Last
updated 7/6/10NYSYBC FIELD TRIPS & OTHER EVENTS
Red-headed Woodpecker at Stonykill,
1/17/09
photo
by Lila FriedNYSYBC
conducts field trips all over New York State with the help of our Partner Organizations.
These trips are an excellent way to meet fellow young birders and see some awesome
birds! Each field trip is led by an expert birder who is very familiar with the
area and its birds.
NYSYBC field trips are open to young birders (age 10-19), their parents, and specifically invited adults ONLY. Supporting adults wishing to attend a trip, please as early as possible. Young birders who have attended a previous NYSYBC trip may go on additional field trips only if they have become NYSYBC members. ALL YOUNG BIRDERS UNDER AGE 12 MUST BE TRANSPORTED BY AND ACCOMPANIED BY A PARENT THROUGHOUT THE TRIP.
Because these trips require a good deal of planning an coordination, attendees are required to in advance with name, address, age, and transportation plans (see calendar below for deadline dates). In addition, ANY BIRDER UNDER THE AGE OF 18 MUST SUBMIT A COMPLETED PERMISSION FORM by the applicable deadline specified below.
Non-members may attend one NYSYBC field trip (and their parents may attend with them if they wish) but must become NYSYBC Youth Members before attending any subsequent field trips. Exception: Out of state residents between the ages of 10 and 19 who visit the state occasionally may attend two field trips per year as non-members.
TRIPS ARE SUBJECT TO CANCELLATION due to weather or if too few registrations are received by the stated deadline. We use email to communicate in these situations.
Click on the month below for which you'd like to see details, or just scroll down and browse the entire calendar.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Saturday January 16, 2010 - Marshlands Conservancy & 2010 Kickoff Meeting
Sponsored by Marshlands Conservancy (Westchester County Parks Conservation Division)
This was our annual club kickoff. We started with a couple of hours of birding at 8am. After that we convened our meeting. A meeting room was generously made available to us by the Marshlands Conservancy. We brainstormed ideas for this year's special activities, discussed field trips and other events, and talked about a number of other important items.
by 1/2/10 (send us name, address, age, and transportation plans); permission form due by 1/8/10.
Sunday February 14, 2010 - American Museum of Natural History Ornithology Department
All young birders attending this trip MUST be members of NYSYSBC.
Scott Haber showing us the extinct Great Auk, 2/14/10
photo by Mary BatchellerNYSYBC was invited for a very special behind-the-scenes look at the American Museum of Natural History's Ornithology Department. The museum is located in mid-Manhattan, right next to Central Park on the west side. We will meet there at 9:30am.
This was a unique opportunity to see one of the largest specimen collections in the world (with examples of nearly every species of bird known to science), something that most birders (and other people) never get access to! We also learned about the history of ornithology at AMNH, what museum ornithologists do, and why museum collections are so vital even in the present day.
Then we had a look at the prep lab where bird specimens are prepared, the molecular lab where the genetic research is done, and finally we went on an exploration of the collections of bird skins, taking time to look at a wide variety of interesting and notable species.
The tour was guided by Scott Haber, the Collections Assistant in the ornithology department, and Peter Capainolo, a Senior Scientific Assistant in the department who is also an Adjunct Professor of Biology at the City College of New York, and serves on the New York State Falconry Advisory Board.
Saturday March 27, 2010 - Stockport Flats (Columbia County, on the Hudson River) - meet at 9am
Sponsoring NYSYBC Partner: Alan
Devoe Bird Club
Hudson River at Nutten Hook, photo
by Willard UlmerThis area of freshwater tidal wetlands and freshwater marshes is among the rarest ecosystems in the world. Belted Kingfishers and Bank Swallows burrow nesting holes into the soft, sandy cliffs of Stockport Middle Ground Island. In spring and fall, look for Least, Spotted and Solitary Sandpipers, and Wilson’s Snipe. Scan the inlet coves and islands for waterfowl and always keep an eye to the sky for Osprey and Bald Eagles.
The Stockport Flats comprise nearly five miles of shoreline, marshes, islands and peninsulas. The Stockport Flats reserve is a five-mile, narrow mosaic of landforms including: Nutten Hook (a bedrock outcropping); Gays Point and Stockport Middle Ground Island (dredge features); and Stockport Creek. The Stockport Flats encompass 1543 acres and are dominated by freshwater tidal wetlands including subtidal shallows; intertidal mudflats; intertidal shores; tidal marshes and floodplain swamps.
Stockport Flats is one of 4 tidal wetland sites in NYSDEC's Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve (the others are Norrie Point, Tivoli Bays, and Iona Island). for more information see the NYSDEC website.
by 3/12/10 (send us name, address, age, and transportation plans); permission form due by 3/19/10.
Sunday April 25, 2010 - Derby Hill / Noyes Sanctuary (on Lake Ontario in Oswego County) - meet at 9am
Sponsoring NYSYBC Partner: Onondaga Audubon Society
If conditions are not favorable for a hawk flight, we will meet at Derby Hill but will then go directly to Noyes Sanctuary. Otherwise we will start by birding at Derby Hill.
Derby Hill on Lake OntarioDerby Hill Habitat: Open field with a bluff that overlooks Lake Ontario. Additional fields bordered by hedgerows with an adjoining woodland on the east and a marsh on the west. Special Features: A migratory pathway for migrating birds of prey and smaller passerines. Enormous numbers of Broad-winged Hawks can be seen from this location Target Species include: possible Black Vulture, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, possible Swainson's Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Golden Eagle, Merlin and Peregrine Falcon. Note: The hawk flight is dependent on favorable south to southwest winds.
Noyes Sanctuary Habitat: Secondary forest composed of Eastern Hemlock, Sugar Maple, American Beech, Black Cherry, Yellow Birch and White Birch. Small reforestation plots are composed of Scotch Pine, White Pine and Norway Spruce within walking distance of Lake Ontario. Special Features include: a migratory stop-over for early spring migrants and diving ducks. Target Species include: Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser and Caspian Tern. Target Species inland include: Blue-headed Vireo, Winter Wren, both Kinglet species, Hermit Thrush, and Pine Warbler.
It is recommended that participants bring a hat and sunglasses for Derby Hill. Other suggested items would be chapstick and suntan lotion, and insect repellent in case of an unusually warm day at Noyes Sanctuary. Appropriate clothing would include a long-sleeve sweater and warm jacket in case there are cool breezes off the lake. Waterproof hiking shoes or rubber boots are a must for Noyes Sanctuary. Please bring food and beverage; we will have lunch at Derby Hill, where there are bathroom facilities. An old blanket would be helpful if you want to sit on the ground during lunch.
Note: Noyes Sanctuary is not recommended for anyone who is highly sensitive to poison ivy. Our trip leader will make every effort to avoid poison ivy plants by taking other trails.
by 4/9/10 (send us name, address, age, and transportation plans); permission form due by 4/16/10.
Saturday May 22, 2010 - Bashakill
Wildlife Management Area and other areas of Sullivan County - starting at 5am with later meeting time (7am) for those who cannot get there that early
Sponsoring NYSYBC Partner: Sullivan
County Audubon Society
This was in March 2009. Imagine this place in May!!!
photo
by Carena Pooth This outstanding birding area in southeastern Sullivan County attracts birders from all over the northeast. Most come in April and May to look for migrating birds that stop to rest and feed in the trees and shrubbery adjacent to the large wetlands, but the birding is excellent much of the year. Last year we went there in March - see Jacob's trip report and the photo gallery from that trip.
This BCA (Bird Conservation Area) is comprised of the Bashakill Wildlife Management Area. Habitat is primarily non-tidal emergent wetlands through which the Bashakill River meanders. Wetlands are surrounded by deciduous woods and mixed woods, with some shrub lands. The area hosts a number of rare plants and animals (Spreading Globeflower, Ironcolor Shiner, Spotted Sunfish and Long-tailed Salamander). Limestone caves exist in the area as well. The area supports characteristic breeding wetland-dependent species (such as Great Blue Heron, Virginia Rail, Sora and Common Moorhen), abundant waterfowl and several species at risk. And in May, WARBLERS!
Species at risk include: Pied-billed Grebe, American Bittern, Least Bittern, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Northern Goshawk, and Red-shouldered Hawk.
by 5/7/10 (send us name, address, age, and transportation plans); permission form due by 5/14/10.
Sunday June 13, 2010 (RAIN DATE June 12th) - Whiteface Mountain for Bicknell's Thrush (Adirondacks)
Sponsoring NYSYBC Partner: Northern New York Audubon Society
Bicknell’s Thrush begins to sing at 4am, so the earlier we can drive up the better. This means we will need to get to bed early Saturday night! Participants should plan to stay overnight near Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington. We will meet for a group dinner Saturday evening; watch your email for details about dinner as well as meeting time Sunday morning.
Sunday July 18, 2010 - Cupsogue Beach County Park (Suffolk County, LI) - starting 7am (low tide is 6:46)
Sponsoring NYSYBC Partner: Eastern Long Island Audubon Society
Westhampton Beach to Shinnecock Inlet, Hampton Bays. Ocean, march, bays - East Bird Island, Moriches Bay. Breeding birds & early returning shorebirds.
by 7/9/10 (send us name, address, age, and transportation plans) AND permission form due by 7/9/10.
Saturday August 14, 2010 Annual Jamaica Bay Shorebird Festival UPDATED 7/4/10
Sponsoring NYSYBC Partner: Huntington/Oyster Bay Audubon Society
There will be a morning walk as well as other programs. More details coming soon!
White-rumped Sandpiper photo taken by Jacob Drucker on the August 2008 NYSYBC trip to Jamaica Bay >
by 7/30/10 (send us name, address, age, and transportation plans); permission form due by 8/6/10.
Sunday September 26, 2010 - Central Park (NYC) UPDATED 7/4/10
Sponsoring NYSYBC Partner: Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch
The walk will be led by J5/7acob Drucker and a member of Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch. Meeting time and location will be posted soon.
by 9/10/10 (send us name, address, age, and transportation plans); permission form due by 9/17/10.
Sunday October 10, 2010 - Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge (Orange County)
Sponsoring NYSYBC Partner: Edgar
A. Mearns Bird Club
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 brd species have been observed on the refuge throughout the years. It offers excellent viewing opportunities for birds and a variety of wildlife.
by 9/24/10 (send us name, address, age, and transportation plans); permission form due by 10/1/10.
December 2010 - Christmas Bird Count
There is no field trip planned for December. Instead, we encourage young birders to participate in one or more Christmas Bird Counts. Each year, the CBC season runs from December 14th through January 5th. Check with your local bird club or visit NYSOA's online CBC calendar to find out how you can get involved in CBCs in your area!
Young birders in New York State are welcome
to join
our online New York State Young Birders discussion group.
our online New York State Young Birders discussion group.
