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 Field Trips, Programs, and Special Events
We invite you to join us this autumn for a wonderful selection of lectures, field trips, and special events. Unless otherwise noted, Bedford Audubon's programs are free and open to the public.
All lectures are held in
the handicapped-accessible Garden Room
at the Katonah Village Library
(26 Bedford Road, Katonah, New York, 10536).
Please park alongside the meeting house and do not block Fire Department access. No pre-registration is required for lectures.
For programs meeting at Bylane Farm, 35 Todd Road, Katonah, please do not park on the road. There is ample parking available next to the offices and across the street.
Unless otherwise noted, please pre-register for field trips, workshops, and other programs with Ms. Jeanne Pollock at jpollock@bedfordaudubon.org or 914.519.7801. Email notice to postpone or cancel a program due to inclement weather will be sent to registered participants by 6pm the day prior to the program.
Each field trip is given one of three levels of difficulty: Easy (E), Moderate (M), or Strenuous (S). Please discuss your level of mobility with the program registrar to ensure the field trip is appropriate for you.
Legal Liability Waiver
Participating in a field trip carries certain risks, and based on the recommendation of our legal counsel and insurance provider, it is required that all field trip participants carefully read and sign this release of liability. We appreciate your understanding.
Click for directions and a map to the Katonah
Memorial House
Many of our field
trips are held at BAS Headquarters at Bylane Farm.
To get to Bylane Farm >
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April
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Field Trip: Dance of the Woodcock
Thursday, April 4, 7:15-8:30pm, at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation.
We hope to see this extraordinary annual ritual, where the male American Woodcock “peents”, struts, hurls himself into the evening sky, and glides back down to the ground again, all in hopes of attracting a mate. Meet Naturalist Tait Johansson in the parking area just before the toll booth, and bring a flashlight or headlamp. This event is strictly limited to 20 people. Level of difficulty: Easy-Moderate. Cost: Free. Register with Ms. Jeanne Pollock at jpollock@bedfordaudubon.org or 914.519.7801.
Bylane Farm Book Club. Veryln
Klinkenborg's The Rural Life
Monday, April 8, 7 pm, Veryln
Klinkenborg's The Rural Life is a personal chronicle on the
changing of the seasons and our relationship to nature —
a modern take on Thoreau and Emerson. Don't forget —
members who order their books from NoKa Joes in Katonah
will receive a 15% discount! Cost: Free. Please register your intent to
attend with Ms. Elizabeth Royston at jroys516@aol.com.
Workshop: The Invasives Project – Pound Ridge's iMap Training
Wednesday, April 10, 10am-3pm, at the Pound Ridge Library.
Learn how to use your cell phone and Web-based technology to post locations of invasive species. Please bring lunch, your mobile device, and a laptop. Cost: Free. Register at www.nyimapinvasives.org/Training/nyimapschdule/westchester-county.
Lecture: Birds & Buildings
Wednesday, April 10, 7 pm,
Join New York City Audubon's Director of Conservation and Science Dr. Susan Elbin for a riveting discussion of how our built environment quite literally impacts birds due to strikes and light pollution. As a follow-up to our screening of “The City Dark,” Dr. Elbin will also discuss New York City Audubon's Project Safe Flight and Lights Out NY campaigns. Cost: Free. No registration necessary; we'll see you at 7pm for refreshments and the lecture begins at 7:30pm.
Nature Walk: Sixth Annual Drew's Walk
Thursday, April 11, 9-11:30am, at Franklin-Fels Sanctuary.
Join Naturalist Tait Johansson for a walk 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. Depart Bylane at 8:30am or meet at Franklin-Fels Sanctuary entrance on Lakeview Drive at 9am. Rain date: April 18. Level of difficulty: Easy-Moderate. Cost: Free. Register with Ms. Jeanne Pollock at jpollock@bedfordaudubon.org or 914.519.7801.
Workshop: Birding By Ear
Saturday, April 13, 7-11am, with Naturalist Tait Johansson.
Get ready for warbler migration! Birding by ear can be one of the most rewarding yet challenging ways to identify our avian friends. Tait will demystify bird calls and sounds in this special workshop, and by the end of the morning, you will be able to apply a methodology for identifying and categorizing a variety of bird vocalizations. Great for novice and intermediate birders. $25 for members, $30 for non-members; we'll credit $30 to your membership if you join Bedford Audubon on the day of the workshop! Register directly with Tait at tjohansson@bedfordaudubon.org or by calling 914.232.1999.
Volunteer: Pitch in for Parks
Sunday, April 14, 9am-3pm at Croton Point Park.
Join at team of volunteers from Bedford Audubon, our neighboring chapters, and Teatown Reservation for a day of removing invasive species around Croton Point Park's Nature Center. Please bring your own water bottle, gloves, and tools if you have them to help make a difference in this Important Bird Area. Register for a two-hour time slot with office@sawmillriveraudubon.org.
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Nature Walk: A Walk on the Wild(flower) Side
Saturday, April 20, 1:30-3:30pm, at Mianus River Gorge.
Join Bedford Audubon, Mianus River Gorge, Pound Ridge Land Conservancy, and Westchester Land Trust for this second event in a three-part wildflower conservation series. Rod Christie and Mark Weckel (Mianus River Gorge), Carol Levine (The New York Botanical Garden), and David Emerson (Westchester Land Trust) will lead half-hour, guided walks focusing on wildflower conservation in the Gorge from 1:30pm to 2:30pm. The day will conclude with refreshments and a slide show by Carol Levine at 3pm. Rain date: April 21. Level of difficulty: Easy. Cost: Free. Register with evelyn@westchesterlandtrust.org or by calling 914.234.6992, ext. 24.
Workshop: Birdscaping Your Garden
Sunday, April 21, 10am, at Wild Birds Unlimited (532 N. Bedford Rd., Bedford Hills).
Join Bedford Audubon's Leon Levy Native Garden Chair and Wild Birds Unlimited's Ben Dickson to learn which native plants support birds and their allies, and how to beautifully integrate bird feeders into your garden! After the workshop, join us as we begin work on restoring and expanding Bedford Audubon's Feeder Garden! Cost: Free. Please register with Ms. Jeanne Pollock at jpollock@bedfordaudubon.org or 914.519.7801
Monday, April 22: Earth Day!
Show your love for Mother Earth by volunteering with Bedford Audubon or just get outside and enjoy one of our beautiful sanctuaries!
April 26, John James Audubon's Birthday.
Celebrate Audubon's 228th birthday: give back through a donation of your time, money, or ideas to Bedford Audubon!
Workshop: Gardening with Native Flowers
Saturday, April 27, 9-11am and 1-3pm: at Sara Stein's garden in Pound Ridge.
Join Bedford Audubon, Mianus River Gorge, Pound Ridge Land Conservancy, and Westchester Land Trust for this third event in a three-part wildflower conservation series. Lynn Becker, Bedford Audubon's Leon Levy Native Garden Chair, will teach the basics of gardening with native wildflowers in the beautiful woodland garden planted and nurtured by the late Sara Stein. Rain date: April 28. Level of difficulty: Easy. Cost: Free. Register with evelyn@westchesterlandtrust.org or by calling 914.234.6992 x24.
Field Trip: Outing to Rye Nature Center and Marshlands Conservancy co-sponsored by Bronx River Sound Shore Audubon.
Sunday, April 28, 8am-12pm
Bedford Audubon's Naturalist-in-Residence Tait Johansson and Bronx River Sound Shore's Doug Bloom will lead you at these fine spring birding sites to look for the first migrants returning from the tropics. It's an excellent opportunity to test your new birding by ear skills! Depart Bylane at 7:15am or meet at the Nature Center at 8am. Level of difficulty: Easy-Moderate. Cost: Free. Register with Ms. Jeanne Pollock at jpollock@bedfordaudubon.org or 914.519.7801.
Workshop: Scything & Tree Planting
Sunday, April 28, 9-11am, at the Henry Morgenthau Preserve.
Join us for a morning of hands-on learning! Learn to use a scythe for hand-mowing and how to properly plant trees to give them a good start. Level of difficulty: Easy. Cost: Free. Register with invasivespr@bedfordaudubon.org.
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May
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Field Trip: Experience Central Park during Migration.
Thursday, May 2, 7:15am-3:30pm
More than 200 species of birds pass through this metropolitan oasis on their migratory routes each spring and fall – and leaders Naturalist Tait Johansson and Bedford Audubon Member and New York City Resident Doug Kurz hope to show you many of them! We will stop at the Boathouse for lunch (or bring your own). Depart Bylane Farm at 6am or meet at 72nd Street & Central Park West at 7:15am. Level of difficulty: Easy-Moderate. Cost: Free. Register with Ms. Jeanne Pollock at jpollock@bedfordaudubon.org or 914.519.7801.
Birdathon: Raise money for Bedford Audubon's conservation mission!
Saturday, May 4,
Register with Adam Zorn at azorn@bedfordaudubon.org. Rain date: Sunday, May 5.
Field Trip: Explore Garret Mountain Park
Tuesday, May 7, 8am-1pm, in Paterson, New Jersey.
The 568-acre park is situated more than 500 feet above sea level and provides sweeping views of northern New Jersey and the New York City skyline. Naturalist Tait Johansson will lead the group on trails and around a beautiful pond at this excellent site for migrating songbirds, especially warblers. Bring lunch. Depart Bylane Farm at 6:45am. Level of difficulty: Moderate-Strenuous. Cost: Free. Register with Ms. Jeanne Pollock at jpollock@bedfordaudubon.org or 914.519.7801.
Annual Meeting & Lecture: Bicknell's Thrush with Chris Rimmer.
Wednesday, May 8, 7pm,
Join us at 7pm for Bedford Audubon's annual meeting and Board elections. At 7:30pm, Director of the Vermont Center for Ecosystem Studies Chris Rimmer will discuss Bicknell's Thrush, one of North America's most rare and vulnerable songbirds. It relies on high-elevation conifer forests in the Northeast for breeding, and the humid broadleaf forests of Hispaniola for wintering. Its future survival hinges on the protection of land in the United States, Canada, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti. This is a fabulous follow-up to February's lecture on international conservation. Cost: Free. No registration necessary; we'll see you at 7pm for refreshments and the lecture will begin at 7:30pm.
The World Series of Birding.
Saturday, May 11
Wish our very own talented Tait luck as he competes in the WSB! Last year his team won the Cape May County Award.
Nature Walk: Discover Spring Migration
Tuesday, May 14, 7-9am, at Maple Avenue in Katonah.
Hone your birding skills with Naturalist Tait Johansson and enjoy the sights and sounds of spring warblers and other songbirds in the woods and shrublands along Cross River Reservoir. This walk caters to novices and experienced birders alike and is the perfect way to start your day before work. Bring binoculars or call 914.232.1999 to borrow a pair. Rain will cancel the walk. Level of difficulty: Easy. Cost: Free. No registration necessary.
Nature Walk: Discover Spring Migration
Thursday, May 16, 7-9am, at Bylane Farm in Katonah.
Hone your birding skills with Naturalist Tait Johansson and enjoy the sights and sounds of spring warblers and other songbirds in the woods, fields and shrublands of the Hunt-Parker Sanctuary. This walk caters to novices and experienced birders alike and is the perfect way to start your day before work. Bring binoculars or call 914.232.1999 to borrow a pair. Rain will cancel the walk. Level of difficulty: Easy. Cost: Free. No registration necessary.
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Nature Walk: Owl Prowl
Friday, May 17, 9-10:30pm, at Hunt-Parker Sanctuary.
Join Naturalist Tait Johansson for an evening in search of our intriguing resident Eastern Screech-Owls and then stay for hot cocoa on the back patio. Please dress warmly and bring a headlamp or flashlight. Meet at Bylane Farm. Level of difficulty: Moderate. Cost: Free. Register with Ms. Jeanne Pollock at jpollock@bedfordaudubon.org or 914.519.7801.
Join Us: Pound Ridge Pride Day
Sunday, May 19
Join The Invasives Project – Pound Ridge in the morning for an invasives round-up in the Pound Ridge Town Park and celebrate with the community in the afternoon. Please bring gloves, loppers, and pruners if you have them. Level of difficulty: Easy. Cost: Free. Register with invasivespr@bedfordaudubon.org.
Bird Walk: With Friends of Muscoot Farm.
Sunday, May 19, 7am,
Join Bedford Audubon's Naturalist Tait Johansson for a spring bird walk on the beautiful grounds of Muscoot Farm. Cost: Free. Level of difficulty: Easy. No registration necessary.
Nature Walk: Discover Spring Migration
Tuesday, May 21, 7-9am, on Maple Avenue in Katonah.
Hone your birding skills with Naturalist Tait Johansson and enjoy the sights and sounds of spring warblers and other songbirds in the woods and shrublands along Cross River Reservoir. This walk caters to novices and experienced birders alike and is the perfect way to start your day before work. Bring binoculars or call 914.232.1999 to borrow a pair. Rain will cancel the walk. Level of difficulty: Easy. Cost: Free. No registration necessary.
Field Trip: Excursion to Clough Preserve, Putnam County
Thursday, May 23, 7-11am.
Naturalist Tait Johansson will lead the group on an amble along the trails of the Clough Preserve, which boasts a nice variety of migrant landbirds, and then along abandoned railroad tracks that abut Ice Pond and an adjacent shrub swamp. Depart from Bylane 6:30am. Level of difficulty: Easy-Moderate. Cost: Free. There is a strict limit of 10 participants due to limited parking at the Preserve. Register with Ms. Jeanne Pollock at jpollock@bedfordaudubon.org or 914.519.7801.
Monday, May 27, Office Closed: Memorial Day. Get out enjoy spring in our sanctuaries!
Field Trip: Outing to Doodletown Road in Bear Mountain State Park.
Tuesday, May 28, 7-11am,
Doodletown Road is known as one of the best places in our area to find Hooded and Cerulean Warblers as well as many other songbirds. Join Naturalist Tait Johansson in a search for these gems! Enjoy the walk up the rugged trail past the ruins of a “lost civilization.” Depart Bylane Farm at 6:45am. Level of difficulty: Moderate-Strenuous. Cost: Free. Register with Ms. Jeanne Pollock at jpollock@bedfordaudubon.org or 914.519.7801.
Nature Walk: Discover Spring Migration
Thursday, May 30, 7-9am, at Angle Fly Preserve in Somers.
Hone your birding skills with Naturalist Tait Johansson and enjoy the sights and sounds of spring warblers like the Blue-Winged and Chestnut-sided Warblers in shrubby young forest habitat. This walk caters to novices and experienced birders alike and is the perfect way to start your day before work. Bring binoculars or call 914.232.1999 to borrow a pair. Rain will cancel the walk. Level of difficulty: Easy. Cost: Free. No registration necessary.
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June
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Science in Action: Monitoring Avian Productivity & Survivorship (MAPS) Call List
June, July, and August.
Have you always wanted to hold a wild bird? Are you interested in our avian research? Join us for our fifth season of MAPS! Bird banding occurs approximately every ten days from June 1 to early August at the Hunt-Parker Sanctuary. Expect muddy and strenuous conditions. Call or email Tait Johansson at 914.232.1999 or tjohansson@bedfordaudubon.org to join the Science in Action Call List. Come once, or come often!
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Nature Walk: Babes in the Woods
Saturday, June 1, 2pm, at Westmoreland Sanctuary.
Join Westmoreland Director Steve Ricker for a family-friendly exploration of the forest in search of spring's babies. Plants, insects, birds, mammals and other organisms are all producing offspring at this time of year. Level of difficulty: Easy-Moderate. Cost: Free. Register with Steve at 914.666.8448.
Bird Walk: With Friends of Muscoot Farm
Sunday, June 2, 7am
Join Bedford Audubon's Naturalist Tait Johansson for an early summer bird walk on the beautiful grounds of Muscoot Farm. Cost: Free. Level of difficulty: Easy. No registration necessary.
Field Trip: Scouting in Sterling Forest
Tuesday, June 4, 8am-3pm
Naturalist Tait Johansson will lead an adventure to Sterling Forest in search of Golden-winged, Hooded, and Cerulean Warblers. Depart Bylane 7am. Level of difficulty: Moderate. Cost: Free. Register with Ms. Jeanne Pollock at jpollock@bedfordaudubon.org or 914.519.7801.
Field Trip: Spring Peeping
Saturday June 8, 7:30am-4:30pm, at Bashakill Marsh & Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge.
Grab your binoculars and join Naturalist Tait Johansson for a full day of birding! Bashakill supports breeding for wetland-dependent species like Virginia Rail, Sora, Common Moorhen, bitterns, cuckoos, and a large array of songbirds. The nearby National Wildlife Refuge has breeding populations of Bobolink, Grasshopper Sparrow, and Upland Sandpiper. Depart Bylane at 6am and return around 6pm. Level of difficulty: Moderate. Cost: Free. Register with Ms. Jeanne Pollock at jpollock@bedfordaudubon.org or 914.519.7801.
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Lecture: The History of Ward Pound Ridge Reservation with Beth Herr & Maureen Koehl
Wednesday, June 12, 7pm, at the Katonah Village Library.
Ward Pound Ridge Reservation's expansive landscapes and sweeping history tell a unique story. Its (4300) acres, set aside by the Westchester County Parks Commission in 1925, hold within the boundaries the legacy left by the Native Americans whose footsteps echoed through the stony hills millennia ago and vestiges of the 18th and 19th century families who farmed the rolling fields.
Marks of the 20th century include the remains of the Civilian Conservation Corps encampment and the stone walls, trailside shelters and roads built by these young men. In Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, former Trailside Museum curator Beth Herr and co-author, Maureen Koehl, Town of Lewisboro Historian, have combined talents to celebrate Ward Pound ridge Reservation and the 75th anniversary of the Trailside Museum. This is our last lecture before the summer break! Cost: Free. The book will be available for purchase and signing. No registration necessary; we'll see you at 7pm for refreshments and the lecture will begin at 7:30pm.
Workshop: The Invasives Project — Pound Ridge Summer Forum
Sunday, June 16, 7pm, at the Pound Ridge Library.
Join us for our summer gathering on managing Mile-a-Minute and Japanese Stiltgrass. Cost: Free. Parking is limited, please carpool. Register with invasivespr@bedfordaudubon.org.
Nature Walk: Explore Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
Saturday, June 15, 9-11am.
Join Naturalist Tait Johansson for a nature walk focusing on young forest and old field birds and butterflies. Meet at Trailside Museum. Parking fee may apply. Level of difficulty: Easy. Register with Ms. Jeanne Pollock at jpollock@bedfordaudubon.org or 914.519.7801.
Dragonfly Walk: With Friends of Muscoot Farm
Sunday, June 30, 10am.
Join Bedford Audubon's Naturalist Tait Johansson for an early summer dragonfly walk on the beautiful grounds of Muscoot Farm. Cost: Free. Level of difficulty: Easy. No registration necessary.
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Photo Montage Courtesy of and Copyright © by
Rick Paris
rick@rickparis.com
www.rickparis.com
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Society, Inc.
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