August Bird Walks and More!

Connect with nature this August by joining us for a Nature Walks, Virtual Workshops + More!

UPDATE: The August storm brought down our mighty Maple tree which is located in the garden and patio area of the house. As such, some August programs had to be cancelled or rescheduled. All dates below are updated.

Are your kids putting you through the WINGER this summer? Are you CLUTCHING at straws to find something for them to do? We can help! 
TERN things around by signing your kids up for naturalist Tait Johansson’s virtual FLEDGLINGS Birder ID Workshop. This short Zoom event is sure to fit the BILL – in it, close-ups of birds at our feeders will be shown and identified in one FOWL swoop! It will get them RAVEN about birds and help them develop a love of nature!
CANCELLED due to downed tree. New date TBA. Cost: Free. Registration required by emailing Susan at info@bedfordaudubon.org or calling 914-302-9713. Zoom link will be emailed prior to the event.

Guess what has a 95% success rate when hunting and can fly sideways, backward and even hover…
Dragonflies! Learn all about them by joining Naturalist Tait Johansson for a Dragonfly Walk at Dean’s Bridge in Somers. This is a favorite walk for individuals and families, so don’t waste time registering as it is limited to 14 people.
Friday, August 14, 10:00am-12:00pm. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy-Moderate. Registration is limited and required by emailing Susan at info@bedfordaudubon.org or calling 914-302-9713.

Do you feel like it’s a jungle out there?
Invasive plants seem to be taking over and are linked to major declines in biodiversity. But finding out what’s what can be tricky. Join Mathew McDowell for an Invasive Plant Safari at Bylane Farm for a look at problem plants in our area. Starting from our Leon Levy Native Plant Garden and going onto the surrounding trails, we’ll cover how to identify some common invasive plants and how to tell them apart from native plant look-alikes. You’ll also learn about some of their environmental impacts as well as ways to remove them responsibly and manage their spread. Wear comfortable shoes and long pants. Masks required.
NEW DATE! Saturday, September 12, 9:30am. Cost: Free. Registration is limited to 14 and is required by emailing Susan at info@bedfordaudubon.org or calling 914-302-9713.

We’ve done the legwork so you can find your sea legs in search of birds of the shore!
Bedford Audubon’s mission is to “connect people with nature” and we’ve connected with the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk to offer you a Birding Cruise! This public cruise is intended to meet only birders’ interests and departure is timed to give close access to native and migratory species out in the sound and along the Norwalk Islands. Bring binoculars while you search for Osprey, American Oystercatchers, Common Terns, egrets, herons, songbirds, and gulls. Covid concerns? Masks are required and vessel capacity has been reduced by half to allow for safe distancing!
Sunday, August 16, 8:30am. Cost: $41.50. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Reservations required. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets and get more info from the Maritime Aquarium website.

It’s August and raptors are on the move. Don’t let them take flight without you!
Naturalist Tait Johansson is teaming up with Hawkwatch specialists from Audubon Connecticut and Braddock Bay Raptor Research (with a special guest appearance by a feathered friend) for a WEBINAR on An Inside Look: Raptor Migration. You’ll learn how to identify and tell the difference between various raptors in flight. The team will explain how to participate in Hawkwatch this fall to help scientists gather data and will share some of the best viewing spots to experience the magic of raptor migration!
Wednesday, August 19, 4:00-5:00pm. Cost: Free. CLICK HERE to register.

Birds, botanicals + brushes – what could be better?
Freshen up the last weeks of summer by joining Emily Nykolyn for one more outdoor Paint Night. Once again, we’ll set up socially distanced on the patio overlooking our beautiful garden and sanctuary. You don’t have to be an artist to participate as Emily will help everyone create a beautiful, nature-themed painting on your own personal canvas. This event typically sells out so don’t waste time registering as it is limited to 10 people.
Wednesday, August 19, 6:00-8:00pm. Cost: $35. (Includes materials and sips ‘n snacks). SOLD OUT! Email info@bedfordaudubon.org to be placed on a waitlist.

What do Common Mergansers, Great Crested Flycatchers, Wood Ducks, and Eastern Kingbirds have in common?
These species (and more!) were all spotted in the Cross River Dam area last August. Join Naturalist Tait Johansson for our Third Thursday’s Bird Walk at that location and see what you can spot this August! This is a popular guided walk with plenty of room to social distance from one another, and headsets will be provided so you can hear Tait as he leads the way.
Thursday, August 20, 7:30-9:30am. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Registration is limited to 14 and is required by emailing Susan at info@bedfordaudubon.org or calling 914-302-9713.

Spectacular flocks of Broad-winged Hawks pass through our area in mid-September, but Accipiters such as Sharp-shinned + Cooper’s Hawks provide the most consistent flight throughout the fall hawk-watching season.
Join us for Science in Action: Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch to experience the miracle of raptor migration. Our data is combined with other Hawkwatch sites to create population and migration analyses that help us better protect raptors and their habitats.
Beginning Tuesday, August 25 through November, 9:00am-5:00pm (weather permitting). Arthur Butler Sanctuary on Chestnut Ridge Road in Bedford Corners. Registration not necessary, but please abide by social distancing guidelines and wear a mask.

Be an armchair birder this month by reading a light + fun collection of essays by some of the biggest names in birding!
Then register for our August Book Club discussion of Good Birders Don’t Wear White by Lisa White. Booklist says that ““Experienced bird-watchers will be familiar with most of these tips, but the book is a delight to read and will generate new enthusiasm for the hobby. The 25 black-and-white line drawings are hilarious.” There are 50 light and fun original essays that will appeal to birds of every level. Whether satirizing bird snobs or relating the traditions and taboos of the birding culture, each essay is as chock-full of helpful information as it is entertaining!
Monday, August 31, 6:30pm. Cost: Free. Registration is limited and is required by emailing Susan at info@bedfordaudubon.org or calling 914-302-9713. Discussion will be held outdoors on the patio at Bylane Farm with a call-in option for those who can’t make an in-person meeting.

Photo Credits:
Top: Skimmer by Pixabay;
Side-bar: HawkWatch 2018 by Charlotte R. Catalano