Upcoming Trips

Below are the birding/nature trips for the weekend of September 2 - September 3, 2023:

Brooklyn Bird Club

Introduction to Birdwatching
Saturday, September 2, 2023, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Leader: A member of the Brooklyn Bird Club
Description: Whether you’re just starting out or have already joined the birding ranks, this introductory bird outing is for you. Join a member of the Brooklyn Bird Club to learn the basics of birding and search for the dozens of species that visit Prospect Park through all seasons.
Registration: No registration necessary.
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First Sunday Bird Outings
Sunday, September 3, 2023, 8:00am - 11:00am
Leader: Paul Keim, Brooklyn Bird Club
Description: Join naturalist and birder Paul Keim in search of dozens of species that visit the park through all seasons. Learn about the different habitats in Prospect Park and why they are important for all types of birds.
Registration: No registration necessary.
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Gateway National Parks

Fort Wadsworth Tour and Hike
Every week on Saturday, Sunday until September 30, 2023
Leader: Park Rangers
Description: Join us for a hike around Fort Wadsworth as we explore the forts and natural areas. Inclement weather will cancel this program. Dress appropriately and bring water.
Registration: Please call (718) 354-4500 to make a reservation.
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Green-Wood Cemetery

Birding in Peace
Sunday, September 3, 2023, 6:30am – 8:00am
Leader: Rob Jett
Description: By September, offspring of summer’s nesting birds 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, we’ll be on the lookout for returning waterfowl and raptors heading south. November will bring back our overwintering feathered denizens from the north.
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Linnaean Society of New York

Sea Watch and Early Fall Migrants on Long Island
Sunday, September 3, 2023
Leader: Mary Normandia
Description: We will start with an ocean watch for seabirds and then investigate nearby areas for overhead migrants. If conditions are right the trip may include a short hawk watch for tips on falcon identification.
Registration: Junko Suzuki - jsuzuki.ny@gmail.com
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New York City Audubon

Bike with a Biologist
Saturday, September 2, 2023, 9:00am - 10:30am
Leader: Emilio Tobón
Description: Ever wonder what a biologist does from day to day? Well you can catch a glimpse of it by joining NYC Audubon's Conservation Field Biologist, Emilio Tobón, while biking along the Bronx River! Join Emilio on a survey of the Bronx River to explore how habitat restoration along the river may have benefited the heron and egret populations that depend on it.
Registration: Register online
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New York Botanical Garden
Saturday, September 2, 2023, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Leader: Joe McManus
Description: Join NYC Audubon and the New York Botanical Garden for some summer birding! Get to see some of NYBG’s diverse landscape and learn why this unique green space is such a vital haven for a great variety of species year-round. The tour will meet at the Reflecting Pool in the Native Plant Garden.
Registration: Registration not required. No limit. Free.
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Governors Island Bird Tour
Saturdays, May 6 through October 28, 2023, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Leader: _____
Description: Nearly 240 bird species have been spotted on Governors Island, which provides excellent habitat all year round. Whether you’re an expert birder or a beginner, these tours will help you discover all of the birdlife the island has to offer. Binoculars are available to borrow.
Registration: No registration required. No limit. Free.
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Urban Park Rangers

Sunday, September 3, 2023
Birding: Fall Migration at Fort Greene Park Visitor Center (in Fort Greene Park), Brooklyn
10:00am - 11:00am
Join the Urban Park Rangers on a birding adventure around Fort Greene Park to look for fall migrants that include warblers, raptors and more!
Free

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Best of the Fortnight

Below is my latest installment of my favorite photographs from the previous 2 weeks:

European Hornet eating a Common Green Darner, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Black-capped Chickadee calling, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Painted Skimmer, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Young Mourning Dove, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Curious Catbird, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Belted Kingfisher, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Brown Thrasher and offspring, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Immature Black-crowned Night-Heron, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Eastern Amberwing, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Japanese Anemone, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Young Great Crested Flycatcher, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Double-crested Cormorant, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Polyphemus moth caterpillar, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Orchard Orbweaver, , Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Green Heron, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Upcoming Trips

Below are the birding/nature trips for the weekend of August 19 - August 20, 2023:

Brooklyn Bird Club

Return of the Shorebirds: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Sunday, August 20, 2023
Leader: Tom Stephenson
Description: Peak wave of shorebirds and water birds, marsh species.
Registration: Peter Dorosh Prosbird@gmail.com or Prosbird@aol.com
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Gateway National Parks

Fort Wadsworth Tour and Hike
Every week on Saturday, Sunday until August 27, 2023, 10:30am — 12:00pm
Leader: Park Rangers
Description: Join us for a hike around Fort Wadsworth as we explore the forts and natural areas. Inclement weather will cancel this program. Dress appropriately and bring water.
Registration: Please call (718) 354-4500 to make a reservation.
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Great South Bay Audubon Society

Jamaica Bay Nature Walk
Saturday, August 19, 2023, 8:00am - 10:00am
Leader: John Gluth, Mike Cooper
Description: Southern State Pkwy to Belt Pkwy to Exit 17, Cross Bay Blvd. South. Continue south for about 2 miles. Look for the entrance of the refuge on the right (west) side. There are signs for park entrance (Knee High boots are recommended.)
Registration: info@greatsouthbayaudubon.org
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Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon Society

Makamah Preserve, Northport, NY
Sunday, August 20, 2023 - 8:00am
Leader: _____
Description: Forest! Wetland! Saltmarsh! Makamah has it all. Let’s find some early fall migrants together in this gem of a preserve.
Registration: To register, call (585) 880-0915.
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Linnaean Society of New York

Bugs and Birds, Brookfield Park, Staten Island
Saturday, August 19, 2023
Leader: Seth Wollney
Description: Staten Island’s Brookfield Park was once the site of a municipal solid waste facility. Following remediation, more than 17,000 trees and 76,000 plants were planted before the park opened in 2017, attracting migratory birds and butterflies to the area. Four marked trails provide excellent hiking opportunities, and a mile of unmarked trails can bring you all the way to Richmond Creek. We will experience ponds, rivers, wetlands, marshes, and meadows at this safe and serene mid-island gem. The walk will focus primarily on insects, but interesting birds will also be noted. This is a leisurely walk primarily on flat, wide, paved roads with small sections of gravel paths, with frequent stops to observe butterflies and other pollinators at nectar-producing plants. Please bring a camera/binoculars if you like, and wear appropriate clothing for protection against the sun and insects.
Registration: Debbie Mullins - deborramullins3@gmail.com
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New York City Audubon

18th Annual Shorebird Festival at Jamaica Bay
Saturday, August 19, 2023, 9:00am - 3:30pm
Leader: Multiple leaders
Description: August is the perfect time to explore the diversity of New York City’s shorebirds! The Shorebird Festival at Jamaica Bay is a partnership among NYC Audubon, American Littoral Society, Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy, and Gateway National Recreation Area. Join us in learning all about these beautiful birds and explore the natural habitat of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, filled with marshland, fresh and brackish water ponds, and grassy fields.
Registration: Register for free through the American Littoral Society's website
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New York Botanical Garden
Saturday, August 19, 2023, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Leader: Rich Aracil
Description: Join NYC Audubon and the New York Botanical Garden for some summer birding! Get to see some of NYBG’s diverse landscape and learn why this unique green space is such a vital haven for a great variety of species year-round. The tour will meet at the Reflecting Pool in the Native Plant Garden.
Registration: Registration not required. No limit. Free.
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Governors Island Bird Tour
Saturdays, May 6 through October 28, 2023, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Leader: _____
Description: Nearly 240 bird species have been spotted on Governors Island, which provides excellent habitat all year round. Whether you’re an expert birder or a beginner, these tours will help you discover all of the birdlife the island has to offer. Binoculars are available to borrow.
Registration: No registration required. No limit. Free.
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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods

Mount Loretto Unique Area
Saturday, August 19, 2023, 11:00am - 1:00pm
Leader: Dana Barbato
Description: If you are interested in the diminutive aspects of the natural world, if you like to delve into the rarely seen world of another spatial and temporal dimension right under our noses—then the world of macro photography, then this walk might be for you. Participants will wander about the fields and beaches of Mount Loretto with Dana Barbato looking for tiny critters and flowers to photograph while sharing photography tips. Meet in the parking lot along Hylan Boulevard across from the CYO Community Center.
Registration: For more information call Dana Barbato at (718) 909-8863.
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Queens County Bird Club

Jamaica Bay Wildlfe Refuge
Sunday, August 20, 2023, 7:45am – 12:15pm
Leader: Eric Miller (917) 279-7530
Description: This is expected to be a "mini trip" covering Jamaica National Wildlife Refuge, both East and West Ponds, and perhaps other nearby hotspots. Please confirm with trip leader whether packing a lunch is necessary. If the water level of East Pond is lowered as per plan, there will be multitudes of various species of shorebirds. Exploring East Pond requires knee-high boots. You must not go barefoot or wear sandals. Bring bug repellant.
Registration: Please contact trip leader for meeting time and location.
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South Shore Audubon Society

Mill Pond Park
Sunday, August 20, 2023
Leader: Members of SSAS
Description: Use street parking on the westbound side of Merrick Road. The park is four blocks west of the Wantagh State Parkway.
Registration: Registration is required by calling Joe Landesberg at 516-467-9498
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Upcoming Trips

Below are the birding/nature trips for the weekend of August 12 - August 13, 2023:

Freshkills Park Alliance

Nature Walk at Freshkills Park
Saturday, August 12, 2023, 10:00am
Leader: Rangers
Description: Lace up your shoes for a nature walk at Freshkills Park! Freshkills Park staff will take you behind the scenes to visit areas that are currently closed to the public. On this one-mile walk, you’ll learn about the different plants and animals found in the woods, wetlands, and grasslands at Freshkills Park.
Registration: Register via Eventbrite.
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Gateway National Parks

Fort Wadsworth Tour and Hike
Every week on Saturday, Sunday until August 27, 2023, 10:30am — 12:00pm
Leader: Park Rangers
Description: Join us for a hike around Fort Wadsworth as we explore the forts and natural areas. Inclement weather will cancel this program. Dress appropriately and bring water.
Registration: Please call (718) 354-4500 to make a reservation.
View Details


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Green-Wood Cemetery

Birding in Peace
Sunday, August 13, 2023, 6:00am - 7:30am
Description: In July we should see the offspring of our resident red-tailed hawk bravely preparing to leave the nest. Warbler songs will be replaced by chirring cicadas and the tweets of fledgling birds. Butterflies and dragonflies are abundant. By late-July, expect the arrival of the first southbound migrants.
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Green-Wood Through a Beekeeper’s Eyes (Member-Only Tour)
Sunday, August 13, 2023, 11:00am - 12:30pm
Description: When a beekeeper visits Green-Wood, what do they notice? Join Beekeeper Amy Grumbling for an exclusive look at Green-Wood through her eyes! On this tour, Amy will take you to some of her favorite spots at Green-Wood, including the bee hives, graves of inspiring individuals, and horticultural highlights. You’ll learn about the ways bees and honey have been used throughout history, and look ahead to what the future holds for these tiny but oh-so-important pollinators. You’ll come away with new stories of Green-Wood and a new appreciation for the ways different people interact with the Cemetery.
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New York City Audubon

Birding at Snug Harbor
Saturday, August 12, 2023, 9:00am - 10:30am
Leader: Dana Barbato
Description: Join NYC Audubon at Staten Island's beloved Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden. We will look for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Baltimore Orioles, and any other avian visitors we can find as we approach fall migration.
Registration: Registration not required but encouraged. No limit. Free.
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Vulture Tour at New York Botanical Garden
Saturday, August 13, 2023, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Leader: _____
Description: Join NYC Audubon and the New York Botanical Garden for a special bird tour series all about vultures! Check out the work of visual artist, Ebony G. Patterson, now on display at the Garden. Explore some of NYBG’s diverse landscape and learn about the vulture species we can spot around the City and how they're important for our ecosystem's health.
Registration: Registration page
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Governors Island Bird Tour
Saturdays, May 6 through October 28, 2023, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Leader: _____
Description: Nearly 240 bird species have been spotted on Governors Island, which provides excellent habitat all year round. Whether you’re an expert birder or a beginner, these tours will help you discover all of the birdlife the island has to offer. Binoculars are available to borrow.
Registration: No registration required. No limit. Free.
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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods

Wolfe’s Pond Park
Saturday, August 12, 2023, 11:00am - 1:00pm
Leader: Don Recklies
Description: Wolfe’s Pond Park is a natural freshwater wetlands system which drains rain and storm waters from portions of Pleasant Plains and the Prince’s Bay area. Participants are invited to walk into the ravine of the creek looking for old trees, then along western hillside trails. We’ll do a street walk along Holton Avenue—make sure you notice the manhole covers—and return to the parking lot by way of Wolfe’s Pond and the beach. Bring some water, it may be hot. (Heavy rain will cancel.) Meet at the restrooms west of the parking lot (off Cornelia Avenue, park or walk to the west end).
Registration: For more information call Don Recklies at (718) 768-9036.
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Urban Park Rangers

Sunday, August 13, 2023

Birding: Shore and Wading Birds at Entrance - Cornelia Avenue and Chester Avenue (in Wolfe's Pond Park), Staten Island
9:00am - 10:00am
Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome. Learn more about egrets, herons, sandpipers and other wading birds that are found along the shoreline.
Free

Summer Birding at Wave Hill, Bronx
9:30am - 11:00am
Welcome migratory birds back to Wave Hill this summer!
Free

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Upcoming Trips

Below are the birding/nature trips for the weekend of August 5 - August 6, 2023:

Bedford Audubon Society

Field Trip to Jamaica Bay
Saturday, August 5, 2023, 8:00am - 1:30pm
Leader: Tait Johansson
Description: Where can you see flocks of hundreds of migrating shorebirds such as sandpipers and plovers? On a Field Trip to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge! Join Naturalist Tait Johansson for high tide at the Refuge’s East Pond, for near peak shorebird migration. We will also be on the lookout for Glossy Ibis, Great Blue and Yellow-crowned Night Herons, Egrets, Osprey and many others! Bring binoculars, lunch, sunscreen, plenty of cold drinks, and boots/footwear that you won’t mind getting muddy. We will meet at the Visitor Center at 8:00am.
Registration: Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. Registration required by emailing Susan at info@bedfordaudubon.org or by calling 914-302-9713.
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Brooklyn Bird Club

Beachcombing for Shorebirds: A Plumb Beach Watch (new date)
Saturday, August 5, 2023
Leader: Peter Dorosh
Description: This is public transportation walk. Bring sun hat, plenty of water, portable chair, insect repellent, a spotting scope if you have one; and lunch, snacks etc. We will sit and watch for shorebirds during the dropping tide. Low tide is at 11:18 a.m.
Registration: Peter Dorosh Prosbird@gmail.com or Prosbird@aol.com
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Gateway National Parks

Fort Wadsworth Tour and Hike
Every week on Saturday, Sunday until August 27, 2023, 10:30am — 12:00pm
Leader: Park Rangers
Description: Join us for a hike around Fort Wadsworth as we explore the forts and natural areas. Inclement weather will cancel this program. Dress appropriately and bring water.
Registration: Please call (718) 354-4500 to make a reservation.
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Gabe Willow Tours

The Hidden Ecology of Prospect Park After Dark - Bats, Fireflies, & More
Saturday, August 5, 2023, 8:00pm - 10:00pm
Leader: Gabe WIllow
Description: Balmy summer evenings are a beautiful time to stroll at night, but a closer look reveals a secret side of wildlife in the city that appears after dark. As the city lights meet the stars, bats, cicadas, katydids, fireflies and migratory birds emerge from their slumbers, giving new meaning to 'the city that never sleeps'!
Registration: Register via Eventbrite
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Green-Wood Cemetery

Summer Fungi Walk
Saturday, August 5, 2023, 10:00am - 11:30am
Description: Green-Wood is a wonderland of mushrooms in the summer season. This popular walking tour treks into the depths of the Cemetery, across the lawns, through the meadows, and into the tracks of woodland to encounter a variety of colorful and curious fungi. Led by Sigrid Jakob and Potter Palmer, members of the New York Mycological Society and founders of the Green-Wood Fungi Phenology Project, both experts and novices alike will learn how to differentiate the delicious from the deadly and start putting names to some of the city’s more common summer fungi. Be prepared for off-road walking.
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Birding in Peace
Sunday, August 6, 2023, 6:00am - 7:30am
Description: In July we should see the offspring of our resident red-tailed hawk bravely preparing to leave the nest. Warbler songs will be replaced by chirring cicadas and the tweets of fledgling birds. Butterflies and dragonflies are abundant. By late-July, expect the arrival of the first southbound migrants.
View Details


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Linnaean Society of New York

Central Park Botany Walk
Saturday, August 5, 2023
Leader: Regina Alvarez
Description: Bring a notebook and a magnifying glass or small pair of close-focus binoculars; this will enhance your experience. We will learn about flowering plants from majestic trees like the Tulip Tree down to one of the tiniest flowers, Duckweed. We will examine the tiny reproductive parts of each flowering plant and learn how they are designed for pollination and seed dispersal. We’ll learn which plants are native and which non-native. We’ll look at some fascinating ferns; some produce spores on the backs of the fronds, and others have a special spore structure. We will also look at non-plants, such as lichens, fungi, and more. We will investigate symbiotic relationships between the different organisms we find. Be prepared for a fascinating journey into the world of botany!
Registration: Richard Davis - richard@ridavio.com
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New York City Audubon

New York Botanical Garden Bird Tour
Saturday, August 5, 2023, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Leader: Haley Scott
Description: Join NYC Audubon and the New York Botanical Garden for some summer birding! Get to see some of NYBG’s diverse landscape and learn why this unique green space is such a vital haven for a great variety of species year-round. The tour will meet at the Reflecting Pool in the Native Plant Garden.
Registration: No registration required. No limit. Free.
View Details


Governors Island Bird Tour
Saturdays, May 6 through October 28, 2023, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Leader: _____
Description: Nearly 240 bird species have been spotted on Governors Island, which provides excellent habitat all year round. Whether you’re an expert birder or a beginner, these tours will help you discover all of the birdlife the island has to offer. Binoculars are available to borrow.
Registration: No registration required. No limit. Free.
View Details


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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods

Dragonfly Talk and Walk
Sunday, August 6, 2023, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Leader: Paul Lederer
Description: Join naturalist Paul Lederer explore the lives of dragonflies, insects that have inhabited our planet millions of years before dinosaurs walked the earth. Paul will discuss the biology, life histories, and identification of these creatures of wonder and then conduct a “dragonfly safari” to the shores of Lake Ohrbach. Bring binoculars if you have them and dress appropriately to the woods and trails of the great outdoors.
Registration: Spots are limited so call Paul Lederer at (718) 354-9200 to confirm your registration.
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Saw Mill River Audubon Society

Small Group Birding: Croton Point Park
Sunday, August 6, 2023, 6:00am
Leader: Members of SMRA
Description: Saw Mill River Audubon small group bird walks are limited to 25 people by registration.
Registration: Registration page
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Urban Park Rangers

Saturday, August 5, 2023

Birding: Shorebird Families at Entrance - Beach 44th Street and Boardwalk (in Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk), Queens
11:00am - 12:30pm
Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome. Learn more about plovers, terns, oystercatchers and other shorebirds that nest on the beach shoreline.
Free

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