Connecting in the New Year: January Programs

Wondering where to find raptors in winter?
Take part in Science (and Advocacy) in Action this winter by joining Naturalist Tait Johansson and the team from Bedford Audubon and Saw Mill River Audubon for EagleWatch. We will be monitoring roosting Bald Eagles within the Lower Hudson Valley Important Bird Area (IBA) to facilitate decision-making that impacts this Important Bird Area. This event is family-friendly and a fun way to introduce ecology to your kids!
Thursday late afternoons from January 16-February 20, approximately 1.5 hours before sunset. If you’re interested in checking it out, call 914-232-1999 or email Tait directly at tjohansson@bedfordaudubon.org.

It’s NOT a first this month…
We’re giving you a lie-in on New Year’s Day and pushing our First Wednesday’s Bird Walk at Deans Bridge in Somers forward a week. So, join Naturalist Tait Johansson on the second Wednesday to explore the water, wetland, grassland, and woodland areas on this regular walk. We’ll be on the lookout for Hooded Merganser, Bufflehead, Belted Kingfisher, and other water birds, and away from the water, we’ll be hoping for, among others, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, and Hermit Thrush to make an appearance.
Wednesday, January 8, 7:30-9:30am. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Moderate (there is a steep incline on the trail). Please email Susan to register.

Fun Fact: All adult Brant have white markings on the neck and a Canadian study found that individuals tended to pair with others that had similar amounts of white in this “necklace.” (All About Birds)
Register early for our popular winter Field Trip to Greenwich Point with Naturalist Tait Johansson. Greenwich Point is an Important Bird Area (IBA) and due to the park’s peninsular geography and the variety of habitats available it is an important migrant stopover for many species of birds. Good numbers of waterfowl winter offshore and in Eagle Pond so we’ll be looking for Greater Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Great Cormorant, Horned Grebe, both Common and Red-throated Loons, Ruddy Turnstone, and of course Brant. On land, we might be lucky enough to encounter Hermit Thrush, Fox Sparrow, and Snow Bunting.
Saturday, January 11, 8:00am-12:00pm. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Please email Susan to register.

Hear about local wildlife corridor preservation…
We’re delighted invite you to our January Monthly Lecture Series: Preserving Wildlife Corridors: A New Strategy for Protecting Bedford’s Open Space presented by Dr. Chris Nagy and Simon Skolnik. The Town of Bedford is in the process of completing a grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to map its major wildlife corridors, and then to develop a draft overlay zoning ordinance for the protection of them. If adopted upon completion, the ordinance will be the first in New York State for a municipality to protect large areas of open space by maintaining wildlife connectivity on a regional basis. In this lecture, Dr. Chris Nagy, Director of Research & Education at the Mianus Gorge Preserve, will discuss how his organization did the mapping and share various final mapping scenarios. Simon Skolnik, past chair and current member of Bedford’s Conservation Board, will provide the backstory on Bedford’s decision to apply for the grant and an update on the drafting of the ordinance.

Dr. Chris Nagy As the Director of Research & Education at Mianus River Gorge, Chris’ work focuses on protecting and restoring native biodiversity in urban/suburban areas, ecology of Eastern Coyotes and other urban wildlife, White-tailed Deer management, and student mentorship.

Simon Skolnik In his roles on the Bedford Conservation Board, Simon has an impressive resume of projects in Bedford from writing & adoption of the town’s current Tree, Steep Slope, Ridgeline, and Dark Skies protection ordinances, digitally mapping significant habitats, grant procurement for tree management & protection, and mapping existing wildlife corridors. He is the president of the New York State Association of Conservation Commissions.

Wednesday, January 15, 7:00pm (refreshments at 6:45pm). Katonah Village Library Garden Room. Cost: Free. Registration is not necessary.

We have the perfect local outing for new and experienced birders alike.
Join Naturalist Tait Johansson for his always-popular Third Thursday’s Bird Walk in the Cross River Reservoir area of Katonah. This is the perfect time of year to spot wintering waterfowl on the reservoir including Common Merganser and Pied-billed Grebe and even Bald Eagle, especially if there is some unfrozen open water. We’re might also spy Common Raven, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and possibly Eastern Towhee.
Thursday, January 16, 7:30-9:30am. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Please email Susan to register.

Come on a mini getaway in search of winter birds!
The coast of northeast Massachusetts is the winter home to a spectacular array of seabirds. Our masterful naturalist, Tait Johansson, will guide this special Winter Birding Trip to Cape Ann and Newburyport around the region in search of such stunners as Harlequin Duck, King Eider, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Red-necked Grebe, Rough-legged Hawk, Iceland and Glaucous Gulls, Purple Sandpiper, Black Guillemot, Black-legged Kittiwake, Razorbill, Snowy Owl and so much more.

The exact itinerary for the long weekend will be crafted closer to the departure date to optimize specific birding locations based on the most updated migration information. Possible locations in the area include Salisbury Beach State Park Reservation, Jodrey State Fish Pier, Eastern Point, and Bass Rocks in Gloucester; Granite Pier, Andrews Point, and Halibut Point State Park in Rockport; the Plum Island section of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Plumbush Marshes, Newbury, and some of the New Hampshire coast.

Friday January 17 – Monday, January 20. The program fee for this trip is $150 (members); $185 (non-members and we’ll credit $35 toward an annual membership). The fee does not include hotel, transportation, or meals, but does include Tait’s expertise for a full birding weekend; a welcome reception on Friday evening, and bonding over daily recaps. We’ll also arrange an optional group dinner on Saturday evening. Click here to register and pay online or email Susan.

A habitat garden never sleeps!
Join forces with Naturalist and Board Member Steve Ricker for our first monthly Habitat Renewal session of 2025. It’s a win-win when you volunteer with Steve – you’ll help rescue the native habitats around Bylane Farm from invasive species while learning how to identify them and discern them from beneficial native plants. Steve will answer questions throughout while showing you the ropes. Tools and gloves will be provided, or you can bring your own (loppers and hand pruners are the most used tools). Plants with thorns, and poison ivy may be present.
Saturday, January 18, 11:00am-12:30pm. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy-moderate. Please email Susan to register.

Bundle up and grab your camera for a new bird photography workshop!
Join Board President and nature photographer John Hannan for an immersive, hands-on workshop, Photographing Water Birds. In this unique field experience, John will guide you in capturing stunning images of birds in their winter habitats. The location will be carefully chosen based on weather conditions and bird activity to ensure the best opportunities for photography. As we explore, John will share his expert tips and techniques, helping you refine your skills in real-time. Whether you’re photographing birds perching, floating, or in flight, this workshop will offer invaluable insights to elevate your nature photography.

The winter timing of this workshop is perfect for honing your photography skills – low sunlight tends to warm pictures, and cold air is especially clear. Really, really cold air often contains ice crystals that make light diffract, bringing even more brilliant colors to the images you capture. In the cold, birds often congregate around food sources or open water, becoming easier to find. And, they are focused on survival, so if you remain quiet and wait, they will provide opportunities to take great images.
Saturday, January 25, 8:00am (snow date Sunday, January 26). Cost: Free. This workshop is limited to 10 participants and the location will be decided within four days of the workshop. Please email Susan to register.

Make time for yourself to relax with a good book…
Our January Bylane Book Club read is The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan, a #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER and a gorgeous, witty account of birding, nature, and the beauty around us that hides in plain sight, written and illustrated by the best-selling author of The Joy Luck Club.

In 2016, Amy Tan grew overwhelmed by the state of the world: hatred and misinformation became a daily presence on social media, and the country felt more divisive than ever. In search of peace, Tan turned toward the natural world just beyond her window and, specifically, the birds visiting her yard. Tracking the natural beauty that surrounds us, The Backyard Bird Chronicles maps the passage of time through daily entries, thoughtful questions, and beautiful original sketches. With boundless charm and wit, author Amy Tan charts her foray into birding and the natural wonders of the world. Join us to discuss this “well-written and often funny account of the birds in an ageing writer’s garden.”
Monday, January 27, 6:30pm. Cost: Free. Please email Susan to register.