Upcoming Birding and Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for the weekend of Saturday, March 26, 2016 to Sunday, March 27, 2016:

Brooklyn Bird Club
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Greenwood Cemetery
Leader: Matthew Wills
Focus: Upland species, early spring migrants and songbirds, raptors
Meet: 8:00 am inside the 25th St/5th Ave entrance, just past the guard station of the “Castle”
Nearest train stop: “R” local stops at 25th street. Walk one block uphill.
Site profile: http://www.green-wood.com

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Gateway National Recreation Area
Every Saturday Weekly from 03/19/2016 to 08/27/2016
Canarsie Walk-up and Paddle
Location: Canarsie Pier – Brooklyn
Time: 1:00PM to 3:30PM
Fee Information: FREE
Contact Name: Ryan Visitor Center Contact Phone Number: 718-338-3799
Try kayaking! Open to the public, ages 6 and up with an adult. No reservation required.
Dress to get wet; bring sunscreen, a snack and water.

Saturday, March 26, 2016
Early Spring Bird Walk
Location: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens
Time: 10:00AM to 1:00PM
Fee Information: FREE
Contact Name: Don Riepe
Contact Email: donriepe@gmail.com
Contact Phone Number: (718) 474-0896
Meet at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge contact station for a hike around the ponds and gardens to look for egrets, ibis, osprey, oystercatchers and many other early migrants as well as wintering birds. To reserve call (718) 474-0896, email donriepe@gmail.com. Bus - Q52,Q53; A Train to Broad Channel. (3 miles)

Sunday, March 27, 2016
Have a Hoot with a Ranger!
Location: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Time: 1:00PM to 2:30PM
Fee Information: FREE
Kid ages are invited to join a park ranger to earn their very own Junior Ranger badge, and to get started on the way toward earning their Junior Ranger patch! Junior Rangers will go on an owl adventure to learn about these beautiful birds and their diet by investigating owl pellets. Be prepared to take a hike along the west pond trail to search for owl habitat. Bus: Q52, Q53; A Train to Broad Channel.

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Hudson River Audubon Society
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Edith G Read Sanctuary and Marshlands Conservancy, Rye
Meet at the far end of Playland Amusement Park’s parking lot near the lake at 8:00 AM
Winter waterfowl, loons and grebes on the sound, Purple Sandpipers on the jetties and early spring arrivals will be looked for. http://www.hras.org/wtobird/edith.html

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Linnaean Society of New York
Sunday, March 27, 2016
Staten Island Greenbelt, High Rock, Pouch Camp
Leader: Howard Fischer
Registrar: Judy Rabi — jsrabi@verizon.net or 917-658-1832
Registration opens: Monday March 14
Ride: $20

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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Debbie Becker leads a free bird walk at the Garden every Saturday from 11am to 12:30pm beginning at the Reflecting Pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center

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New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, March 26, 2016, 9am-3pm
Van Trip to the Early Spring Bird Walk
Guide: Don Riepe
With American Littoral Society
Hop in our van and take a ride out to Jamaica Bay for the Early Spring Bird Walk - see description below. Limited to 12. $53 (37)
Click here to register

Saturday, March 26, 2016, 10am-1pm
Early Spring Bird Walk
Guide: Don Riepe
With American Littoral Society and Gateway NRA
Meet at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge for a slide program and walk to look for phoebes, American oystercatchers, osprey and other early migrants. For info and reservations, contact Don Riepe at (718) 474-0896 or donriepe@gmail.com for info and reservations. Free

Saturday, March 26, 5-9:30pm
The Sky-Dance of the Woodcock
Guide: Gabriel Willow
The American Woodcock is a remarkable bird: It is in the sandpiper family but lives in woodlands, often far from beaches. The male performs an incredible crepuscular aerial display and song early in the spring, soon after the snow melts in the northern U.S. There are a few places around New York City where they perform this display. Let’s go look for it (and bats and owls and other critters, too) at Floyd Bennett Field. Bring binoculars, comfortable shoes, a headlamp or flashlight, and a snack for a post-woodcock picnic. Transport by passenger van included. Limited to 12. $90 (63)
Click here to register

Sunday, March 27, 2016, 8-10:30am
Intro to Birding: Bird Walk in Central Park
Guide: Tod Winston
Meet at the entrance to Central Park at Central Park West and 72nd Street. Are you curious about "birding" but don't have much (or any) experience? Come on a relaxed walk to some of Central Park's hotspots to go over birding basics and see sparrows, finches, warblers, ducks, and more. Binoculars available. Limited to 15. $36 (25)
Click here to register

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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
Sunday, March 27, 2016 @ 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Crooke’s Point
Cost: Free
Contact: Paul Lederer 718-987-1576
Maritime spits such as Crooke’s Point are dynamic typographical features which are formed and sculpted by water and wind action. Join naturalist Paul T. Lederer in a talk and walk where he will discuss the geology and human history of the site as well as the plants and animals that call this place home. Participants will meet at the Beach Center Parking Lot in Great Kills Park near the dirt road leading out to Crooke’s Point. To get to the Beach Center Parking Lot, follow Buffalo Street to just before it turns into the dirt permit road.
For more information or directions contact Paul Lederer at (718) 987-1576

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Sullivan County Audubon Society
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Early Spring Waterfowl Migration
Meet walk leader John Haas at the parking lot on Haven Road at 8 am. Bring binoculars and a scope if you have one. We should see an array of early ducks, geese and mergansers. We will go the Main Boat Launch when finished at Haven Road to walk the Birch Trail to see additional species. Boots may sbe of help in this area. The walk lasts about 2 hours. This is a field trip of the Bashakill Area Association.

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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Good Friday and Easter Holiday in Prospect Park at Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn, Lefferts Historic House (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn, The Carousel (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
12:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Join the Prospect Park Alliance at the Audubon Center and the Lefferts Historic House for fun activities during the Easter Weekend holiday.
Free!

Sunday, March 27, 2016
Good Friday and Easter Holiday in Prospect Park at Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn, Lefferts Historic House (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn, The Carousel (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
12:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Join the Prospect Park Alliance at the Audubon Center and the Lefferts Historic House for fun activities during the Easter Weekend holiday.
Free!