Upcoming Birding and Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for the weekend of Saturday, April 30, 2016 to Sunday, May 1, 2016 (WBF trip added 4/29):

Audubon Center in Prospect Park
Saturday, April 30, 2016, 12pm – 1pm
Introduction to Bird Watching
Look! Up in the sky, it’s a bird! But what kind of bird is it? Take a tour and learn about the magnificent array of birds that call Prospect Park home. Led by Brooklyn Bird Club.

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Brooklyn Bird Club
Sunday, May 1, 2016
From Shore Road Park to Greenwood Cemetery
Leader: Peter Dorosh
Focus: Peak of spring migrants and songbirds
Meet: 7:25 am at the R train terminus stop, upstairs 4th Ave and 95th Street, west corner
Meeting spot: http://tinyurl.com/Rtrain95thst

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Eastern Long Island Audubon Society
Sunday, May 1, 2016 at 7:30am
Quogue Wildlife Refuge
Leader: Gigi Spates (631) 765-1436
Our Eastern LI Audubon Home is also home to many nesting birds and ducks. Our morning walk along well-groomed trails will take us past ponds, streams and both pine and oak woods. We will meet in the parking lot of the Refuge, located at 3 Old Country Road, Quogue. If you need more information call Gigi at (631) 765-1436

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Freshkills Park
Sunday, May 01, 2016, 8:00am
NYC Audubon Tour
Led by NYC Audubon with NYC Department of Parks and Recreation
Meet at the Staten Island Ferry and start your trip with a journey across the Upper Bay! From wetlands to woodlands to rich, rolling grasslands, Freshkills Park offers a diverse collection of habitats and wildlife. Each spring, the migration is magnificent at Freshkills Park. On any given day over 100 species of birds and a variety of butterflies can be enjoyed within the borders of the park. Join local naturalist Cliff Hagen and the NYC Parks Department on this special opportunity to explore the deep, secret places of the City’s latest, greatest park. Transport by passenger van on S.I. included.
Sign Up at EventBrite

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Great South Bay Audubon Society
Saturday, April 30, 2016, 8:00am
Valley Stream SP and Jones Beach West End
Leaders: John Gluth (631-827-0120), Steve D’Amato (631-264-8413)
Southern State Parkway to exit 15S, North Corona Ave. No Corona Ave to Hendrickson Ave (.07 mi) turn right at Hendrickson Ave. Hendrickson Ave. to Fletcher Ave (.3 mi) turn right on Fletcher Ave. Fletcher Ave North to Valley Stream State Park entrance on right (.2 mi). Park at far end of lot.

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Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon Society
Sunday, May 1, 2016 - 9:00am
Jamaica Bay Bird Walk
Join us today as we visit Jamaica Bay, a premier birding spot.
Registration: 631-885-1881 or aveblue@gmail.com.
Directions: Southern State Parkway to Cross Bay Blvd South, exit 17S. After crossing the bridge, look for parking lot entrance on right side 1.25 miles from bridge. Turn right at the traffic light. Meet in the parking lot.

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Linnaean Society of New York
Saturday, April 30, 2016
New Jersey Hotspots — Wetlands, Woodlands, and More
Leader: Bob Machover
Registrar: Karen Asakawa — avocet501@gmail.com or 347-306-0607
Registration opens: Monday April 18
Ride: $40

Sunday, May 1, 2016
Great Swamp NWR and Scherman-Hoffman Sanctuary
Leader: Richard ZainEldeen
Registrar: Barbara Saunders — bsaunders002@nyc.rr.com or 646-872-4029
Registration opens: Monday April 18
Ride: $30

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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturday, April 30, 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, April 30, 2016, 9am–Sunday, May 1, 7pm
Cape May Spring Migration Weekend, NJ
Guide: Gabriel Willow
Welcome the spring in lovely Cape May, NJ, the East’s capital of birding. On good spring migration days, the area’s forests and marshes are swarming with warblers in breeding plumage. We’ll visit Cape May Point, Higbee Beach, Cape May Meadows, and more in search of returning songbirds, shorebirds, wading birds, and terns—as well as lingering winter visitors such as sea ducks and gannets. Transport by passenger van included. Limited to 10. $330 ($30 single supplement)
Click here to register

Saturdays, April 30–May 28, 10-11am
Birding Basics For Families: The Ramble, Central Park
Guides: NYC Audubon, Conservancy Discovery Guides
Offered by the Central Park Conservancy
Meet at the Belvedere Castle (inside the Park, mid-Park just north of the 79th Street transverse). 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 available. Free: pre-registration is recommended as space is limited. Ages 5+. Families only: maximum of three children per parent or guardian; no groups For weather cancellation updates and pre-registration information, call 212-772-0288.

Sunday, May 1, 2016, 8am-3pm
Birding Gems of Staten Island: Spring Migration at Freshkills Park
Guides: Cliff Hagen, Tod Winston
With NYC Department of Parks and Recreation
Meet at the Staten Island Ferry and start your trip with a journey across the Upper Bay! From wetlands to woodlands to rich, rolling grasslands, Freshkills Park offers a diverse collection of habitats and wildlife. Each spring, the migration is magnificent at Freshkills Park. On any given day over 100 species of birds and a variety of butterflies can be enjoyed within the borders of the park. Join local naturalist Cliff Hagen and the NYC Parks Department on this special opportunity to explore the deep, secret places of the City's latest, greatest park. Transport by passenger van on S.I. included. Limited to 12. $68 (47)
Click here to register

Sundays, May 1–May 29, 10-11am
Birding Basics for Families: North Woods, 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 available. Limited to 20. Age 5 and up. Free: pre-registration is recommended as space is limited. Ages 5+. Families only: maximum of three children per parent or guardian; no groups. For weather cancellation updates and pre-registration information, call 212-860-1370

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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
April 30, 2016 @ 12:00pm – 2:00pm
Richmond town, Old Mill Road
Cost: Free
Contact: Ray Matarazzo 718-317-7666
Enjoy a stroll along the multi-use trail overlooking Fresh Kills with Ray Matarazzo. Walk back in time as you pass the famous Hessian Spring as it crosses the path and view Fresh Kills estuary as you work your way toward the remains of Ketchum’s Mill. Along the way observe traces of the past, examine the present woodland ecosystems and search for evidence of present inhabitants especially deer and other mammals. Meet in the parking lot at the start of Old Mill Road, alongside St. Andrew’s Church. For more information phone Ray Matarazzo at 718-317-7666.

Sunday, May 1, 2016 @ 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Crooke’s Point
Cost: Free
Contact: Paul Lederer 718-354-9200
Maritime spits such as Crooke’s Point are dynamic typographical features which were 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. 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 at 718-354-9200.

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Queens County Bird Club
Saturday, April 30, 2016
Cape May
Leader: Arie Gilbert 917-693-7178

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South Shore Audubon Society
Sunday, May 1, 2016
Massapequa Preserve

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, April 30, 2016
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? Take a tour and learn about the magnificent array of birds that call Prospect Park home.
Free!

Sunday, May 1, 2016
Early Morning Bird Walk: Marvelous Migrants at Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
8:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m.
Join the Prospect Park Alliance to search for some of the dazzling birds that visit the park before flying to northern breeding grounds.
Free!

Birdwatching at the Ridgewood Reservoir at Ridgewood Reservoir, Queens
8:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
Start your day off with an early morning bird-watching walk around the Ridgewood Reservoir.
Free!

Birding: Ospreys at Fort Totten Visitor's Center (in Fort Totten 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.
Free!

Bird's Eye Tour of the Heather Garden at Heather Garden (in Fort Tryon Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Take a tour with Leslie Day, author of Field Guide to the Neighborhood Birds of New York City, and learn about the abundant and beautiful birds that make Fort Tryon Park their home.
Free!
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Wild Bird Fund
Saturday, April 30, 2016 @ 9:00AM - 11:00PM
Take a Walk on the Wild Side

Join us with WBF member, artist and birder, Alan Messer for our spring walks series in Central Park. We’ll visit the Reservoir checking for migrant waterfowl, then checkout the pines for creepers and kinglets. We’ll search the Ramble for thrushes, sparrows, warblers, thrashers and hopefully find the adorable blue-gray gnatcatchers.
Saturday April 30, 2016. Raindate Sunday May 1.
Reservations required: events@wildbirdfund.org