Upcoming Birding and Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for the weekend of Saturday, October 17, 2015 to Sunday, October 18, 2015:

Audubon Center in Prospect Park
Saturday, October 17, 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
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Marine Park Sparrows
Leader: Sean Zimmer
Focus: Fall migrants peak of sparrows. Raptors, late season warblers, marsh and water birds.
Car fee: $10.00 (or public transportation)
Registrar: Kathy Toomey email kathleentoomey@gmail.com
Registration Period: Oct 6th - Oct 15th

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Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon Society
Sunday, October 18, 2015 - 11:00 AM
Dwarf Pine Plains, Westhampton
Dwarf Pine Plain communities are rare ecosystems that exist in only a few locations in the entire world. The New Jersey Dwarf Pine Plains, the Shawangunk Mountains Dwarf Pine Plains, and the Long Island Dwarf Pine Plains are the three existing communities. The Dwarf Pine Plains earned its name from the height of the vegetation that exists in the community. Dominated by pitch pines and scrub oak, these trees will rarely exceed 3 to 6 feet in height. Today we will be exploring the Dwarf Pine Plains to to enjoy its beauty and look for migrating birds and the beautiful Buck Moth which can be seen during their mating flight.

Directions: Take route 27 to County Road 31 south toward West Hampton. The trail head is located about 1/10 of a mile off of the exit on the east side of County Road 31, turn left into the SCWA complex.
Registration: 585-880-0915

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Linnaean Society of New York
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Randall’s Island
Leader: Alan Drogin
Registrar: Miriam Rakowski — miriamrakowski@hotmail.com or 212-749-7376
Registration opens: Monday October 5
Ride: $10 or public transportation

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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, October 17, 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, October 17, 2015, 8:00am – 9:30am
Van Cortlandt Bird Walks, The Bronx
Guides: NYC Audubon 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, October 17, 2015, 8am – 8pm
NYC Audubon Day at Hawk Mountain, PA
Guides: Hawk Mountain Education Specialist, Gabriel Willow
Mid-October is the perfect time to visit Hawk Mountain, one of the premier hawk-watching spots in the East. Gabriel Willow and a Hawk Mountain education specialist will introduce us to the variety of raptors that may be seen, including golden eagles, buteos, and falcons The path to the hawk watch site is a 3/4 mile hike through mountainous woodland. Bring lunch. Group program, trail admission, and transportation by van included. Limited to 12. $139 (97)
Click here to register

Sunday, October 18, 2015, 10am – 11am
Birding Basics For Families, Central Park
Guides: NYC Audubon, Conservancy Discovery Guides
Offered by The Central Park Conservancy
Meet at the Dana Discovery Center (inside the Park at 110th Street between Fifth and Lenox Avenues). Experience Central Park’s precious bird habitat and migration hot spot with Conservancy Discovery Guides and NYC Audubon. Witness firsthand how the Conservancy’s work has made the Park a sanctuary for birds. Binoculars can be borrowed from the Visitor Center. Limited to 20. Age 5 and up. Free, pre-registration recommended. For weather cancellation updates and pre-registration information, call 212-772-0288.

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North Shore Audubon Society
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Alley Pond Park
Leader: Trudy Horowitz 718-224-8432

Notes:
Walks are for beginners and experienced birders alike. Weather permitting, walks start at 9:30 AM unless indicated. Please note: all phone numbers are area code 516 unless otherwise indicated. In most cases, the contacts are also leaders for the respective walks. Go to our website at http://northshoreaudubon.org/ for directions. We would like to encourage carpooling, where possible.

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Queens County Bird Club
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Prospect Park
Leader: Arie Gilbert - 917-693-7178
Meeting: 7:30am near Prospect Park Zoo on Flatbush Avenue

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South Shore Audubon Society
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Hempstead Lake State Park

Notes:
All walks start at 9:00 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, October 17, 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!

Birding: Fall Migration at Cunningham Park Parking Lot (in Cunningham Park), Queens
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best wildlife viewing spots in the urban jungle. Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome
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!

Nocturnal Wildlife at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
New York City is home to an amazing abundance of wildlife. Our Rangers will guide you to the best wildlife viewing spots in the urban jungle.
Free!

Sunday, October 18, 2015
Birding Basics 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 migration hot spot! Bring your family on a guided walk led by Central Park Conservancy staff and the NYC Audubon Society.
Free!