John Burroughs Natural History Society

NATURE WALK KINGSTON WVRT/ROCKWELL
2025-05-29 08:30 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Join in on a new series of local walks planned to start the day right with fresh air, shining sun, and birds singing. These will be short, easy strolls designed to have you home earlier to be a “productive” part of society (domestic chores) yet allowing an hour and a half of escapism and camaraderie from said society. This particular walk on the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail just outside of the City limits has a nice blend of mixed hardwood/hemlock woods and a powerline cut that runs parallel to the trail, this variety of habitat is home to quite a few breeding birds. Please register with Charlotte Adamis (charlotteadamis@gmail.com ) to find out meet up location and other details.

SUNDOWN FOREST OPEN DISCOVERY
2025-06-07 09:00 - 14:00
Sundown Wild Forest is located in the southern Catskills. We will explore the flora and fauna in this mature second growth forest. Forest succession and regrowth will be discussed. We will walk on trails for the most part, with short forays off-trail. Trail conditions are generally good, with some short steep slopes and occasional downed trees to navigate. Please register with George Moxham (gfmoxham@gmail.com ) for details. Participation is limited due to parking availability.

SLIDE MTN. BICKNELL’S HIKE
2025-06-08
Our Annual hike to celebrate our namesake’s ornithological claim to fame and to be in the company of higher elevation breeders like Magnolia, Yellow-rumped, and Blackpoll Warblers and of course with luck Yellow-bellied Flycatcher and Bicknell’s Thrush. We will likely encounter plenty of other breeding species highlighted by Ruffed Grouse, Purple Finches, Pine Siskins, kinglets, and Red-breasted Nuthatches and maybe a porcupine too. This is an early start to get at the summit at a proper hour. Carpooling from the Kingston Park and Ride or meeting at the trailhead lot on Oliverea Rd. (Cty. Rt. 47). Email JBNHSinfo@jbnhs.org to find out more details.

TIVOLI BAYS PADDLE
2025-06-13
The best way to get a real sense of the north bay is to quietly paddle it’s tidal corridors and navigable channels. An advantage to this kind of small group outing is that wildlife encounters are often very intimate. A desired target for this trip will be the elusive Least Bittern. Contact Susan Fox Rogers ( susanfoxrogers@gmail.com ) to register and to learn meet up time and location for this evening paddle.

BREEDING BIRDS AND BUTTERFLIES
2025-06-14 08:00 - 12:00
The Esopus Creek Conservancy and John Burroughs Natural History Society are cosponsoring a guided nature walk at Esopus Bend Nature Preserve in Saugerties on Saturday, June 14, 2025 to observe summer breeding birds and butterflies. We will identify birds by sight and sound as we explore the Preserve’s woodlands, wetlands, and meadow, pausing along the way to observe the diversity of plant and animal life that inhabit the Preserve. As the morning temperatures rise, we will focus our attention on early summer butterflies active in the Preserve at this time of the year. Bring binoculars, insect repellant and field guides if you have them. Be prepared for potentially wet/muddy trails, tall grass, and dress according to weather conditions. Light rain often makes for excellent birding and nature observation, but will inhibit or eliminate most butterfly activity. Heavy rain will cancel the walk. Children are welcome and encouraged, but please do not bring pets. Please register with the field trip leader Steve Chorvas (schorvas@gmail.com )to participate and for meeting time. This joint ECC/JBNHS Environmental Education walk is free and open to the public. For additional information about upcoming ECC Nature Walks and Paddles, please visit www.esopuscreekconservancy.org.

JBNHS ANNUAL MEETING
2025-06-15 08:00 - 12:00
This is the meeting at which new board members and officers are elected, representatives to the NYSOA meeting are chosen, and decisions are made about where JBNHS donations to other deserving organizations go. We will be meeting this year at the pavilion of the Catskills Visitor Center, bird walk at 8 AM, social snacking during and after. NEW THIS YEAR: Join JBNHSers to swap or purchase native or at least beneficial plants to add to your own backyard or to share for others. Bring questions regarding identification, installation, and maintenance too. Bring your labelled extra native or pollinator-friendly plants and boxes to carry away your new plants.. The Catskills Visitor Center is located at 5096 Route 28, Mount Tremper, NY. See you there!

OUTDOORS CREATIVITY/ PLEIN AIR
2025-06-21
A new offering for our field trip schedule that has been long suggested by Trustee Berrios. A location chock full of inspiration based on seasonal occurrence or nature’s sheer beauty will be decided closer to the outing. All forms of creativity and expression are encouraged by participants. Please contact Laurie Berrios ( laurieberrios@gmail.com ) to learn more about this new form of comradery for JBNHSers to enjoy.

SUMMER YOUNG NATURALIST OUTING
2025-06-22
A timely visit to Thorn Preserve can hopefully provide a real spectacle of Baltimore Checkerspots and the fragrance of blooming Milkweed in the air. Many other insects, wild flowers, and birds call the preserve’s large meadow home for the summer and will be encountered on this special outing geared to stimulate and encourage young naturalists. Please email jbnhsinfo@jbnhs.org to find out more about participating.

EASTERN NABA BUTTERFLY COUNT
2025-06-28
Rain Date: Sunday, June 29 Join a field team to census butterflies in Esopus Bend Nature Preserve, or one of dozens of other local sites as a participant in the annual Eastern Catskills North American Butterfly Association (NABA) “Fourth of July” Butterfly Count on Saturday, June 28, 2025. The Eastern Catskills count circle includes a number of productive butterfly locations in northern Ulster, southeastern Greene, and western Dutchess Counties, including Poet’s Walk Preserve, Esopus Bend Nature Preserve, The Great Vly WMA, Onteora State Park, Overlook Mountain, Lower Platte Clove, the eastern end of Ashokan Reservoir, and extensive open meadows in the Town of Ulster. Participants will be assigned to a field party to census one or more target locations within the 15-mile diameter count circle. Each field party will be assigned at least one individual knowledgeable in butterfly identification, so you don’t need to be a butterfly expert to participate. Full-day participation is not required, but you should be able to commit four to eight hours from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. If you are interested in joining one of the field teams, or have additional questions about participating in a NABA Butterfly Count, please contact Steve Chorvas ( schorvas@gmail.com ) no later than June 15.

BUTTERFLIES AT THORN PRESERVE
2025-07-05 09:00 - 12:00
The Catskill Center’s Thorn Preserve can be bustling with butterflies during this timely visit while the Common Milkweed is in bloom. Please register with Steve Chorvas (schorvas@gmail.com ) who will lead this walk and provides comprehensive knowledge of butterfly life and the plants they are dependent upon. Attendance may be limited.

ODONATE WALK AT BURROUGHS SANCTUARY
2025-07-12
Odonates take center stage on this outing that is co-sponsored with our host the John Burroughs Association. The sanctuary’s pond and neighboring habitat make this a prime location for Frank Beres to share his wealth of knowledge and identification skills regarding Damselflies and Dragonflies. Please register with Frank (othernaturephoto@gmail.com ) to find our meet up time and location. (RESCHEDULED FROM JUNE 12TH)

OUTDOORS CREATIVITY/ PLEIN AIR
2025-07-16
A new offering for our field trip schedule that has been long suggested by Trustee Berrios. A location chock full of inspiration based on seasonal occurrence or nature’s sheer beauty will be decided closer to the outing. All forms of creativity and expression are encouraged by participants. Please contact Laurie Berrios (laurieberrios@gmail.com ) to learn more about this new form of comradery for JBNHSers to enjoy.

OPEN DISCOVERY AT BARTHOLOMEW’S COBBLE
2025-07-20
Bartholomew’s Cobble is a preserve in western Massachusetts. The diverse range of habitats includes floodplains, rock outcrops, mature forest, and grasslands. The preserve is noted for its variety of ferns and wildflowers. We can expect a good variety of birds and perhaps other wildlife.
We will meet locally and travel to the preserve. Carpooling is encouraged. Participants should be prepared for trail conditions that may include steep slopes, short scrambles, and/or mud. Ticks and biting insects may be encountered. Bring water and your lunch to eat in the field. Participation is limited. Contact George Moxham (gfmoxham@gmail.com ) to register.

MOTH NIGHT AT BURROUGHS SANCTUARY
2025-07-26 20:00 - 22:00
A fun and unusual outing for our field trip schedule and what better way to celebrate National Moth Week. Enjoy Mathew’s extensive knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject and see if you retained any identification skills from last year! Bring along a folding chair and snack and a head lamp may come handy too. Please register with Joan Burroughs (jjjburroughs@yahoo.com) to participate and get directions to Pond House parking and contact trip leader Mathew Rymkiewicz (dendroicist@gmail.com) with any questions.

BUTTERFLIES AT SOJOUNER TRUTH STATE PARK
2025-07-27 09:00 - 12:00
Widespread wildflower introduction lining the parking lot and path to the Empire State Trail along with historical presence of a Juniper Hairstreak colony have made this new park a good spot to bfly in the summer. Steve Chorvas (schorvas@gmail.com ) will share in depth knowledge of butterfly life and identification.

WADERS AND ICE CREAM (NEW DATE)
2025-08-06 18:00 - 20:30
August may be hot and humid, but “fall” migration is underway and the Esopus Meadows can often harbor large concentrations of waders like Great Egrets and if water chestnut harvesting provides landing pads shorebirds not always easy to locate in county too. After a tough evening of scanning the river for peeps and waders we recommend you try to recuperate over a soft serve cone post outing at one of the local ice cream establishments. Contact Wendy Tocci (wtocci@gmail.com ) to register. Scenic Hudson’s Esopus Meadows Preserve is located at 269 River Road in the Town of Esopus.

BUTTERFLY WILDCARD
2025-08-09 09:00 - 12:00
Nice to have a little freedom on a butterfly walk and hopefully identify a location that may have freshly emerged butterflies or blooming wildflowers. Please contact Steve Chorvas (schorvas@gmail.com ) to register and receive instructions for where to meet.

FERN WALK AT JOPPENBERG
2025-08-10 10:00 - 12:00
The area between the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail and Joppenbergh Mountain in Rosendale has moist shaded habitats which support a nice variety of ferns and other lime-loving plants. Join George Moxham and Lynn Bowdery for a leisurely walk exploring the diversity of ferns and whatever else is interesting. Wear comfortable shoes, bring water, insect repellant and field guides as desired. Binoculars as well as magnifying glasses can be useful, too. We will be walking on dirt footpaths with a few steep places. Register with Lynn Bowdery for meeting place (lynn.bowdery@gmail.com)

GREIG FARM BIRDS AND BUTTERFLIES
2025-08-31 08:30 - 12:00
Please contact Steve Chorvas (schorvas@gmail.com or 845-246-5900) to register and learn meet up details. The property owner has graciously allowed birders (and b-fliers) to explore this open agricultural habitat for fall shorebirds, grassland sparrows, and good late season butterflies.

AUTUMN CATSKILL’S HIGH PEAK HIKE - TWIN MT.
2025-09-06 08:00 - 17:00
We will hike Twin Mt on the Devil’s Path from the Prediger Road trailhead in Tannersville. After about the first mile we will be hiking through first growth forest -never logged, farmed, barked, burned or cleared. The total distance round trip is around 6 miles, with about 1800’ of elevation gain. Twin is named for its 2 summits which are 0.7 miles apart. We will hike to the far summit and then return to the south summit for a snack and excellent views. Participants should be prepared for rough and rocky conditions with some rock scrambles; hiking poles recommended. Bring plenty of water and snacks; sunscreen and insect repellent might come in handy. Meet at the Kingston Thruway traffic circle at 7:00AM, or the Prediger Road trailhead (N 42.13403, W -74.10434) at 8:00. To register contact Dave Hayes vireo44@gmail.com or 845-417-9251.

FALL MIGRANTS AT BURROUGHS SANCTUARY
2025-09-13 08:00 - 12:00
PRE-REGISTER with Joan Burroughs (jjjburroughs@yahoo.com ) for field trip details of this JBA/JBNHS co-sponsored Hudson River Ramble event. We will meet at the Black Creek Trail/Pond entrance on Floyd Ackert Road. The mature woods of the sanctuary provide respite for neotropical migrants on their way to wintering grounds. Hopefully we will encounter a mixed foraging flock or two as we stroll Pond Lane.

FALL MIGRANTS AT PHILLIES BRIDGE FARM PROJECT
2025-09-14 07:00 - 12:00
PRE-REGISTER with Ella Schwarzbaum (education@philliesbridge.org ) to enjoy a morning bird walk with Peter Schoenberger at a very inviting 65 acre property for nature study. The combination of woodland, wetland, and garden/pasture offers habitat diversity that should be reflected in an array of possible fall migrants.

FALL MIGRANTS AT JOHN BURROUGHS’ WOODCHUCK LODGE
2025-09-14 08:00 - 12:00
PRE-REGISTER with Mark DeDea (forsythnature@aol.com ) to join on this JBWL/JBNHS co-sponsored bird walk around this picturesque property and charming farm house that was JB’s last home and serves as his final resting place. This area in the western Catskills was also where JB spent his childhood and first gained appreciation for the natural world. It is an area who’s small valleys and rivulets had a similar impact on the trip leader and a place hoped to visit more regularly in partnership with our sister organization. The birding should be rewarding too!

AUTUMN OPEN DISCOVERY WILDCARD
2025-09-20
Our youngest field trip leader, Logan Berrios is refreshingly enthusiastic and inquisitive and will take those attributes (and the field party) to a regional location that might provide a timely bloom or immergence. Please consider young family members or the neighbor’s kids for this outing as what
better way to show the “coolness” of and introduction to the outdoors than with a knowledgeable contemporary on the lead. Email Logan ( logannrberrios@gmail.com ) to find out meet up time and location.

GREIG FARM BIRDWALK
2025-09-27 07:00 - 12:00
This portion of the farm and orchards has fast become a special place to visit particularly as fall migration progresses. Kudos to the property owners for allowing and even enhancing access. Please contact Peter Schoenberger (pdsis@yahoo.com ) to register and find out details on meeting location. Make sure to visit and support the market and café after the birding is over.

JBNHS ANNUAL PICNIC at KINGSTON’S HASBROUCK PARK
2025-09-28 11:30 - 14:30
JBNHS ANNUAL PICNIC: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28th at KINGSTON’S HASBROUCK PARK
This will be an extra special get together to celebrate our 75th anniversary. Of course, we will have our famous raffle and delicious food from Stone Soup again and we’ll get to meet some reptiles and maybe a crocodilian too! Brian Parkhurst (Hudson Valley Reptile Rescue) and Mark Perpetua (Mark Perpetua’s Reptile Encounters) will present. This will be fun for children of all ages, so make sure to bring along children and grandkids too.
This will also be the day to pick up your commemorative garments AND the day we pick the winner of the Zeiss Terra ED 8×42 binoculars.
Don’t forget to bring items for the raffle or a divided perennial or two for swap or sale.
PICNIC SCHEDULE
➢ 11:30 – arrive, buy raffle tickets, and mingle
➢ Noon – food is delivered, enjoy and more mingling
➢ 12:45 – Brian and Mark will present
➢ 1:30 – Raffles called and pick up garment orders
Lunch cost is $20.00 per person (children 12 and under are FREE)
Make checks payable to:
JBNHS
c/o Mary Moxham
PO Box 4223
Kingston, NY 12402

SPARROW WALK AT THE FARM
2025-10-04 07:00 - 12:00
PRE-REGISTER with the Hudson Valley Farm Hub’s Applied Farmscape Ecology Program Manager Anne Bloomfield (anne@hvfarmhub.org ) for field trip meeting details. This is a rare opportunity to enjoy the wonderful habitat that has been created on this private property by practices Anne can discuss along the walk. Targets for this trip are sparrows and their allies. We will visit farmland habitat and weedy edges for LBJ’s and maybe a skulker or two.

AUTUMN WILDCARD BIRDWALK
2025-10-05 07:00 - 12:00
We’ll let trip leader Peter Schoenberger (pdsis@yahoo.com or 914 466-2707) decide the direction this field trip will go but he does love a good weedy patch full of sparrows (who doesn’t)? Maybe a “farm” visit or will a place like the Ashokan Reservoir offer the birdiest option come field trip day? Please register in advance to find out pertinent details.

AUTUMN YOUNG NATURALISTS OUTING
2025-10-26
PRE-REGISTER with JBNHSinfo@jbnhs.org to find out more details about this inviting, family friendly new(ish) offering to our field trip schedule. We will select a destination and discipline/focus based what Mother Nature is providing us in this timeframe. The format will be educational, interesting, and above all FUN. JBNHS now has loads of child-friendly, quality optics to share along with the knowledge and enthusiasm a smart phone app cannot provide.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, ELECTION DAY SPARROW WALKS NORTH/SOUTH
2025-11-04 08:00 - 12:00
A last minute change to offer two walks on Election Day and make it much easier to perform your civic duty. Since it’s Election Day the real twist will be which walk will have more species (votes) and will Vice President Deb Weltsch be installed as our next President or will Mark carry on with his life sentence.
Muck boots and layered clothing are always a good idea regardless of the destination.
Deb Weltsch ( dweltsch13@gmail.com ) will lead the announced walk at one of her favorite patches in Nyquist/Harcourt Sanctuary in New Paltz and hope for some unkempt gardens to pad her sparrow list. Contact Deb to register and to find out meet up time.
Mark DeDea ( forsythnature@aol.com ) will visit Seed Song Farm in the Town of Ulster (which we can pretty much guarantee will be unkempt) and provide candy on this short morning walk. Contact Mark to register and to find out meet up time.
