Friday's Foto

Unique among North America’s wood-warblers, the Black-and-white Warbler feeds by creeping along limbs and on tree trunks. In fact, one of its old names was “Black-and-white Creeper”. One of our early arriving warblers, they use their thin, slightly down-curved bill to probe bark for mostly moth and butterfly larvae. A sure sign of spring is hearing their high-pitched, squeaky “weesy-weesy-weesy-weesy” song.

Their wintering grounds includes the extreme southern United States to the Peruvian Andes. It is among the earliest species to reach the U.S. Gulf coast in spring. The Black-and-white Warbler breeds from southern Mackenzie, northern Alberta, and central Manitoba east to Newfoundland, and south to southern United States east of Rockies. According to the Boreal Songbird Initiative, an estimated 52% of the species' North American population breeds within the Boreal Forest.

The Black-and-white Warbler’s conservation status via the IUCN red list is "Least Concern" due to its extremely large range and abundant population size.

It’s scientific name, Mniotilta varia, means: moss plucker; diverse.

Migration Ramping up at Green-Wood Cemetery

We had another great dawn walk at Green-Wood Cemetery this past Sunday with a moderate increase in migrant species, including one unexpected surprise.

I decided to take a slightly different route to start the walk. We were only a few minutes into the tour when I stopped to scan a large pine tree to try and locate a singing Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Their twittering song is nearly as cute as this diminutive bird's appearance. Anyway, after a moment, Linda Morry pointed to something moving midway up the tree. When I point my bins on it I was surprised to see it was a Yellow-throated Warbler! This mostly southern wood-warbler is a rare but regular visitor to NYC and was my first for Green-Wood Cemetery. He was pretty cooperative as he foraged for insects among the pine's needles, allowing nice views for everyone in the group.

Yellow-rumped Warblers are starting their annual "invasion" with several dozen seen throughout the morning. Their distinctive "pip" call note was also heard nearly everywhere. Within the next couple of weeks this species will become ubiquitous as thousands stop off here to fill up and rest before continuing their northward journey. Palm Warbler numbers have also increased. At the Crescent water I counted a group of 5 Pine Warblers.

Another new arrival on Sunday was a Yellow Warbler. We were walking along the edge of the Valley Water a few minutes after basking in the glow of the Yellow-throated Warbler when I heard a familiar song. The bold, rapidly increasing melody of the Yellow Warbler is often described as saying, "sweet, sweet, sweet, a little more sweet!" It only took a moment to find this vibrant little songbird perched out in the open high up in a deciduous tree. Most of the trees have yet to leaf out, so finding all these colorful birds is still pretty easy.

Seemingly overnight Chipping Sparrows have descended on the cemetery. On Saturday I spotted only 3 of these slender, rusty-capped sparrows. By Sunday morning there were small flocks of them scattered through Green-Wood feeding on grass seeds. "Chippies" pass through Brooklyn in large numbers, but some also remain in the cemetery, nesting within the healthy evergreen stands. They are pretty easy to see in Green-Wood during the summer as they raise their offspring. Also seen in much smaller numbers among these flocks were Field Sparrows. Field Sparrows, like the Chippings, are members of the genus spizella. Meaning "small finch", these sparrows are New World sparrows mainly characterized as being fairly small and slim, with short bills, round heads and long wings. They don't nest here, but if you're interested in finding some breeding locally, Floyd Bennett Field is your best bet.

Near the Dell Water we had a brief encounter with one of Brooklyn's Common Ravens. This huge bird's deep, croaking call caught my attention and I whipped around to see one perch low in a tree above Orchard Avenue. Unfazed by our presence, he or she flew down to the ground for a second, then took off flying towards the train yard. Extirpated from New York City for a couple of hundred years, this highly intelligent corvid has started making a comeback, nesting in Queens, Manhattan and now somewhere to be discovered in Brooklyn. So, if you see a large, dark raptor circling that turns out to be "just a crow", it's probably a raven.

Finally, one other new arrival on Sunday was Blue-headed Vireo. When slowly making our way around the Crescent Water, I heard a slow, burry, up and down, "See you, be-seeing ya, so long". Unlike their more hyperactive cousins the warblers, vireos tend to move more slowly and methodically. This allowed the whole group to get good looks at him as he foraged in a Red maple at the edge of the pond. A short while later I heard another one singing from somewhere up the rise near Samuel F. B. Morse.

We have another early morning tour coming up this Sunday. I can't wait to see what new birds come in this time!

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Location: Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn
Date: Sunday, April 16, 2017
Species: 45 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose
American Black Duck (3.)
Mallard
Double-crested Cormorant (35, flock flying over in V formation over cemetery.)
Great Egret (1.)
Laughing Gull
Herring Gull
Sterna sp. (3.)
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher (1.)
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Monk Parakeet
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo (2.)
Blue Jay
Common Raven (1. First hear making nasal "cronk" call, then seen very close near Dell Water.)
Barn Swallow (1.)
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch (2.)
White-breasted Nuthatch
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Yellow Warbler (1.)
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler (9.)
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler (1.)
Chipping Sparrow  (Approx. 30-40.)
Field Sparrow (5.)
Dark-eyed Junco (1.)
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow ...Read more

Treehugger Tuesday

From Ars Techica online:

The world spent less money to add more renewable energy than ever in 2016
$241.6 billion in investment gets you 138.5 gigawatts of renewable energy
Megan Geuss - 4/10/2017, 6:54 PM

A new study tracking global investment in renewable energy found that investors spent less money in 2016 to add more renewable energy capacity than in any previous year. In total, investors only spent about $241.6 billion in renewable energy investments in 2016, down 23 percent from 2015.

But they got a lot of bang for their buck. According to the collaborative report from the UN, the Frankfurt School, and Bloomberg New Energy Finance, investments in “wind, solar, biomass, and waste-to-energy, geothermal, small hydro, and marine sources [like wave and tidal energy]” resulted in the addition of 138.5 GW of energy capacity in 2016. That represents a nine percent increase year-over-year from the 127.5 gigawatts added in 2015.

The difference in trends—falling investment but rising capacity—reflects the plummeting prices of certain kinds of renewable energy, especially solar photovoltaic panels and wind installations. In effect, investors are spending less and getting more capacity. And that’s a good thing for reducing pollution that contributes to climate change. According to the report, the proportion of global energy derived from renewable sources rose from 10.3 percent to 11.3 percent year-over-year.

While a one-percent increase may seem small, the report estimates (PDF) that renewable power “prevented the emission of an estimated 1.7 gigatonnes of CO2 in 2016.” (But don’t get too comfortable yet. The report also notes that “CO2 levels in the atmosphere in January 2017 were up 3.6 parts per million from a year earlier, at 406.1ppm.” Even as global carbon emissions appear to level off, we're still accumulating CO2 in the atmosphere.)

Still, capacity from renewable projects represented 55 percent of total new energy capacity in 2016, which is the highest ever recorded in the 11-year history of the annual collaborative report. Investors spent about twice as much on renewable energy as they did on fossil fuel-related energy, the researchers wrote.

The report didn’t track investment in hydroelectric projects greater than 50MW, and neither did it track energy storage or smart grid investments.



The researchers also note that not all of the drop in investment could be attributed to falling costs on renewable energy projects. “There was a marked slowdown in financings in China, Japan, and some emerging markets during the course of the year,” the report notes. Developing countries saw a lag in investment, as did China and the US. Europe, however, increased its renewable investment by three percent in 2016, with a 53 percent increase in offshore wind investment from 2015.

In a press release, Michael Liebreich, the Chairman of the Advisory Board at Bloomberg New Energy Finance, said “The question always used to be ‘will renewables ever be grid competitive?’ Well, after the dramatic cost reductions of the past few years, unsubsidized wind and solar can provide the lowest cost new electrical power in an increasing number of countries, even in the developing world—sometimes by a factor of two.”

“It’s a whole new world,” he continued. “Even though investment is down, annual installations are still up; instead of having to subsidize renewables, now authorities may have to subsidize natural gas plants to help them provide grid reliability.”

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So much for bringing coal jobs back... ...Read more

Upcoming Birding and Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for Saturday, April 22, 2017 to Sunday, April 23, 2017:

Audubon Center in Prospect Park
Saturday, April 22, 2017, 12pm – 1pm
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!

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Bedford Audubon Society
Saturday, April 22, 2017, 8am – 11am
John Jay Homestead in Katonah
Join Tait at the John Jay Homestead to look for spring migrating birds.
Meet at the main parking lot.
Cost: Free.
Level of Difficulty: Easy-Moderate.
Please register with Susan at info@bedfordaudubon.org or 914.302.9713.

Sunday, April 23, 2017, 8am – 1pm
Garret Mountain Park with Naturalist Tait Johansson
This truly excellent “migrant trap” provides sweeping views of northern New Jersey and the NYC skyline. Tait will lead the group on trails around a beautiful pond for migrating songbirds, especially warblers.
Depart Bylane Farm at 6:45am.
Cost: Free.
Level of Difficulty: Moderate.
Bring a lunch.
Please register with Susan at info@bedfordaudubon.org or 914.302.9713.

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Brooklyn Bird Club
Sunday, April 23, 2017
“Bobbi's patch of woods”: Shore Road Park, Bay Ridge
Leader: Bobbi Manian
Directions: Take R train to last stop 95th Street; walk south on 4th Ave to 101st Street, to John Paul Jones Park, on the left side of street (In the shadow of the Verrazano Bridge).
Meet by the Dover Patrol Monument. Leader will bird this small vest-pocket park under the Verrazano Bridge, then continue along Shore Road Park. Depending on activity we will conclude around 86th or 77th Streets, where it is about a 10 minute walk back to 4th Ave to pick up the R train""
Focus: Peak of early spring migrants and songbirds
Meet 8:30 am at the Dover Patrol Statue in John Paul Jones Park https://goo.gl/maps/tgk9g885fFu

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Feminist Bird Club
Sunday, April 23, 2017
Alley Pond Park

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Gateway National Recreation Area
Every Sunday Weekly from 03/12/2017 to 05/28/2017
Birding for Beginners
Join us for an introductory nature walk where you will learn the essentials of birdwatching.
Location: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Fee Information: Free

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Great South Bay Audubon Society
Saturday, April 22, 2017 - 8:30am
Connetquot River SPP
Leader(s): Bob Grover (516-318-8536), Ken Thompson (631-612-8028), John Gluth (631-827-0120)
Meet in parking field. Entrance is on the westbound side of Sunrise Highway (Rte. 27) west of Pond Road. If coming from west to east, Take exit 47A and go to the next overpass, Oakdale Bohemia Rd. to cross over bridge, then head westbound and stay in right lane to entrance.

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Green-Wood Cemetery
Sunday, April 23, 2017
"Birding in Peace": Birds of Early-Spring Migration
Our April tours will be a feast for the ears and eyes with the trilling song of Pine Warblers and drumming pronouncements of Woodpeckers on newly blossoming trees (including magnolias, maples, quinces, and dogwoods). We’ll discover thousands of songbirds resting before their trip north as well as arriving herons and egrets at Green-Wood’s glacial ponds.

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Littoral Society
Sunday, April 23, 2017, 10:00am - 12:30pm
A Springtime Hike at Breezy Point, NY
Meet at Bldg 1, Fort Tilden, and carpool to Breezy Point in a caravan led by Mickey Maxwell Cohen to the little known western tip of the Rockaway Peninsula. Highlights will include seashells and other stranded critters, dune foliage, shore birds and a surprising variety of rocks and minerals used in the construction of the Breezy Point Jetty. Binoculars and a magnifying glass will be helpful. This is an American Littoral Society/GNRA Partnership Program.
Directions:
Subway and bus: Take #2 or #5 train to Flatbush Ave/Brooklyn College and then the Q35 bus past Floyd Bennett Field and just over the Marine Pkwy (Gil Hodges Memorial) Bridge. Ask the driver to let you off at Fort Tilden. By car: From Exit 11s on the Belt Pkwy, head south and over the bridge. Stay right and take the right ramp toward Breezy Point. Make a quick left into the fort at the first light. Go to end and park by Bldg 1 or at the nearby Post Chapel.

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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturdays -- 9/3/2016 - 6/24/2017: 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

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New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, April 22, 2017, 10am – 1pm
Birds and Plants: New York Botanical Garden in Springtime
Guides: Gabriel Willow
Meet by the ticket booth just inside the Garden’s Mosholu Gate on Southern Boulevard. The New York Botanical Garden is home to a large tract of East Coast old-growth forest. During the peak of spring migration, the beautiful gardens come alive with migrating songbirds. Limited to 15. Entrance fee to NYBG not included. $39 (27)
Click here to register

Saturday, April 22, 2017, 1pm – 3pm
Kingsland Wildflowers Earth Day Lecture and Roof Tour
"'My Yard is 'For the Birds' - The Things Birds Look for in Urban and Suburban Yards, and Why They Need to Be There"
Joyann Cirigliano, President and Atlantic Flyway Projects Coordinator of the Four Harbors Audubon Society, will discuss the importance of backyard gardens as safe spaces for birds, and the ways in which utilizing native plants in landscape design will attract these feathered friends.

Sunday, April 23, 2017, 7:30am – 1:30pm
Birding Gems of Queens: Evergreens Cemetery and the Ridgewood Reservoirs
Guide: Kellye Rosenheim
Explore the delights of historic Evergreen Cemetery and its spring migrants. The trip continues with a long stop at Ridgewood Reservoir, where we will search the treetops and basin for more birds. Moderately strenuous with a great deal of hills and stairs. Bring lunch. Transport by passenger van included. Limited to 12. $96 (67)
Click here to register

Sunday, April 23, 2017, 8:00am – 10:30am
The Birds of Woodlawn Cemetery, The Bronx
Guides: Tod Winston, Joseph McManus, Friends of Woodlawn Docent with The Friends of Woodlawn
Meet at the Jerome Avenue Entrance of Woodlawn Cemetery. Join us for a morning bird walk and tour of beautiful Woodlawn Cemetery: Tod Winston and Joseph McManus will look for spring migrants and year-round residents on the expansive, wooded cemetery grounds, while a Friends of Woodlawn docent will share fascinating stories about Woodlawn’s history and the interesting mixture of individuals interred there. Limited to 15. $35 (24)
Click here to register

Sunday, April 23, 2017, 9:30am – 3:00pm
Birding Gems of Staten Island: Spring Hike in the Greenbelt
Guide: Gabriel Willow with NYC Parks and the Greenbelt Conservancy
Meet at the Manhattan terminal of the Staten Island Ferry and begin your tour on water as we cross the Upper Bay. Explore trails within the 3,000-acre Staten Island Greenbelt and visit High Rock Park, Walker Pond, and the Pouch Camp property: 143 acres of unspoiled woods and wetlands. Look for spring migrants and learn about the Greenbelt’s ecology. Trip involves approximately 3.5 miles of hiking. Transportation on Staten Island included. Limited to 19. $43 (30)
Click here to register

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North Shore Audubon Society
Saturday, April 22, 2017, 8am – 12pm
Hempstead Lake SP
Leader: Stacy and Kurt Meyerheinrich 516-426-6281
Note: New York State Park parking fee may apply if you do not have an Empire Pass. Last year, fee collection started at 8am, so get there early.
See "Walk locations" for directions.
Wear water-resistant footwear, bring binoculars and drinking water.

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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
Saturday, April 22, 2017 @ 12:00pm – 2:00pm
Earth Day at High Rock
Enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of this amazing woodland in spring. Throughout this portion of The Greenbelt a gorgeous palate of wildflowers and the colorful fanfare of migrating spring birds will highlight an afternoon of forest bathing.
Participants will meet in the Nevada Avenue Parking Lot

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Queens County Bird Club
Saturday, Apr 22, 2017
Hempstead Lake
Leader: Steve Schellenger

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South Shore Audubon Society
Saturday, April 23, 2017
Hempstead Lake State Park

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
For directions to our bird-watching locations, click here

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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, April 22, 2017
Birding: Raptor Nests at East 72nd Street and Fifth Avenue (in Central Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best wildlife viewing spots in the urban jungle.
Free!

Discovery Walks for Families: Beginning Birders at Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Bring your family for a guided walk and discover why Central Park is a sanctuary for plants, animals, and humans alike.
Free! ...Read more

Friday's Foto

A medium-sized, mottled brown and buffy colored eared owl, the Short-eared Owl is one of the world's most widely distributed. Found through the Old World, Iceland, the Hawaiian Islands, North and South America, this individual was photographed in Brooklyn, NY. Found primarily in open terrain, their preferred habitat is shrub-steppe, grasslands, agricultural areas, marshes, wet meadows, and shorelines. While they are mostly nocturnal, they are easily observed hunting at dawn and dusk. Their diet consists mainly of small mammals, but they will occasionally eat birds.

Due primarily to their wide distribution, the IUCN lists their conservation status as “Least Concern”. However, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation lists them as “Endangered” in the state. This is likely due to reforestation along with the loss of grasslands and other open habitats.

The best place to look for this owl in Brooklyn during the winter and early-spring is Floyd Bennett Field or Marine Park.

Their scientific name, Asio flammeus, means owl and fiery, flaming or flame-colored.

"Birding in Peace" again

This past Sunday I led another dawn walk in historic Green-Wood Cemetery. North winds and colder than expected temperatures didn't deter the 20 folks that had signed up and there were a few new migrants passing through that also didn't seem to mind.

After the guard re-locked the main gate behind us, we quietly walked up the long hill towards the start of my planned loop through the cemetery. It was the third of our sunrise walks and I'm still in awe of this oasis of tranquility smack in the center of Brooklyn. Outside of the security guard, we were the only people behind the wrought-iron fence protecting this 478-acre sanctuary. The only noise at the beginning of the tour was of singing robins, cardinals and White-throated Sparrows. At the edge of the Valley Water we heard the soft "chip" of a phoebe, then spotted one hawking for insects from various low perches in the small cherry trees that surround the pond.

Valley Water would be our first stop as this is usually where I find the first migrating Palm Warblers of the season. It only took a moment before we spotted one of these yellow, tail-pumping songbirds foraging in the grass beneath the cherry trees. There were also a smattering of Dark-eyed Juncos in the vicinity, twittering and flashing their white tail feathers as they escaped our group's slow approach.

From Valley Water I led the group up the gradual incline of Central Ridge. More sparrows flushed ahead of us and into the safety of yew and other shrubs. One of my favorite winter visitors is the Fox Sparrow. This robust reddish-brown, gray and white songbird serenaded us from a high perch along the ridge. We would see and hear several others during the course of our morning walk.

At the grass strip at the back of the Sylvan Water were several Palm Warblers and a single Pine Warbler. A third early wood-warbler I was hoping to encounter on Sunday was Louisiana Waterthrush. It wasn't until we made our way to the Dell Water that we managed to find one. A single individual was slowly bobbing along the top of the pond's coping wall, occasionally dropping down into a section of exposed muddy bottom. It even obligingly graced us with his complex, alternating slurred and jumbled song.

A quick stop along the "Flats" revealed that the resident Red-tailed Hawks had returned to last year's nest tree. As the smallish male carried a large branch into the nest we spotted his mate flying passed towards the opposite end of Cypress Avenue. With some luck, by July we'll see their offspring taking their maiden flight.

Finally, as we wrapped up the tour and headed back towards the main entrance, we spotted one more newly arrived migrant. Under a conifer at the edge of Chestnut Hill was a Hermit Thrush. Wrapped in browns, rusty read and white, this relative of our robin is somewhat less obvious than the latter. What he lacks in flash, however, he more than makes up for with his vocalization. His clear, whistled tremolo notes are often described as "haunting". While he didn't sing for us on Sunday, perhaps within the next couple of tours we'll be fortunate enough to hear it.

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Locations: Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York
Date: April 9, 2017, 6:30am - 9:30am
Species: 38

Canada Goose
Mallard
Red-tailed HawkHerring Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher (1.)
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel (2.)
Monk Parakeet
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch (2.)
White-breasted Nuthatch (4.)
Brown Creeper (2.)
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush (1.)
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Louisiana Waterthrush (1.)
Palm Warbler (5.)
Pine Warbler (1.)
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
House Sparrow ...Read more

Treehugger Tuesday

Couple Nursed a Rainforest Back to Life

What was once 300 acres of coffee and cardamom fields in India’s Southern Ghats is now lush native forest, all thanks to the hard work and dedication of Pamela Gale Malhotra and her husband Anil. The couple started India’s first private wildlife sanctuary, SAI sanctuary, and for the past two decades they have been nursing the land back to life. Here’s how they did it.

Upcoming Birding and Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for Saturday, April 15, 2017 to Sunday, April 16, 2017:

Audubon Center in Prospect Park
Saturday, April 15, 2017, 12pm – 1pm
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!

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Bedford Audubon Society
Sunday, April 16, 2017, 9am – 11am
Nature Walk: Drew's Walk at Franklin-Fels Sanctuary in N. Salem
Join Naturalist Tait Johansson for our annual memorial walk through this lovely wooded sanctuary in memory of Andrew Reynolds. Drew was a longtime friend, member, and supporter of Bedford Audubon, who marked and surveyed the trail system in Franklin-Fels Sanctuary. Meet at the Sanctuary entrance on Lakeview Drive. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Moderate. Please register with Susan at info@bedfordaudubon.org or 914.302.9713.

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Gateway National Recreation Area
Every Sunday Weekly from 03/12/2017 to 05/28/2017
Birding for Beginners
Join us for an introductory nature walk where you will learn the essentials of birdwatching.
Location: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Fee Information: Free

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Green-Wood Cemetery
Sunday, April 16, 2017
"Birding in Peace": Birds of Early-Spring Migration
Due to popular demand, we've added some more dates.
Our April tours will be a feast for the ears and eyes with the trilling song of Pine Warblers and drumming pronouncements of Woodpeckers on newly blossoming trees (including magnolias, maples, quinces, and dogwoods). We’ll discover thousands of songbirds resting before their trip north as well as arriving herons and egrets at Green-Wood’s glacial ponds.

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Linnaean Society of New York
Saturday, April 15, 2017
Prospect Park in April
Leader: John Suggs (Not Peter Dorosh as listed in the printed Schedule of Events)
Registrar: Dale Dancis — ddancis@gmail.com or 212-724-3269
Registration opens: Monday, April 3
Public transportation

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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturdays -- 9/3/2016 - 6/24/2017: 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

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New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, April 15, 2017, 800am – 10:30am
Beginning Birding
Classes: Wednesdays, March 29; April 5 and 12, 6:30-8:30pm
Trips: Saturday, April 8, 8am-2pm (Jamaica Bay) and Saturday, April 15, 8-10:30am (Central Park)
Instructor: Tod Winston
Learn the keys to identifying the spectacular variety of birds that migrate northwards through New York City every spring. Even if you’ve never picked up a pair of binoculars, you’ll soon be identifying warblers, thrushes, waterbirds, and more—both by sight and by ear. Three fun and educational in-class sessions, coordinated with field trips to Jamaica Bay and Central Park (transport to Jamaica Bay included). Limited to 12. $180 (126)
Click here to register

Saturday, April 15, 2017, 9am – 4pm
Spring Migration in Pelham Bay Park, The Bronx
Guide: Gabriel Willow
Explore the lovely coves and rocky outcroppings of NYC’s largest park, Pelham Bay Park, seeking out migrating songbirds, late-wintering birds, ducks, and a breeding pair of great-horned owls! The rich and diverse habitat makes this park an urban gem and a great home for wildlife. Past rarities include a northern goshawk and a purple sandpiper. Bring lunch, water, and binoculars. Transport by passenger van included. Limited to 12. $90 (63)
Click here to register

Sunday, April 16, 2017, 8am – 11am
Prospect Park Bird Walk
Guide: Gabriel Willow
Meet under the arch in Grand Army Plaza. Join Gabriel Willow for a leisurely walk to see later-spring migrants and breeding bird residents of 'Brooklyn's Backyard', beautiful Prospect Park. Prospect Park has a wide variety of habitats that attracts 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)
Click here to register

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North Shore Audubon Society
Saturday, April 15, 2017, 9:30am – 12:00pm
Muttontown Preserve
Leader: Lenore 718-343-1391 and 917-837-2922
See "Walk locations" for directions.
Wear water-resistant footwear, bring binoculars and drinking water.

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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
Saturday, April 15, 2017 @ 10:00am – 12:00pm
Wolfe’s Pond Park
Experience one of nature’s most delicate and subtle dramas firsthand with beautiful ephemeral wildflowers racing against the clock to leaf out, bloom, attract pollinators, and set seed all before the forest canopy develops and blocks out the sun. Wolfe’s Pond Park is one of the riches sites on Staten Island to witness native ephemerals like trout lily and Virginia spring beauty. We will meet at the parking lot near the NYC Parks Department facilities at the end of Chester Avenue.
For more information contact Will Lenihan at wleni5584@gmail.com.

Saturday, April 15, 2017 @ 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Crooke’s Point @ Great Kills Park
Maritime spits such as Crooke’s Point are dynamic typographical features which are formed and sculpted by water and wind action. Join naturalist Paul T. Lederer in a talk and walk where he will discuss the geology and human history of the site as well as the plants and animals that call this place home. Participants will meet at the Beach Center Parking Lot in Great Kills Park near the dirt road leading out to Crooke’s Point. To get to the Beach Center Parking Lot, follow Buffalo Street to just before it turns into the dirt permit road.
For more information or directions contact Paul Lederer at (718) 987-1576.

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South Shore Audubon Society
Saturday, April 15, 2017
Marine Nature Study Area, Oceanside

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
For directions to our bird-watching locations, click here

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Staten Island Museum
Saturday, April 15, 2017, 10:00am-12:00pm
Super Science Saturday: Bird Walk
Location: Staten Island Museum at Snug Harbor, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Building A
$10/$5 Museum Members. Includes Museum admission.
Hands on science discovery for kids 8-13.

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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, April 15, 2017
Birding: Spring Migration at Prospect Park Picnic House (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
The Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best wildlife viewing spots in the urban jungle.
Free!

Discovery Walks for Families: Beginning Birders at Chess and Checkers House (in Central Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Bring your family for a guided walk and discover why Central Park is a sanctuary for plants, animals, and humans alike.
Free!

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Wild Bird Fund
Saturday, April 15, 2017 @ 9:30am - 11:30am
Focus on the Birds with Charles Chessler
WHERE: Starts at Wild Bird Fund at 565 Columbus Avenue, and then travel to Central Park
COST: $20 per person, $15 for members! Join WBF and native New York photographer Charles Chessler for a fun couple of hours learning how best to capture the beautiful birds that visit and make Central Park their home. At 9:30AM Charles will spend a half hour discussing some basic photographic concepts and best…
Find out more » ...Read more

Friday's Foto

The Pine Warbler is the first of North America’s warbler species to arrive in our area during the northbound, Spring migration. This early arrival is due primarily to the fact that most of their population remain in the Southeast after the breeding season, although some will overwinter in northeastern Mexico and islands in the Caribbean. Listen for their rich trilling song, usually from a perch high atop a pine tree. Breeding from extreme southeastern Manitoba, across southern Ontario and into Maine, south across the eastern U.S. to eastern Texas, the Gulf Coast, and Florida they can be found in open pine woods, especially southern longleaf pine forest, sandy barrens of pitch pine with scrub oak undergrowth, jack-pine barrens, and similar habitats.

Like most New World Warblers, their diet consists mainly of insects, however, it is the only warbler that eats large quantities of seeds, as well as, berries. They are also known to visit bird feeders for suet and other items.

The IUCN Red List lists their conservation status as “Least Concern” due to their extremely large range and increasing population trend.

The Pine Warbler’s scientific name, Setophaga pinus, means moth-eating and pine tree.

It's Ear Birding Time!

If you've participated on any of my walks or followed this blog for a few years, you know the importance I put on using one's sense of hearing to finding and experiencing wildlife. So it is time for my annual pitch to get folks ready for our Spring songsters.

If you have the right tools it is much easier than you think to learn how to identify birds by their vocalizations.

There are several sources available to help you learn how to identify birds by ear, but the best one for my money is the Peterson Field Guides series of CDs (as far as I am aware, they are not available as digital downloads). These discs are not reference recordings, but rather well organized lessons that use groups of similar sounding species, repetition and mnemonics to help you quickly learn sounds. Here on the east coast of North America you should purchase "Birding by Ear: Eastern/Central" and "More Birding by Ear Eastern and Central North America". There are discs available for the west coast, as well.

Below is a list of recommended tracks to study. Obviously, there are many more common species in our area which you could add as you feel needed.

The colorful wood-warblers are the most important songbirds to learn. Once you've purchased the discs, use iTunes (or similar software) to import the following tracks:

Name	Album	Disc #	Track #
Sing-songers	Birding by Ear, Eastern/Central	1	4
Warbling Songsters	Birding by Ear, Eastern/Central	2	6
Wood Warblers & a Warbling Wren	Birding by Ear, Eastern/Central	3	1
Warblers: Buzzy	More Birding by Ear, Eastern/Central	2	1
Warblers: Simple	More Birding by Ear, Eastern/Central	2	2
Warblers: Two-Parted	More Birding by Ear, Eastern/Central	2	3
Warblers: Complex	More Birding by Ear, Eastern/Central	2	4
Empidonax Flycatchers	More Birding by Ear, Eastern/Central	1	4

Note that I included the empidonax flycatchers on the list as they are notoriously difficult to separate visually, but each have very distinctive vocalizations.

The woodland thrushes are also incredible songsters, so I recommend the following tracks:

Name	Album	Disc #	Track #
Thrushes	Birding by Ear, Eastern/Central	3	2
Thrushes	More Birding by Ear, Eastern/Central	1	7

One family of bird vocalizations that I tend to neglect are the shorebirds. More often than not, during spring migration a group of calling shorebirds passing overhead are noted only as "flock of unidentified peeps". While their calls and songs may not be nearly as melodic as the wood-warblers, they are each unique and easily identifiable if you take a few minutes each day to study the recommended "Birding by Ear" tracks.

Name	Album	Disc #	Track #
Shorebirds: Pairs	More Birding by Ear, Eastern/Central	3	1
Shorebirds: Plovers	More Birding by Ear, Eastern/Central	3	2
Shorebirds: Whistlers	More Birding by Ear, Eastern/Central	3	3
Shorebirds: Peepers	More Birding by Ear, Eastern/Central	3	4
Shorebirds: Other	More Birding by Ear, Eastern/Central	3	5

Please note that I don't make any money promoting the Peterson Field Guide series. I only do this because I have found that their systematic approach to learning bird-song to be the most effective available. If you have recommendations for other learning tools, feel free to email me or put something in the comments section. Spend 15 - 20 minutes a day listening during your commute, so that by the time all the songbirds begin streaming through NYC I guarantee you'll be able to find a lot more birds and add a whole other dimension to the experience of birding.

Treehugger Tuesday

From National Geographic online:

A Running List of How Trump Is Changing the Environment

The Trump administration has promised vast changes to U.S. science and environmental policy—and we’re tracking them here as they happen.

By Michael Greshko
PUBLISHED March 31, 2017

The Trump administration’s tumultuous first months have brought a flurry of changes—both realized and anticipated—to U.S. environmental policy. Many of the actions roll back Obama-era policies that aimed to curb climate change and limit environmental pollution, while others threaten to limit federal funding for science and the environment.

The stakes are enormous. The Trump administration takes power amid the first days of meaningful international action against climate change, an issue on which political polarization still runs deep. And for the first time in years, Republicans have control of the White House and both houses of Congress—giving them an opportunity to remake the nation’s environmental laws in their image.

It’s a lot to keep track of, so National Geographic will be maintaining an abbreviated timeline of the Trump administration’s environmental actions and policy changes, as well as reactions to them. We will update this article periodically as news develops.

Pesticide Avoids Total Ban

March 29, 2017 - Against the advice of the EPA’s chemical safety experts, EPA administrator Scott Pruitt rejects a decade-old petition asking that the EPA ban all use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos. In 2000, the EPA banned its use in most household settings, but the pesticide is still used on some 40,000 farms, which EPA scientists recommended stop. Research suggests that chlorpyrifos may be associated with brain damage in children and farm workers, even at low exposures—though Dow Chemical, chlorpyrifos’ manufacturer, argues that it is safe when properly used. The U.S. Department of Agriculture welcomes Pruitt’s decision as helpful for U.S. farmers.

Climate Actions Undone

March 28, 2017 - President Trump signs an executive order that seeks to dismantle much of the work on climate change enacted by the Obama administration. The order takes steps to downplay the future costs of carbon emissions, walks back tracking of the federal government’s carbon emissions, rescinds a 2016 moratorium on coal leases on federal lands, and strikes down Obama-era executive orders and memoranda aimed at helping the country prepare for climate change's worst impacts, including threats to national security.

Most notably, the executive order begins the process of rescinding the EPA's Clean Power Plan, an Obama-era regulation designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from new and existing power plants. (Read more about the order—and how China may take up global leadership on climate change.)

Dakota Access Pipeline Prepared for Use

March 27, 2017 - Energy Transfer Partners, the company building the Dakota Access Pipeline, notifies a federal court that it has pumped oil into the pipeline laid underneath North Dakota’s Lake Oahe. The pipeline, which aims to connect North Dakota’s shale oil fields with pipeline networks in Illinois, runs near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation and through land promised under the 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie but later taken away. The pipeline sparked protests over its potential to contaminate water and damage a sacred tribal site—a movement that grew into the largest Native American protest in recent history. (Meet the defiant “water protectors” of Standing Rock.)

Keystone XL Pipeline Approved

March 24, 2017 - The Trump administration’s State Department grants a permit for the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. The 1,200-mile pipeline would connect Alberta’s oil sands to refineries in Texas. President Obama had rejected the project in late 2015, amid concerns that the pipeline’s economic benefits were hype—and fears that the pipeline would exacerbate future carbon emissions. In 2014, the U.S. State Department found that the project would increase emissions but no more than other transport methods.

U.S. Bumblebee Officially Listed as Endangered

March 21, 2017 - The rusty patched bumblebee (Bombus affinis) officially becomes listed as an endangered species, the first bumblebee and eighth U.S. bee species to receive federal protection. Originally, its listing was to be finalized on February 10—but a January 20 executive order delayed it by over a month, as the Trump administration reviewed Obama-era regulations that hadn’t yet taken effect. (Read more about the bumblebee listing.)

Flint Funding Continued

March 17, 2017 - The EPA issues a news release saying that the agency has awarded $100 million to Michigan’s Department of Environmental Quality. The money—provided in a law signed by President Obama in December 2016—will fund drinking water infrastructure upgrades in Flint, Michigan, where drinking water remains contaminated with lead. (These intimate portraits of Flint’s citizens reveal their frustration, fear, and perseverance.)

Fuel Efficiency Standards Reconsidered

March 15, 2017 - EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao announce that the EPA will reconsider the Obama-era emissions requirements for vehicles with model years between 2022 and 2025. The move may presage a rollback of Obama’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, regulations that aim to improve cars’ fuel economy. On January 12, 2017, the Obama EPA attempted to lock in its CAFE standards, which require light-duty vehicles to have average fuel efficiencies of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. The Trump administration and automakers have argued that this goal is unachievable.

Science and Environment Budget Threatened

March 13, 2017 - The White House releases its first preliminary budget under President Trump. Confirming weeks of speculation, the budget outlines deep cuts to U.S. science and environmental agencies—notably EPA and NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration—and a vast array of social programs, in an effort to increase defense spending by $54 billion. Congressional and public opposition to the budget crystallizes almost immediately. (Read more about the budget cuts’ potential effects on the environment.)

EPA Chief Downplays Climate

March 9, 2017 - In a sharp break with scientific consensus, EPA administrator Scott Pruitt says in an interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” that carbon dioxide’s role in the Earth’s changing climate remains unclear. U.S. and international scientists have repeatedly connected rising carbon emissions to the Earth’s changing climate. A 2014 review by the National Academy of Sciences, the United States’ preeminent scientific advisory body, observed that the Earth’s warming since the 1970s “is mainly a result of the increased concentrations of CO2 and other greenhouse gases.”

‘Science’ Scrubbed

March 7, 2017 - The New Republic reports that the EPA’s Office of Science and Technology removed the word “science” from its mission statement, based on information provided by the Environmental Data and Governance Initiative. The updated language marks the latest change to the EPA’s website under Trump, as website updates downplay the Obama administration’s previous climate initiatives.

Federal Lands Won’t Be Unleaded

March 2, 2017 - After riding to work on a horse, U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke spends his first day on the job rescinding an Obama-era prohibition of lead ammunition on federal lands and waters. The Obama Administration’s Fish and Wildlife Service had issued the ban on January 19, 2017, the day before Trump’s inauguration. The National Rifle Association and hunting groups laud Zinke’s move as supportive of hunting’s economic contribution, while conservation groups decry it, noting that lead ammunition can poison wildlife. (Learn how a ban on lead ammunition could save California’s rare condors.)

Water Protection May Dry Up

February 28, 2017 - President Trump issues an executive order formally asking the EPA to review the “Waters of the United States” rule, an Obama-era rule meant to clarify which U.S. waters fall under federal Clean Water Act jurisdiction. The rule had extended federal protections to some headwaters of larger waterways, wetlands, and isolated lakes. (Read more about the controversy surrounding the rule.)

Scott Pruitt Confirmed as EPA Chief

February 17, 2017 - The U.S. Senate confirms Scott Pruitt as the head of the U.S. EPA. In his prior role as Oklahoma’s attorney general, Pruitt frequently sued the EPA over its regulations, notably leading a 27-state lawsuit against the Clean Power Plan. Emails released days after Pruitt’s confirmation show that in his time as Oklahoma’s attorney general, Pruitt’s office maintained a cozy relationship with oil and gas companies.

Streams Reopened to Mining Waste

February 16, 2017 - President Trump signs a joint resolution passed by Congress revoking the U.S. Department of the Interior’s “Stream Protection Rule.” That rule, finalized shortly before President Obama left office, placed stricter restrictions on dumping mining waste into surrounding waterways. Congressional Republicans characterized the rule as redundant and onerous. (Read “Why Trump Can’t Make Coal Great Again.”)

Fossil Fuel CEO Becomes Chief Diplomat

February 1, 2017 - The U.S. Senate confirms ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson as secretary of state. Tillerson’s extensive ties to fossil fuels—and difficult-to-pin-down stance on climate science—sparked fierce opposition to his nomination among environmentalists. Questions linger over what Tillerson and the Trump administration will do about U.S. involvement in the Paris Agreement, the international climate pact negotiated under the Obama administration.

March for Science Materializes

January 25, 2017 - After news that the Trump administration had removed all references to climate change from the White House’s website, online commenters begin calling for a “Scientists’ March on Washington,” styled after the record-breaking Women’s March on January 21. Momentum quickly builds, resulting in plans for the March for Science, scheduled for April 22.

Pipelines Greenlit

January 24, 2017 - President Trump issues several memoranda aiming to hasten permitting for the Dakota Access and Keystone XL oil pipelines. Trump also calls for the U.S. Department of Commerce to come up with a plan ensuring that pipelines built across the United States are made with U.S. steel. However, later reports clarify that the memo does not apply to the Keystone XL pipeline.

Park Service #Resists

January 20, 2017 - Trump is inaugurated president. Minutes later, the National Park Service posts a photo on Twitter comparing Trump’s crowds with the much larger crowds at Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration. Trump’s subsequent criticism of the National Park Service triggers an unofficial “resistance” movement of social media accounts that claim to be run by U.S. government officials. (Read more about the “science rebellion” blossoming under Trump.)

Scramble to Save Science Data

December 10, 2016 - Fearing that the incoming Trump administration may attempt to delete or bury U.S. climate databases, meteorologist and climate journalist Eric Holthaus asks on Twitter for suggestions of important databases to back up. His query sparks a movement across academia to back up key databases, resulting in “data refuges” and the Environmental Data and Governance Initiative.

Trump Takes All

November 8, 2016 - Real estate developer Donald Trump wins the 2016 U.S. presidential election. His upset victory comes after a months-long campaign that focused little on environmental issues, but did denounce the Obama administration’s climate policies and champion the U.S. fossil fuels industry.
...Read more

Upcoming Birding and Nature Trips

Below is a list of upcoming nature trips by local birding/conservation groups for Saturday, April 8, 2017 to Sunday, April 9, 2017:

Audubon Center in Prospect Park
Saturday, April 8, 2017, 12pm – 1pm
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!

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Bedford Audubon Society
Saturday, April 8, 2017, 8am – 11am
Birding Hotspot: The Great Swamp in Patterson
Leader: Naturalist Tait Johansson
Join Naturalist Tait Johansson in exploring the Great Swamp in Patterson in a search for Wood Duck, Wilson’s Snipe, Rusty Blackbird, and other signs of spring. We’ll possibly visit a few other early spring locales as well. Meet at Patterson Environmental Park.
Cost: Free
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Please register with Susan at info@bedfordaudubon.org or 914.302.9713

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Brooklyn Bird Club
Saturday, April 8, 2017
“Brooklyn Patch Boiding”
Leader: Peter Dorosh
Focus: A fun discovery tour of selected parks under 60 acres
Registrar: Peter Dorosh Prosbird@aol.com or text 347-622-3559
Registration Period: April 1st - April 6th
Note: Likely locations are Brooklyn Bridge Park, Fort Green Park, Bush Terminal Pier Park and nearby Owls Head Park (optional)

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Eastern Long Island Audubon Society
Saturday, April 8, 2017, Meet at 8:30am
North Fork Preserve
Leader: Mary Laura Lamont

North Fork Preserve is in Jamesport. It is now clearly marked with a sign on Sound Avenue, just east of Chapel Lane. Follow the long, paved driveway to the parking area by the former hunting lodge. Vernal ponds, meadows and wooded areas attract a variety of visiting migrants and nesting warblers, in addition to raptors, and thrushes. Each day is different during migration season. Dress for ticks, however, we will be on mowed paths for most of the walk.

All levels of naturalists — including beginners — are most welcome on Eastern Long Island Audubon field trips. Most trips are free to attend, however, sometimes the place we are visiting has a fee. We try to make a note of it in the notice.

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Feminist Bird Club
Saturday, April 8, 2017
Prospect Park
For meeting time and locations, contact the trip leader at mollyhadams [AT] gmail.com

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Gateway National Recreation Area
Multiple Days: 04/08/2017, 05/21/2017 10:00am to 11:30am
Osprey Watch Guided Walk
Learn all about the amazing Osprey on this guided walk of the West Pond Trail. We’ll talk about their incredible migration and the inspiring story of how conservation efforts were able to bring this species back from the brink of extinction.
Location: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Fee Information: Free

Every Sunday Weekly from 03/12/2017 to 05/28/2017
Birding for Beginners
Join us for an introductory nature walk where you will learn the essentials of birdwatching.
Location: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Fee Information: Free

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Green-Wood Cemetery
Sunday, April 9, 2017 at 6:30am
"Birding in Peace": Birds of Early-Spring Migration
Our April tours will be a feast for the ears and eyes with the trilling song of Pine Warblers and drumming pronouncements of Woodpeckers on newly blossoming trees (including magnolias, maples, quinces, and dogwoods). We’ll discover thousands of songbirds resting before their trip north as well as arriving herons and egrets at Green-Wood’s glacial ponds.

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New York Botanical Garden (Bronx)
Saturdays -- 9/3/2016 - 6/24/2017: 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

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New York City Audubon Society
Saturday, April 8, 2017, 8am – 2pm
Beginning Birding
Classes: Wednesdays, March 29; April 5 and 12, 6:30-8:30pm
Trips: Saturday, April 8, 8am-2pm (Jamaica Bay) and Saturday, April 15, 8-10:30am (Central Park)
Instructor: Tod Winston
Learn the keys to identifying the spectacular variety of birds that migrate northwards through New York City every spring. Even if you’ve never picked up a pair of binoculars, you’ll soon be identifying warblers, thrushes, waterbirds, and more—both by sight and by ear. Three fun and educational in-class sessions, coordinated with field trips to Jamaica Bay and Central Park (transport to Jamaica Bay included). Limited to 12. $180 (126)
Click here to register

Saturday, April 8, 2017, 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. There are a few places around New York City where they perform this display. Let’s go look for it (and bats and owls and other critters, too) at Floyd Bennett Field. Bring binoculars, comfortable shoes, a headlamp or flashlight, and a snack for a post-woodcock picnic. Transport by passenger van included. Limited to 12. $90 (63)
Click here to register

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North Shore Audubon Society
Saturday, April 8, 2017, 9:30am – 12:00pm
Walk: Oceanside - Marine Nature Study Area
Leader: Ralph 516-785-3375
See "Walk locations" for directions.
Wear water-resistant footwear, bring binoculars and drinking water.

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NYC H2O
Saturday, April 8, 2017, 10:00am – 1:00pm
Lemon Creek Beach Clean

Description
Bus transportation will be provided from Union Square leaving at 8:30am.
Gloves, garbage bags and pickers will be provided.
Rain date is Sunday April 9 at 10am.

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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods (Staten Island)
Sunday, April 9, 2017 @ 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Goodhue Woods

Come explore one of New York City’s newest park properties. The woodlands and fields of the Goodhue property are a rare forested north shore property and it deserves to be investigated. Participants will look for evidence of the area’s geologic history, observe its present ecosystems, and discuss its relation to adjacent areas in the same watershed.
For more information contact Clay Wollney at (718) 869-6327.

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Queens County Bird Club
Saturday, April 8, 2017
Shu Swamp
Leader: Rich Kelly - 516-509-1094

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South Shore Audubon Society
Sunday, April 2, 2017
Massapequa Preserve

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
For directions to our bird-watching locations, click here

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Urban Park Rangers
Saturday, April 8, 2017
Birding: Spring Migration at Winchester Boulevard, under Grand Central Parkway (in Alley Pond Park), Queens
9:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best wildlife viewing spots in the urban jungle.
Free!

Discovery Walks for Families: Beginning Birders at Belvedere Castle (in Central Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Bring your family for a guided walk and discover why Central Park is a sanctuary for plants, animals, and humans alike.
Free!

Sunday, April 9, 2017
Spring Birding at Wave Hill at Wave Hill, Bronx
9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
Welcome migratory birds back to Wave Hill this spring and explore the gardens and woodlands with naturalist Gabriel Willow.

Birding for Beginners at Wolfe's Pond Park Comfort Station (in Wolfe's Pond Park), Staten Island
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Novice and experienced welcome!
Free!

Birding: Hawk Watch at Pelham Bay Park, Bronx
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!

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Young Birders Club
Sunday, April 9, 2017
Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge / Black Dirt Region (Orange County)
Wallkill River NWR, Liberty MarshSponsoring NYSYBC Partner: Bedford Audubon Society. Trip Leader: Tait Johansson

This trip will be led by Tait Johansson, a longtime friend of NYSYBC who has taken us on great trips to a number of places in the past.

The Wallkill River Refuge 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 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 3/31/17 (even if you submitted one for the March trip). If you have not yet submitted a 2017 medical form (page 2 of the trip registration form) please submit it with your registration form. ...Read more