First Wednesday Bird Walk

Join Naturalist Tait Johansson at our new location at Hilltop Hanover Farm where we’ll be on the lookout for Eastern Bluebird, Killdeer, Fox Sparrow and possibly some migrating raptors. Open to birders of all experience levels, this outing offers a welcoming way to discover a new site while keeping the tradition of our monthly walk.

Wednesday, April 1, 7:30am-9:30am. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Please email Susan to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org.

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Gull ID Workshop + Field Trip

Gulls are the great equalizer of the birding world — humbling beginners and experts alike. Naturalist Tait Johansson cuts through the confusion in this two-part Gull ID Workshop + Field Trip to Jones Beach, with a practical, confidence-building approach. Naturalist Tait Johansson leads a two-part Gull ID Workshop + Field Trip to Jones Beach, starting at Bylane Farm where participants learn the key field marks (size, wingtip pattern, mantle and leg color, head pattern) and the structural and behavioral cues — posture, gait, bill shape — that often distinguish species more reliably than plumage alone. Part Two heads to Jones Beach State Park, a premier birding destination, to put those skills to the test on American Herring, Ring-billed, Laughing, and Great Black-backed Gulls, with possible appearances by Bonaparte’s, Lesser Black-backed, and others.

Saturday, April 4, 8:00am-9:30am (classroom portion), 11:00am-1:30pm (field trip) Cost: $25 members, $40 non-members. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Register securely online by clicking the link below or email Susan for more information: info@bedfordaudubon.org.

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Habitat Renewal Volunteer Day

Want to learn how to enhance the environmental value of your own garden, patio or yard to welcome more birds, bees and other pollinators in the spring? Join Naturalist and Board Member Steve Ricker to work in and around Bedford Audubon’s Leon Levy Native Habitat Garden and learn how the elements of a good native habitat garden work together to provide essential resources for native birds and other wildlife, how to identify and remove invasive plants, and why this is so vital to a healthy ecosystem. Tools and gloves are provided, but you can bring your own. Plants with thorns and poison ivy will be present.

Saturday, April 11, 9:00am-10:30am. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Cost: Free. Email Susan to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org

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Encore Opening Reception

Join us for the Opening Reception of an encore presentation of our Members’ Photo Exhibit at the Patterson Library and experience From Near and Far: Celebrating Birds Across the Americas, a selection of bird photographs from across the Americas, captured by Bedford Audubon members. Beyond the birds we see locally, both year-round residents and migratory species, there is a vast array of fascinating bird species we never experience here in New York – almost 11,000 species globally! This exhibit visually showcases some of the most photogenic bird species from all parts of the Americas while answering some of the questions you might have about our migratory birds as they travel along aerial “flyways” extending from North America south to Mexico, Central America, and as far south as the tip of South America: where do “our” birds go when they head south, how far do they travel, and what other bird species do they encounter on their wintering grounds?

The exhibit will be on display at the Patterson Library from April 1-30 during library hours: Monday through Thursday 10am-8pm, Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday 10am-2pm.

Saturday, April 11, 11:00am-1:00pm. Light snacks and refreshments will be served. Cost: Free. Location: Patterson Library, 1167 Route 311, Patterson, NY. Please email Susan: info@bedfordaudubon.org to RSVP.

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Project Feederwatch

Join our final count of the season! And join thousands of people in watching, learning, and contributing observations about the natural world. Bring your coffee, and spend an hour with Naturalist Tait Johansson as we count the birds we see in and around Bylane Farm.

Project FeederWatch is a community science project that enlists thousands of people across North America to count the birds they see at their feeders, backyards, and local green spaces each winter. The project is a collaboration between the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Birds Canada.

Sunday, April 12 & Monday, April 13, 8:00am-9:00am. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Cost: Free. Email Susan to register for one or both of the counts: info@bedfordaudubon.org

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Flight Interrupted: Preventing Bird-Window Strikes at Home

An estimated 1 billion birds in North America die each year after colliding with glass – and nearly half of these strikes occur at low-rise residential buildings. What many people don’t realize is how common this problem is. The good news? These deaths are largely preventable when people take action at their own homes.

In Flight Interrupted: Preventing Bird-Window Strikes at Home, Susan Fisher, former board president at Bedford Audubon, delivers a practical crash course in understanding why birds fly into windows, how significant the problem really is, and some simple, affordable steps homeowners can take to create their own bird-friendly windows to stop these deadly strikes.

Susan Fisher is a longtime volunteer with Bedford Audubon. Having experienced many bird-window strikes at her own home, Susan is passionate about raising awareness of this widespread but preventable problem.

Sunday, April 12, 3:00-4:00pm. Cost: Free. Lewisboro Library, 15 Main St, South Salem

This is a Bedford Audubon program for Lewisboro Library. Please register directly with the library: REGISTRATION

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Public Lecture Series

Join us at the Katonah Village Library for a fascinating presentation on wildlife research happening right here in Westchester County!

Since 2015, Pace University and its county-wide partners have been tracking the fisher (Pekania pennanti), a weasel-like mammal roughly the size of a large house cat, through the forests of Westchester. Fishers favor dense woodland habitats, and their presence serves as a valuable indicator of overall forest health. A handful of sightings in the early 2010s sparked a formal research study to document their population, with follow-up studies conducted in 2021 and 2026.

At this presentation, Pace University students will share the findings from these multi-year studies, offering an in-depth look at the current status of fishers and other carnivores living among us in Westchester. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, a curious neighbor, or a wildlife advocate, this is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the wild side of our local landscape.

Wednesday, April 15, 7:00pm (refreshments at 6:45pm). Location: Katonah Village Library Garden Room. Cost: Free. No need to register, all are welcome.

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Third Thursday Bird Walk

Blue-headed Vireos typically arrive before the trees have fully leafed out, making mid-April a reliable window to find them. Join Naturalist Tait Johansson on this local Katonah walk as we seek out Blue-headed Vireo, as well as Louisiana Waterthrush, Pine Warbler, and the dam’s resident Common Ravens, with a chance of Bald Eagle among others.

Thursday, April 16, 7:30am-9:30am. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Please email Susan to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org.

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BRLA “Birding and Bagels” Walk

Join Tait Johansson for Bedford Audubon’s first ever collaboration with Bedford Riding Lanes Association: Birds & Bagels! Celebrate spring migration with a guided bird walk along one of Bedford Riding Lanes Association’s beautiful trails. Bedford Audubon’s expert Naturalist, Tait Johansson, will lead the group as we enjoy a rare opportunity to explore a private, woodsy trail before the trees have fully leafed out in search of warblers, thrushes, and other migratory birds making their seasonal journey. We will head out during the early morning feeding hours. Event includes bagels & coffee.

Saturday, April 18, 7:30am-9:30am. Cost: $30. You must register with BRLA using the link below. Level of Difficulty: Easy. 

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Sunday in the Park

Come enjoy Sunday in the Park with Bedford Audubon, explore Bedford Hills Memorial Park, and discover the birds and wildlife living right in our own backyard! We’ll have loaner binoculars and a viewing scope available so you can get up close to the action. Naturalist Tait Johansson will lead a guided walk that just might change the way you see the familiar — and maybe help you find a few surprises along the way. Bilingual volunteers and materials in English and Spanish will be on hand throughout the afternoon. Bring the family, invite a friend, and spend an afternoon in the park filled with nature, discovery, and good company!

Sunday, April 19, 1:00pm-3:00pm. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Please email Susan to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org. Drop-ins are welcome!

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Migration Madness: Titicus Reservoir

Migration Madness begins at this nearby birding hotspot. The Titicus Reservoir is a crucial component of the New York City water supply as well as a vital, protected watershed for migratory birds and local wildlife. Join Naturalist Tait Johansson as we seek out a variety of species there, including Louisiana Waterthrush, Palm Warbler, Common Loon, and Bald Eagle and many others.

Tuesday, April 21, 7:00am-9:00am. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Please email Susan to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org.

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Film Screening

Don’t miss this free screening of a stunning documentary by Sam Jaffe of The Caterpillar Lab — a close-up look at one of nature’s most overlooked and underappreciated creatures. Caterpillars are far more diverse and fascinating than most of us realize, and they play an outsized role in ecosystem health.

Following the film, Bedford Audubon Board Member and Naturalist Steve Ricker will join fellow panelists for a conversation about how our own yards and landscapes can be made more welcoming to these remarkable animals — and why even small changes can have a meaningful impact.

Wednesday, April 22, 7:00-8:00pm.  Location: Katonah Village Library. Cost: Free. Please register directly with the library: Registration.

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Migration Madness: William Clough Preserve

The William Clough Preserve in Brewster features a hemlock-dominated forest that Naturalist Tait Johansson will guide you through on this migration madness walk. The Preserve and Ice Pond area support a good variety of breeding birds and spring migrants. Target species include Green Heron, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, and Virginia Rail and possibly American Bittern.

Thursday, April 23, 7:30am-12:00pm. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Please email Susan to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org.

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Migration Madness: Garret Mountain

Garret Mountain State Reservation is a designated Important Bird Area (IBA) in Passaic County, with deciduous forests, riparian habitats, and ponds that make it one of the region’s premier stopover sites for migratory birds — comparable to Central Park in its ability to concentrate migrants. Naturalist Tait Johansson will guide the group along trails around a scenic pond in search of migrating songbirds, with expansive views of northern New Jersey and the NYC skyline as a backdrop.

Saturday, April 25, 7:30am-12:00pm. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Please email Susan to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org.

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Migration Madness: Maple Avenue

We’re back at Maple Avenue for a very special Migration Madness visit! Naturalist Tait Johansson will lead the search for Black-and-white Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Wood Thrush, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak, some of spring migration’s most dazzling arrivals. This stretch near the Cross River Reservoir dam is a magnet for songbirds moving through.

Tuesday, April 28, 7:00am-9:00am. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Please email Susan to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org.

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Migration Madness: Marshlands Conservancy and Rye NC

Naturalist Tait Johansson will lead this double-header trip along the Atlantic migratory flyway with diverse habitat and reliable bird activity. Target species include returning migrants like Scarlet Tanager, Baltimore Oriole, and a variety of warblers. Osprey are typically back on their nests by this time, and the shoreline offers opportunities for American Oystercatcher and Snowy Egret.

Thursday, April 30, 7:30am-12:00pm. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Please email Susan to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org.

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Adirondacks Extended Weekend Trip

Home to a wide variety of migratory and year-round species, birding is an all-season activity in the Adirondacks! Between boreal birds, birds of prey, perching birds, and waterfowl, this area is a birding paradise. Tait Johansson, our naturalist-in-residence, will maximize your experience by leading you to a variety of habitats in search of some Adirondack specialties including Canada Warblers, Blackburnian Warblers, Mourning Warblers, Black-backed Woodpecker, Canada Jay, Boreal Chickadee, Bicknell’s Thrush, Ruffed Grouse, Philadelphia Vireo, Red Crossbill and so much more.

As with most of our trips, the exact itinerary for the weekend will be crafted closer to the departure date in order to optimize specific birding locations based on the most updated migration information. Possible locations in the area include Massawepie Mire, Tupper Lake, Bloomingdale’s Bog, Saranac Lake, Madawaska, Spring Pond Bog, Fort Edwards Grasslands and more.

The fee does not include hotel, transportation, or meals, but does include: Tait’s expertise for full days of birding; a jam-packed itinerary with all logistics worked out so you can focus on the birds; a welcome reception on Friday evening; bonding over daily recaps and bird counts every evening.

Friday, June 26, 2026 – Monday, June 29, 2026. Cost: $165 (members); $200 (non-members and we’ll credit $35 toward an annual membership). Level of Difficulty: Easy.

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Columbia International Birding Trip

With over 1,900 avian species — more than any other country in the world — Colombia is a birder’s paradise, and Bedford Audubon is excited to team up with Holbrook travel once again to offer a curated 9-day international birding experience: Colombia: Birding the Central Andes! Traveling through Andean cloud forest, farmland, and high-altitude páramo, participants will visit celebrated sites including the Otún Quimbaya Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, Río Blanco Reserve, and Los Nevados National Park, birding against the dramatic backdrop of three snow-capped active volcanoes. The region’s extraordinary species diversity means daily encounters with flycatchers, hummingbirds, tanagers, toucans, and a wealth of tropical avifauna at every turn.

This trip is designed to showcase the best of Colombia’s rare and endemic birdlife. We’ll seek out highly sought-after species such as the Cauca Guan, Chestnut Wood-Quail, Crested Ant-Tanager, and Buffy Helmetcrest; look for antpittas in the Important Bird Area of Río Blanco Natural Reserve; and explore La Finca El Cortaderal, a remarkable new birding destination harboring a population of the endangered Indigo-winged Parrot.

Beyond the birds, this journey offers a meaningful window into the conservation work shaping Colombia’s natural future. At Tinamú Nature Reserve, a local guide will share the community’s decades-long history of grassroots conservation — an example of how birding can serve as a catalyst for sustainable development. You are invited to experience one of the world’s great birding destinations while connecting with the people and landscapes that make it extraordinary.

Saturday, March 13, 2027 – March 21, 2027. Limited to 10 participants. Cost: From $4,375. Level of Difficulty: Moderate.

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Memberships Matter

Bedford Audubon memberships help make all of these programs possible. To become a member, just click the box below. Do you have questions, suggestions, or other thoughts? Call the office at 914-232-1999 or email info@bedfordaudubon.org. We’d love to hear from you!