UPCOMING OCAS FIELD TRIPS

March Madness at the Bashakill

Saturday, March 21 from 8 am to 9:30 am

1131 S Road, Wurtsboro, NY

Enjoy a nature walk at the Bashakill with Dr. Walter Jahn. We will leave from the main boat launch and hope to see nesting Bald Eagles and migrating waterfowl. If any one is interested in being a Nature Watch volunteer on the weekends, you are welcome to attend the training at the Mamakating Environmental Education Center at 10 am the same day.

 

Woodcock Dances at Highland Lakes State Park

Saturday, March 21 at 7 pm

55-223 Tamms Road, Middletown, NY

Join us on our annual field trip to view the evening courtship display of the American Woodcock. A short walk leads to a usually reliable viewing site. Return walk will be quite dark, so a flashlight or headlamp is suggested. Registration is mandatory: email frogilama@gmail.com with your name, phone number, and number of participants.

 

Bird Board Game Night

Wednesday, March 25 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

13 Fence Road, Warwick, NY

Birds can be entertaining in the wild or in a game! Come to Orange County Audubon Society’s first board game meetup, hosted by Fence Road Farm Brewery. We will play strategy games, crow-themed card games, and classic bird bingo. Open and free to all.

The Art of Birding With Storm King Art Center

Saturday, April 25 from 9:30 am to 12 pm

1 Museum Road, New Windsor, NY

Come out on Earth Day weekend for a bird- and art-filled excursion led by Orange County Audubon Society board members Roberta Schiffer Rahmer and Diane Tuttle. The tour will traverse the meadows, ponds, and woods at Storm King Art Center to appreciate the variety of avian species and ecosystems that are an essential part of the sculpture installations.

Following the bird walk, artist Jenny Hersch will lead a hands-on creative workshop drawing on observations from the walk. Storm King offers an accessible cart service, ASL interpretation, and assisted listening devices. Email info@stormkingartcenter.org if you need specific accommodations.

This is a ticketed event hosted by Storm King. The ticket includes admission to the grounds for the day, plus the tour and workshop. Tickets will go on sale starting March 15 at 10 am. OCAS members can use the code OCAS2026 (all caps) for a $10 discount. Spots are limited, so sign up here: https://stormking.org/events/the-art-of-birding/.

Image of a Great Blue Heron standing in shallow water

OCAS FIELD TRIP INFO

Field Trip Tips

Everyone is welcome on our field trips. You do not have to be an expert, although it will enhance your experience and everyone else’s to act like one. Follow these tips for all attending to have the best experience:

Do arrive on time so the group can depart together.
Do bring binoculars and field guides, if you have them.
Do wear appropriate shoes and clothes for the weather & terrain.
Do leave your dogs at home.
Do walk with the group and let the trip leader lead.
Do stay on walking paths for minimal habitat disturbance.
Do keep your talking to a minimum and use a quiet voice.
Do mute your cell phone before we start out.
Do share your sightings and your questions with the trip leader and others in the group!

OCAS holds field trips at least once a month in Orange County, New York for group birding experiences. All events are free unless noted.

Check back here or on our Facebook page before the event in case of weather-related changes and other announcements.

Please email us through our Contact page or to info@orangecountynyaudubon.org if you’d like to arrange an OCAS-led field trip or volunteer to host a pop-up yourself.

UPCOMING MEARNS BIRD CLUB FIELD TRIPS:

Fellow birding organization Edgar A. Mearns Bird Club (EAMBC) also regularly hosts field trips across Orange County. PLEASE NOTE: Check the EAMBC website for any updates or cancellations before you join an EAMBC field trip. While most trips are open to non-members, the overnight field trips are for EAMBC members only.

RECENT OCAS FIELD TRIPS

Signs of Spring at the Bashakill

Sunday, March 8 from 10 am to 11:30 am

1131 S Road, Wurtsboro, NY, United States

Explore the Bashakill National Wildlife Refuge with Dr. Walter Jahn. We will meet at the refuge boat launch to look for nesting bald eagles and migrating geese and ducks, weather-permitting. Please check the Orange County Audubon Society website and Facebook page in case of a weather delay or cancellation.

Afterward at 2:30 pm, Dr. Jahn will make a presentation on bald eagles at the Mamakating Environmental Education Center. All are welcome to attend in person at 762 S Road, Wurtsboro, NY 12790 or virtually at this Zoom link: https://sunyorange.zoom.us/j/99434283633 

Owl watch at Shawangunk Grasslands

Monday, January 12 at 3:30 pm

We will scan the Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge from the observation platform along the main parking area for a diversity of grassland birds during the day and short-eared owls at dusk. (The trails around the wildlife refuge are closed in winter.) Please come dressed for cold weather and check the OCAS website or Facebook page before coming in case winter conditions force us to reschedule.

 

Birding at Liberty Loop

Monday, January 19 at 3:30 pm

Our group will walk around the marsh at the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge, hoping to spot Northern harriers, rough-legged hawks, white-crowned sparrows, and other winter birds. From the parking area at sunset we also hope to glimpse some short-eared owls. Please come dressed for cold weather and check the OCAS website or Facebook page before coming in case winter conditions force us to reschedule. If the parking area is full, you may be able to park at the Winding Waters trailhead a half-mile up the road or Owens Station Crossing (136 Owens Station Road), which provides access to the back portion of the Liberty Loop trail. Please email info@orangecountynyaudubon.org with any questions or requests regarding this field trip.

 

126th Christmas Bird Count

Sunday, December 21st starting at 6am

Since 1900 the Audubon Society has annually conducted its Christmas Bird Count. This year will be the 126th and we hope that you will be involved.
We have officially chosen the date of Sunday, December 21st to conduct our count. Our geographical region is Southern Orange County, which is then divided into smaller circles that we will be assigning to groups to do their count.
You can sign up by yourself or as a group. It is a lot of fun and a great way to get out of the house this winter, while at the same time providing invaluable research data that can help us keep track of population trends.
For additional information and/or to register, email us at:
info@orangecountynyaudubon.org
You may also click here to submit the participant survey.

 

Pop-Up Field Trip to Knapp’s View
Friday, June 9th at 4pm

Join OCAS Board Member Diane Tuttle for a field trip to Knapp’s View in Chester, NY. We hope to see the bobolinks!
Click here for map of Knapp’s View
Email info@orangecountynyaudubon.org to register

 

 

Spring Bird Walk with AOOA Farm
Saturday, May 27th at 10:30am
In person event cohosted by All for One, One for All Farm

Orange County Audubon Society is happy to announce a collaboration with All for One, One for All. Join OCAS board member Dr. Walter Jahn as he leads a spring bird walk at the AOOA Farm in Goshen NY.

 

 

Image of a Great Blue Heron standing in shallow water