Governors Island
NYC Audubon Naturalist Gabriel Willow leads a bird outing from the steps of our Nolan Park house on Governors Island. Photo: NYC Audubon
NYC Audubon has a seasonal island home, just a few minutes by ferry from lower Manhattan! Governors Island, a 172-acre island in New York Harbor, is now open to the public year round. Excellent habitat and a diverse variety of birdlife make it a birding hotspot, with over 220 species listed on eBird.
Visit Us on Governors Island
Spring through fall, NYC Audubon will occupy one of Governors Island’s historic houses, Nolan Park House #17. Visitors can talk birds with us out on the porch of the house, make bird art, check out our exhibitions, and come bird with us.
NYC Audubon's house will be open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from May 5 to October 29, 11am-5pm. Events include:
NYC Audubon's house will be open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from May 5 to October 29, 11am-5pm. Events include:
- “Murmurations,” May 5 - June 25: The introductory exhibition of the 2023 cohort of NYC Audubon’s Artist in Residence (AiR) program, featuring the work of Dennis RedMoon Darkeem, Dario Mohr, and Carolyn Monastra. “Murmurations” refers to the term used to describe huge groups of European Starlings that twist, turn, swoop, and swirl across the sky in beautiful shape-shifting clouds. Scientists believe that murmurations offer safety in numbers; protection from predators attracted by the sheer number of birds joining together.
- Free Saturday Afternoon Guided Bird Outings, every Saturday, 2pm-3:30pm: Whether you’re an expert birder or a beginner, these tours will help you discover all of the birdlife the island has to offer. Binoculars are available to borrow.
- Bird Friendly Glass Workshops, every third Saturday of the month at 3:30pm-4:30pm: Did you know you can protect NYC birds with just paint and a paintbrush? Join NYC Audubon staff for a family-friendly, bird-friendly glass design workshop! Learn about what makes glass so difficult for birds to see and get creative by designing your own bird-friendly window to take home or display in NYC Audubon’s gallery!
- Solo Show by Gal Nissim and Leslie Ruckman, July 1 - July 30: Gal Nissim and Leslie Ruckman’s work invites participants to explore the dynamic relationships between nature, culture, and man-made environments, seeking to shift New Yorker’s perspectives—imagining the urban landscape as a habitat shared with wild creatures.
- NYC Audubon Artist in Residence Showcase Exhibitions, August 4 - October 29: NYC Audubon Artist in Residence (AiR) program is offering three local artists an opportunity to investigate birds and wildlife conservation in the context of urban natural space and public engagement. The 2023 AiR cohort, made up of Dennis RedMoon Darkeem, Dario Mohr, and Carolyn Monstra, will exhibit works developed during the residency period throughout August to the end of October.
- NYC Audubon Artist in Residence (AiR) Workshops, dates TBD: NYC Audubon 2023 Artists in Residence, Dennis RedMoon Darkeem, Dario Mohr, and Carolyn Monstra, will lead all-ages workshops at the intersection of art and wildlife conservation.
Visiting the Island on your own? Learn about the birds and birding spots of Governors Island in our helpful online guide.
Visitors to Governors Island from lower Manhattan or Brooklyn must reserve their ferry tickets in advance. View Governors Island ferry information and make a reservation. NYC Ferry also offers service to Governors Island.
Note on Accessibility:
The ferry from the Governors Island Ferry Terminal in lower Manhattan to Governors Island is wheelchair-accessible, as are most paths on the Island. However, the path directly to NYC Audubon's seasonal environmental center is a brick path with a very uneven surface. Nolan Park House #17 is itself unfortunately not wheelchair-accessible; several steps lead to the first floor gallery space. View more detailed accessibility information for Governors Island.
Note on Accessibility:
The ferry from the Governors Island Ferry Terminal in lower Manhattan to Governors Island is wheelchair-accessible, as are most paths on the Island. However, the path directly to NYC Audubon's seasonal environmental center is a brick path with a very uneven surface. Nolan Park House #17 is itself unfortunately not wheelchair-accessible; several steps lead to the first floor gallery space. View more detailed accessibility information for Governors Island.
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An image of two windows of NYC Audubon's seasonal environmental center on Governors Island treated by window film.
Bird-Friendly Glass on Governors Island
As part of our residence on Governors Island, we’ve made our seasonal home in Nolan Park a model for bird-friendly building design. We’ve created a crucial, real-world display of bird-friendly retrofit options using temporary, external window films, tapes, paints, and more.
An image of a past NYC Audubon Artist in Residence work station on Governors Island.
Artist in Residence Program
NYC Audubon Artist in Residence (AiR) program is a six-month residency program on Governors Island providing commissioning support, studio space, exhibition and related opportunities designed to support the creative process of New York City-based, wildlife conservation-focused artists.
