Can you guess which North American bird species is experiencing the most rapid decline?
According to Cornell Lab’s All About Birds, it is the Rusty Blackbird, whose “population has plunged an estimated 85-99 percent over the past 40 years.” Come on this month’s First Wednesday’s Bird Walk with Naturalist Tait Johansson who says seeing one is a possibility.  We’ll be on the lookout for early spring migrants like Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Palm Warbler as we explore the variety of habitat in the Dean’s Bridge area of Somers.
Wednesday, April 2, 7:30-9:30am. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Moderate (there is a steep incline on the trail). Please email Susan to register.

Through the lenses of our members…
Don’t miss Bedford Audubon’s 2025 Members’ Photo Exhibit, Near and Far: Celebrating Birds Across the Americas, a selection of bird photographs captured by Bedford Audubon members throughout the Americas. You’re sure to be impressed with the artistry of the images in this special collection. We hope the beautiful photographs in this exhibit will provide a better appreciation of the vast world of birds and will inspire more people to discover these birds themselves and help protect them and their habitats.
The exhibit will be on display from April 5-30 in the Garden Room of the Katonah Village Library during the library’s regular business hours. Click here for details>>

Do you want to hear what Tait hears?
Get ready for spring migration! Birding by ear can be one of the most rewarding yet challenging ways to identify our avian friends. Naturalist Tait Johansson will demystify bird calls and sounds in this special Workshop: Birding By Ear. By the end of the morning, you will be able to apply a methodology for identifying and categorizing a variety of bird vocalizations. Great for novice and intermediate birders.
Sunday, April 6, 9:00am-12:00pm. Cost: Free (Members); $10 (Non-members). Level of Difficulty: Easy. Please email Susan to register. The workshop will take place at our headquarters, Bylane Farm, in Katonah.

To feed or not to feed, that is the question many of our members ask.
Birds are super active in the springtime and a wide variety of species come home to nest. People often wonder which season is the best to feed birds – we say that any season works if you are feeding for your own enjoyment. In the spring, birds can use some help when natural seed sources are depleted, and much energy is needed during migration. Plus it’s fun to see parents feed squawking fledglings later in the breeding season. Get some perspective on feeding birds at Naturalist Tait Johansson’s Virtual Workshop: Bird Feeding 101. In this Zoom presentation, you’ll see a “show and tell” of feeder styles, placement, and the varieties of seed and suet that attract different bird species. Tait will also talk about pests like squirrels and bears and ways to go beyond the birdfeeder to support birds through native plants.
Thursday, April 10, 6:30-7:30pm. Cost: Free. Please email Susan to register. A Zoom link will be emailed to participants in advance of the presentation.

Tait is in demand!
Friends of Lasdon Park and Arboretum have invited our own Naturalist, Tait Johansson to lead a guided Bird Walk at Lasdon Public Gardens. Tait will be especially on the lookout for Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, and Pine Warbler while exploring Lasdon’s 234-acre property which consists of woodlands, open grass meadows, and formal.
Saturday, April 12, 8:00-10:00am. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy-Moderate. Registration is limited to 12 participants and no walk-ins will be accepted. Register HERE  through the Friends website.

It’s spring and that means it’s time to dig in!
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 everyone will dig in to improve the rare shrub habitat that surrounds Bylane farm and its environs. 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, April 12, 11:00am-12:30pm. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy-Moderate. Please email Susan to register.

“Ed Lam has achieved for dragonflies what Roger Tory Peterson did for birds…” – Dan R. Kunkle, Wildlife Activist
Don’t miss this month’s Public Lecture: The Dragonflies of North America and the Making of a New Field Guide presented by author Ed Lam. There are over 300 richly diverse species of dragonflies in North America. Many are intricately patterned, brightly colored, and large, making them eye-catching and conspicuous. Despite being familiar to almost everyone, only recently have there been field guides available to help identify them.

Published in the fall, Dragonflies of North America is the latest and most comprehensive identification guide to these charismatic insects. The heart of the book lies in its illustrations – nearly 1900 detailed paintings and drawings that present intimate portraits of every species. In this informative presentation, Ed will discuss the long journey of making the guide, introducing the audience to a variety of dragonflies, their life stories, and how to identify them. Ed Lam is a Westchester resident, illustrator, and art teacher to children at the Schoolhouse Studio. He is also the author of Damselflies of the Northeast, A guide to the species of eastern Canada and the northeastern United States.
Wednesday, April 16, 7:00pm (refreshments at 6:45). Katonah Village Library Garden Room. Cost: Free. No need to register, just come!

Blue-headed Vireos arrive in our area before trees have leafed out, and most early nests are built in conifers.
Join Naturalist Tait Johansson for our popular Third Thursday’s Bird Walk for a chance to see – or hear – one of these mid-April migrants. If you live near the Cross River Dam in Katonah, this is a great walk to join before heading off to work – it’s perfect for experienced and new birders alike! We also hope to spot returning Louisiana Waterthrush and Pine Warbler, as well as regulars like the dam’s resident Common Ravens. Maybe we’ll even see a Bald Eagle!
Thursday, April 17, 7:30-9:30am. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Please email Susan to register.

The Eastern Hemlock is one of the best wildlife shelter trees in the US, and many birds depend on it for winter survival and nesting.
When you join Naturalist Tait Johansson for Migration Madness at the William Clough Preserve in Brewster, you’ll walk through a mostly-hemlock forest! Putnam County’s Clough Preserve and Ice Pond area hold a nice variety of breeding birds and spring migrants. We’ll be on the lookout Green Heron, Red-shouldered Hawk, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, and hopefully a Virginia Rail!
Tuesday, April 22, 7:30am-12:00pm. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy. to register. Please email Susan to register.

The madness continues in North Salem!
Naturalist Tait Johansson is leading us to the Titicus Reservoir for Migration Madness in search of the first push of migrants returning from the tropics. The reservoir was formed by damming the Titicus River, which continues west and drains into the Muscoot Reservoir. Please join us in search of Wood Thrush, Black-and-white Warbler, and Black-throated Green Warbler and more!
Thursday, April 24, 7:00-9:00am. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Please email Susan to register.

If migrating birds can travel, so can we!
Garret Mountain State Reservation is a designated Important Bird Area (IBA) in Passaic County and contains deciduous forests, riparian habitats and ponds that are a significant stopover/flyover for migratory land birds. It is a migrant trap in the league of Central Park! Join Tait on this field trip as he guides the group on trails around a beautiful pond in search of migrating songbirds. In addition to viewing beautiful birds, there are sweeping views of northern New Jersey and the NYC skyline from the reservation.
Saturday, April 26, 7:30am-12:00pm. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Moderate. Please email Susan to register.

Interested in heading to a top birding area along the Atlantic migratory flyaway?
If so, don’t miss Tait Johansson’s spring Field Trip to Marshlands Conservancy/Rye Nature Center! Both are great spots for spring migrants that have diverse habitat. We hope to see Scarlet Tanager, Baltimore Oriole, and many warblers. We’ll also look for Osprey which return to their treetop nests and fly fast and low across the harbor. At the seashore, we could spot American Oystercatcher and Snowy Egret.
Tuesday, April 29, 7:00am-12:00pm. Cost: Free. Level of Difficulty: Easy. Please email Susan to register.

PHOTO CREDIT: American Robin on Nest. Sue Stempler Bloom/2023 Bedford Audubon Photo Exhibit