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.
View Details


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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.
View Details


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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
View Details


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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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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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Best of the Fortnight

Below are my favorite photos from the past two weeks. This installment features several different pollinators:

Sachem skipper on Mountain Mint, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Cicada Killer wasp, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Corn Seed Moth, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Janet's Wildflower Meadow, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Common Yarrow, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Sachem skipper, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Lemon Beebalm, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Miner Wasp, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Golden Northern Bumblebee, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Red-bellied Woodpecker feeding fledgling, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

American Lady, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Miner Bee, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Slender Meadow Katydid, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Black and Yellow Mud Dauber Wasp, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Chimney Swift, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Female Blue Dasher, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Mating Droneflies, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

European Paper Wasp, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Great Blue Heron, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Blue Dasher on wild garlic, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Cicada Killer with prey, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Ball Thistle, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Great Blue Skimmer, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Upcoming Trips

Below are the birding/nature trips for the weekend of July 29 - July 30, 2023:

Brooklyn Bird Club

Beachcombing for Shorebirds: A Plumb Beach Watch
Saturday, July 29, 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
View Details


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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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Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon Society

Cranberry Bog Nature Preserve
Sunday, July 30, 2023 - 9:00am
Leader: _____
Description: This former cranberry farm in Riverhead is now home to a variety of rare plant and insect species that can be found on Long Island only in the Pine Barrens.
Registration: To register, call (585) 880-0915.
View Details


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New York City Audubon

Intro to Birding in Marine Park
Saturday, July 29, 2023, 9:00am - 10:30pm
Leader: Heydi Lopes
Description: Explore the beauty of Brooklyn’s largest park, Marine Park. Consisting of grassland and salt marshes, this park is habitat for a variety of migratory songbirds and waterbirds. This series is hosted in partnership with the Marine Park Alliance.
Registration: No registration required. No limit. Free.
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Vulture Tour at New York Botanical Garden
Saturday, July 29, 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
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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Urban Park Rangers

Saturday, July 29, 2023

Summer on the Hudson: Riverside Park Birding Club at 108th street and Riverside Drive
7:00am - 8:30am
Monthly walks through birding hotspots in Riverside Park. Learn and build a birding community.
Free

Birding By Canoe Excursion at Canoe and Kayak Launch (in Pelham Bay Park), Bronx
11:00am - 12:30pm
Explore the Orchard Beach Lagoon by canoe, as we look for birds that live in this estuarine habitat of the Long Island Sound. Registration begins on Wednesday, July 19.
Free

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Upcoming Trips

Below are the birding/nature trips for the weekend of July 22 - July 23, 2023:

Freshkills Park Alliance

Kayak Tour
Sunday, July 23, 2023, 11:30am
Leader: Rangers
Description: Kayak along Freshkills Park’s waterways! This two mile round-trip paddle is a chance to explore the creeks and shorelines of Freshkills Park and experience the wildlife while the site is closed to the public. We know this program fills quickly and wish we could offer it more frequently, but we have a small staff and are generally limited to trips on the weekend during high tide.
Registration: Register via Eventbrite.
View Details


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Gabe Willow Tours

Jamaica Bay Summer Shorebirds & More
Saturday, July 22, 2023, 9:00am - 2:00pm
Leader: Gabe WIllow
Description: Meet at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and search the mudflats and ponds of Jamaica Bay (the NYC locale with the most recorded species of birds) for breeding herons and egrets, Forster's and Common Terns, Clapper Rail, and American Oystercatcher, as well as the many migratory plovers and sandpipers that will already be headed south from their arctic breeding grounds. Learn the finer points of identifying these challenging species.
Registration: Register via Eventbrite
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The Hidden Ecology of Prospect Park After Dark - Bats, Fireflies, & More
Saturday, July 22, 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
View Details


Grassland Birds of Croton Point Park
Sunday, July 23, 2023, 8:00am - 3:00pm
Leader: Gabe WIllow
Description: Travel in comfort aboard Metro North to visit Croton Point Park, a beautiful 500-acre park on a peninsula on the Hudson River, about one hour north of the city. The park is rich in natural and human history - it has the oldest native american oyster shell middens in the northeast, revealing that it was inhabited as long as 7,000 years ago; today, the park has a wonderful mix of forest, wetlands, and grassland. The grasslands are atop a hill formed by a former landfill, and are home to hard-to-find breeding bird species such as Indigo Bunting, Grasshopper Sparrow, Bobolink, and Eastern Meadowlark. The woodlands nearby are home to breeding Great Horned Owl, Willow Flycatcher, and Orchard Oriole, as well as the more expected common summer species.
Registration: Register via Eventbrite
View Details


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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, July 23, 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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New York City Audubon

Intro to Birding in Marine Park
Saturday, July 22, 2023, 9:00am - 10:30pm
Leader: Heydi Lopes
Description: Explore the beauty of Brooklyn’s largest park, Marine Park. Consisting of grassland and salt marshes, this park is habitat for a variety of migratory songbirds and waterbirds. This series is hosted in partnership with the Marine Park Alliance.
Registration: No registration required. No limit. Free.
View Details


New York Botanical Garden Tour
Saturday, July 22, 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: Registration not 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.
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7th Annual Kingsland Wildflowers Festival
Saturday, July 22, 2023, 4:00pm - 8:00pm
Leader: Newtown Creek Alliance and NYC Audubon
Description: Join us for a summer evening of hands-on activities, art, entertainment, and fun at Kingsland Wildflowers! A native rooftop meadow on the roof of Broadway Stages in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, this thriving wildlife habitat and cultural center was created in partnership by the Newtown Creek Alliance and NYC Audubon. This annual festival aims to bring awareness to Greenpoint’s and the surrounding communities' long-standing environmental burdens; transition to a cleaner, healthier future; as well as the global climate crisis and the potential for local, community-based solutions. Come enjoy the native plantings and views, art exhibitions, a native plant sale, rooftop tours, and more!
Registration: Registration page
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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods

Greenbelt Nature Center to Seaview
Saturday, July 22, 2023, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Leader: Don Recklies
Description: Participants will meet in the Greenbelt Nature Center parking lot at Rockland Avenue and Brielle, (additional parking at the Recreation Center nearby). We will make a loop using the Blue, White, and Red trails to pass the Department of Parks and Recreation’s serpentine barrens restoration project, Paulo’s Peak (Moses’ Mountain), and the Bluebelt Dam at Rockland and Meisner Avenues.
Registration: For more information call Don Recklies at (718) 768-9036.
View Details
...Read more

Best of the Fortnight

Below are my favorite photos from the past two weeks:

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Wild Turkey, Marine Park, Brooklyn, NY

Eastern Kingbird, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Orange-belted Bumble Bee, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Southern Magnolia flower, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Striped Skunk kitten, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

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

Immature Cooper's Hawk with prey, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Primrose and dronefly, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Wild Bergamot, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn, NY

Buttonbush, Brooklyn, Bridge Park, Brooklyn, NY

Chimney Swift, Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY

Fledgling Gray Catbird, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Common Tern, Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY

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

Monarch butterfly, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Eastern Kingbird with nestlings, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Globe thistle, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Upcoming Trips

Below are the birding/nature trips for the weekend of July 15 - July 16, 2023:

Brooklyn Bird Club

Summer Birds of the Jamaica Bay Watershed
Saturday, July 15, 2023
Leader: Peter Dorosh
Description: Early season migrating and breeding shorebirds, water birds, marsh species, and coastal songbirds.
Registration: Peter Dorosh Prosbird@gmail.com or Prosbird@aol.com
View Details


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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, July 16, 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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New York City Audubon

Intro to Birding in Marine Park
Saturday, July 15, 2023, 9:00am - 10:30pm
Leader: Heydi Lopes
Description: Explore the beauty of Brooklyn’s largest park, Marine Park. Consisting of grassland and salt marshes, this park is habitat for a variety of migratory songbirds and waterbirds. This series is hosted in partnership with the Marine Park Alliance.
Registration: No registration required. No limit. Free.
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Vulture Tour at New York Botanical Garden
Saturday, July 15, 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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NYCHA in Nature Birding in Bay View
Saturday, July 15, 2023, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Leader: NYC Audubon, the Public Housing Community Fund, and the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy
Description: We will visit and bird along Canarsie Pier, located at Canarsie Veterans Circle, Brooklyn, NY 11236. Registration not required but encouraged (it helps know how many binoculars we should bring!).
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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City of Water Day at Sherman Creek Park
Saturday, July 15, 2023, 1:00pm - 4:30pm
Leader: NYC Audubon and the New York Restoration Project
Description: NYC Audubon and the New York Restoration Project are teaming up to offer several activities at Sherman Creek Park this day, including birding. Meet just north of PS 5 (3703 10th Ave, New York, NY 10034) at the start of a woodchipped trail that leads into Sherman Creek Park.
Registration: Registration page
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NYCHA in Nature Birding at Beach 43rd Street
Saturday, July 15, 2023, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Leader: NYC Audubon, the Public Housing Community Fund, and the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy
Description: We will bird along the water's edge starting at 598A Beach 43rd St, Far Rockaway, NY 11691 and venture into nearby Bayswater Park. Registration not required but encouraged (it helps know how many binoculars we should bring!).
Registration: Registration page
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Queens County Bird Club

Plumb Beach
Saturday, July 15, 2023, 8:00am - 11:00am
Leader: Joe Schiavone (203) 640-2927
Description: This mini-trip will explore the marshy areas of Plumb Beach. Expecting to find Saltmarsh Sparrows, perhaps a Nelson's too, as well as Clapper Rails.
Registration: Please contact trip leader for meeting time and location.
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Saw Mill River Audubon Society

Marshlands Conservancy
Sunday, July 16, 2023, 7:00am
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, July 15, 2023

Birding: Hawk Watch at Avenue A and St. Marks Place (in Tompkins Square Park), Manhattan
1:00pm - 2:00pm
New York City is home to an amazing abundance of wildlife. Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best wildlife viewing spots in the urban jungle.
Free

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Upcoming Trips

Below are the birding/nature trips for the weekend of July 8 - July 9, 2023:

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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Green-Wood Cemetery

Birding in Peace
Sunday, July 9, 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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Beetles, Bees, and Butterflies, Oh My! (Member-Only Tour)
Sunday, July 9, 2023, 10:30am - 12:030pm
Description: On this tour, naturalist Matthew Wills will take you on a journey to notice and appreciate some of Green-Wood’s smallest residents: bugs! Together we will explore some of Green-Wood’s gardens and meadows to observe a variety of insects and learn about their roles in our ecosystem. You’ll gain new insights into the importance of these often unnoticed and unappreciated creatures that surround us. Children are welcome on this tour!
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Linnaean Society of New York

Staten Island, Purple Martins Plus
Saturday, July 8, 2023
Leader: Howard Fischer
Description: On this summer trip to Staten Island, we will visit several areas with nesting birds. Possibilities include Bank Swallows at Great Kills Park, Purple Martins at Lemon Creek, and Boat-tailed Grackles, possible Clapper Rails, Little Blue Herons, and other marsh birds at Oakwood Beach Tidal Marsh. The exact itinerary will be determined by the leader based on current bird sightings. There will also be opportunities to observe a variety of butterflies and odonates.
Registration: Mary Beth Kooper - marybeth@nyc.rr.com
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New York City Audubon

Intro to Birding in Marine Park
Saturday, July 8, 2023, 9:00am - 10:30pm
Leader: Heydi Lopes
Description: Explore the beauty of Brooklyn’s largest park, Marine Park. Consisting of grassland and salt marshes, this park is habitat for a variety of migratory songbirds and waterbirds. This series is hosted in partnership with the Marine Park Alliance.
Registration: No registration required. No limit. Free.
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Birding by Boat with the Bronx River Alliance
Saturday, July 8, 2023, 9:00am - 12:00pm
Leader: _____
Description: This summer, join NYC Audubon and the Bronx River Alliance for a special birding by boat event! This guided tour takes paddlers through the lower saltwater portion of the Bronx River (to the river mouth and back), featuring a duality of estuarine and urban habitat. While on the way we will get the chance to look at a wide variety of shorebirds, as well as other wildlife. Binoculars and other equipment will be provided.
Registration: Registration page
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New York Botanical Garden Bird Tour
Saturday, July 8, 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.
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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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North Fork Audubon Society

North Fork Pollinator Pathway Inaugural Garden Crawl
Sunday, July 9, 2023, 12:00pm - 4:30pm
Leader: _____
Description: Public and private pesticide-free corridors of native plants that provide nutrition and habitat for pollinating insects and birds. Even the smallest green spaces, like flower boxes and curb strips, can be part of a pathway.
Registration: To pre-register, email: northforkpollinatorpathway@gmail.com
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Protectors of Pine Oak Woods

Salamanders at Field of Dreams
Saturday, July 8, 2023, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Leader: Matthew Cohen
Description: Join with Matthew Cohen as he shares his recent field work identifying and collecting data on Staten Island’s native salamanders. Participants will meet in the parking lot at the Field of Dreams along Forest Hill Road, across from Costco. Enjoy a short walk to a local stream; discuss the importance of clean streams and the Two-lined, dusky, and red salamanders that call them home here in Staten Island.
Registration: For more information e-mail Matthew Cohen at mattcohen1349@gmail.com.
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Dragonfly Talk and Walk
Sunday, July 9, 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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Urban Park Rangers

Sunday, July 9, 2023

Summer Birding at Perkins Visitors Center (in Wave Hill), Bronx
9:30am - 11:00am
Welcome migratory birds back to Wave Hill this summer! Explore the gardens and woodlands with birders Paul Keim or Gabriel Willow to look for resident and rare birds as they pass through on their northern journey or settle down for the season.
Free

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