Check out City Birder Tours, and Green-Wood sponsored tours on their calendar pages here.
Celebrate your inner nerd with my new t-shirt design! Available on my Spreadshirt shop in multiple colors and products.

Monday, April 26, 2021

Upcoming Trips

Below are the birding/nature trips for the weekend of May 1-2, 2021:

Brooklyn Bird

Prospect Park Saturday Spring Migration Walks
Saturday, May 1, 2021
Leader: Dennis Hrehowsik
Registration: Registration is by email only, to: deepseagangster@gmail.com The registration period will open at 7 p.m. on the Wednesday before each Saturday walk and will close at midnight on Thursday. Current club members will receive priority. Each person must register individually; you may not register additional participants. If you need to cancel please do so at least 24 hours in advance so we can offer someone your spot; no-shows will be moved to the bottom of the list for future walks. See our Covid-19 guidelines here

First Sunday Prospect Park Walks
Sunday, May 2, 2021, 8:00am - 12:00pm
Leader: Tina Alleva
Registration: We are requiring participants to register in advance. Registration is by email only, to: tinamariealleva@gmail.com The registration period will open at 7 p.m. on the Thursday before each Sunday walk and will close at midnight on Friday. Current club members will receive priority. Each person must register individually; you may not register additional participants. If you need to cancel please do so at least 24 hours in advance so we can offer someone your spot; no-shows will be moved to the bottom of the list for future walks.Each walk is strictly limited to 20 participants. Walk-ups will NOT be permitted. Masks which cover nose and mouth will be required to be worn at all times.

The Sunday walks will start at The Audubon Center at the Boathouse.

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Freshkills Park Alliance

City Nature Challenge at Schmul Park
Saturday, May 01, 2021 10:00am
Participate in the City Nature Challenge, and join Freshkills Park Staff at Schmul Park. Help support citizen science and taking part is easy. This year Freshkills Park is participating in a Park-by-Park Nature challenge, where 20 greenspaces across NYC will compete for ecological glory. In addition, all observations made will contribute to Staten Island’s overall […]
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City Nature Challenge Biodversity Walk
Saturday, May 01, 2021 12:00pm
Lace up your shoes for a nature walk at Freshkills Park! Freshkills Park researchers will take you behind the scenes to visit areas that are currently closed to the public. On this one-mile walk, you’ll use iNaturalist to share and identify the different plants and animals found in the woods, wetlands, and grasslands at Freshkills […]
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Gateway National Park

Fort Tilden Hike
Sunday, May, 2, 2021, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Day(s): Every week on Sunday until August 29, 2021
View Details

Fort Wadsworth Tour
Sunday, May 2, 2021, 2:00 pm - 3:30pm
View Details

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Green-Wood Cemetery

Birding in Peace (Sold Out)
Saturday, May 1, 2021, 6:00am–7:30am
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.

Mycoblitz: City Nature Challenge Group Fungi Survey
Saturday, May 1, 2021, 10:00am–12:00pm
Participate in the Citywide Nature Challenge at Green-Wood! Join Sigrid Jakob and Potter Palmer of the New York Mycological Society for a guided Mycoblitz (the first official 2021 group survey of Green-Wood fungi for the Fungi Phenology Project). Orientation, training on data collection (with a focus on using the iNaturalist app), and materials to help ...
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Birding in Peace (Sold Out)
Sunday, May 2, 2021, 6:00am–7:30am
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.

Great Trees of Green-Wood (Sold Out)
Sunday, May 2, 2021, 2:00pm–3:30pm
All Great Trees of Green-Wood tours are currently sold out, but you can purchase tickets to other walking tours by going back to our calendar here. It happens every spring! The flowering trees of Green-Wood explode with color, and it is a visual extravaganza! Lace up your walking shoes and get ready to start Instagram ...
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Members-Only Program: Beekeeping 101
Monday, May 3, 2021, 6:00pm–7:00pm
Two-part virtual class with single registration.- Part 1: Monday, May 3rd, 6pm- Part 2: Monday, May 10th, 6pm Have you ever wondered what it takes to keep bees? Or maybe you just want to learn more about how these tiny insects create such delicious honey? Join Nick Hoefly, Green-Wood’s head beekeeper, for this two-part virtual ...
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Linnaean Society of New York

8th Annual Starr Saphir Memorial Spring Migration Walk, Central Park
Saturday, May 1, 2021
Leader: Lenore Swenson
Registration opens: Monday, April 19
Details

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New York City Audubon

Spring Bird Walks at Van Cortlandt Park, The Bronx
Saturday, May 1, 2021
Saturdays, April 24-June 26, 9-10:30am
Guide: NYC Audubon with The Van Cortlandt Park Alliance
Meet at the Van Cortlandt Park Nature Center. Explore Van Cortlandt Park's ecologically diverse grounds and celebrate a long tradition of birding in the park. We will look for various resident and migratory bird species and discuss a wide range of avian topics. RSVP required. Limited to 12. Free
Register Here

Queens Botanical Garden Bird Walk
Saturday, May 1, 2021
Saturdays, April 3, 17, and May 1, 9:30-10:30am
Guide: Corey Finger with Queens Botanical Garden
Explore Queens Botanical Garden in search of migrant songbirds and learn about the resources the Garden offers birds and other wildlife. RSVP required. Each walk limited to 15. Free (with Garden admission).
Register here

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Northfork Audubon Society

Wrack Line Rambles - Family Outing
Saturday, May 1, 2021, 3:00pm 4:30pm
North Fork Audubon Society (map)
This family program is geared for all ages and meets on the first Saturday of each month at the Roy Latham Nature Center. From there, we head down to the beach where we will explore the wrack line. Ask the Naturalist questions, discover the many organisms found at the high tide line and within the intertidal zone, observe wildlife, go on a scavenger hunt, and learn about marine debris.
Space is limited, registration is required.
Suggested donation is $20 per family (up to four people).
To reserve a spot for your family, please register via email: nfasprograms@gmail.com

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Northshore Audubon Society

Valley Stream State Park
Saturday, May 1, 2021, 7:45am – 11:45am
Leader: Bobby B
Where: MAP
Note: 7:45am Start Time. NYS Parks parking fee of $8.00 may apply after that.

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NYC H2O

Mill Creek and Richmond Valley Walk with Nathan Kensinger
Sunday, May 2, 2021, 12:00pm - 3:00pm
The branches of Mill Creek flow through many unique urban landscapes, as they travel through the historic community of Richmond Valley and out to the Arthur Kill.

Join artist, photographer, and journalist Nathan Kensinger on a walk crossing several branches of this wild waterway, as it flows past Bluebelts, underneath abandoned railroads and train stations, and through forests and wetlands. Along the route, we will pass through the former grounds of the Mt. Loretto orphanage, visit new stormwater drainage features, and consider the history of French, Dutch and English immigrants in the area.
Register here

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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods

The Richard Buegler 10-Mile Spring Walk
Sunday, May 2, 2021, 9:00am - 3:45pm
Join with us as we honor Richard Buegler and the installation of a commemorative bench beside the Greenbelt Nature Center. Starting at the Greenbelt Nature Center on Rockland Avenue, hikers will traverse the Greenbelt in search of spring flowers and bird song. A favorite walk of Protector’s founder, Richard Buegler, the 10-Mile walk takes participants along the Meisner Avenue Pond, Loosestrife Swamp, Heyerdahl Hill and more. At the conclusion of the walk we will gather at the Greenbelt Nature Center at 4:00 p.m. for a remembrance of Richard, his life’s work and his dedication to Protectors of Pine Oak Woods.
For more information call Dominick Durso at (917) 478-7607 or Hillel Lofaso at (718) 477-0545.

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Queens County Bird Club

Forest Park
Sunday, May 2, 2021, 7:00am
Leader: Jean Loscalzo (917) 575-6824 (text)
Where: 40.705472, -73.837722 (map)
Note: Walk is currently "full". Contact trip leader to be put on wait list.

Enjoy a jaunt through Forest Park, including a stop at the "Water Hole", which many returning warblers include in their itinerary. Meet at Park Lane South and Mayfair Rd, Richmond Hill, NY 11418.

Registration: Please contact the trip leader to register for this trip. Prefer text 917-575-6824 or email dm5078@aol.com

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South Shore Audubon Society

Jones Beach Coast Guard Station Parking Area
Sunday, May 2, 2021

From the Wantagh State Parkway, travel south. Upon entering Jones Beach State Park, exit at Bay Drive and continue west. Turn right (north) at entrance for Coast Guard Station and West End Boat Basin; turn right again for parking.
Directions via Google Maps
Registration: Registration is required by calling Joe Landesberg at (516) 467-9498
Note: Walks will be limited to 12 participants. Participants will be required to wear a mask, keep a minimum of 6 feet from other people

Saturday, April 03, 2021

New York City Rare Bird Alert

Below is the New York City Rare Bird Alert for the week ending Friday, April 2, 2020:

- RBA
* New York
* New York City, Long Island, Westchester County
* Apr. 2, 2021
* NYNY2104.02


- Birds mentioned
Progne spp. (CUBAN/CARIBBEAN/SINALOA/GRAY-BREASTED MARTIN)+
WESTERN TANAGER+
(+ Details requested by NYSARC)

KING EIDER
HARLEQUIN DUCK
Chimney Swift
DOVEKIE
BLACK-HEADED GULL
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
American Bittern
Snowy Egret
Rough-legged Hawk
Purple Martin
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Purple Finch
Common Redpoll
Red Crossbill
Pine Siskin
Chipping Sparrow
Louisiana Waterthrush
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER
Northern Parula
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER

- Transcript

If followed by (+) please submit documentation of your report electronically and use the NYSARC online submission form found at http://www.nybirds.org/NYSARC/goodreport.htm

You can also send reports and digital image files via email to nysarc44 (at)nybirds{dot}org.

If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy reports and photos or sketches are welcome. Hardcopy documentation should be mailed to:

Gary Chapin - Secretary
NYS Avian Records Committee (NYSARC)
125 Pine Springs Drive
Ticonderoga, NY 12883

Hotline: New York City Area Rare Bird Alert
Number: (212) 979-3070

Compiler: Tom Burke
Coverage: New York City, Long Island, Westchester County

Transcriber: Ben Cacace

BEGIN TAPE

Greetings. This is the New York Rare Bird Alert for Friday, April 2nd 2021 at 11pm. The highlights of today's tape are an as yet not specifically identified MARTIN at Prospect Park Lake, WESTERN TANAGER, DOVEKIE, KING EIDER and HARLEQUIN DUCK, BLACK-HEADED GULL, ORANGE-CROWNED and YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS, spring migrants and more.

Not an April Fool's joke but likely one of the year's highlights. Yesterday a MARTIN was spotted flying around Prospect Park Lake with Tree and other swallows. In close scrutiny then and today as the bird remained around the lake to sunset points to this being not a Purple Martin but either a GRAY-BREASTED MARTIN or one of the formerly Snowy Bellied complex now split into 3 species including CUBAN and CARIBBEAN MARTINS. Further analysis of photos and vocalizations will presumably provide the answer. The MARTIN was found this morning on the west side of the lake roosting in a tree with Tree Swallows and once it started feeding over the lake, usually at a low level, it did cover most of the lake but spent much of its time cruising the southwest corner of the lake. This area is just inside the park from Prospect Park Southwest where a prudent birder would begin a Saturday morning search.

A female WESTERN TANAGER in Manhattan's Carl Schurz Park was still present today as was the wintering ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER. The TANAGER is usually seen at the feeders just inside the park on the east side of East End Avenue just below East 86th Street while the warbler remains at the north end of the park along the border with Gracie Mansion.

A storm related occurrence of a DOVEKIE last Saturday at the north end of Georgica Cove and East Hampton ended with the bird swimming away down the cove. A young male KING EIDER was spotted off Robert Moses State Park field 2 last Saturday and today a female KING was reported with Common Eider by the jetties off Point Lookout Town Park with HARLEQUIN DUCKS also continuing there.

An adult BLACK-HEADED GULL was spotted at Coney Island Creek last Sunday and a GLAUCOUS GULL appeared again last Saturday at Flax Pond in Old Field north of Stony Brook. An ICELAND GULL was noted at Randall's Island Monday and Wednesday and on Central Park Reservoir Thursday and a few LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS included 3 at Jones Beach Tuesday.

An AMERICAN BITTERN continues along Dune Road and another was spotted in marshes at Oakwood Beach on Staten Island last Saturday.

A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was still around Captree Monday.

Lingering winter finches included a couple of COMMON REDPOLLS in Brooklyn's Green-wood Cemetery Wednesday. RED CROSSBILLS heard off Paumanok Trail by Jones Pond in Manorville last Saturday is a possible nesting area and some PINE SISKINS and PURPLE FINCHES currently moving through.

A YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER was found at Connetquot River State Park in Great River yesterday and among other returning species this week have been SNOWY EGRET last Saturday, CHIMNEY SWIFT Monday, PURPLE MARTIN and BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER as of Saturday, CHIPPING SPARROW, LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH Tuesday and a NORTHERN PARULA found in Central Park Wednesday and still present today.

To phone in reports call Tom Burke at (914) 967-4922.

This service is sponsored by the Linnaean Society of New York and the National Audubon Society. Thank you for calling.

- End transcript
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