John Burroughs Natural History Society

AUTUMN MINDFULLNESS WALK AT THE KINGSTON LINEAR TRAIL
2023-10-08 08:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
While this walk will include some conventional practice of field identification and a little time for socializing, it will focus on the direct experience of our bodies and senses underneath the labels and comparisons. Leader will offer suggestions for practices to direct the attention in a particular way. This may include short periods in which we’ll refrain from or minimize speaking. Please contact leader Matt Corsaro via email (mattcorsaro@yahoo.com )to register or ask questions. Group size will be limited to eight.

AUTUMN TREE ID AT FALLING WATERS
2023-10-21 10:00 - 12:00
Let’s ID the leaves (and other tree parts) as they fall in Fall at Falling Waters. Take a leisurely and educational walk through this underappreciated 149 acre Scenic Hudson property along the river in in the hamlet of Glasco. Head east on Josephs Drive from Rt. 9W just south of Saugerties. At York Street turn right and then a sharp left on Dominican Lane (996 Dominican Lane is address for the preserve). Pre-register with Tom O’Dowd (tkodowd@gmail.com)

FALL STROLL AT MILL BROOK PRESERVE
2023-10-28 10:00 - 12:00
Fall is a wonderful time for a slow walk at Mill Brook Preserve. The cooler air refreshes with the scent of newly fallen leaves, late flowers and bright mosses shine in the sunlight, and if there has been a frost, the mosquitoes will be done for the year. Join Lynn Bowdery for a leisurely walk to look at and talk about
whatever things call our attention. Participation is limited. Register with Lynn
Bowdery, lynn.bowdery@gmail.com.

ELECTION DAY SPARROWS AT JUNIPER FLATS
2023-11-07 08:00 - 12:00
PRE-REGISTER with Mark DeDea (forsythnature@aol.com ) and find out meeting location. Fulfill your civic duty and join JBNHSers at the “old IBM Rec Center”. This Scenic Hudson property might sound more like a Utah sub-division but in approximately ten years of keeping track of bird sightings here has moved into 15th place on the list of birdiest places in Ulster County. Muck boots are recommended to keep feet dry from the morning dew/frost and dress in layers as temperatures could greatly change from start time to early
afternoon

JBNHS NOVEMBER MEETING
2023-11-16 18:00 - 20:00
Come to the last JBNHS meeting of 2023 at the conference room of the Hudson River Maritime Museum Wooden Boat School. Meet, mingle, and enjoy a brief business meeting after the program, to be announced later.

ASHOKAN RESERVOIR BIRDING
2023-11-18 08:00 - 12:00
Contact Dixon Onderdonk (dixononderdonk@gmail.com ) to register for this field trip with a focus on looking for eagles, loons, grebes, and waterfowl. Dress warmly and anticipate windy conditions. A spotting scope will help make this trip a better experience. Dixon will also disclose meeting location when birders register.

KINGSTON POINT BIRDING ON IMMIGRANT’S WAY
2023-11-26 08:00 - 12:00
Contact trip leader Mark DeDea (forsythnature@aol.com) to register for this outing. We will start our day at Kingston Point Beach and walk north along the old Immigrant’s Way which often harbors late migrants and holdovers/half-hardies while providing views of the Hudson. Waterfowl and eagles can be expected as well. Please dress warmly and bring along your spotting scope. A caloric, warm breakfast snack and beverage will be provided to start our day and help us fondly remember our favorite Beatle.

HOLIDAY LUNCH AND BIRDS TOO
2023-12-10
Contact Mark DeDea (forsythnature@aol.com ) to confirm your participation and for info and directions. The party will bird a location within the NYML CBC circle dependant on conditions to scout for the following week’s Christmas Bird Count. After a few hours in the field participants will return to meeting place with lunch at a local establishment as an option.

NYML CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
2023-12-16
Contact Steve Chorvas (246-5900 or schorvas@gmail.com ) for possible assignment in the Mohonk Lake/Ashokan Reservoir count circle no later than Saturday, December 2nd. Reports from feeder watchers in the count circle are also desired. A post count compilation gathering will follow at the Hasbrouck Park Stone Building in Kingston. Contact Mark DeDea (forsythnature@aol.com) for details or if you plan on attending.

NYUD CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
2023-12-27
Contact Mark DeDea ( forsythnature@aol.com ) for possible assignment in the Ulster/ Dutchess count circle no later than Saturday, December 9th. Reports from feeder watchers in the count circle are also desired. A post count compilation gathering will follow at the Hasbrouck Park Stone Building in Kingston. Contact Mark DeDea (forsythnature@aol.com ) for details or if you plan on attending.

NYMS CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
2023-12-30
The NYMS (Minnewaska/Shawangunk) Christmas Bird Count is sure to be exciting with lots of our favorite winter birding spots within the circle. Contact Nick Martin (255-0752 or Nicholas.Martin@parks.ny.gov ) for possible assignment no later than Saturday, December 23rd. Reports from feeder watchers in the count circle are also desired.

ALL DAY ANNUAL WINTER BIRD COUNT AT EBNP
2024-01-06
The 19th annual Esopus Bend Nature Preserve Winter Bird Count (WBC) will be conducted on Saturday, January 06, 2024. Participants will census wintering birds throughout the 160-acre Nature Preserve, recording numbers of individuals and species diversity. WBC results are part of the Preserve’s biodiversity database and will help provide future guidance for land management and stewardship decisions.
Esopus Bend Nature Preserve is located on the banks of the Esopus Creek in the Village and Town of Saugerties in northern Ulster County. Previous counts conducted during early January have recorded a cumulative total of 70 species, and a single-year high count of 966 individuals. Highlights from previous counts include Bohemian Waxwing, White-winged Crossbill, Gray Catbird, Field Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Winter Wrens, six species of woodpeckers, and double- digit numbers of wintering Hermit Thrushes.
The WBC is a great way for birders and nature enthusiasts to start off the New Year and contribute to our knowledge of the winter bird population inhabiting Esopus Bend Nature Preserve. Additional field observers are always welcome, and full day participation is not required, but you should be prepared to invest several hours out in the field under cold winter conditions.
Pre-registration is required. Please contact Steve Chorvas (schorvas@gmail.com or 845-246-5900) to register, or for additional information, no later than Thursday, January 4th. For additional information about upcoming ECC Environmental Education Nature Walks and Paddles, please visit www.esopuscreekconservancy.org.

WALLKILL VALLEY RAPTOUR
2024-01-07
Contact trip leader Christine Guarino (chrissy.guarino@gmail.com ) to register for this outing and find out meeting time and location. Carpooling (which is typical on this outing) may be limited to family units, social pods, and/or participant comfort level. Start the New Year right and get outdoors on this popular roadside trip between New Paltz and Wallkill. Wintering raptors, congregating waterfowl and gulls as well as half hardies will be the focus on this outing. Possible drive through of Blue Chip and Watchtower Farms with stops along the Wallkill River and at Shawangunk Grasslands NWR (Galeville), and the Ulster County Fairgrounds.

ALL DAY NYSOA WINTER WATERFOWL COUNT
2024-01-13
This annual statewide count includes waterfowl and their allies as well as eagles.Data collected will aid in understanding population trends and conservation practices of Atlantic Flyway waterfowl. The survey will include open bodies of water, especially along the Hudson, Esopus, Wallkill, and Rondout Rivers and possibly the Ashokan Reservoir as well as open agricultural areas where geese may graze. Contact Steve Chorvas (schorvas@gmail.com or 845-246-5900) for assignment. NOTE: snow/rain date on Sunday 1/14/24

ESOPUS BEND NATURE PRESERVE ANIMAL TRACKING
2024-02-03 10:00 - 12:00
Wintertime at Esopus Bend Nature Preserve offers a special environment for exploration. With snow blanketing the preserve, visitors may observe curious footprints on the ground and wonder what creature made them. Fox, raccoon, rabbit, dog, whose footprints are they? Where did the animal come from? Where was it going? What was it doing? With curiosity sparked, an interesting
adventure can begin.
Esopus Creek Conservancy is sponsoring an animal tracking adventure at Esopus Bend Nature Preserve on Saturday, February 03, 2024. Steve Hart will guide participants as we learn how to identify animal tracks and to observe clues to what the animal may have been doing at the time the tracks were made. In the absence of snow cover, the group will search for animal tracks along stream beds.
Pre-registration required; meeting location determined at time of registration. Bring binoculars and field guides if you have them, and be prepared for potentially cold and icy trail conditions. Heavy rain or snow cancels the walk. Children are welcome and encouraged, please do not bring pets.
Contact the field trip leader, Steve Hart (searunner64@gmail.com) to register or for additional information. This ECC Environmental Education walk is free and open to the public, but pre- registration is required and group size will be limited. For additional information about upcoming ECC Nature Walks and Paddles, please visit www.esopuscreekconservancy.org.

GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT ULSTER COUNTY STYLE
2024-02-16 - 2024-02-19
LEARN MORE ABOUT ULSTER COUNTY’S AVIFAUNA ALL PRESIDENT’S WEEKEND LONG!!!
Kenco Outfitters invites all Attendees of GBBC outings and events for a complementary binocular fitting and an additional 5% Off select optics
2/16 10:00 AM KENCO OPTICS DEMO/CLINIC email Wynter Kennedy wynter@kencooutfitters.com

2/16 3:30 PM BACKYARD BIRDING email Mark DeDea forsythnature@aol.com

2/17 8:00 AM WINTER WILDCARD BIRDING email Peter Schoenberger pdsis@yahoo.com

2/17 9:00 AM MINNEWASKA SPP BIRDING email Nick Martin nicholas.martin@parks.ny.gov

2/17 1:00 PM KENCO OPTICS DEMO/CLINIC email Wynter Kennedy wynter@kencooutfitters.com

2/18 8:00 AM ESOPUS BEND NP BIRDING email Steve Chorvas schorvas@verizon.net

2/18 9:00 AM KINGSTON WATERFRONT BIRDING/CHICORY NATURALIST VISIT email Wendy Tocci wtocci@gmail.com

2/19 8:00 AM SOJOUNER TRUTH S.P. BIRDING email Mark DeDea forsythnature@aol.com

2/19 8:30 AM NYQUIST-HARCOURT BIRDING email Nick Martin nickmartin@mac.com

2/19 4:00 PM SGNWR BIRDING email Dixon Onderdonk dixononderdonk@gmail.com
Please email JBNHSinfo@jbnhs.org with questions about future programming and field trips, to receive email notifications, or to join our Ulster rare bird alert.
Visit www.birdcount.org to learn more about this global event.

NYQUIST-HARCOURT SANCTUARY WINTER TREE I.D.
2024-02-24 10:00 - 12:00
Enjoy a brisk, late winter walk identifying trees by bark, structure, and bud The sanctuary is made up of a wonderful floodplain/oxbow wetland habitat and filled with flora associated with these conditions. Surely there will be interesting finds to lure one’s eye from woody to herbaceous. Contact trip leader Tom O’Dowd (tkodowd@gmail.com or 914 213-7079) to register for this outing.

EARLY MIGRANTS ON THE RONDOUT
2024-03-09 08:00 - 12:00
Join Mark DeDea (forsythnature@aol.com ) and celebrate the approach of spring and many fond memories of this longtime JBNHS favorite. Please register with Mark for meeting location and the morning’s plans. Party will travel upstream from Rosendale to the High Falls area, noting early harbingers of spring.

SIGNS OF SPRING NATURE WALK
2024-03-17 08:00 - 12:00
The Esopus Creek Conservancy and John Burroughs Natural History Society are co-sponsoring a guided nature walk to observe early signs of spring in a variety of ecologically rich habitats in the Town of Saugerties on Sunday, March 17, 2024. Depending on available time, conditions, and participant interest, we will visit The Great Vly Wildlife Management Area, Esopus Bend Nature Preserve, Falling Waters Preserve, and/or the Saugerties Lighthouse peninsula on the Hudson River. Meet in the Saugerties Village Beach parking lot on Rte. 9W, just north of the Esopus Creek bridge, at the foot of Partition Street in the Village of Saugerties. Participants can stay for the duration, or drive to each location and leave whenever necessary. Bring binoculars, field guides, and spotting scopes if you have them, and be prepared for wet, muddy trails, and early spring weather conditions. Light rain often makes for excellent birding and nature observation, but heavy rain will cancel the walk. Children are welcome and encouraged, but please do not bring pets. Please register with field trip leader, Steve Chorvas (schorvas@gmail.com) and for additional information or directions. 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.

VERNAL EQUINOX WOODCOCK WALK
2024-03-19 18:00 - 20:00
Celebrate the Vernal Equinox with one of the year’s great natural history events. Please register with trip leader Christine Guarino (chrissy.guarino@gmail.com ) for an evening stroll in the Shawangunk Grasslands to hear and possibly see male woodcocks perform their courting flights. We should hear early amphibians and maybe an owl or two also. Meet at the refuge entrance on Hoagerburg Road (Ulster Cty. Rt. 18), field party will make the short walk to the east (and the main refuge parking lot).

TIVOLI BAYS BIRDING
2024-03-23 08:00 - 12:00
We will explore the tidal marshes and upland habitat of this DEC property. Bald Eagles, waterfowl, and other early migrants (like Rusty Blackbird) are reasonable expectations on this walk. Please register with trip leader Jess Prockup (procolinos@gmail.com ). Field party will meet at the Bard College parking lot on Gatehouse Drive just north of sharp turn on Dutchess County Rt.103 and Cruger Island Road. The group will walk down Cruger Island road to the bays and the causeway and trails will surely be muddy. Please consider this and choose proper footwear (like muck boots).

JBNHS GENERAL MEETING
2024-03-27 18:00 - 20:00
JBNHS general meeting at the conference room of the Hudson River Maritime Museum Wooden Boat School. Meet, mingle, and enjoy a brief business meeting after Deb Weltsch’s program on the movement to save our world from plastics: “Beyond Plastics seeks to build a well-informed, effective movement to educate the public about the changes needed to save our planet, and ourselves, from the negative health, climate, and environmental impacts of the production, usage, and disposal of plastics. Deb Weltsch (JBNHS VP) is a recent graduate of the Beyond Plastics Speakers Bureau. Our ultimate goal is to end plastic pollution everywhere.” We will also hear from returnees from Tiffany Kersten’s special Nature Ninja Birding Tour for JBNHS members in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas

SPRING CATSKILL PEAK HIKE – BALSAM AND EAGLE MTNS
2024-04-13 08:00 - 14:00
The hike will begin at Rider Holllow for a distance of around 9.4 miles roundtrip and almost 3000’ elevation gain. Estimated time 6 hours. (For this reason the time spent birding will be limited.)
We will start on the Oliverea-Mapledale trail 1.75 miles to the Pine Hill-West Branch trail, then 2.1 miles south to Eagle Mt. From there we backtrack north 3 miles to Balsam Mt. We will return via the Mine Hollow trail 2.6 miles to the car. Much of the hike above 3000’ will be through first-growth forest, defined as “never cleared, barked, quarried or burned by people.” (Kudish, 2000.)
Meet to carpool at Kingston Thruway traffic circle at 7:00AM, or at Rider Hollow trailhead at 8:00. Contact Dave Hayes 845-417-9251 or vireo44@gmail.com to register. Limit 12 participants.

SPRING BIRDING WILDCARD
2024-04-20 08:00 - 17:00
The spring procession of migrants starts in earnest in this time period with new arrivals daily. Depending on recent reports or rare sightings, the destination (or destinations) of this trip will be determined just prior to the outing by field trip leader Peter Schoenberger (pdsis@yahoo.com). Please make sure to register with Peter for meet up time and location.

TIVOLI BAYS BIRDING
2024-04-21 07:00 - 12:00
Exploring the tidal marshes and upland habitat of this DEC property is always rewarding with diversity nearing it’s peak in this timeframe. Waders, waterfowl, raptors, and even some near tropic migrants (spent the winter in the southeast) are reasonable expectations on this walk. Please register with trip leader Susan Fox Rogers ( susanfoxrogers@gmail.com). Field party will meet at the Bard College parking lot on Gatehouse Drive just north of sharp turn on Dutchess County Rt.103 and Cruger Island Road. The group will walk down Cruger Island road to the bays and the causeway and trails will surely be muddy. Please consider this and choose proper footwear (like muck boots).

SPRING MIGRATION AND WILDFLOWERS IN SAUGERTIES
2024-04-28 07:30 - 12:00
The Esopus Creek Conservancy and John Burroughs Natural History Society are co-sponsoring a guided nature walk in woodlands and wetlands in the Town of Saugerties on Sunday, April 28, 2024. Late April/early May is an exciting time for neotropical migration at this latitude, and early morning is the best time to see and hear recently arrived songbirds in their brilliant spring plumage. We will explore a variety of ecologically rich habitats to experience this annual rite of spring, identifying birds by sight and sound while pausing along the way to observe a diversity of wildflowers and animal life. Meet up will be at the Saugerties Village Beach parking lot on Rte. 9W, just north of the Esopus Creek bridge, at the foot of Partition Street in the Village of Saugerties. Participants can carpool and stay for the duration, or drive to each location and leave whenever necessary. Bring binoculars, field guides, and spotting scopes if you have them, and be prepared for wet, muddy trails, and early spring weather conditions. Light rain often makes for excellent birding and nature observation, but heavy rain will cancel the walk. Children are welcome and encouraged, but please do not bring pets. Please contact the field trip leader, Steve Chorvas (schorvas@gmail.com) to register and for additional information or directions. 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.

ULSTER COUNTY BIG SIT
2024-05-04
JBNHS’ 9th annual Big Sit is also our BIG fundraiser for the year (that’s why we do our’s in May) but serves too as a friendly competition between the established sits. Do you have a birdy back deck or favorite patch and a cause worth birding for? Why not join the challenge and see how many species you can identify from a 17’ diameter circle and get friends and family to pledge to your effort. In the past money has been raised to help worthy endeavors like numerous enhancements at SGNWR, support the wonderful New York State Young Birders Club, installation of Where to Bird in Ulster County panels now located at four locations about the county, create Naturalist’s Backpacks for area libraries to lend out, and aid Annie Mardiney’s important educational and rehabilitation work at Wild Mountain Birds.
Donations can be based on a pledge per species (specific sit or cumulative) or flat donation. Donations can be made online (click on the Support the Big Sit button below) or by check. Please make checks payable to JBNHS and note desired sit you’d like to support. Send in donations to Treasurer Lin Fagan, 281 West Chestnut Street, Kingston, NY, 12401.

Big Sit Descriptions:
Great Vly Sit – Team Bobcat will again be birding Fradon Marsh from a pressure treated tower and greatly helping our cumulative JBNHS Big Sit total with all those wonderful marsh birds and maybe a surprise like another Black Tern. Support in 2022 allowed for the assembly and installation of over 30 Wood Duck boxes in the Vly! Last year the Bobcats worked the same magic for the Wood Ducks in Tivoli Bays. This year continued enhancements for both important NYSDEC WMA’s.
Kingston Point Sit – Team CoCo Puffs will bird from Harrison Point looking out over Kingston Point Lagoon, the mouth of the Rondout, and down river while tallying new spring arrivals and raising much needed funds for the important NYS Breeding Bird Atlas 3.
Galeville (SGNWR) Sit – Spend some time on the observation deck at Galeville (SGNWR) looking and listening for those ever important (and harder to find) grassland species. Team Shawangunk Redemption could have another Sandhill Crane up their sleeves. Pledges raised here will benefit continuing improvements at the refuge. Please contact Debbie Carney (deb.carney@gmail.com ) or Evelyn Leigh (evelynleigh11@gmail.com ) to plan and schedule your shift.
Thorn Preserve Sit – Please contact Olivia Bernard (oliviakbernard@gmail.com ) if you’d like to help. The Thorn Thrashers will bird to support JBNHS’ newest initiative and continue the assembly of Naturalist Backpacks; specifically one or more to the Olive Free Library.
Bowdery’ Homestead Sit – Lynn and Allan and gifted birding grandkiddies will bird their yard with hopes of a good feeder bird to pad our cumulative list and raise the most money we can to distribute in June to important environmental and conservation concerns in the region.
Hayes’ Homestead Sit – Dave and Tracey will bird their yard and do so for as good a cause as you could find, Wild Mountain Birds and JBNHS trustee Annie Mardiney’s awesome work.
Nyquist-Harcourt Sit – The Oxbow Oddballs will appropriately bird for our friends at the WVLT and the wonderful work they do. This is a birdy location and the more eyes and ears the better so please contact Sara DeAngelis (saradeangelis@me.com ) or Deb Welstch (dweltsch13@gmail.com ) to help or to pledge support.
Fagan Homestead Sit – One of the best views in town and a cemetery for neighbors, does it get any better? Treasurer Fagan definitely has the other Kingston locations beat in pedigree and if you support her birding could have fundraising bragging rights too.
New Location for a Sit? – Please contact Mark DeDea (forsythnature@aol.com ) with any questions and to let us know about a new sit for promotional/ fundraising sake.

SPRING MIGRATION AT HIGH BANKS
2024-05-06 06:00 - 11:00
An early morning visit during spring migration to this Scenic Hudson property in the Town of Esopus should provide a generous selection of neotropical migrants. Please register with trip leader Jess Prockup (procolinos@gmail.com ) . There is an initial climb of 200 feet on the trail but walking is easy after that and a panoramic view of the mid Hudson Valley can be enjoyed while scanning the treetops for colorful songsters.

WARBLER WALK
2024-05-08 07:00 - 12:00
Please register with trip leader Gerhard Patsch (gerapa2001@yahoo.com ) to find out meeting location for this enjoyable outing during birder’s “holy week”. The group will visit environs near New Paltz and travel towards the Mohonk Preserve to search for neotropical migrants.

SPRING MIGRATION AT BURROUGHS SANCTUARY
2024-05-09 07:00 - 12:00
Please register with field trip leader Mark DeDea (forsythnature@aol.com) and meet Mark at the Pond Lane/Black Creek entrance of the sanctuary. This entrance is NORTHWEST of Burroughs Drive. DO NOT TURN ON TO Burroughs Drive; parking is just off Floyd Ackert Road. The field party will take the easy to navigate Pond Lane out to the sanctuary pond and trails nearby in search of neotropical migrants.
