John Burroughs Natural History Society

JBNHS ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
2021-06-06 04:00 - 08:00 (America/New_York)
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.

OPEN DISCOVERY AT JOPPENBERGH MOUNTAIN
2021-10-03 06:00 - 10:00
Joppenbergh Mountain has been through a lot of changes in the past two hundred or so years. Come for a walk to explore its biodiversity, history, recreational trails and views. Hiking shoes, drinking water, binoculars and magnifiers are recommended, and there might be blackflies, mosquitos and ticks. This trip will be limited to 10 participants. Pack a lunch for a picnic at the end of the walk, if desired. For an after-walk treat, the Rosendale Farmers Market will be on at Willow Kiln Park from 10AM to 2 PM (as it is every Sunday from June-October) and requires patrons to wear masks. PRE-REGISTER with Lynn Bowdery (lynn.bowdery@gmail.com or 845-255-6690) for this field trip. Rain cancels

FALL BIRDING WILDCARD
2021-10-23 03:00 - 07:00
Field trip leader Peter Schoenberger will choose the target species, destination, and meet-up location of this outing dependent on recent sightings and will be determined by the Friday before the field trip. PRE-REGISTER with Peter (pdsis@yahoo.com or 914 466-2707) beforehand.

ELECTION DAY SPARROWS
2021-11-02 04:00 - 19:00
PRE-REGISTER with Mark DeDea (forsythnature@aol.com ) to find out meeting time and location. Fulfill your civic duty and join JBNHS at a sparrow hotspot. 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.

KINGSTON POINT BIRDING ON NORTH STREET/IMMIGRANT’S WAY
2021-11-28 03:00 - 07:00
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 sparrows and their allies. Waterfowl and eagles can be expected as well. Please dress warmly and bring along your spotting scope (no sharing for now). 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
2021-12-11 - 2021-12-12
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 depending 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
2021-12-17 - 2021-12-18
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 4th. Reports from feeder watchers in the count circle are also desired.

NYUD CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
2021-12-28 - 2021-12-29
Contact Mark DeDea ( forsythnature@aol.com ) for possible assignment in the Ulster/ Dutchess count circle no later than Saturday, December 11th. Reports from feeder watchers in the count circle are also desired.

NYMS CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
2021-12-31 - 2022-01-01
The NYMS (Minnewaska/Shawangunk) Christmas Bird Count takes its fourth loop around the sun and 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 25th. Reports from feeder watchers in the count circle are also desired.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT CBCs MUST BE CONDUCTED A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY AGAIN THIS YEAR AS INSTRUCTED BY THE NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY.
1) THERE WILL BE NO COMPILATION GET TOGETHERS AFTER THE COUNTS
2) FIELD PARTIES IN THE SAME VEHICLE WILL BE LIMITED TO “FAMILY UNITS” OR “SOCIAL PODS”
3) IT WILL BE HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT NEW BIRDERS WILL BE ADDED TO ESTABLISHED FIELD PARTIES THIS
YEAR. CONTACT CBC COMPILER TO FIND IF THERE ARE POSSIBILITIES TO BIRD PORTIONS OF A SECTOR
LACKING COVERAGE.

ALL DAY ANNUAL WINTER BIRD COUNT AT EBNP
2022-01-07 - 2022-01-08
The 16th annual Esopus Bend Nature Preserve Winter Bird Count (WBC) will be conducted on Saturday, January 08,2022. Participants will census wintering birds throughout the 160-acre Nature Preserve, recording numbers of individuals and species diversity. WBC results will become 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, Whitewinged 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 12:00 noon, Friday, January 7th.

WALLKILL VALLEY RAPTOUR
2022-01-08 - 2022-01-09
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
2022-01-14 - 2022-01-15
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 1/16/22

WINTER MINDFULLNESS WALK AT NYQUIST-HARCOURT
2022-01-23 03:00 - 07:00
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 via email(mattcorsaro@yahoo.com)to register or ask questions. Group size will be limited to eight.

GREAT BACKYARD BIRDCOUNT - FORSYTHE NATURE CENTER
2022-02-18 10:30 - 12:00
The Great Backyard Bird Count is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society, and Birds Canada. Locally, JBNHS members will lead introductory walks with a focus on identifying winter backyard birds, how to use eBird, and how to get involved in other Citizen Science projects like the NYS BBA3. Suggestions on optics and identification apps/books or answers to any other questions the novice may have will also be provided. These walks are family friendly with hopes of simulating a greater interest in birds and birding.
FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Contact Mark DeDea (forsythnature@aol.com ) to register.
