John Burroughs Natural History Society

OPEN DISCOVERY AT MILL BROOK PRESERVE
2021-04-17 - 2021-04-18
Explore this new Preserve, the hidden gem in the heart of New Paltz, with Lynn Bowdery. We will look at and discuss whatever catches our attention as we explore the paths and waterways. At this time of year, there is a good chance of hearing and seeing American Toads and Spring Peepers calling in the beaver impoundments. Early wildflowers, birds,
and insects will also be present. The footpaths might be muddy, so appropriate footwear is a must. Binoculars and magnifiers are recommended, and there might be blackflies, mosquitoes and ticks. This trip will be limited 10 participants. Please contact Lynn (lynn.bowdery@gmail.com ) to reserve your place and learn where and when to meet. Rain cancels.

NY BBA III - ATLASING WITH EBIRD WEBINAR
2021-04-22 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Data is colleced for the Atlas using the Atlas Portal on eBird. Learn what the portal is and why it’s important to use. This webinar is appropriate for those who have never used eBird or for seasoned eBird users who have never used the Atlas Portal.
Email nybba3.hudson@gmail.com for more information or if you have any questions.
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SPRING BIRDING WILDCARD
2021-04-23 - 2021-04-24
Please register with trip leader Peter Schoenberger (pdsis@yahoo.com ) so we can make arrangements for our party’s travel and destination plans. The location for this outing will be determined a few days prior to the walk based on rare or unusual sightings somewhere in the Hudson Valley.

KENNETH WILSON STATE PARK
2021-04-24 - 2021-04-25
This park offers a variety of habitats and all are easily accessible, with much of the walk on pavement. Please register with trip leader Peter Schoenberger (pdsis@yahoo.com) to enjoy the start of the progression of neotropical bird migration, and if we’re quiet, maybe a drumming grouse too! If time allows we may travel to nearby Yankeetown Pond as well.

ULSTER COUNTY BIG SIT
2021-04-30 - 2021-05-01
JBNHS’ annual Big Sit is also our BIG fundraiser for the year 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 and get friends and family to pledge to your effort. In the past money has been raised to support Glenn Proudfoot’s fine research with N. Saw-whet Owls, numerous enhancements at SGNWR, the New York State Young Birders Club, and Where to Bird in Ulster County panels now located at three locations about the county.
-Great Vly Sit
Peter will again be birding Fradon Marsh from his 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!
-Kingston Point Sit
Some use words like dynasty, this may be premature, but another dominant performance this year and it would be hard to dispute. This perennial powerhouse will be birding to raise money to support Alyson Dudek’s Bailey Middle School Young Naturalists Club.
-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. Please contact Donna Seymour (dseymour66@gmail.com ) to plan and schedule your shift.
-Thorn Preserve Sit
Please contact Dixon Onderdonk (dixononderdonk@gmail.com ) if you’d like to help at this new “sit”. This property would be perfect for a “Where to Bird” panel and maybe a feeding station. Funds raised would be dedicated to that end.
-Bowdery’s Homestead Sit
Allan (with split shift coverage from his better half) 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.
-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.
Donations can be based on a pledge per species (specific sit or cumulative) or flat donation. 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.

SPRING MIGRATION AND WILDFLOWERS IN SAUGERTIES
2021-05-01 - 2021-05-02
Conservancy and the John Burroughs Natural History Society are co-sponsoring a guided nature walk through woodlands and wetlands in the Town of Saugerties on Sunday, May 02, 2021. The first week in May is typically the peak migration period for neotropical birds 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.
Pre-registration required, group size limited, meet location determined at time of registration. Participants should expect to use their own vehicle to drive to each location and have the option to stay for the duration or leave whenever necessary.
Bring binoculars, field guides, and spotting scopes if you have them, and be prepared for wet, muddy trails, and spring weather conditions. Light rain often makes for excellent birding and nature observation, but heavy rain cancels the walk. Children are welcome and encouraged, but must be pre-registered. Please do not bring pets. Contact the field trip leader, Steve Chorvas (schorvas@gmail.com) for additional information or to register. This joint ECC/JBNHS Environmental Education walk is free, but limited to a maximum of ten individuals. For additional information about upcoming ECC Nature Walks and Paddles, please visit www.esopuscreekconservancy.org.

WARBLER WALK #1
2021-05-04 - 2021-05-05
Please register with trip leader Gerhard Patsch (gerapa2001@yahoo.com) to find out meeting time and 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 #1
2021-05-05 - 2021-05-06
We will explore the sanctuary in search of neotropical migrants on the first two Thursdays of May. These outings will have the birder home in plenty time for lunch, hopefully still in a glow after the morning walk. Please register with Mark DeDea (forsythnature@aol.com).

ULSTER COUNTY SPRING CENSUS: BIG DAY COUNT
2021-05-07 - 2021-05-08
This is the day we all look forward to….. the holiest day of the year! Spend the whole day in the field or just a few hours….who knows what may be found. Refer to your copy of Where to Bird in Ulster County or visit www.jbnhs.org for good birding locations. Submit your report in checklist order to Steve Chorvas (schorvas@gmail.com) or P.O. Box 214, Saugerties, NY 12477). This information is combined in a regional report published by the New York State Ornithological Association.

SPRING MIGRATION AT HIGH BANKS
2021-05-09 - 2021-05-10
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 #2
2021-05-11 - 2021-05-12
Please register with Gerhard Patsch (gerapa2001@yahoo.com) for the second installment in this great series. The group will again visit environs near New Paltz and travel towards the Mohonk Preserve to search for neotropical migrants.

SPRING MIGRATION AT BURROUGHS SANCTUARY #2
2021-05-12 - 2021-05-13
We will explore the sanctuary again in search of neotropical migrants. These outings will have the birder home in plenty time for lunch, hopefully still in a glow after the morning walk. Please register with Mark DeDea (forsythnature@aol.com).

BREEDING BIRD ATLAS 3 FIELD TRIP
2021-06-05 03:00 - 07:00
Join regional coordinator Wendy Tocci in the very desirable unclaimed priority block of Saugerties CE. Located in the scenic Hudson Valley, Saugerties CE spans both Ulster and Dutchess Counties. The Saugerties lighthouse as well as parts of Tivoli Bays and the Clermont Historic Site are encompassed in this block. The plan is to start off on the trails of Tivoli Bays followed by a stroll along some adjoining farm fields and, if time permits, some atlasing at Clermont. This field trip can help with coding and protocol questions too. Please understand that attendance may be limited and registration is required. Start time will be 7am. Please register with regional coordinator and field trip leader Wendy Tocci (wtocci@gmail.com ).

JBNHS ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
2021-06-06 04:00 - 08:00
This is the meeting at which new board members and officers are elected, representatives to the NYSOA meeting are chosen, 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, birdwalk at 8 AM, social snacking during and after the meeting. The Catskills Visitor Center is located at 5096 Route 28, Mount Tremper, NY. See you there!

SUNDOWN FOREST OPEN DISCOVERY
2021-06-11 - 2021-06-12
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 mostpart, 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.

OPEN DISCOVERY WALK ON THE WALLKILL VALLEY RAIL TRAIL AND BEYOND
2021-06-13 06:00 - 08:00
Take a stroll on the WVRT and explore an area accessible from it in Rosendale with Lynn Bowdery. We will look at and discuss whatever catches our attention as we walk. Face masks, hiking shoes, drinking water, binoculars and magnifiers are recommended, and there might be blackflies, mosquitos and ticks. This trip will be limited 10 participants. Pack a lunch for a picnic at the end of the walk, if desired. Please contact Lynn (lynn.bowdery@gmail.com ) to reserve your place and learn where to meet. Rain cancels.

BREEDING BIRDS AND BUTTERFLIES
2021-06-19 - 2021-06-20
The Esopus Creek Conservancy and John Burroughs Natural History Society are co-sponsoring a guided nature walk at Esopus Bend Nature Preserve in Saugerties on Sunday, June 20, 2021 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. Meet at the Saugerties Village Beach parking lot on US Rte. 9W, just north of the Esopus Creek Bridge, at the foot of Partition Street in the Village of Saugerties. 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.

EASTERN NABA BUTTERFLY COUNT
2021-06-25 - 2021-06-26
Rain Date: Sunday, June 27
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 26, 2021. 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 at schorvas@gmail.com no later than June 12.

BUTTERFLIES AT THORN PRESERVE
2021-07-09 - 2021-07-10
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.

BREEDING BIRD ATLAS 3 FIELD TRIP
2021-07-11 03:00 - 07:00
Join regional coordinator Wendy Tocci in the very desirable unclaimed priority block of Saugerties CE. Located in the scenic Hudson Valley, Saugerties CE spans both Ulster and Dutchess Counties and includes the Saugerties lighthouse as well as parts of Tivoli Bays and the Clermont Historic Site. During our field trip here in the beginning of June we mostly recorded “possible” breeding codes. Since we are now in the middle of the breeding season the hope for this field trip is to up our breeding codes and confirm more breeders. We plan to start off on the trails of Tivoli Bays followed by a stroll along some adjoining farm fields and, if time permits, some atlasing at Clermont. Please understand that attendance may be limited and registration is required. Start time will be 7am. Please register with regional coordinator and field trip leader Wendy Tocci (wtocci@gmail.com)

OPEN DISCOVERY AT ESOPUS MEADOWS PRESERVE
2021-07-18 06:00 - 08:00
We might often visit this Scenic Hudson Preserve to scan the Hudson for ducks, herons, shorebirds, eagles and other birds near the parking lot, but there are upland and shore-hugging trails to be explored as well. We will take to the trails and see what is up there. It might be hot at this date, so dress for the temperature. Hiking shoes, drinking water, binoculars and magnifiers are recommended, and there might be blackflies, mosquitos and ticks. This trip will be limited 10 participants. Pack a lunch for a picnic at the end of the walk, if desired. Please contact Lynn Bowdery (lynn.bowdery@gmail.com ) to register for this field trip. Rain cancels.

MOTH NIGHT AT BURROUGHS SANCTUARY
2021-07-24 16:00 - 18:00
A fun and unusual outing for our field trip schedule and what better way to celebrate National Moth Week. 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 contact trip leader Mathew Rymkiewicz (dendroicist@gmail.com ) with any questions.

SHOREBIRDS AND ICE CREAM
2021-08-06 14:00 - 16:00
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 pad shorebirds not always easy to locate in county. After a tough evening of scanning the river for peeps we recommend you try to recuperate over a soft serve cone post outing at Port Ewen’s Frozen Rainbow. 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.

BUTTERFLIES AT JUNIPER FLATS
2021-08-07 05:00 - 08:00
SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 9:00 A.M.
This Scenic Hudson property can often provide a nice variety of butterflies with a good selection of host plants and flowers to nectar upon. Please contact Steve Chorvas (schorvas@gmail.com )

GREIG FARM BIRDS AND BUTTERFLIES
2021-09-05 04:30 - 08:00
Please contact Steve Chorvas (schorvas@gmail.com or 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.

FALL MIGRANTS AT BURROUGHS SANCTUARY
2021-09-11 04:00 - 07:00
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
This is a co-sponsored bird walk with the John Burroughs Association at the wonderful Burroughs Sanctuary. We will bird the improved trail system (rated as easy to moderate) searching for transient passerines. Contact trip leader Mark DeDea (forsythnature@aol.com ) to register. Follow the “Path through History” signs at the intersection of Floyd Ackert Road and Rt. 9W in West Park and turn west onto Floyd Ackert Road (at End Cut restaurant) and continue for about a mile, past Burroughs Drive continue a short distance and make a left at the next sanctuary entrance with the new sign marked with Black Creek Trail and Pond Entrance to park.

ANNUAL FALL MEMBERS’ PICNIC
2021-09-12 09:00 - 13:00
Enjoy friends, food, and the view from the pavilion at beautiful Hasbrouck Park in Kingston. Program to be announced later. Catering by Kingston’s own Stone Soup Food Company, which did such a great job at our last catered picnic in 2019, with a buffet of delicious dishes for all tastes and diets.
And don’t forget the raffle! Bring your items to donate and cash to buy raffle tickets. The cost of the lunch will be $20 per person with checks made payable to JBNHS c/o Lin Fagan, 281 West Chestnut Street, Kingston, NY 12401. Payment must be received by September 6th.

SPARROW WALK AT THE FARM 1
2021-09-25 03:00 - 07:00
PRE-REGISTER with Peter Schoenberger (pdsis@yahoo.com or 914 466-2707) for field trip meeting details. 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.

SPARROW WALK AT THE FARM 2
2021-10-02 03:00 - 07:00

TREE IDENTIFICATION WALK AT EBNP
2021-10-03 05:00 - 08:00
Esopus Creek Conservancy and the John Burroughs Natural History Society are co-sponsoring a Tree Identification Walk at Esopus Bend Nature Preserve in Saugerties on Sunday, October 03, 2021. Vern Rist will lead us at a leisurely
pace through a variety of woodland habitats. Fall color should be starting to show as we observe and discuss how and why the leaf color changes and some clues to help identify the tree species. Pre-registration is required and group size will be limited. Meet location determined at time of registration. Please bring binoculars and tree guides if you have them, and be prepared for Autumn conditions that may include cool air temperatures and light rain. Heavy rain will cancel the walk. Children are welcome and encouraged, but must be preregistered. Please do not bring pets. Contact Steve Chorvas (schorvas@gmail.com) for additional information or to register.
