Upcoming Birding and Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for the weekend of Saturday, August 1, 2015 to Sunday, August 2, 2015:

Audubon Center in Prospect Park
Saturday, August 1, 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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Fresh Kills Park Alliance
Sunday, August 02, 2015, 11:00am
Discovery Day
Come to Freshkills Park for an opportunity to discover the trails and hills of the landfill-to-park project! We’re opening up the future North Park and miles of additional interior trails along East Park for walking, bicycling, jogging and exploring. Spectacular landscapes and panoramic views await you!

Kayak Staten Island will lead a free kayaking program from 11am – 3pm in the Fresh Kill and Main Creek waterways, bicycles will be available for riding around the trails, and a bus to the scenic overlook will run throughout the day. Guided tours on wildlife, landfill infrastructure and park planning will also be offered; artist Tattfoo Tan will lead a group bike ride as part of his project NERTM; and kitemaking and kiteflying returns to the overlook! Visitors are encouraged to bring their sketchbooks and cameras to document the park in progress, bring their walking shoes and water to hike the site, and to pack a picnic or get lunch from event food trucks.

Shuttles into the site will run continuously from parking at Wild Avenue to the creek of North Park, and on a scheduled basis from St. George Ferry Terminal (see below for the shuttle schedule). Visitors including bicycle riders and dog owners can walk or bike into the site at 350 Wild Avenue and do not need to take a shuttle.

All ages. Free. The site will be open from 11am-4pm with the last entrance at 3:30pm.

SHUTTLE BUS SCHEDULE
From St. George Ferry Terminal to Freshkills Park, departing at:
- 11am
- 12pm
- 1pm
- 2pm

From Freshkills Park to St. George Ferry Terminal, departing at:
- 1pm
- 2pm
- 3:30pm
- 4pm (last bus)

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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, July 11, 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
Trips return on September 5, 2015

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New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, August 1, 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.

Sunday, August 2, 2015, 9am – 12pm
Shorebird Identification Workshop
Thursday, July 30, 6:30-8:30pm (class)
Sunday, August 2, 9am-12pm (trip)
Guide: Joe Giunta, Happy Warblers LLC
Shorebirds are one of the most challenging groups of birds to identify, yet beautiful and fascinating once they can be distinguished. Learn to identify plovers and sandpipers (including "peeps") by learning behavior, field marks, and calls - then take a field trip to Jamaica Bay to practice your new skills. Limited to 12. $65 (45)
Click here to register

Sunday, August 2, 2015, 6pm – 9pm
Sunset EcoCruise to the Harbor Heron Islands: Jamaica Bay
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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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, August 1, 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, August 2, 2015
Discovery Day at Freshkills Park Event Entrance, Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Come to Freshkills Park for an opportunity to discover the trails and hills of the landfill-to-park project!
Free!