Upcoming Birding and Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for Saturday, February 25, 2017 to Sunday, February 26, 2017:

Brooklyn Bird Club
Sunday, February 26, 2017
Coney Island Pier Sea watch
Leader: Peter Dorosh cell # 347-622-3559
Focus: Migrating and “staging” seabirds in a 3 hour count from the Pier (9 am-12 pm)
Meet: 8:20 am inside the Dunkin Donuts outside on the corner of the Surf Ave subway terminus
Note: dress as warmly as possible; Bad weather cancels; see the BBC Facebook/Prospect Sightings Blog for updates if there is a weather issue.

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Gateway National Recreation Area
Saturday, February 25, 2017, 10:00AM to 1:00PM
Late Winter Thaw Bird Walk
Meet for a slide program and walk along the trails with Don Riepe Learn about the management and ecology of refuge wildlife and look and hear for the very first signs of spring. For info and reservations 718-474-0896 or email don@littoralsociety.org. This is a partnership program with NYC Audubon.
Location: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

Sunday, February 26, 2017, 1:00PM to 2:30PM
Spring is in the Air
Join a National Park Ranger for an investigative tour of the East Pond Trail and look for signs of the approaching spring season.
Location: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

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Linnaean Society of New York
Saturday, February 25, to Sunday, February 26, 2017
Montauk Weekend
Leader: Joe DiCostanzo
Registrar: Dale Dancis — ddancis@gmail.com or 212-724-3269
Ride: $90 – lodging not included

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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 25, 2017, 9am – 5pm
Winter Birds of the Barrier Islands
Guide: Tod Winston
Several bird species that nest in the far north spend the winter at Jones Beach, in a habitat similar to their summer homes. We’ll visit Point Lookout and Jones Beach in search of harlequin ducks, common eider, scoters, horned larks, and snow buntings. Transport by passenger van included. Limited to 12. $93 ($65)
Click here to register

Saturday, February 25, 2017, 10am – 1pm
Winter Thaw Bird Walk
Guide: Don Riepe with American Littoral Society and Gateway NRA
Meet at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge for a hike around the ponds and gardens to look for very early signs of spring as well as late winter birds. For more information and to register, contact Don Riepe at 718-474-0896 or donriepe@gmail.com. No limit. Free

Sunday, February 26, 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 25, 2017 @ 12:00pm – 2:00pm
The Arden Heights Woods Park Preserve
Bounded by Arthur Kill Road, Woodrow Road and Arden Avenue the Arden Heights Woods Park Preserve is NYC’s largest forested freshwater wetlands. Participants are going to hike through this forested wetlands system and explore natural features such as Moore’s Brook and Owl Hollow. We will study the winter birds and botany and attempt some animal tracking. We will meet at the DEC entrance along Woodrow Road beside Berry Avenue.
For more information contact Ray Matarazzo at (718) 317-7666.

Sunday, February 26, 2017, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Crooke’s Point @ Great Kills Park
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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South Shore Audubon Society
Sunday, February 26, 2017
Mill Pond Park

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
Sunday, February 26, 2017
Birding: Owls at Alley Pond Park Adventure Center (in Alley Pond Park), Queens
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Urban Park Rangers will take you out and guide you on your quest to spot winter owls. Registration Required.
Free!