Upcoming Birding and Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for Saturday, August 25, 2018 to Sunday, August 26, 2018:

Bedford Audubon Society
Saturday, August 25, 2018, 9:00am
Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch
The fall Hawkwatch starts Saturday, August 25! Join us at the Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch at the Arthur Butler Sanctuary on Chestnut Ridge Road in Bedford Corners every day from 9 am to 5 pm, weather permitting, to experience the miracle of raptor migration. Our data is combined with other Hawkwatch sites to create population and migration analyses that help us better protect raptors and their habitats.
See more details

Sunday, August 26, 2018, 10:00am - 1:00pm
Butterflies With Naturalist Tait Johansson
Bylane Farm, 35 Todd Rd., Katonah
Learn the natural history and identification of our local butterflies with indoor instruction and an outdoor butterfly walk. Bring binoculars, close-focusing ones if possible, and lunch. Cost includes book and is $35 for members, $55 for non-members (and we’ll credit you with a $35 membership for the year). Level of difficulty: Easy. Limited to 8 people. Please register by August 21 with Susan at info@bedfordaudubon.org or 914.302.9713.
See more details

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Gateway National Recreation Area
Saturday, August 25, 2018, 7:30am to 5:00pm
13th Annual Jamaica Bay Shorebird Festival
Location: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Learn about shorebird identification, behavior and biology during the peak shorebird migration time in NYC.
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Saturday, August 25, 2018, 10:00am to 11:00am
Birding by the Bay
Location: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Fees: Free
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Sunday, August 26, 2018, 8:00pm to 9:30pm
Full Sturgeon Moon Hike
Location: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Experience the park after dark and learn more about the nocturnal residents of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.
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Sunday, August 26, 2018, 10:00am to 12:30pm
Hike the Trails of the North Forty Natural Area
Location: Floyd Bennett Field- Ryan Visitor Center
Join American Littoral Society naturalist Mickey Maxwell Cohen and discover the birds, wildflowers, and unique foliage in this developing maritime woodland.
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Sunday, August 26, 2018, 10:00am to 11:30am
Osprey Watch Guided Walk
Location: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Every Sunday Weekly from 05/20/2018 to 09/30/2018
Fees: free
Learn all about the amazing osprey on this guided walk of the West Pond Trail.
View Details

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Great South Bay Audubon Society
Saturday, August 25, 2018, 8:00am
Jamaica Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Leader(s): John Gluth (631-827-0120), Bob Grover (516-318-8536)

Southern State Pkwy. to Belt Pkwy. to Exit 17, Cross Bay Blvd. South. Continue south for about 2 miles. Look for entrance of refuge on the right (west) side. There are signs for park entrance.

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Hudson River Audubon Society
Saturday, August 25, 2018
Marshlands Conservancy
7:00am – Meet at Marshlands Nature Center
We will walk to Parson’s Point looking for the first fall migrants, then shorebirds on the incoming tide.
http://www.hras.org/wtobird/marshlands.html

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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, August 25, 2018, 7:30am – 4:30pm
13th Annual Shorebird Festival at Jamaica Bay
During the past 40 years, over 40 species of shorebirds (including rare and accidental vagrants) have been recorded at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge’s East and West Ponds from mid-July through October, with the greatest diversity and abundance usually occurring in August. We invite you to attend our 13th annual celebration at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, August 25. Activities include guided shorebird walks, family programming, and talks from experts on shorebird conservation, shorebird identification, and Jamaica Bay.

Free bus transportation from Manhattan to Jamaica Bay is available for NYC Audubon members at the Student/Senior level and up. Meet at 71 West 23rd Street at 6:30am. Contact NYC Audubon at 212-691-7483 to reserve a seat. For more information, contact NYC Audubon at 212-691-7483, American Littoral Society at 718-474-0896, or Don Riepe at donriepe@gmail.com. The program is free, but suggested donations of $20 for adults (children are free) to NYC Audubon are most welcome to offset the festival cost.

The Shorebird Festival is a NYC Audubon partnership program with American Littoral Society and Gateway National Recreation Area.

Sunday, August 26, 2018, 8am – 11am
Prospect Park Birdwalk
Guide: Gabriel Willow
Join Gabriel Willow for a leisurely walk to see late arriving migrants and breeding bird residents of “Brooklyn's backyard.” Beautiful Prospect Park has a wide variety of habitats that attract a large number of migrants and breeding bird species—significantly more than Central Park, in fact. We will explore the park's meadows, forests, and waterways in search of waterfowl, warblers, tanagers, and some of the other species that call the park home. Limited to 15. $36 (25) per walk
Click here to register

Sunday, August 26, 2018, 2pm – 3pm
Governors Island Bird Walk
Guide: NYC Audubon
Meet at Nolan Park house #17. Join us for a bird walk around beautiful and historic Governors Island, which boasts over 192 species recorded on ebird.org. Learn about the island’s fascinating history and search for waterbirds, raptors, waterfowl, and more. Binoculars are available. No registration necessary. No limit. Free

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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods
Sunday, August 26, 2018, 10:00am – 12:00pm
Arden Heights Woods
Participants will meet at the north end of Carlton Boulevard (off Woodrow Road), and then wander through Arden Heights Woods to get some idea of the changes the Department of Parks will be soon making. (It may be buggy in the low areas, so you might want to bring spray.) We’ll look at the woods to see what’s happening before the trees begin to wind down for the season.
Call Don Recklies at 718-768-9036 for more information.
Read More

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Queens County Bird Club
Sunday, August 26, 2018
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Leader: Eric Miller 917-279-7530
Meet: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 175-10 Cross Bay Blvd, Broad Channel, NY 11693 (map)

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South Shore Audubon Society
Sunday, August 26, 2018
Mill Pond Park

Use street parking on the westbound side of Merrick Road. The park is four blocks west of the Wantagh State Parkway.
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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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, August 25, 2018
White Island Sunset Canoe Trip (Advanced) at Marine Park, Brooklyn
5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
Explore the waters of Gerritsen Creek and paddle by this special island where only wildflowers and wild birds reside. Prior canoe experience required. Registration is required.
Free!

Sunday, August 26, 2018
Birding at Arthur Kill Road and Brookfield Avenue (in Brookfield Park), Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best wildlife viewing spots in the urban jungle.
Free!