Upcoming Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for the weekend of Saturday, June 13, 2015 to Sunday, June 14, 2015:

Audubon Center in Prospect Park
Sunday, June 13, 2015, 12–1 pm
Introduction to Bird Watching
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
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Breeding birds of central Long Island
Leader: Eric Salzman www.ericsalzman.com
Focus: Breeding birds. In past trips led by Eric, Blue Grosbeak, Vesper Sparrow, Roseate Tern, and marsh sparrows were some specialties.
Visits to the Shinnecock region are very productive for coastal species.
Car fee: $30.00
Registrar: Donna Evans, email devansny@earthlink.net
Registration Period: June 2nd - June 11th

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Freshkills Park Alliance (Staten Island)
June 13, 2015 10:00am
Freshkills Park Site Tour
Site tours are approximately an hour and a half long and tell the story of the past, present and future of Freshkills Park development via a guided bus ride through the site. Stops at the top of the park’s hills offer beautiful panoramic views of Staten Island. Space is limited, all ages welcome. Free. Meet at the St. George Ferry Terminal Information Booth (across from Au Bon Pain).
Sign Up at EventBrite

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Littoral Society
Sunday, June 14, 2015, 06:00pm - 08:00pm
Horseshoe Crab Walk
Meet at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center to car pool to a nearby site. Learn about the biology of these living fossils and how they utilize NYC's shorelines. Registration required.
Location: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
Contact: NE Chapter, (718) 474-0896

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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, June 13, 2015
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 13, 9am – Sunday, June 14, 6pm
Bashakill, Shawangunk NWR, and Doodletown
Guide: Joe Giunta, Happy Warblers LLC
Look for breeding eastern meadowlarks, American bitterns, cerulean warblers, and more at these three great birding areas. An overnight stay will facilitate being in the right spot at the right time. Bring lunch for the first day, binoculars, and a spotting scope (if you have one).
Transport by passenger van included. Limited to 10. $280 ($56 single supplement)
Click here to register

Saturday, June 13, 2015, 8:00am – 9:30am
Van Cortlandt Bird Walks, The Bronx
Guides: NYC Audubon, Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy
With the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy
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 212-691-7483. No registration necessary. No limit. Free.

Saturday, June 13, 2015, 10am – 1pm
The Parakeets of Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn
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. $46 (32)
Click here to register

Sunday, June 14, 2015, 9:30am – 11:30am
Spring Birding at Wave Hill, The Bronx
Guide: Gabriel Willow with Wave Hill
Naturalist Gabriel Willow contributes his extensive knowledge of diverse bird species and their behavior on these captivating walks through the gardens and woodlands. Observe the plants, insects and habitats at Wave Hill that make it an appealing destination for such a wide variety of birds. Ages 10 and older welcome with an adult. Birders of all levels welcome! Severe weather cancels. Registration recommended, online at www.wavehill.org or at the Perkins Visitor Center. (NYC Audubon Members enjoy two-for-one admission)
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 9:30AM

Sunday, June 14, 2015, 7pm – 9pm
Sunset EcoCruise to the Harbor Heron Islands: Hoffman and Swinburne Islands
Guide: Gabriel Willow With New York Water Taxi
Meet at South Street Seaport's Pier 16. 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 140. Pricing varies by destination.

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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
Saturday, June 13, 2015, 12 Noon to 2 p.m.
The Intertidal Zone at the Page Avenue Beach
We’ll begin with a look at the local geology then move to examining the flotsam and jetsam accumulated at the high tide lines to see what nature’s debris has to tell us. As the water recedes with the tide, we’ll move into the intertidal zone to find out what sorts of living things survive in this challenging environment. A variety of crabs, snails, clams, worms and small fish are likely to be discovered. It’s going to be muddy so dress appropriately. Meet at the parking lot at the bottom of Page Avenue below Hylan Boulevard.
For more information call Clay Wollney at 718-869-6327.

Sunday, June 14, 2015, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Bloomingdale Woods (1975-2015)
Bloomingdale Park is 138 acres of mainly woodland on Staten Island’s South Shore. It was acquired in the 1960s to protect southern Staten Island’s natural areas from development. The park’s woods contain several species of wetland trees native to Staten Island, including swamp white oak, pin oak, sweet gum, and red maple. Protectors launched a legal battle that pitted ballfield construction against passive natural recreation/preservation that resulted in a largely scaled down version of the original plans for this South Shore park. On record, former Mayor Bloomberg made a compromise with Parks Department Commissioner Henry Stern, who also opposed the project, and Borough President Guy Molinari, who had pledged to make the park a reality. Add in wetlands mapping oversights and challenges, and you can easily see how this controversy soon became one of Protectors’ biggest issues We will meet at Maguire Avenue and Drumgoole Road West. We will explore the eastern part of the park.
For more information, contact Hillel Lofaso at hillel5757@gmail.com or 718-477-0545.

Sunday, June 14, 2015, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Wolfe’s Pond Park
Containing mature upland woods, swamp forest, open marsh, ponds, and shoreline on Raritan Bay, Wolfe’s Pond is one of the most diverse parks in the city. Meet at the comfort stations at the end of the parking lot. The entrance to the parking lot is located off of Cornelia Avenue (http://goo.gl/maps/n8XBa).
For more information please call John Paul Learn at 718-619-5051 or e-mail him at john.paul.learn@gmail.com.

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Queens County Bird Club
Sunday, June 14, 2015, 8:00am – 10:30am
Ridgewood Reservoir mini walk
Guide: Jean Loscalzo 917-575-6824 dm5078@aol.com
Meet at the parking lot for upper Highland Park on Vermont Place.

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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South Shore Audubon Society
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Alley Pond Park

All walks start at 9:30 A.M.
There is no walk if it rains or snows or temperature is below 25°F.
For more information or in case of questionable weather conditions, please phone Joe at 516 467-9498
For directions to our bird-watching locations, click here.

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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Bird Walks at Van Cortlandt Park at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
8:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
The history of birding and Van Cortlandt Park are inseparable. Influential birders such as Roger Tory Peterson got their starts on Van Cortlandt’s ecologically diverse grounds.
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!

Sunday, June 14, 2015
Bird Watching at the Ridgewood Reservoir at Ridgewood Reservoir, Queens
8:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
Start your day with an early morning bird watching walk led by Jean Loscalzo of the Queens County Bird Club.
Free!

Summer Birding at Perkins Visitors Center (in Wave Hill), Bronx
9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
Observe the plants, insects and habitats that make Wave Hill an appealing destination for such a wide variety of birds.
Free!

Family Bird Watching at Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Looking for a fun way to spend time with your family outdoors? Join the Prospect Park Alliance for its monthly family bird watching tours.
Free!