Program Calendar

Put your bird knowledge to the test at our Bird Trivia Night! Gather your family and friends, brush up on your bird facts, and join us for a spirited summer evening of avian brain-teasers on the patio at Bylane Farm. Questions will cover a wide array of bird-related topics, from backyard favorites to surprising bird behaviors and natural history.

Come with a team or arrive solo and let us match you with fellow bird enthusiasts (maximum five people per team). Whether you're an eagle-eyed expert or simply here to have a good time, you'll enjoy an evening of friendly competition, fun, and community. Sips and snacks will be served, and prizes will be awarded. The games begin at 6:30 PM, but you're welcome to join us from 6:00 PM to mingle in the garden.

Thursday, July 9, 6:30pm (doors open at 6:00pm). Cost: $15 per person. Email Susan for more information: info@bedfordaudubon.org or register here.

Join Naturalist Tait Johansson for an engaging introduction to the natural history and identification of local butterflies in our Butterfly Workshop at Bylane Farm. This two-part program begins indoors at Bedford Audubon's historic headquarters, where Tait will share information about the ecology, behavior, and flight periods of butterflies, along with tips for identifying the species commonly found in our region.

The learning continues outdoors as we explore the Leon Levy Native Habitat Garden and trails throughout the surrounding sanctuary, putting those new identification skills into practice while searching for butterflies in their natural habitats. Limited to just ten participants, this intimate workshop offers a deeply immersive experience with ample opportunities for questions and personalized attention. Binoculars will be available to borrow.

Saturday, July 11, 10:00am-1:00pm. Cost: $25 members, $40 non-members. Level of Difficulty: Easy. You can register HERE or email Susan for more information: info@bedfordaudubon.org.

Naturalist Tait Johansson will lead this month's volunteer session in which we will be working in the sanctuary to restore vital bird habitats. Tait will teach you how to identify and remove invasive plants and why this practice is so vital to the ecosystem. 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. Volunteer sessions take place once a month.

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

Our July pick will be Crow Talk by Eileen Garvin, the nationally bestselling author of The Music of Bees who returns with a moving story of hope, healing, and unexpected friendship set amidst the wild natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

Join Melanie Brocklehurst at Bylane for our discussion of this novel about two women, lonely ornithologist Frankie and Irish musician Anne, who form an unlikely friendship while raising Anne's non-verbal son, Aiden, in a remote Pacific Northwest setting. 

The book is available to borrow in print from Westchester Library System,and is also available on audio as an e-book. 

Monday, July 13, 6:30pm. Cost: Free. Please email Susan to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org.

This two-part program begins at Bylane Farm, where Naturalist Tait Johansson will provide an introduction to shorebird identification and ecology, exploring the field marks, habitat preferences, foraging strategies, and behaviors that distinguish these diverse and highly adapted species. Participants will learn how to recognize key groups of shorebirds and gain insight into the remarkable migrations that bring them through our region each year.

We’ll then apply these concepts during a field visit to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Timed to coincide with high tide, when feeding birds are concentrated on the East Pond, the outing offers an exceptional opportunity to study hundreds of Short-billed Dowitchers, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers, and a variety of other shorebird species at close range. By combining classroom instruction with field observation, this program provides a deeper understanding of shorebird ecology while helping participants develop the skills needed to identify these challenging birds in the field.

Saturday, July 18, 8:00am-2:30pm. Cost: $25 members, $40 non-members. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Register HERE or email Susan for more information: info@bedfordaudubon.org.

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, July 19, 8:00am-10:00am. Cost: Free, but donations to support our work are greatly appreciated. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Please email Susan to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org.

Find out more about our Bird Banding Research HERE.

Join Naturalist Tait Johansson on a Field Trip to the Coastal Center at Milford Point. Milford Point is part of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge and is adjacent to CT DEEP’s 550-acre Wheeler Marsh Wildlife Management Area. Together, these protected habitats offer some of Connecticut's premier birdwatching opportunities. The site's diverse coastal habitats attract an impressive variety of resident and migratory birds throughout the year, making it an exceptional destination for birding. This field trip usually fills up, so register early to secure your spot.

Friday, July 24, 8:00am-11:30am. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Please email Susan to register: info@bedfordaudubon.org. Parking is limited at Milford Point so please carpool. You can let Susan know when registering if you are interested in sharing a ride.