Events & Adventures

NYC Audubon Festivals

SIXTH ANNUAL "IT'S YOUR TERN!" FESTIVAL ON GOVERNORS ISLAND

[b]"It's Your Tern!" Festival on Governors Island 2018[/b][br]© NYC Audubon

"It's Your Tern!" Festival on Governors Island 2018
© NYC Audubon

Saturday, July 13, noon-4pm
Parade Ground Southeast Corner, Governors Island
With Trust for Governors Island, Friends of Governors Island, National Park Service, New York Harbor School, Earth Matter NY, Wild Bird Fund, IBEX Puppetry, Swarovski Optik

Come celebrate Governors Island’s treasures: Common Terns and oysters! Common Terns, listed as a threatened species in New York State, have nested for several years on decommissioned piers on Governors Island’s waterfront. The colony has expanded over time and benefited recently from the introduction of oyster shells as a nesting material. Free activities at this year’s festival will include bird walks and talks, as well as hands-on activities for the whole family. Get to the festival by taking the ferry to Governors Island. The festival will take place at the southeast corner of the Parade Ground right across from St. Cornelius Chapel. No limit. Free

Click here for Google Map of the festival location

Click here for the Governors Island ferry schedule

Festival Schedule:

12:00PM - 4:00PM, Main Festival Site - Activities, games, and information, including: Tern masks and Tern coloring, Tern beanbag toss, Tern science, bird advocacy, EarthMatter compost workshop, Wild Bird Fund, and other family fun!

12:00PM - 3:30PM, Lima Pier - Tern Viewing Station with Swarovski Optik and nanotag scanning with NYC Audubon scientists

12:15PM - 1:45PM, Main Site - Bird Walk around Governors Island

12:30PM - 1:00PM, Main Site - IBEX Puppetry Performance, Harmonious Migrations

2:20PM - 2:30PM, Main Site - Welcoming Remarks

2:30PM - 3:00PM, Main Site - IBEX Puppetry Performance, Harmonious Migrations

3:15PM - 4:30PM, Main Site - Bird Walk around Governors Island

14TH ANNUAL SHOREBIRD FESTIVAL AT JAMAICA BAY

[b]Lesser Yellowlegs[/b][br]© Debra Kriensky

Saturday, August 17, 8:30am-5:30pm
With American Littoral Society, Gateway National Recreation Area, and Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy

During the past 40 years, over 40 species of shorebirds (including rare and accidental vagrants) have been recorded at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge’s East and West Ponds from mid-July through October, with the greatest diversity and abundance in August. Join us for the 14th annual celebration on Saturday, August 17.

Programming includes guided hikes to the East and West Ponds, lectures by shorebird experts, kids activities, and more. Walk leaders include Kevin Karlson, Don Riepe, Lloyd Spitalnik, Gabriel Willow, and Molly Adams. The festival meets at the National Park Service's Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center (Google Map here). The program is free; suggested donations of $20 per adult to NYC Audubon are encouraged to offset festival costs.

Limited free van transportation from Manhattan to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center is available for NYC Audubon members at the Student/Senior level and up. Meet at 71 West 23rd Street at 7:30am. Contact NYC Audubon at 212-691-7483 to reserve a seat. Limited van shuttle service will be available from the Broad Channel A Train Station to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center until 10:30am. Free connection to the NYC Ferry at Beach 108th Street (early morning and end of the festival only). For more information, contact NYC Audubon at 212-691-7483, American Littoral Society at 718-474-0896, or Don Riepe at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .