What to Do: June Environmental Education

Summer is Heating Up: June Environmental Education Events with Bedford Audubon

Saturday, June 2, 7:30-11:00am, Field Trip: Mianus River Gorge. Join BAS Naturalist Tait Johansson and Preserve Manager Budd Veverka for an early-morning bird walk at this beautiful old-growth forest , which holds a suite of interesting breeding birds, including Acadian Flycatcher, Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, and Worm-eating Warbler. Level of difficulty: Moderate-Strenuous. Depart Bylane at 7am, or at 7:30am meet us at the parking lot for the Gorge across the street from 167 Mianus River Road, Bedford, NY. Register with Susan at info@bedfordaudubon.org or 914.302.9713.

Sunday, June 3, 7:30am-11:00am, Bird Walk: Muscoot Farm. Join Bedford Audubon’s Naturalist Tait Johansson and the Friends of Muscoot Farm for a bird walk on the beautiful grounds of this county-owned property. June birds here include Black-billed and Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Prairie Warbler, Hooded Warbler, and, most years, Red-headed Woodpecker. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy-moderate. Please register with Susan at info@bedfordaudubon.org or 914-302-9713.

Tuesday, June 5, 7:30am-9:30am, First Tuesday Bird Walk: Deans Bridge, Somers. Meet at the eastern end of Dean’s Bridge Road in Somers. Cost: Free. Level of physical difficulty: Easy-moderate. Let us know if you’d like to borrow binoculars. Please register with Susan at info@bedfordaudubon.org or 914.302.9713.

Sunday, June 10, 7:30am-3pm, Field Trip: Bashakill Marsh & Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge. Grab your binoculars and join Naturalist Tait Johansson for a full day of birding! Bashakill supports wetland-dependent breeding species like Virginia Rail, Sora, Common Gallinule, both bitterns, both cuckoos, and a large array of songbirds. The National Wildlife Refuge has breeding populations of Bobolink, Grasshopper Sparrow, and Upland Sandpiper. Depart Bylane at 6 am and return 4:00pm. Cost: Free. Level of difficulty: Moderate. Register with Susan at info@bedfordaudubon.org or 914.302.9713.

Wednesday, June 13, 7pm, Lecture: The Migratory Bird Treaty Act – One Hundred Years Later.  One hundred years after the passing of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), we take the time to revisit its history and reflect on the gains we’ve made and recommit  to protecting the birds that we all enjoy. Suzanne Cahill, Interim Executive Director of the Bedford Audubon Society, will discuss the history of the MBTA and the recent changes that have been made under the Trump administration.  Free. No need to register—we’ll see you at 7 for refreshments and the lecture will begin at 7:30. Please bring a reusable mug to reduce your ecological footprint.

Tuesday, June 19, 8 am-3 pm, Field Trip: Sterling Forest. Naturalist Tait Johansson will lead an adventure to Sterling Forest in search of Golden-winged, Hooded, and Cerulean Warblers, as well as many other breeding forest birds. Depart Bylane 7am. Cost: Free. Level of difficulty: Moderate. Register with Susan at info@bedfordaudubon.org or 914.302.9713.

Thursday, June 21, 7:30am-9:30am, Third Thursday Bird Walk: Maple Avenue, Katonah. Breeders here include Cliff Swallow, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Blue-winged Warbler, Pine Warbler, and Indigo Bunting. Meet at the intersection of Maple Avenue and Reservoir Road (right at the dam). Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Please register with Susan Fisher at info@bedfordaudubon.org or 914-302-9713.

Photo Credit: Northern Flicker by Keith Williams, Creative Commons license