Program Calendar

Naturalist and Bedford Audubon board member Steve Ricker will lead this month's volunteer session in which we will be working in the sanctuary to restore vital bird habitats. The session will be conducted entirely outside on our sanctuary and grounds. This is a great way to get some exercise, fresh air, and contribute to our communities’ wild animals and plants. Tools and gloves are provided, but you can bring your own. Loppers and hand pruners are the most used types. Plants with thorns as well as Poison Ivy will be present. 

Saturday, September 12, 9:00am-10:30am. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Please email to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org.

Join Naturalist Tait Johansson for a special two-part Fall Warbler ID Workshop and Field Trip designed to help birders of all levels sharpen their skills in identifying warblers during the unique challenges of fall migration. As these colorful songbirds make their southbound journey, they trade their bright breeding plumage for more subtle hues, making identification tricky, even for experienced birders. During this workshop and field trip you will learn tips and tricks to recognize fall warblers in the field. Workshop at Bylane Farm, field trip the next morning on Reservoir Road in Katonah. Workshop limited to 10 people; register early.

Wednesday, September 16, 10:00am - 12:00pm (workshop at Bylane Farm) and Thursday, September 17, 6:30am - 7:30am (field trip to Maple Ave/Reservoir Road). Cost: $25 members, $40 non-members. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Register by clicking https://bedfordaudubon.org/workshops, or emailing: info@bedfordaudubon.org

Join Naturalist Tait Johansson for a special two-part Fall Warbler ID Workshop and Field Trip designed to help birders of all levels sharpen their skills in identifying warblers during the unique challenges of fall migration. As these colorful songbirds make their southbound journey, they trade their bright breeding plumage for more subtle hues, making identification tricky, even for experienced birders. During this workshop and field trip you will learn tips and tricks to recognize fall warblers in the field. Workshop at Bylane Farm, field trip the next morning on Reservoir Road in Katonah. Workshop limited to 10 people; register early.

Wednesday, September 16, 10:00am - 12:00pm (workshop at Bylane Farm) and Thursday, September 17, 6:30am - 7:30am (field trip to Maple Ave/Reservoir Road). Cost: $25 members, $40 non-members. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Register by clicking https://bedfordaudubon.org/workshops, or emailing: info@bedfordaudubon.org

The Lewisboro Library Fair will be held rain or shine, on Saturday, September 19th from 10 am to 4 pm at Onatru Farm Park (99 Elmwood Road, South Salem, NY). The Library Fair is one of the largest community events in Lewisboro and truly has something for everyone – a car show, great music, a fun filled kids’ zone, food trucks, dunk tank, a beer and wine garden and tons of shopping at the Book Sales, Attic Treasures and vendor booths!

Once again, Bedford Audubon is proud to be a Community Partner and we will have a table at the fair so come and say Hi as you explore the Fair.

The Fair is free and open to everyone.  For more information and to plan your day, check out the Fair website: https://www.lewisborolibraryfair.com/

Join our team for a Field Trip to the Hawkwatch Platform and see what’s moving through the skies above our area. Naturalist Tait Johansson and Hawkwatch Counter Christine Waas will be on hand to help identify and explain the birds we see and provide some context for our observations. We’ll be watching for kettles of migrating raptors, along with other birds passing overhead, from this high vantage point above I-684, with sweeping views across the Arthur Butler Sanctuary and beyond to Long Island Sound. Learn how hawk migration is monitored and why long-term observations like these are important for understanding raptor populations and migration patterns. Come see if we can top last year’s numbers!

Saturday, September 19, 11:30am-2:00pm. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Moderate – the trail to the platform is about 1/4 mile, and somewhat steep in parts, with exposed root and rocks, including some smaller loose rocks in places. Please email to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org.

Explore the Leon Levy Native Habitat Garden at Bylane Farm during Westchester Pollinators’ Open Garden Tour and see ecological beauty in action. Designed to bring conservation to life, our garden demonstrates how thoughtfully planned native landscapes can support wildlife, strengthen ecosystems, and inspire people. While you’re here, enjoy a sneak peek at our new Accessible Garden and Path and learn more about this exciting addition to our sanctuary. Docents will be on hand to answer questions and share tips for creating a vibrant, bird-friendly habitat in your own yard!

Arrive at 1:00pm to Discover the Fascinating World of Bees during our free, 30-minute educational mini-workshop and walk. Learn about bees’ essential role as pollinators while separating fact from fiction about these remarkable and often misunderstood insects.

Sunday, September 20, 1:00pm-4:00pm. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy. No registration required, open to all. Questions? Email: info@bedfordaudubon.org.

This year, every Sunday afternoon from May 1 – October 31 (rain or shine) homeowners will open their yards to share their journeys to inspire you to create more nature-friendly landscapes. 

Bedford Audubon's Leon Levy Native Habitat Garden will be on the tour on Sunday, September 20 from 1:00-4:00pm. 

All of the gardens that will be open for this year's tour can be found here: https://www.healthyyards.org/tour

Sharpen your raptor identification skills and pick up expert tips in this two-part Raptor ID Workshop and Field Trip with Naturalist Tait Johansson. The program will begin with an info session at Bylane Farm during which Tait will guide you through various traits and behaviors of raptor families that will help you identify them in flight. The group will then head to the Chestnut Ridge viewing platform at the Arthur Butler Sanctuary in Mount Kisco to put new skills into practice. This event is timed to coincide with the peak migration of raptors such as Broad-winged Hawk, American Kestrel, Osprey, and Sharp-shinned Hawk. Workshop limited to 10 people; register early.

Friday, September 25, 9:00am-2:00pm. Cost: $25 members, $40 non-members. Level of Difficulty: Moderate (the trail to the platform is somewhat steep in parts). Please email to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org.

Are you ready for HAWK ROCK?! This year’s EXTREMELY exciting Hawk Watch Festival soars in on Saturday September 26th 2026 (rain date Sun 9/27) featuring:

-LIVE BIRD ROCK music by Extremely Accurate Birds
-LIVE HAWKS & OWLS with Christine's Critters Inc. & Skyhunters In Flight
-PIZZA by Grigg Street Pizza
-SONGBIRD BANDING by Audubon Connecticut staff
-NATURE CRAFTS by Bruce Museum
-HAWK RELEASE by Wildlife in Crisis, Inc.
-LIVE REPTILES from Teatown Lake Reservation
-LIVE BLUEGRASS MUSIC by Mill River

-BIRD & Nature Organizations
Hawk Migration Association
Sunrise Birding, LLC - Bird Watching and Wildlife Tours
Bedford Audubon Society
Connecticut Ornithological Association
Connecticut Butterfly Association
Lights Out Connecticut

AND MUCH MORE TBA!!

Tickets are available to purchase here - we will have a table at the event so come say Hi!

This in-depth 4-hour photography workshop, Better Bird Shots: A Conceptual and Technical Approach to Improving Your Bird Photography, led by Dr. Loren Merrill, is designed for anyone interested in improving their bird photography skills, from beginners to experienced photographers.

The workshop emphasizes classroom learning and covers both Loren’s conceptual approach to bird photography and the technical elements needed to create impactful images. He will discuss preferred camera settings for different scenarios, with particular attention to photographing birds in flight under varying environmental conditions. Toward the end of the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to put these techniques and settings into practice, photographing birds at the feeders and elsewhere on the Bylane Farm grounds.

Dr. Loren Merrill is a photographer and science writer with a doctorate in avian ecology, animal behavior, and physiology. His deep knowledge of bird behavior informs his photography and teaching. An award-winning instructor and mentor, Loren works closely with participants to help them achieve their goals.

Saturday, September 26, 8:00am-12:00pm. Cost: $200 per person. Class size limited to 10 people. For more information, email: info@bedfordaudubon.org or register here: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/photographyworkshop/

Join Melanie Brocklehurst for a lively discussion of Bird City: Adventures in New York’s Urban Wilds by Ryan Goldberg. Over the course of a year, Goldberg explores New York City’s birdlife, visiting all five boroughs and following both common and rare species through the seasons. Along the way, he introduces readers to the passionate birders, scientists, and other New Yorkers who are helping us understand and protect the city’s birds. Engaging, informative, and full of surprising discoveries, Bird City offers a fresh perspective on the urban landscape and the wildlife thriving all around us. Read the book and come ready to share your thoughts, questions, and favorite discoveries with fellow bird lovers.

Monday, September 28th, 6:30pm. Cost: Free. Please email to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org.

Birds migrating along the East Coast in fall flock to Central Park as a welcoming place to rest and store up energy for the next leg of their journey. Join Tait Johansson on our fall Field Trip to Central Park to discover the ecological value of the park's man-made bird habitats, which include meadows, grassy knolls, rocky outcrops, woodlands, ravines, streams, ponds, lakes, and a reservoir. The park is a truly exceptional birding location for migrating warblers, thrushes, sparrows, and many other songbirds. The group will meet at 7:15am at 72nd Street and Central Park West, the entrance to Strawberry Fields. We’ll stop at the boathouse where you can purchase lunch or bring your own.

Tuesday, September 29, 7:15am-1:30pm. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy-Moderate (due to the length of the walk). Please email to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org.