September Hawkwatch, Canoe Trip, Garden Safari + More!

Nurture your love of nature as migrating birds take flight this September!

It’s officially Hawkwatch Season! 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. Hawkwatch takes place daily 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.

We’re spreading our wings to explore Yorktown’s most recently created park! 
Join Naturalist Tait Johansson on a Bird Walk exploring Rock Hill Park in search of songbirds and waterfowl in the Mohegan Lake area. Special thanks to long-time Bedford Audubon member + volunteer and Yorktown resident George Souls for coordinating this walk at Rock Hill Park which is the old Holland Sporting Club site.
Thursday, September 10, 9:30-11:00am. Cost: Free. Registration 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.
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.

Let your neighbors and community inspire you to create and maintain toxin-free landscapes that are friendly to wildlife and people!
Bedford Audubon is thrilled to be part of Westchester Pollinators Open Garden Day with Healthy Yards + Bedford 2030! But we’re not alone – dozens of residential yards, public + community gardens and meadows are part of The Westchester Pollinator Garden Tour that you can visit at your own pace. You’ll see butterfly, bee, and human friendly gardens that throughout our community that are sure to serve as an inspiration to all!
Sunday, September 13. Cost: Free and welcome to all! CLICK HERE for a map of participants. Please check the opening times and remember to wear a mask!

Start your day right with friendly faces and singing birds!
That’s right… Tait Johansson’s Third Thursday’s Bird Walk is a favorite for new birders and more experienced ones alike! Space is limited and this walk usually fills up, so register ASAP if you’d like to join us this month. This is a favorite walk for individuals and families, so don’t waste time registering as it is limited to 14 people. On prior September walks here, we’ve seen various warblers, Bald Eagles, Double-crested cormorants, and much more!
Thursday, September 17, 7:30-9:30am. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Registration is limited and required by emailing Susan at info@bedfordaudubon.org or calling 914-302-9713.

Surround yourself with nature on a guided canoe trip through protected waters!
We’re heading to Constitution Marsh… and your invited to come along! Constitution Marsh Audubon Center and Sanctuary is located in Putnam County on the east shore of the Hudson River. The marsh is an Audubon New York Important Bird Area, a NY State Bird Conservation Area, and is designated as a Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat. Registration is very limited and there will be two people per canoe… so register with someone in your “germ circle” for to share a canoe with!
Saturday, September 19, 9am. Cost: $40 per person. Level of Difficulty: Easy-Moderate. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets online or contact us at info@bedfordaudubon.org or
914-302-9713.

Come to a place that offers spectacular views of the hills of Putnam County, local towns, and Long Island and maybe even a few hundred (or thousand) raptors!
There are no guarantees, but you have to be there for a chance at seeing such an amazing sight! Join us for a Field Trip to Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch during peak migration at Chestnut Ridge and maybe you’ll get to see thousands of hawks in a day.
Saturday, September 19, 10:00am-12:00pm. Cost: Free. Level of Physical Difficulty: Moderate. Registration is limited and is required by emailing Susan at info@bedfordaudubon.org or calling 914-302-9713.

What kind of wildlife can you find in a mix of young to moderate aged deciduous forest, old post-agricultural fields, and numerous old stone walls?
Find out by joining Naturalist Tait Johansson, in collaboration with Westchester Land Trust, for a Bird Walk at the Danner Family Preserve in Jefferson Valley. “Set on overgrown farmland, the preserve consists of old field habitat, thick with gray dogwood… it’s a habitat that has become rare as our area’s woods have grown older and the result is that birds reliant on it – indigo bunting, prairie warbler and rufous-sided towhee – have also become rare.”
Sunday, September 27, 8:00-9:30am. Cost: Free. Registration is limited and is required by emailing Susan at info@bedfordaudubon.org or calling 914-302-9713.

Photo Credits
Top: Red-tailed Hawk by Charlotte R. Catalano
Side-bar: American Kestrel by Tait Johansson