Field Trip to Central Park

Join Naturalist Tait Johansson for his ever-popular Field Trip to Central Park, a vibrant green refuge in the heart of the city where vast numbers of birds pause to feed and recharge during their long journeys. As we explore, we’ll be scanning the trees and skies for flycatchers, cuckoos, warblers, vireos, kinglets, tanagers, grosbeaks, and other songbirds, as well as the striking Black-crowned Night-Heron. We’ll end at the boathouse, where you can grab lunch or enjoy a meal you’ve brought along, whatever suits your style.

Saturday, May 2, 7:15am-1:00pm. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy/Moderate (the walk is easy, but it is long). Please email Susan to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org.

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First Wednesday Bird Walk

Join special guest guide Nadav Snir-Zelniker at our new First Wednesday Walk location at Hilltop Hanover Farm, an oasis of open fields and woodland edges in Yorktown Heights. Nadav is a longtime member of Bedford Audubon, a veteran of numerous walks with Tait, and a skilled birder in his own right. He will lead our group in search of Killdeer, Eastern Bluebird, and the many different migrating birds possible near the peak of spring migration, including many warblers. Open to birders of all experience levels, this outing offers a welcoming opportunity to explore a new site while continuing the tradition of our monthly walk.

Wednesday, May 6, 7:30am-9:30am. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Please email Susan to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org.

 

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Bylane Book Club

Melanie Brocklehurst will lead our latest book club discussion of We Should All Be Birds: A Memoir by Brian Buckbee, a book about finding healing and meaning through an unlikely friendship with a rescued pigeon, while battling a debilitating, mysterious chronic illness and grief after losing his partner. Published in August 2025, the memoir chronicles how Buckbee, isolated in his Montana home, transforms his life by caring for the bird, which leads to a deeper exploration of love, loss, and resilience, contrasting his former life as an athlete with his new reality. 

Monday, May 11, 6:30pm. Cost: Free. Please email Susan to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org.

 

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Migration Madness: Washington Road

Naturalist Tait Johansson will lead us along Washington Road, which sits within the forested and wetland-rich landscapes of Putnam County along the Atlantic Flyway. In spring migration, mixed habitats such as roadside woodlands, small ponds, and brushy edges provide essential stopover resources for  songbirds moving north, where they rely on insects and sheltered cover to rest and refuel. Tait will be searching for Spotted Sandpiper, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Cliff Swallow, and migrant warblers, possibly including Bay-breasted.

Tuesday, May 12, 7:00am-9:00am. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Please email Susan to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org

 

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Migration Madness: Rockefeller State Park

Join Naturalist Tait Johansson at Rockefeller State Park, a major regional birding hotspot, with over 200 recorded species supported by its diverse mix of forests, meadows, wetlands, and lakes. The park is notable for its historic network of more than 55 miles of crushed-stone carriage roads. It has been designated a National Audubon Society “Important Bird Area” or IBA. During spring migration, “waves” of warblers and other songbirds pass through these varied habitats, making it an important stopover site.

Thursday, May 14, 7:00am-9:00am. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Please email Susan to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org.

 

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Migration Madness: North County Trailway

Explore the North County Trail with Naturalist Tait Johansson as he follows a former rail line through linear stretches of forest, wetlands, and suburban edge habitat, which function as natural migration pathways. In spring, these connected green corridors concentrate migrating birds by providing continuous cover, food sources, and navigational guidance as they move north, making them especially productive for observation during peak migration. Expected sightings include Common Loon, Common Raven, Blue-winged Warbler, and Orchard Oriole.

Tuesday, May 19, 7:00am-9:00am Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Please email Susan to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org

 

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Third Thursday Bird Walk 

While not technically one of our series of “Migration Madness” walks, our May Third Thursday Walk takes place during the height of spring migration, so it’s one you shouldn’t miss! Naturalist Tait Johansson will start us off near the Cross River Dam where we’re sure to find a large colony of Cliff Swallows. We’ll also be on the lookout for Common Raven, Louisiana Waterthrush, Pine Warbler and many others. Please note the start time of this walk is 7:30am. This is a great introductory walk for those new to birding but is just as exciting for those with more birding experience.

Thursday, May 21, 7:30am-9:30am Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Please email Susan to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org.

 

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Habitat Renewal Workshop

Help make a tangible impact on bird habitat at our sanctuary — and learn how to apply what you learn to your own garden or yard. Join Bedford Audubon Board Member and Naturalist Steve Ricker for Habitat Renewal Day, a workshop session during which Steve will teach you how to identify and remove invasive plants and why this practice is so vital to the ecosystem. Tools and gloves will be provided, though you’re welcome to bring your own (loppers and hand pruners are especially useful). Please note that thorny plants and poison ivy may be present.

Saturday, May 23rd, 9:00am-10:00am. Location: Bylane Farm. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Please email Susan to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org.

 

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Bird Banding Demonstration

Join Bedford Audubon Executive Director Medha Pandey and Naturalist Tait Johansson along with our skilled volunteers as they once again bring banding to our own backyard. Watch live bird banding in action; learn what data is recorded; and enjoy a rare up-close encounter with some of our local bird species. This demonstration at Bylane Farm is a great opportunity to learn more about our MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity & Survivorship) Station in the Hunt-Parker Sanctuary and Bedford Audubon’s contributions to this important research. This is a family-friendly event, but children must be accompanied by an adult.

Sunday, May 24, 8:00am-10:00am Location: Bylane Farm. Cost: Free, but donations are encouraged to support our work. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Please email Susan to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org.

 

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Sunday in the Park

Come explore the birdlife and wildlife of Bedford Hills Memorial Park with us! Naturalist Tait Johansson will lead a guided walk that will help you discover new perspectives on common birds — and maybe even encounter something less common, like the gorgeous pair of Osprey, currently nesting in the park. We’ll provide binoculars for borrowing and set up a viewing scope so you can enjoy an up-close look. Whether you’re a seasoned birder or just curious, all ages and skill levels are invited. Bring your friends and family and spend a relaxing afternoon connecting with nature and your community. Educational materials in English and Spanish will be provided. This event is co-sponsored by the Town of Bedford Department of Recreation and Parks. Registration is encouraged, but walk-ins are always welcome.

Sunday, May 24, 1:00pm-3:00pm Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Please email Susan to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org. Walk-ins are welcome!

 

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Migration Madness: Maybrook Trailway

Tonetta Lake, Brewster, NY

Head north with Naturalist Tait Johansson to the Maybrook Trailway, which cuts through some of the most ecologically productive terrain in Putnam County, making it a rewarding May birding corridor. The trail encompasses a mosaic of habitats — open water at Tonetta Lake, Atlantic White Cedar swamp, marsh edges, and upland woodlands — that together act as a powerful magnet during spring migration. We will be on the lookout for Brown Creeper, Northern Waterthrush, Blackpoll Warbler and others.

Tuesday, May 26, 7:00am-9:00am. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Please email Susan to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org.

 

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Migration Madness: Angle Fly

Explore a 654-acre preserve with Naturalist Tait Johansson on this field trip to Angle Fly Preserve. The location offers a range of habitats, including wetlands, shrublands, and woodlands. This diversity draws a wide variety of migrants moving north along the Atlantic Flyway in May and allows us to explore multiple habitat types in a single outing. Tait will be seeking out multiple species including Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Willow Flycatcher, Orchard Oriole, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Hooded Warbler and more.

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

 

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Bedford Audubon Annual Meeting + WESEF BAS Award Winner Presentations

Bedford Audubon’s Annual Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 27 at 6:30pm at the Katonah Village Library. The evening will begin with an overview of our year followed by board elections. Only current members may vote, but all are welcome to attend and hear about the great things we’ve been up to this past year! We’ll then hear from the two talented high school students who won the Bedford Audubon Award at this year’s WESEF competition. 

Wednesday, May 27th. Location: Katonah Village Library Garden Room. Cost: Free. Members, please RSVP to let us know you will be able to attend and cast your vote: info@bedfordaudubon.org

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“Hike and Learn” with Bedford 2030 

Step into nature and see your landscape in a whole new way while you Hike & Learn with Bedford Audubon and Bedford 2030! On this guided hike, we will explore native trees and plants, discover the pollinators they support, and learn how to tell native and non-native species apart. Along the sanctuary trails and in and around the Leon Levy Native Habitat Garden at Bedford Audubon, you’ll gain practical tips and inspiration to make your own yard more vibrant, ecological, and alive. Led by Bedford Audubon Board Member and Naturalist Steve Ricker and Horticulturist and Bedford 2030 Rooted Solutions Coach Missy Fabel, this immersive experience blends learning, walking, and connection with the natural world.

Saturday, May 30, 10:00am-11:30am. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy/Moderate (we will encounter some hills/steep inclines along the hike). Please email Susan to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org

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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!