Upcoming Birding and Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for the weekend of Saturday, August 6, 2016 to Sunday, August 7, 2016 (updated 8/2/16):

Audubon Center in Prospect Park
Sunday, August 7, 2016, 8am – 9am
Early Morning Bird Walk: Early Migrants

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Brooklyn Bird Club
Saturday, August 6, 2016
A Local Shorebird Tour
Leader: Peter Dorosh
Focus: Renowned locations in Brooklyn and Queens for shorebird and sandpiper species
Car fee: $12.00
Registrar: Peter Dorosh, Prosbird@aol.com or text only cell 347-622-3559
Registration Period: July 30th–August 4th
Note: High tide is 11:54 am

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Freshkills Park (Staten Island)
Sunday, August 07, 2016, 10:00am
Park to Park Bike Ride
Bike the Greenbelt’s Multipurpose Trail and Freshkills Park’s New Springville Greenway!
The bike ride begins on Signs Road and Park Drive North and heads south along the New Springville Greenway. The Greenway stretches just over 3 miles, primarily paralleling Richmond Avenue on Freshkills Park’s eastern edge.
Near the southern end of the trail, at Richmond Avenue and Forest Hill Road, the bike ride will connect to the Staten Island Greenbelt‘s Multipurpose Trail, which heads east towards LaTourette Park and spans 2.6 miles.
This is a round-trip bike ride of about 11 miles. Street parking will be available near the meeting location of Signs Road and Park Drive North.
For more information:

DOT Bike Map
Staten Island Greenbelt Trail Map

The Greenbelt Multipurpose Trail is a gravel path, so bikers should be prepared for the change in surfaces.
Bring your own bicycle (and helmet). Ages 14 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Free.

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Gateway National Recreation Area
Saturday, August, 6, 2016, 8:30pm to 10:00pm
Star Gazing
Join the Amateur Astronomers Association for public stargazing at Parking Lot A. Telescopes and binoculars are provided, but you may also bring your own.
Location: Great Kills Park Lot A

Every Sunday Weekly and Every Saturday Weekly from 06/04/2016 to 09/03/2016 11:00AM to 12:00PM
Birding for Beginners
Join us for an introduction to this fun hobby. Learn the basics of birding. Bring binoculars and a field guide or borrow them from wildlife refuge!
Location: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Fee Information: Free

Every Sunday Weekly and Every Saturday Weekly from 05/28/2016 to 08/28/2016 9:30AM to 11:30AM
Camp Gateway Walk-up and Paddle
Try kayaking! Open to the public, ages 6 and up with an adult. No reservation required. Bring a snack, water and sunscreen.
Bus: Q35
Location: Floyd Bennett Field – Brooklyn, Seaplane Ramp
Fee Information: FREE
Contact Name: Ryan Visitor Center
Contact Phone Number: 718-338-3799

Every Saturday Weekly from 05/28/2016 to 08/27/2016 1:00PM to 3:30PM
Canarsie Walk-up and Paddle
Kayak tryouts for those who have never done it before. Open to the public, ages 6 and up with an adult. No reservations required.
Location: Canarsie Pier, Brooklyn
Fee Information: FREE
Contact Name: Ryan Visitor Center
Contact Phone Number: (718)338-3799

Every Sunday Weekly from 06/05/2016 to 09/04/2016 11:00AM to 12:00PM
Fort Tilden Bunkers Walking Tour
Join a Park Ranger for an exploration of Fort Tilden's gun batteries, and find out about the fort's role in the defense of New York Harbor.
1 mile.
Location: Fort Tilden-Building 1
Fee Information: Free

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New York City Audubon Society
Thursday, August 4, 2016, 6:30-8:30pm (class)
Saturday, August 6, 2016, 10am-2pm (trip)
Shorebird ID Workshop
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

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NYC H2O
Sunday, August 7, 2016 at 10am
Ridgewood Reservoir Tour with Matt Malina
NYC H2O is offering free tours of the Ridgewood Reservoir to community members and the public.

The Ridgewood Reservoir in Highland Park is a 50+ acre natural oasis that straddles the border of Brooklyn and Queens. Built in 1859 to supply the once independent City of Brooklyn with high quality water, it became obsolete with the addition of new reservoirs in the Catskills in the 1950’s and was decommissioned in the 1980’s. Since then, nature took its course in a perfect case study of ecological succession. A lush and dense forest has grown in its two outside basins while a freshwater pond with waterfowl sits in the middle basin.

Join us to explore this incredible natural resource in the heart of NYC. Please make a reservation. Cost is free.

We will meet in the parking lot at 1 Vermont Place.

Where
Ridgewood Reservoir - 1 Vermont Place, Brooklyn, NY 11207 - View Map

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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
Saturday, August 6, 2016 @ 9:15am – 3:45pm
Protectors’ Annual Summer 10-Mile Greenbelt Walk
Cost: Free
Contact: Dominick Durso 917-478-7607 / Don Recklies 718-768-9036
Park and meet at the end of Staten Island Boulevard, a block off Ocean Terrace, just above the Petridies Campus.
We will make a loop through almost all of Protectors’ original, moderate 10 mile walk (and then a bit more to get back to 10).
Wear comfortable boots or shoes, and bring lunch and an adequate beverage.
For more information call Dominick Durso at 917-478-7607 or Don Recklies at 718-768-9036.

Saturday, August 6, 2016 @ 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Long Pond Park
Cost: Free
Contact: Clay Wollney 718-869-6327
Participants wil look for evidence of animal life, particularly reptiles and amphibians in the wetlands and woods of Long Pond Park.
We will also look for bird life, examine the geology of the area and observe evidence of past human use of the area.
Meet beside Public School 6, on Page Avenue & Academy Avenue.
For more information phone Clay Wollney at 718-869-6327

Sunday, August 7, 2016 @ 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Discover Dragonflies with Paul Lederer
Cost: Free
Contact: Paul Lederer 718-354-9200
Dragonflies have been a part of the fauna of this planet long before dinosaurs roamed the earth. Learn about the identification, behavior and biology of these fascinating insects. Bring binoculars if you have them.
Participants will meet at the Greenbelt’s Pouch Boy Scout Camp at 1465 Manor Road by the totem poles in the parking lot.
For more information contact Paul Lederer at his cell phone 718-354-9200

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Queens County Bird Club
Saturday, August 6, 2016, 8:30am – 1pm
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Meet at visitors center
Leader: Corey Finger 518-445-5829

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Sullivan County Audubon Society
Sunday, August 7, 2016, 9 - 11 am
Field Trip to find butterflies and birds at Wolf Brook Multiple Use Area
Meet at 9 am at The Trading Post in Rock Hill
Call Leader Renee Davis at 482-5044 before 7 pm for more information