Sandy Hook, NJ
Time: 9:00am
Cost: $5

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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, February 21, 2014
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 21, 9am – Sun, February 22, 7pm
Winter Waterfowl Weekend at Montauk
Guide: Gabriel Willow The gatherings of sea ducks around Montauk Point are the largest winter concentrations in New York State; the Christmas bird count on Montauk Point consistently tallies from 125 to 135 species, one of the best totals in the Northeast. Species that come to feed on the Point’s rich kelp and mussel beds include common and red-throated loon, common eider, all three scoter species, bufflehead, common goldeneye, great cormorant, and red-breasted merganser. Harlequin duck and king eider also occur here regularly during the winter.
Accommodations at Daunt's Albatross in Montauk. Transport by passenger van included. Limited to 12. $300 ($25 single supplement)
Click here to register

Sunday, February 22, 2015, 12pm – 2pm
Winter EcoCruise
Guide: NYC Audubon Guide 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! . Limited to 90. To register, contact New York Water Taxi at 212-742-1969 or www.nywatertaxi.com. $35 for adults; $25 for children under 12; $105 for family pack for 2 adults and 2 children

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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
Saturday, February 21, 2015, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Forest Restoration Workshop on the Blue and Red Trails
Meet in the Nature Center parking lot at Rockland Avenue and Brielle (additional parking at the Recreation Center nearby). We will remove invasive shrubs and vines from the triangle between the Blue and Red Trails close to the Department of Parks restoration project at Rockland Avenue. Protectors will supply tools, gloves and refreshments. After a two-hour work session (our 222nd 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 22, 2015, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Winter Beach Walk (Page Avenue to Lemon Creek)
Beachcomb the winter shoreline to discover what the tides have brought in and take a look at the characteristics of the shoreline in the harsher winter conditions. With any luck we may also see signs of life in the form of seals, ducks and other winter waterfowl. Participants will gather at the beach along the southern end of Page Avenue where it meets Ottavio Promenade.
For more information call Clay Wollney at 718-869-6327.

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Queens County Bird Club
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Black Dirt Region
Leader: Arie Gilbert (917) 693-7178 (contact for car-pooling info)

MINI TRIPS: Break after lunch +/-
ALL DAY TRIPS: BYO lunch, dinner out. {optl}
WEEKEND TRIPS: Two + days / Overnight

Trip Etiquette
Please register for trips

- Register. Let leaders know you're coming!
- Car pooling or skipping requires planning
- Be advised if there are last minute changes or cancellations. These cannot be communicated to unknown persons.
- Be on time! Most trips begin birding by 8am!
- Please arrive before the starting time so we do not waste precious early morning bird activity.
- Plan your travel time.

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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Birding: Eagles at Payson Park House (in Inwood Hill Park), Manhattan
9:00 a.m.
Winter is a spectacular season for observing Bald Eagles in New York City parks.
Free!

Introduction to Bird Watching at Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Look! Up in the sky, it’s a bird! But what kind of bird is it? Join the Prospect Park Alliance to learn about the magnificent array of birds that call Prospect Park home.
Free!