Upcoming Birding and Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for the weekend of Saturday, October 24, 2015 to Sunday, October 25, 2015:

Audubon Center in Prospect Park
Saturday, October 24, 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
October 23rd - 25th
Weekends: Autumn in New Jersey's northern Highlands
(Members only, limit 12)
Leader: Peter Dorosh
Focus: Fall migrants various locations, including two hawk watches; primarily hawks and sparrows, open space species.
Car fee: $120 .00
Registrar: Peter Dorosh Prosbird@aol.com (preferred) or 347-622-3559 text
Registration Period: June 1st - Oct 11th

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Freshkills Park (Staten Island)
Saturday, October 24, 2015 1:00pm
Nature Hike
Enjoy a guided hike through Freshkills Park and learn about habitats, wildlife, and research projects at the site.
This 1-2 mile trek includes moderate to steep elevations. Water, bug spray, and comfortable shoes recommended.
Space is limited, ages 10+. Free.
Meet shuttle into the park at Schmul Park (Wild Ave & Melvin Ave)
Presented in association with Archtober, Architecture and Design Month New York City, October 2015.
Sign Up at EventBrite

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Gateway National Parks
Sunday, October 25, 2015
An Autumn Hike at Breezy Point
Location: Fort Tilden, Building 1 - Queens (Carpool to Breezy Point) Time: 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Fee Information: FREE
Contact Name: Ryan Visitor Center Contact Phone Number: 718-338-3799
Carpool in a caravan led by Mickey Maxwell Cohen of American Littoral Society to the little known western tip of the Rockaway Peninsula. Highlights will include dune foliage, shorebirds and a surprising assortment of rocks and minerals used in the construction of the Breezy Point Jetty. Insect repellent, sun protection, binoculars, and a magnifying glass will be helpful.
This is an American Littoral Society and Gateway NRA Partnership Program. (2 miles)

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Linnaean Society of New York
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Floyd Bennett Field
Leader: Rob Jett (aka "The City Birder)
Registrar: Pearl Broder — pbroder3@nyc.rr.com or 212-924-0030
Registration opens: Monday October 5
Ride: $15 or public transportation

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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, October 24, 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 24, 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 24, 2015, 9:15am – 4:00pm
Fall Foliage Hike in the Greenbelt, Staten Island
Guide: Gabriel Willow with NYC Parks and the Greenbelt Conservancy
Meet at the Manhattan terminal of the S.I. Ferry and join us as we journey to Moses Mountain, which provides a panoramic view of Staten Island and points beyond. We'll look for migrating hawks, warblers, and other songbirds—with crimson sumac and other autumn foliage as a backdrop. Bring lunch and water. Transportation on Staten Island provided. Limited to 18. $42 (29)
Click here to register

Sunday, October 25, 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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Paulagics
Friday/Saturday, October 23-24, 2015
Brooklyn Overnight Pelagic Trip
Cost: $220
Departs: 10:30PM
Returns: 4:30 PM (approximately)
Boat: Brooklyn VI
Marina: 2200 Emmons Ave.
Pier 6 Sheepshead Bay
Brooklyn, New York 11235
Cost: $ 220
Notes: NEED 9 PEOPLE TO SAIL!!
Target Birds: Cory’s, Great, and Manx Shearwaters, Red Phalarope, Kittiwake, Pomarine and Parasitic Jaegers. Hoping to find Rarities! Exploration of this seas at this time is mostly to find rare species.

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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
Saturday, October 24, 2015, 8:56 pm – 9:56 pm
Mount Loretto Unique Area
Leader: Anthony Ciancimino
Join birder Anthony Ciancimino for a guided nature walk through the fields at Mountt Loretto Unique Area. The focus on this walk will be migrating sparrows, including Lincoln’s, White crowned, and Field Sparrows. Other possibilties include Eastern Bluebird and Eastern Meadowlark. Arriving migrant waterfowl could also be present on the ponds which dot the property. Participants will meet in the parking lot off of Hylan Boulevard, across from the CYO Center. For more information email Anthony Ciancimino at sibirdwatcher@yahoo.com.
Free

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Queens County Bird Club
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Caumsett State Park
Leader: Rich Kelly 516-509-1094
Meet at park at 7:30am

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South Shore Audubon Society
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Alley Pond 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 24, 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, October 25, 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!

Highbridge Hawk Watch at Tower Plaza (in Highbridge Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Learn about the hawks in your community and observe some of their interesting behaviors.
Free!