Upcoming Birding and Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for Saturday, September 23, 2017 to Sunday, September 24, 2017:

Audubon Center in Prospect Park
Saturday, September 23, 2017, 12 pm – 1 pm
Introduction to Bird Watching
Join Prospect Park Alliance for a birdwatching walk and learn about Prospect Park’s magnificent array of birds and how to identify them!

**********

Bedford Audubon Society
Saturday, September 23, 2017, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Peak Migration at Chestnut Ridge HawkWatch
Meet up with the HawkWatch Team for Broad-winged Hawks, joined by increasing numbers of other migrant raptors such as Sharp-shinned Hawks, American Kestrels, Ospreys, and Bald Eagles.
Meet at the parking lot of the Arthur Butler Sanctuary at 9:45am.
Level of difficulty: Easy-moderate (the walk to the HawkWatch is uphill, but there are bleachers at the platform).
Cost: Free. Please register in advance with Susan at info@bedfordaudubon.org or 914.302.9713.

**********

Brooklyn Bird Club
Saturday, September 23, 2017
Autumn’s Raptors and Songbirds at Jones Beach State Park
Leader: Tom Stephenson
Focus: Raptors peak, swallows, peak of migrating songbirds, early sparrows, shorebirds, and waterbirds
Car Fee: $22.00
Registrar: Chris Laskowski, email celaskowski@yahoo.com
Registration Period: Sept 16th – Sept 21st
Please review our general trip information and guidelines on this page.

Saturday, September 23, 2017, 7:15am
Prospect Park Saturday Walk
Leader: Dennis Hrehowsik
Meet at Ocean/Parkside Avenues, “The Pergola” at 7:15am
No registration necessary.

**********

Gateway National Recreation Area
Sunday, September 24, 2017, 11:00am to 12:00pm
Salt Marsh Detective
What makes a salt marsh? Why are they important? Who lives there? Children and their families are invited to step into the shoes of a "Salt Marsh Detective" to investigate these questions.
Location: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

**********

Great South Bay Audubon Society
Saturday, September 23, 2017, 8:00am
Robert Moses Hawk Watch and Jones Beach WE
Leader(s): Bob Grover (516-318-8536) John Gluth (631-827-0120)
Meet at Robert Moses State Park parking field #5 northeast corner

**********

Green-Wood Cemetery
Sunday, September 24, 2017
Birding in Peace

Before our gates open to the general public, birding expert Rob Jett leads these peaceful Sunday morning walking tours to discover the many birds that call Green-Wood home. By September, all our nesting birds’ offspring will be on their own. Returning warblers will be in their less flamboyant fall plumage. Large numbers of blackbirds, flycatchers, sparrows, vireos, and swallows will also be passing through. By October, waterfowl are returning, and we’ll look for raptors heading south. November will bring back our overwintering denizen from the north.

Grab a copy of our Bird Checklist before you begin. Comfortable footwear is recommended.
$10 for members of Green‑Wood and BHS/$15 for non-members.
Click here for our inclement weather policy.

**********

Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon Society
Sunday, September 24, 2017, 9:00am
Hook Mountain Hawk Watch
Just over the Tappanzee, there is the possibility of seeing hawks at eye level at the lovely spot. There is a short, but strenuous hike up the mountain to the hawk watch. If the hawk watch is slow, we will search for migrants on the trails.
Registration: 631-885-1881

Directions: From the New York State Thruway, take exit 11 (Nyack). Proceed to Route 9W. Turn left onto 9W. Continue past the traffic light, past Christian Herald Road to the top of the hill. At about 1.8 miles from the turn onto 9W, look for the unpaved parking and pull off on the right. (Limited parking, rough surface.) Meet by the cars.

**********

Linnaean Society of New York
Saturday, September 23, 2017
Hook Mountain Hawk Watch
Leader: Rob Jett
Registrar: Barbara Saunders — bsaunders002@nyc.rr.com or 646-872-4029
Registration opens: Monday, September 11
Ride: $25

**********

New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturdays -- 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
Meet at the Reflecting Pool at the Leon Levy Visitor Center
Included in All-Garden Pass
Get Tickets

**********

New York City Audubon Society
Saturdays, September 2–November 25, 8-9:30am
Van Cortlandt Park Bird Walks
Guides: NYC Audubon with the Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy
Meet at Van Cortlandt Nature Center. The history of birding and Van Cortlandt Park are inseparable. Influential birders such as Roger Tory Peterson and Allan D. Cruickshank got their starts on Van Cortlandt’s ecologically diverse grounds. These walks celebrate the tradition set forth by these great ornithologists. Participants will look for various species of residents and migrants and discuss a wide range of avian topics. For more information, please call 212-691-7483. No registration necessary. No limit. Free

Saturday, September 23, 2017, 9am – 1pm
Birding Gems of Staten Island: Clove Lakes Park
Guide: Gabriel Willow
Meet at the Manhattan terminal of the Staten Island Ferry and journey to the "Forgotten Borough" to discover some of the beautiful forests and incredible birding spots at Clove Lakes Park. Look for ducks and seabirds in New York Harbor on our way across on the ferry ride and then catch a bus to the Park. Numerous warblers, vireos, tanagers, and other migratory songbirds can be seen here. We'll even see one of the largest and oldest trees in NYC! Limited to 15. Bus fare ($2.75 each way - please bring your MetroCard or exact change) not included in registration price. $43 (30)
Click here to register

Saturday, September 23, 2017, 12pm – 4pm
Kingsland Wildflowers Festival
Enjoy a fun family day at Kingsland Wildflowers. The festival will celebrate the second year of bird monitoring, research, and programming at the Kingsland Wildflowers green roof and community engagement space. Visitors will be able to explore four newly installed green roofs—planted with over 22,000 square feet of native grasses, wildflowers, and sedum attractive to birds, bats, and native pollinators—atop Broadway Stages performance arts studio. Activities include tours of the roof with wildlife and plant experts, family-friendly activities, partner organizations discussing exciting Greenpoint conservation projects, and live music. Food and refreshments will be served.
This is event is free and open to the public.

Saturday, September 23, 2017, 4pm – 7pm
Jamaica Bay Sunset Ecology Cruise
With American Littoral Society and Gateway NRA
Meet at pier 4 in Sheepshead Bay to board the 100ft boat “Golden Sunshine”. Learn about the Bay and its history, management and ecology. See egrets, herons, ibis, terns, laughing gulls, osprey, peregrine falcons, and shorebirds. This narrated tour of the bay’s backwater marshes includes wine & cheese, fruit, drinks, and snacks. For information and reservations call Don Riepe at (718) 474-0896 or e-mail donriepe@gmail.com. $55 (children under 16 $25)

Sunday, September 24, 2017, 9:00am – 10:30am
Hidden Gems: Birding by Subway Series Kissena Park
Guide: Corey Finger
Meet at the Velodrome parking lot off of Booth Memorial Ave, across from Parsons Boulevard. Meet with other birders in Manhattan and travel by subway together, or strike out on your own to this hidden gem. Spend the morning looking for wood-warblers, sparrows, orioles and other migrant birds at this excellent destination for autumn birding. Limited to 15. $36 (25)
Click here to register

**********

North Shore Audubon Society
Saturday, September 23, 2017, 8am – 12pm
NYIT de Seversky Center
NOTE EARLY START TIME - 8am.
From Northern Blvd, turn south on WEST ROAD (Glen Head, NY), and follow signs to de Seversky Center/Mansion.
Wear water-resistant footwear, bring binoculars and drinking water. Wear long pants and socks so you do not touch poison ivy. Leader - Elizabeth - 516-404-1984

**********

South Shore Audubon Society
Sunday, September 24, 2017
Massapequa Preserve
From Sunrise Highway, turn north onto Broadway, Massapequa. Travel under the Long Island Rail Road overpass, then make the first right onto Veterans Boulevard (headed east). Go past the Massapequa train station and into the parking lot at the east end of the station. The preserve is directly east of the parking lot.
Directions via Google Maps

Bird walks led by a member of SSAS are conducted nearly every Sunday morning from late August through early June. Walks are open to the public and are free of charge. We especially encourage youngsters to attend.
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.

**********

Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, September 23, 2017
Bird Walks at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
8:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
Join NYC Audubon on birding walks through Van Cortlandt Park to discover wildlife happenings in the park.
Free!

Ranger's Choice: Birding Road Trip at Salt Marsh Nature Center (in Marine Park), Brooklyn
10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
The Urban Park Rangers will offer this expedition to a variety of Brooklyn parks in search of early fall migrants. Registration is required. Registration opens on September 13.
Free!

Birding at 138th Place and 11th Avenue (in Powell's Cove Park), Queens
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best wildlife viewing spots. To enhance your experience, we encourage you to bring binoculars and field guides.
Free!

Introduction to Bird Watching at Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Join Prospect Park Alliance for a bird-watching walk and learn about Prospect Park's magnificent array of birds and how to identify them!
Free!

Sunday, September 24, 2017
Birding: Fall Migrants at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
9:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
The early bird catches the worm! Join the Urban Park Rangers on this morning birding tour as we look for fall migrants.
Free!

Discovery Walks for Families: Beginning Birders - The North Woods at Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Why do birds flock to Central Park every spring and fall? We’ll find out as we explore Central Park’s woodlands, and learn the basics of bird identification.
Free!