Easy Does It: June Programs

Start the month with a BLUE-tiful bird walk…
Join us for our First Wednesday’s Bird Walk to wing our way through local trails in variety of habitats including water, wetland, grassland, and woodland areas. This month, the spotlight will be on nesting birds, and Naturalist Tait Johansson will guide us in search of breeding Wood Duck, Belted Kingfisher, and Yellow-throated Vireo. At this time in prior years, we’ve also spied Double-crested Cormorant, Eastern Wood Pewee, Belted Kingfisher, and blue-hued beauties including Indigo Bunting, Great Blue Heron, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and Blue-winged Warbler. Last June we saw 40+ species… how many will you see this year?
Wednesday, June 4, 7:30-9:30am. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Moderate (there is a steep incline on the trail). Please email Susan to register.

Be a hero… help us improve bird habitat one plant at a time!
Do you have trouble discerning native, beneficial plants from pesky invasive species? Hone your skills with Bedford Audubon Board Member and Naturalist Steve Ricker for Habitat Renewal Day. Steve will start the session by sharing tips on telling the good from the bad, and then we’ll dig in to improve the rare shrub habitat that surrounds Bylane farm – this month, we’re tackling invasives around our greenhouse and stable. 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, June 7, 11:00am-12:30pm. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy-Moderate. Please Please email Susan to register.

It’s a two-fer!
Grab your binoculars and join Naturalist Tait Johansson to observe a diverse array of breeding birds across two contrasting habitats on his Field Trip to Bashakill Wildlife Management Area and Shawangunk Grasslands. Bashakill is home to one of the largest freshwater marshes in our area and supports Virginia Rail, both bitterns, both cuckoos, and many songbirds. In contrast, the open grasslands at Shawangunk are ideal for Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, and Grasshopper Sparrow. Don’t miss this beautiful day of birding!
Sunday, June 8, 7:30am-3:00pm. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Moderate. Please email Susan to register.

The Purple Martin, North America’s largest swallow, is part of a group of birds known as aerial insectivores – birds that feed on airborne insects – which includes swifts, swallows, and the Chuck-will’s-widow, to name a few.
Come on a Field Trip to Fahnestock State Park, a deciduous and mixed forests that support a diverse group of forest-dependent bird species bird community, with Naturalist Tait Johansson. We hope to see some of the breeders in this area including Acadian Flycatcher, Blackburnian Warbler, Canada Warbler, and of course, Purple Martin!
Saturday, June 14, 7:30am-12:30pm. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Moderate. Please email Susan to register.

The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) is one of the most populous and highly visible species of butterfly here in the northeast.
Come to our last Public Lecture of the season to hear Charlie Roberto present Chasing Butterflies: Winged Jewels of the Northeast where he’ll dive into the world of the swallowtail and other local butterflies and their life cycles. He’ll dish out tips on spotting and identification, unpack population trends, and share easy ways to help these jeweled wonders. With 30 years of butterfly counts under his belt, Charlie will have much to share… don’t miss this special presentation! Charlie Roberto serves on the Teatown Board of Directors and founded the Westchester/Putnam chapter of the North American Butterfly Association. He serves as an advisor to the Putnam and Saw Mill Audubon Societies, Fahnestock State Park, and Croton Point Park. Charlie worked for the NYC Fire Department Harlem Ladder Company 26 for 40 years and retired as the senior captain. For over 15 years, Charlie was the compiler for the Putnam Christmas Bird Count. He lives in Croton-on-Hudson with his wife Cheryl.
Wednesday, June 18 7:00pm (refreshments at 6:45). Katonah Village Library Garden Room. Cost: Free. No need to register, just come!

What are the DAM birds up to this month?
Of course, we’re referring to the Cross River Dam, which we’ll explore on our popular Third Thursday’s Bird Walk. Naturalist Tait Johansson will help us seek out breeders including Cliff Swallow and Rough-winged Swallow, the dam’s own Common Ravens, Spotted Sandpiper, Blue-winged Warbler, Pine Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, and Eastern Towhee. This is a great introductory walk for those new to birding but is just as exciting for those with more birding experience.
Thursday, June 19, 7:30-9:30am. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Please email Susan to register at.

Is it a moth or a butterfly… or a skipper?
Skippers are a large family of small butterflies – they have furry bodies like moths but fly during the day and sit at rest like butterflies. Enroll in our Butterfly Workshop with Naturalist Tait Johansson to learn about skippers and so much more! Indoor instruction will include the natural history and identification of local butterflies followed by a walk in our native garden and surrounding sanctuary. We hope to see Red-spotted Purple, Great Spangled Fritillary, Long Dash, and Zabulon Skipper. Bring binoculars, close-focusing ones if you have them, and lunch if you would like. Need to borrow binoculars? Just ask when registering.
Saturday, June 21, 10:00am-1:00pm. Cost: $20 for members, $55 for non-members (this includes a year’s membership); fee includes take-home butterfly ID resources. Limited to eight participants.  Purchase your ticket online or email Susan to pay by check.

Feathers before fireworks!
The Adirondacks are birding hotspot teeming with boreal species, raptors, songbirds, and waterfowl. Travel with us for our extended Adirondacks Summer Birding Weekend with Naturalist Tait Johansson and Bedford Audubon staff for birding and bonding. Tait will expertly lead our group through a variety of habitats search of some Adirondack specialties including Ruffed Grouse, Sandhill Crane, American Bittern, Black-backed Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Canada Jay, Philadelphia Vireo, Boreal Chickadee, Bicknell’s Thrush, Red Crossbill, Lincoln’s Sparrow, many breeding warblers, including Nashville, Canada, Blackburnian, and Mourning, and so much more. Tait will tweak the itinerary based on local intel as we get closer, but 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 program fee for this trip is $165 (members); $200 (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 full days of birding
• A jam-packed itinerary with all logistics worked out so you can focus on the main attraction – birds!
• A Welcome Reception on Friday evening that will include wine, cheese, and other refreshments
• Bonding over daily recaps and bird counts every evening
• Optional group dinner on Saturday evening.

Want to join the trip or have questions? Please email Susan for more details including hotel recommendations, payment options, trip cancellation policy, and more.

PHOTO CREDIT: Purple Martin by John Hannan