Upcoming Birding and Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for Saturday, February 18, 2017 to Monday, February 20, 2017:

Brooklyn Bird Club
Saturday, February 18, 2017
“Our Great Backyard: Prospect Park”
Leaders: Ann Murray and Kathy Toomey
Focus: The Great Backyard Bird Count
Meet: 8:30 am at Bartel Pritchard Park entrance
Note: This walk is part of the Great Backyard Bird Count, a four day event that starts Friday through Monday.
Link http://gbbc.birdcount.org/

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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturdays -- 9/3/2016 - 6/24/2017: 11:00 a.m.
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, February 18, 2017, 9am – 2pm
Winter Birds of DeKorte Park
Guide: Gabriel Willow
Come explore the wilds of the New Jersey Meadowlands at DeKorte Park. Here, the Hackensack River meets extensive coastal marshes, creating a rich habitat for wildlife—especially wintering waterfowl and raptors. We'll be on the lookout for large flocks of canvasback, ruddy ducks, green-winged teal, northern pintail, bufflehead, and northern shoveler, along with common and hooded mergansers. And we'll scan the skies for hunting raptors including rough-legged and Cooper’s hawks, northern harriers, and perhaps even a snowy or short-eared owl. We can warm up at the environmental center and learn about the Meadowlands' ecology.
Transport by passenger van included. Limited to 12. $86 (60)
Click here to register

Sunday, February 19, 2017, 8:30am – 10:30am
Central Park Winter Walk
Guide: Gabriel Willow
Meet at Central Park West and 72nd Street. Some of the best sightings await hardy nature-lovers willing to venture out in winter. Several species of owls are found in Central Park in the colder months, along with "winter finches" such as pine siskins, redpolls, and crossbills. Observing the adaptations for cold-weather survival among blue jays, titmice, and other resident species is fascinating as well. Warm up after the walk with a hot chocolate by the fireplace at the Loeb Boathouse. Limited to 15. $36 (25)
Click here to register

Sunday, February 19, 2017, 12pm – 2pm
Weekly on Sunday, until Mar 12, 2017
Winter Seals and Waterbirds of NY Harbor
Guide: NYC Audubon guide
Meet at South Street Seaport’s Pier 17 and come aboard NY Water Taxi’s eco-friendly vessel for a winter adventure in New York Harbor. Look for harbor seals on the rocky shores of Governor’s Island and the more remote Hoffman and Swinburne Islands. Learn about the surprisingly diverse winter birds of New York City, including ducks, geese, loons, and sandpipers, many of which migrate south from the Arctic. See the Statue of Liberty and pass under the Verrazano Bridge. Dress warmly. Limited to 90. To register, contact New York Water Taxi at 212-742-1969 or www.nywatertaxi.com. $35 for adults; $25 for children under 12; $105 for family pack for 2 adults and 2 children

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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
Saturday, February 18, 2017, 10am - 2pm
Forest Restoration Workshop at the southern end of Deere Park
Meet at the east end of Browning Avenue (close to the State Police antenna tower on Todt Hill). We will follow the Blue Trail north to cut and uproot the alien Devil’s Walking Stick at the intersection of Todt Hill Road and Ocean Terrace and further along east of the trail. This will be our 245th workshop – only 5 to go to get to #250 (sorry, no prizes). If you don’t have your own, Protectors will supply gloves, pruners & refreshments. After the work session we will take a short walk over nearby trails.
For more information contact Don Recklies at (718) 768-9036 or Chuck Perry at (718) 667-1393. (Service credit is available.)

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Queens County Bird Club
February 18 – 21, 2017
New England
Leader: Arie Gilbert - 917-693-7178
One of our favorite trips in the winter!!
Trips of this nature require reservations **well in advance.**
Please contact leaders before the trip to let them know you are attending

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South Shore Audubon Society
Sunday, February 19, 2017
Massapequa Lake

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, February 18, 2017
Birding: Eagles at Payson Center (in Inwood Hill Park), Manhattan
9:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best viewing spots in Inwood Hill Park.
Free!

Great Backyard Bird Count at Queens Botanical Garden, Queens
11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Join Queens Botanical Garden for the 20th annual Great Backyard Bird Count.
Free!

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Young Birders Club
Sunday February 19, 2017
Point Lookout and Jones Beach (Nassau County)
Sponsoring NYSYBC Partner: Queens County Bird Club
Trip Leader: Steve Schellenger

Our good friend Steve Schellenger will be leading this field trip on Presidents' Day weekend.
We'll start at Point Lookout and bird there for a couple of hours, and then drive over to the Coast Guard Station at Jones Beach, where we will bird another 2 hours or so.
Target birds include loons, grebes, scoters, Harlequin Duck, Common Eider, Long-tailed Duck, and more...maybe even some shorebirds!
Watch your email Inbox and check back here for details coming soon!
Permission form due by 2/9/17.