Upcoming Birding and Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for Saturday, March 24, 2018 to Sunday, March 25, 2018:

Audubon Center in Prospect Park
Saturday, March 24, 12pm – 1pm
Introduction to Birdwatching
Join Prospect Park Alliance for a birdwatching walk and learn about Prospect magnificent array of birds and how to identify them!

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Bedford Audubon Society
Saturday, March 24, 2018, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Vernal Pools at Hunt-Parker Sanctuary
Under the leadership of long-term BAS member Paul Lewis, we will visit these hidden treasures deep in the forest and learn about the vital importance of these seasonal wetlands as spawning areas for salamanders and other amphibians. This program is suitable for children aged 10 and above.
Cost: Free
Level of difficulty: Moderate
Meet at Bylane Farm at 12:45pm wearing boots.
Please register with Susan Fisher at info@bedfordaudubon.org or 914-302-9713.
See more details

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Brooklyn Bird Club
Sunday, March 25, 2018
Western shore of Brooklyn: Owls Head to Bush Terminal Parks
Leader: Bobbi Manian
Focus: early spring passerines, woodpeckers, sparrows, ducks, bay and marsh waterfowl
Car Fee: $10.00
Registrar: Dennis Hrehowsik email deepseagangster@gmail.com
Registration Period: March 17th – March 22nd
Please review our general trip information and guidelines on this page.

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Gateway National Recreation Area
Saturday, March 24, 2018, 10:00am to 1:00pm
Early Spring Bird Walk
Location: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Fees: Free
Spring Naturalist Series- Each week through the spring, join us to learn more about the ecology of Jamaica Bay.
View Details

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Green-Wood Cemetery
Sunday, March 25, 2018
Birding in Peace
Just because it’s winter, doesn’t mean that there aren’t interesting birds to discover in Green-Wood. For some bird species that migrate south after the breeding season, Brooklyn is their Miami during the cold months. Spend the early morning exploring the cemetery, looking for overwintering waterfowl, nuthatches, woodpeckers, sparrows, finches and any half-hardy birds that decided to stick around. By February we’ll see some of the early north-bound birds beginning to trickle back into the area.

$10 for members of Green-Wood and BHS / $15 for non-members

Click here for our inclement weather policy.


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Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon Society
Sunday, March 25, 2018 - 9:00am
Shu Swamp Preserve
There is no better place to celebrate the beginning of spring than this lovely preserve near Oyster Bay. We’ll look for the earliest migrants and the first blooms, while being serenaded by the rare Rusty Blackbird. Registration: 631-885-1881

Directions: Take Oyster Bay Rd west out of Oyster Bay town and turn north onto Beaver Brook Rd. Follow the road north as it becomes Frost Mill Rd, and look for the parking area on the left just before the train trestle.

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Linnaean Society of New York
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Brooklyn South Coastal Birding
Leader: Peter Dorosh
Registrar: Kathleen Howley — kathleenhowley@gmail.com or 212-877-3170
Registration opens: Monday, March 12
Ride: $20

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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

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New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, March 24, 2018, 10am – 5pm
Winter Birds of Sandy Hook, NJ
Guide: Joe Giunta, Happy Warblers LLC
Sandy Hook, a spectacular barrier island at the northernmost point of the New Jersey coast, hosts a variety of species including Arctic-bound migrants and harbor seals that lie on the beach to warm up in the sun. Other possible sightings include loons, sea ducks, snow buntings, and horned larks. Transport by passenger van included. Limited to 12. $103 (72)
Click here to register

Saturday, March 24, 2018, 5:00pm – 9:30pm
The Sky-Dance of the Woodcock
Guide: Gabriel Willow
The American Woodcock is a remarkable bird. It is in the sandpiper family but lives in woodlands, often far from beaches. The male performs an incredible crepuscular aerial display and song early in the spring, soon after the snow melts in the northern U.S. We’ll look for it (and bats, owls, and other critters) at Floyd Bennett Field. Bring a headlamp or flashlight and a snack. Transport by passenger van included. Limited to 12. $92 (64) per trip
Click here to register

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North Shore Audubon
Saturday, March 24, 9:30am – 12:00pm
Alley Pond Environmental Center
Leader: Trudy - home (718) 224-8432‬ mobile (347) 251-5841‬

Please inform walk leader that you are attending.
See "Walk Locations" for directions.
Meet in westernmost parking lot.
Wear water-resistant footwear, bring binoculars and drinking water. Wear long pants and socks so you do not touch poison ivy.

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South Shore Audubon Society
Sunday, March 25, 2018
Jones Beach West End 2
From the Southern State Parkway, exit onto the Meadowbrook State Parkway south. After entering Jones Beach State Park, exit right (west) into the West End. Continue west to West End 2 parking lot; we meet in the northeast corner of the lot.

From the Wantagh State Parkway, travel south. Upon entering Jones Beach State Park, exit at Bay Drive and continue west to West End 2 parking lot; we meet in the northeast corner of the 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.

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Young Birders Club
Saturday March 24, 2018
Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge / Black Dirt Region (Orange County)
Trip Leader: Garret Van Gelder
This trip will be led by our very own Garret Van Gelder, who tells us this is one of his favorite birding destinations.

The Wallkill River NWR was established in 1990 and encompasses 5100 acres. Most of the refuge is located in Sussex, New Jersey but the northern part, Liberty Marsh, is in Orange County, New York.

The 2.75 mile Liberty Loop (most of which is in NJ) links with the Appalachian Trail and circles wetlands and mudflats. The marsh attracts migrating shorebirds, waterfowl and raptors. The area is also known for its Black Dirt which is rich in organic matter. Grassland birds, shorebirds and geese feed from the furrows and ditches.

More than 225 bird species have been observed on the refuge throughout the years. It offers excellent viewing opportunities for birds and a variety of wildlife.

Be prepared -- trails may be muddy at this time of year.

New Trip Registration Form due by FRIDAY 3/16/18. If you have not yet submitted a 2018 medical form (page 2 of the trip registration form) please submit it with your registration form.