Photo © David Speiser

PHOTOGRAPHY IN FLORIDA
March 17-21 2010

Guide: David Speiser
Explore South West Florida with our photo trip focusing on the Sanibel Island and Fort Myers Beach Area. We will focus our photography efforts on waders and shorebirds. Since we will be travelling in mid-March we will be looking for migrating Passerines as well. With side trips to shoot Burrowing Owls and the opportunity to walk the boardwalks of Corkscrew as well. We will be spending most of our days in the field, where field camera techniques will be discussed and practiced. We will focus on how to approach birds, proper camera technique, exposure, flash photography and more. In the evenings we will be able to look at our days shooting and try to see what went right and what went wrong. In the afternoons, when available (our hotel is on the beach) you can relax in the Gulf, swimming pool or walk the beach and attempt to take some pictures of pelicans, shorebird, gull and terns. $1875 members (double room occupancy, single room occupancy $300)

To reserve space on the trip or for more information, please contact the NYC Audubon office at 212-691-7483 or email info@nycaudubon.org.

Photo © David Speiser

March 20 - 28, 2010

Guide: Gabriel Willow
Escape the cold and follow our migrant species to a tropical getaway! Spend a week at the world-renowned Asa Wright Nature Centre and Lodge, a 200-acre wildlife sanctuary in Trinidad's rain-forested Northern range, and at the charming Blue Waters Inn in Tobago. Participants will travel with expert local guides to visit several unique natural areas throughout both islands, including spectacular beaches, rain forests, and wetlands. In addition to our wintering local species, see parrots and macaws, dozens of species of hummingbirds, toucans, trogons, kingfishers, and other exotic tropical species including some that are rarely seen anywhere else, such as the rare, cave-dwelling Oilbird, which nests near Asa Wright, and the gorgeous Scarlet Ibis. We will also explore charming local villages and discover local coral reefs from a glass-bottomed boat, and possibly even witness nesting sea turtles. Don’t miss this incredible journey to a true tropical paradise. Limited to 15. $2520 for members, $2800 for non-members, $390 single room supplement.

To register for national and international trips or for more information call 212-691-7483.

Photo © David Speiser

April 17 - 24, 2010

Guides: Carol Borneman, Don Riepe
Visit Merritt Island Refuge, Viera Wetlands, Orlando Wetlands, Fort DeSoto Beach and several other great places during peak spring migration. See Endangered Florida scrub jay , Endangered whooping crane, sandhill crane, crested caracara, roseate spoonbill, bald eagle, purple gallinule, swallowtail kite plus alligators, manatees, butterflies and lots more wildlife. Cost: $1,795 includes , airfare, lodging ( double occupancy), breakfast & lunches, guides, park fees, van rental, gas & tolls.

For more information & reservations Call (718) 318-9344; e-mail: driepe@nyc.rr.com

Eastern Screech Owl Photo © David Speiser

Friday, May 14 – Sunday, May 16

Guide: Joe Giunta, Happy Warblers LLC
Observe the multitude of breeding and migrating birds in the Mid-Atlantic region on this weekend trip to Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. Includes van transportation and double-occupancy lodging. Limited to 10. $565.

Atlantic Puffin © Steve Nanz

Rocky Coasts, Puffins and Lobster Boats: Birding on the Coast of Maine

Saturday, May 29 – Saturday, June 5, 2010

Guide: Gabriel Willow
Join Maine native Gabriel Willow in exploring the "Country of the Pointed Firs," home to Atlantic puffins, moose, shorebirds, dozens of warblers, and other migratory songbirds. Stay in Camden and explore the nearby hills, meadows, and marshes in search of elusive northern birds. Spend three days and two nights on remote Monhegan Island, a birder's paradise and famous “migrant trap,” where seeing 25 to 30 warbler species in one day is not uncommon. Wrap up with a boat trip with Audubon biologists to islands where puffins, terns, and other seabirds nest. Includes double-occupancy lodging, some meals, and van transportation in Maine (airfare not included). Limited to 12. $1,500 ($350 single room supplement)

For registration and more information please call 212-691-7483

Bald Eagle © Steve Nanz

Saturday, February 13, noon — 7pm RESCHEDULED

Guide: Joe Giunta, Happy Warblers LLC
You don’t have to travel to Alaska to see our country’s emblem, the American bald eagle. As a result of one of the most successful reintroduction programs on record, many eagles now soar over the beautiful Hudson Valley. Travel with us to view this spectacular raptor, as well as possibly spot the shy and secretive short-eared owl. Part of the Hudson River EagleFest at Croton Point. Bring lunch, water, and binoculars. Limited to 35.
Note: This trip was rescheduled from February 6 because of inclement weather

Members: $54, Non-Members: $60

Short-eared Owl © David Speiser

Saturday, February 20, 2pm – 8pm
Rain date: Sunday, February 21, 2pm – 8pm

Instructor: David Speiser
Meet at the parking lot of Pole Farm by the model airplane runway. Pole Farm (located near Princeton, NJ) is a great place to photograph birds-in-flight. We will be arriving in the afternoon, when northern harriers will provide ample photo opportunities and short-eared owls may make an appearance. Instruction will focus on proper field techniques for photographing birds-in-flight, with or without a tripod, as well as composition and exposure. Bring lunch and water. Equipment requirements: DSLR with 300+mm lens (400-600mm is optimal), and a tripod is helpful. Limited to 8.
(Non-member registration begins on December 4)

Members: $81, Non-Members: $90

American Wigeon © David Speiser

Sunday, February 14, 10am – 1pm

Guides: Don Riepe and Andrew Baksh
With Gateway NRA
Meet at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. Hike around West Pond to identify water fowl and other birds. Digital slide program before hike. Limited to 25.

Free!

Common Loon © David Speiser

Saturday, February 27, 11am – 1pm

Guide: Gabriel Willow
with NY Water Taxi
Meet at South Street Seaport’s Pier 17. Join us aboard NY Water Taxi's eco-friendly vessel for a winter adventure in New York Harbor! Look for harbor seals hauled out on the rocky shores of Governor's Island and the more remote Hoffman and Swinburne Islands. Learn about the surprisingly diverse winter birds of New York City, including ducks, geese, loons, and sandpipers, many of which migrate south from the Arctic. See the Statue of Liberty and pass under the Verrazano Bridge. Dress warmly and bring your binoculars. Limited to 60, buy tickets early to guarantee a space for this trip.

$35 for adults; $25 for children under 12 (no member discount)
To register, contact New York Water Taxi at 212-742-1969 or www.nywatertaxi.com.

Harlequin Duck © David Speiser

Tuesday, March 2, 9am – 3pm

Guide: Joe Giunta, Happy Warblers LLC
Explore Barnegat Inlet’s expansive beach to view the winter birds that gather where land, bay, and sea meet. We will search for harlequin ducks, horned larks, Lapland longspurs, snow buntings, winter finches, snowy owls and short-eared owls, in this introduction to birds of the New Jersey shore. Bring lunch, water, and binoculars. Limited to 12.
(Non-member registration begins on December 4)

Members: $68.50, Non-Members: $75

Bohemian Waxwing © David Speiser

Sunday, March 7, 10am – 5pm

Guide: Joe Giunta, Happy Warblers LLC
Take a trip to Sandy Hook, a barrier island at the northernmost point of the New Jersey coast. This spectacular peninsula hosts a variety of species, including birds wintering from the Arctic and harbor seals that haul out on the beach to warm up in the sun. Other possible sightings include loons, rarely seen ducks, and land birds hidden in the fields and woods of the area, such as snow bunting and horned lark. Bring lunch, water, and binoculars. Limited to 40.

Members: $58.50, Non-Members: $65
(Non-member registration begins on December 4)

Bright Wings © Columbia University Press

Wednesday, March 10, begins at 6:30pm

Readings by Billy Collins & David Allen Sibley and others
With Columbia University Press and the Poetry Society of America
American Museum of Natural History
79th Street at Central Park West
Join noted illustrator David Allen Sibley and former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins for an evening of avian-themed poems from their new book, Bright Wings: An Illustrated Anthology of Poems About Birds (review forthcoming in March-April Urban Audubon). A selection of poets published in the book will be on hand to read their work. To register, call the Museum at 212-769-5200 and mention your NYC Audubon membership to receive the discounted ticket price below.

Members: $13.50, Non-members: $15

Detail: Carolina Parrot, Havell plate no. 26, Image courtesy N-Y Historical Society

Friday, March 12, 6-8pm

New-York Historical Society
170 Central Park West (btw 76th & 77th Streets)
Join NYC Audubon for a special evening of art and fellowship at the New York Historical Society. The next big Audubon exhibit is not until 2013, but there is still plenty to see! Enjoy refreshments and a guided curatorial tour of Audubon works visible in storage at the Museum’s Luce Center. Space is limited; registration required.

Free for NYC Audubon Members at Senior/Student level and above (arrive after 6pm for free museum admission)

© David Speiser

Mondays, March 15 & 22, 6:30 – 8:30pm (classes) and Saturdays, March 20 & 27 (trips)

Guide: Starr Saphir
Learn how to view and identify the birds that migrate through NYC from Central and South America to their nesting grounds. Take two classes, and then two trips - one to Central Park to see vireos, warblers, and tanagers, and one to Jamaica Bay to see herons, egrets, and shorebirds. Limited to 13.

$85

Gadwalls © David Speiser

Saturday, March 27, 10am – 1pm

Guides: Don Riepe and Andrew Baksh
With Gateway NRA
Meet at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. Hike around East and West Ponds and Gardens. Look for migrating song birds. Digital slide program before hike. To register, contact Don Riepe at 718-318-9344 or via email at driepe@nyc.rr.com. Limited to 25.

Free

Clapper Rail Photo © David Speiser

Saturday, April 10, 9:30-1pm

Guide: Gabriel Willow
With the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation and the Greenbelt Conservancy
Meet at the Manhattan terminal of the Staten Island Ferry and begin your tour on the water. Explore the Staten Island Greenbelt, a nearly 3,000-acre preserve and a flagship park of New York City, replete with wetlands, woodlands, meadows, old-growth forest, and 35 miles of hiking trails. Includes refreshments and transportation on Staten Island. Limited to 20.

Members: $22.50, Non-members: $25 (non-member registration available on Wednesday, January 13)

White-Throated Sparrow Photo © David Speiser

Thursdays, April 15 – May 20, 5-6pm

Guide: Gabriel Willow
With Bryant Park Corporation
Meet at the Birding Tour sign at 42nd Street and 6th Ave entrance to the park. Discover the varieties of birds that call Bryant Park home with guided tours. This is a drop in program, no registration necessary. No limit.

Free

American Kestrel © Steve Nanz

Wednesday, April 14, 6pm

Lecture by Keith Bildstein, Sarkis Acopian Director of Conservation Science, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary
The Arsenal, Central Park
64th Street at 5th Avenue
As the most common raptor in New York City (and the emblem of NYC Audubon), American kestrels are thriving in the five boroughs. But they are facing serious population threats elsewhere in the U.S. Learn about Hawk Mountain Sanctuary’s efforts to protect North America’s smallest falcon in the face of recent declines.

Free

Peregrine Falcon © David Speiser

Saturday, April 17, 10am-1pm

Guide: Gabriel Willow
Meet on the east side of City Hall Park near the Brooklyn Bridge on-ramp. The peregrine falcon is a bird of myth and legend. This charismatic animal is the fastest flyer in the world. Incredibly, New York City now boasts the world’s highest population densities of this formerly endangered species; roughly 15 pairs nest on buildings and bridges around the city. We will learn more about this species as we visit some of their favorite haunts, and may even glimpse them on the nest. Limited to 15. .

Members: $18, Non-members: $20 (non-member registration available on Wednesday, January 13)

© Steve Nanz

Saturday, April 17, 10am-1pm

Instructor: Steve Nanz
Meet at Grand Army Plaza at the corner of the park nearest the Brooklyn Library. Prospect Park is one of the most important places for migratory birds in New York City. The park’s varied landscapes provide habitat for multiple species. Shoot spring songbirds and learn insect macro photography, using conservation friendly field photography techniques. Bring your digital camera and long and short lens if you have one. Limited to 8.

$50

© Steve Nanz

Tuesday, April 20, 8-9:30am

Guide: David Speiser
Meet at the Central Park Boathouse. Join your fellow members in a leisurely search for early spring migrants. No limit.

Free for NYC Audubon members at the Student/Senior level and up

Worm-Eating Warbler Photo © David Speiser

Wednesdays: April 21 & 28, May 5 &12, 7:30am – 10am

Guide: Joe Giunta, Happy Warblers LLC
Meet at 72nd Street and Central Park West. This four-week series of walks will observe the waves of birds through Central Park during spring migration. Bring binoculars. Limited to 15.

Members: $54, Non-members: $60 (non-member registration available on Wednesday, January 13)

Golden-Winged Warbler © David Speiser

Thursday, April 22 6:30-8:30pm (class)
Sunday, April 25 8am-12pm (field trip)

Guide: Joe Giunta, Happy Warblers LLC
Do you ever wonder who is singing? Learn to identify the large variety of migrant and resident birds in New York City. Limited to 15.

Members: $40.50, Non-members: $45 (non-member registration available on Wednesday, January 13)

American Redstart Photo © David Speiser

Thursday, April 22, 8 – 9:30am, 72nd Street & Central Park West
Thursday, April 29, 8 – 9:30am, 103rd Street & Central Park West
Saturday, April 24, 8am – noon, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
Saturday, May 1, 8am – noon, Prospect Park Audubon Center (With Prospect Park Audubon Center)

Guide: Gabriel Willow
Welcome spring migration with this series of trips to NYC's best birding hot spots: Central Park, Prospect Park, and Jamaica Bay NWR. All are recognized by National Audubon as Important Bird Areas (or IBAs), and all are beautiful, accessible by public transportation, and full of birds. The varied habitats of these destinations will provide opportunities to see a great variety of songbirds, shorebirds, raptors, and waterfowl. Come see the best nature the city has to offer! Limited to 20.

Members: $67.50, Non-members: $75 (non-member registration available on Wednesday, January 13)

Red Eyed Vireo Photo © David Speiser

Tuesdays, April 27 - May 18, 5:30pm - 7pm

Guide: Gabriel Willow
Meet at 72nd Street and Central Park West. Witness the spectacle of spring migration as songbirds follow the Atlantic flyway to their northern nesting grounds. Look for orioles, tanagers, warblers, grosbeaks, vireos and other tropical migrants in the wilds of Central Park, and learn about the finer points of their identification and ecology. Bring binoculars. Limited to 15.

Members: $54, Non-members: $60 (non-member registration available on Wednesday, January 13)

Hooded Warbler Photo © David Speiser

Sunday, May 2, 9:30am - 5:30pm

Guides: Don Riepe and Andrew Baksh
Enjoy a leisurely three-mile hike through the woods and around the lake during peak spring bird migration time. Look for rare warblers (including golden-winged, cerulean, hooded, prairie, and blue-winged) as well as spring wildflowers and salamanders. Visit the rustic visitor center overlooking the lake. Bring lunch, water, and binoculars. Limited to 40.

Members: $36, Non-members: $40 (non-member registration available on Wednesday, January 13)

© David Speiser

Thursday, May 6, 6:30-8:30pm (class); Sunday, May 9, 8-11am (trip)

Instructor: Joe Giunta, Happy Warblers LLC
Learn to identify the 30-plus species of warblers that migrate through our area each spring, using field marks and other techniques. Limited to 15.

$45

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird © David Speiser

Saturday, May 8, 7:30-10:30am

Instructor: David Speiser
Meet at the Belvedere Castle in Central Park (near 79th Street). Learn how to photograph fast-moving birds in one of the country’s migration hot spots. Exposure, composition, and camera techniques will be explored. Limited to 8.

$70

© Steve Nanz

Wednesday, May 12

By Michael McCarthy
The Arsenal, Central Park
64th Street at 5th Avenue
For millennia, migrant birds such as the nightingale, the turtledove, the swallow and the cuckoo have annually flown out of Africa to bring the spring to Europe, and in so doing, become a key part of Western culture. Now many of these birds are crashing in numbers, in what threatens to be not just a wildlife tragedy, but a cultural one.

Free

Red Knot © David Speiser

Saturday, May 15, 9am-12pm
Sunday, May 30, 9am- 12pm

Guides: Don Riepe and Andrew Baksh
With Gateway National Recreation Area
Meet at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. Hike around the West Pond and the shoreline of the bay. View shorebirds, spring migrants, and the horseshoe crab mating ritual during peak spring shorebird migration time. This will be an easy two-mile hike. To register, contact Don Riepe at 718-318-9344 or via email at driepe@nyc.rr.com. Limited to 25.

Free

Osprey © David Speiser

Saltmarsh Sparrows, Waders and More at Oceanside Marine Nature Study Area
Saturday, May 22, 8am-12pm

Instructor: David Speiser
Meet in the parking lot of the Oceanside Marine Nature Study Area. Focus on breeding species such saltmarsh sparrow, osprey, yellow-crowned night heron, and other waders and shorebirds. Limited to 6.

Members: $81, Non-members: $90 (non-member registration available on Wednesday, January 13)

© Don Riepe

Saturday, May 29, 10am - 1pm

Guides: Don Riepe and Andrew Baksh
With Gateway National Recreation Area
Meet at the Plum Beach Parking Lot. Hike along the beach to observe mating horseshoe crabs and feeding shorebirds. Limited to 25. To register, contact Don Riepe at 718-318-9344 or via email at driepe@nyc.rr.com.

Free

© David Speiser

Saturday, May 29, 2 - 5pm

Guides: Don Riepe and Mickey Cohen
With American Littoral Society and Gateway National Recreation Area
This is an informative cruise around Jamaica Bay to learn about wildlife and ecology of this important conservation area. To register, contact Don Riepe at 718-318-9344 or driepe@nyc.rr.com. Limited to 140.

$45

© Steve Nanz

Saturday, June 12 – Sunday, June 13

Guide: Joe Giunta, Happy Warblers LLC
Look for breeding eastern meadowlarks, American bitterns, cerulean warblers, and more at these three great birding areas. An overnight stay will facilitate being in the right spot at the right time. Limited to 10.

$290

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday in Central Park
Saturday, April 3 – Wednesday, June 2

Join Starr Saphir for bird watching in Central Park. On Mondays and Wednesdays, meet at 7:30am sharp at 81st and Central Park West (SE corner). On Tuesdays, meet at 9am sharp at 103rd and Central Park West (parkside). On Saturdays, meet at 7:30am sharp at 103rd and Central Park West (parkside). All Starr Trips are non-smoking. No registration necessary! For more information, call Starr at 917-306-3808. $8 ($4 for full time students)

For further information contact Starr at (917) 306-3808.

Detail: Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus), Havell plate no. 78, 182 Image courtesy N-Y Historical Society

December 14, 2009 - March 30, 2010

Unsung Songsters: Original John James Audubon Watercolors in the Luce Center

A selection of original watercolors are available to be viewed at the Henry Luce III Center for the Study of American Culture, an innovative, visible storage installation. Unsung Songsters features nine watercolors of songbirds.

Hours & Admission

Adult: $12, Senior/Student: $9
Tuesday - Thursday, 10am - 6pm
Friday, 10am - 8pm (Pay what you wish between 6-8pm)
Saturday 10am - 6pm
Sunday 11am - 5:45pm
Monday CLOSED
For more information and Holiday closings visit The N-Y Historical Society's website The N-Y Historical Soceity is located at 170 Central Park West between 76th & 77th Street