May 2025 Bird Walks in & around the Hudson Valley
Join bird walks near you! Columbia, Dutchess, Ulster and Greene County NY & Berkshire MA.
Columbia County - Alan Devoe Bird Club
For more details & to register, please visit:
https://www.alandevoebirdclub.org/AboutCalendar.htm
SAT, MAY 10
CENTURY RUN (full day)
Coordinator: Marcia Anderson, 518-758-6433 and Susan Senecah 518-210-3027
Join Alan Devoe Bird Club members and friends as we try to see and hear over 100 species in one day. Potluck lunch and tally at Susan Senecah’s (435 Bushnell Road, Chatham) the following day (Sunday May 11th) at 4:00 pm. This is our Club’s main fund-raising event of the year. Please consider participating and/or sponsoring a birder.
SAT, MAY 17
OLANA
Coordinator: Eric Losh & Meghan Ryan 304-676-6529
Meet 8:00 am at the lower parking lot (by the large barn and pond) at Olana State Historic Site, Route 9G. Join us for this very popular (birders & birds) walk through Olana’s artist-designed landscape while keeping eyes and ears open for spring migrants and breeding residents.
SAT, MAY 24
HAND HOLLOW CONSERVATION AREA
Coordinator: Joan Scheu 845-702-7564
Meet 8:00 am at the parking lot off Route 82 (Lake Taghkanic Rd). Right turn 2.8 miles east of the intersection of Taconic Parkway and Route 82. This CLC property has a great mix of habitat and supports a strong resident population as well as migrant stopover.
Dutchess County - Waterman Bird Club
For more details & to register, please visit:
https://watermanbirdclub.org/about-us/field-trips-2/
Sunday, May 4, Fahnestock State Park, Carmel, NY
Leader: Russ O’Malley (845-464-1147). Please call if you plan to attend.
Wednesday, May 7, Ferncliff Forest, Rhinebeck
Leaders: Ken & Carol Fredericks (845-452- 7619). Meet there (Mt. Rutsen Rd., Rhinebeck) at 8:00am.
Saturday, May 10, Bashakill WMA
Leader: Ken & Carol Fredericks (845-452-7619). Call for time and meeting place.
Wednesday, May 14, Peach Hill Park, Poughkeepsie
Leader: Jim Closs (845-663-8264). Meet at the parking lot, Edgewood Rd., off Salt Pt. Turnpike, (look for signs, directions on website) at 8:00am. Hot Dog Roast to follow. Bring your own hot dogs.
Wednesday, May 21, Nuclear Lake
Leader: Barbara Butler (914-474-5981). Meet at the intersection of Rt.55 and Old Rt.55 in Poughquag at 8:00am.
Saturday, May 24, Doodletown
Leader: Ernie Welch (email razor06bill@gmail.com). Email Ernie Welch for time and meeting place.
Wednesday, May 28, Tamarack Preserve
Leader: Barbara Michelin (845-242-2301). Meet at club house parking lot on Turkey Hollow Rd. (turn off Rt. 44 – #4754 Rt.44, Millbrook, before Amenia) at 8:00am. Plan to carry lunch.
Ulster County - John Burroughs Natural History Society
For more details & to register, please visit: https://jbnhs.org/events/list/
Thu, May 1
NATURE WALK KINGSTON GREENLINE
8:30 am - 10:00 am. Join in on a new series of local walks planned to start the day right with fresh air, shining sun, and birds singing. These will be short, easy strolls designed to have you home earlier to be a “productive” part of society (domestic chores) yet allowing an hour and a half of escapism and camaraderie from said society. This particular walk will explore the western end of the Midtown Linear Park along Kingston’s GreenLine. Please register with Charlotte Adamis (charlotteadamis@gmail.com) to find out meet-up location and other details.
Sat, May 3
JBNHS ULSTER COUNTY BIG SIT
JBNHS’ 10th annual Big Sit is also our BIG fundraiser for the year (that’s why we do ours in May) but serves too as a friendly competition between the established sits. Do you have a birdy back deck or favorite patch and a cause worth birding for? Why not join the challenge and see how many species you can identify from a 17’ diameter circle and get friends and family to pledge to your effort. In the past money has been raised to help worthy endeavors like numerous enhancements at SGNWR, support the wonderful New York State Young Birders Club, help the important NYS Breeding Bird Atlas, installation of Where to Bird in Ulster County panels now located at four locations about the county, create Naturalist’s Backpacks for area libraries to lend out, and aid Annie Mardiney’s important educational and rehabilitation work at Wild Mountain Birds.
For more details, to join and/or donate visit: https://jbnhs.org/event/jbnhs-ulster-county-big-sit/
Sun, May 4
SPRING MIGRATION AND WILDFLOWERS IN SAUGERTIES
7:30 am - 12:00 pm. The Esopus Creek Conservancy and John Burroughs Natural History Society are co-sponsoring a guided nature walk in woodlands and wetlands in the Town of Saugerties on Sunday, May 4, 2025. Late April/early May is an exciting time for neotropical migration at this latitude, and early morning is the best time to see and hear recently arrived songbirds in their brilliant spring plumage. For more details visit https://jbnhs.org/event/spring-migration-and-wildflowers-in-saugerties-5/ Please contact the field trip leader, Steve Chorvas (schorvas@gmail.com) to register and for additional information or directions. 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.
Mon, May 5
SPRING MIGRATION AT HIGH BANKS
6:00 am - 11:00 pm. An early morning visit during spring migration to this Scenic Hudson property in the Town of Esopus should provide a generous selection of neotropical migrants. Please register with trip leader Jessica Cukrovany (procolinos@gmail.com) . There is an initial climb of 200 feet on the trail but walking is easy after that and a panoramic view of the mid-Hudson Valley can be enjoyed while scanning the treetops for colorful songsters.
Wed, May 7
SPRING MIGRATION AT NYQUIST/HARCOURT SANCTUARY
7:00 am - 12:00 pm. This Wallkill Valley Land Trust holding is a fine spot to take a morning walk in May with a floodplain forest and oxbow habitat (along with river frontage) all encapsulated in the nearly sixty acre property. Muck boots are a good idea this time of year anticipating soggy trails conditions. We will meet at the New Paltz Municipal Parking Lot on Hugenot Street. Please register with Mark DeDea (forsythnature@aol.com ) to join this short morning walk.
Thu, May 8
PEACH HILL SPRING MIGRATION
This 159 acre park is a former apple orchard and is the highest point in Poughkeepsie. All attributes making it a great location to receive spring migrants and if conditions and timing are right, a very good fall out spot for new arrivals in the morning. Please register with Tracy Little (mycoleydog@netscape.net ) to plan your morning. Meet at Peach Hill Park (32 Edgewood Drive Poughkeepsie NY12603) at 7:00 AM or at the Kingston Thruway traffic circle park and ride to car pool at 6:15 AM
Thu, May 8
NATURE WALK KINGSTON GREENLINE
8:00 am - 5:00 pm. Join in on a new series of local walks planned to start the day right with fresh air, shining sun, and birds singing. These will be short, easy strolls designed to have you home earlier to be a “productive” part of society (domestic chores) yet allowing an hour and a half of escapism and camaraderie from said society. This particular walk will explore the eastern end of the Midtown Linear Park along Kingston’s GreenLine. Please register with Charlotte Adamis (charlotteadamis@gmail.com ) to find out meet up location and other details.
Sat, May 10
ULSTER COUNTY SPRING CENSUS: BIG DAY COUNT
This is the day we all look forward to….. the holiest day of the year! Spend the whole day in the field or just a few hours….who knows what may be found. Refer to your copy of Where to Bird in Ulster County or visit www.jbnhs.org for good birding locations. Submit your report in checklist order to Steve Chorvas (schorvas@gmail.com ) or P.O. Box 214, Saugerties, NY 12477). This information is combined in a regional report published by the New York State Ornithological Association.
Sat, May 17
Pollinator Sanctuary Spring Clean-Up Party!
9:00 am - 1:00 pm. Pollinator Sanctuary across from JFK School (81 Gross St, Kingston) Enjoy community and conversation, learn with bird and bee folx, while helping us weed, spruce, and mulch the native perennial garden! Tools provided. You are welcome to bring your own tools and water bottle.
Ulster County, NY - Opus 40 x Molly Adams (The Feminist Bird Club)
Sunday, May 4
Mindful Birding with Molly Adams of the Feminist Bird Club
10:15 am - 12:15pm. Join this nature walk with Molly Adams to identify and learn about birds during peak spring migration time here in New York State! Some of the birds observed last year include: bald eagle, red-bellied woodpecker, American kestrel, black-capped chickadee, Carolina Wren, and American gold finch. After your walk you are free to spend the day relaxing on the grounds of Opus 40! Buy tickets here.
Greene County, NY - Larry Federman’s RamsHorn Birding
Every Friday at 7:30 am from April 18th through May 23rd 2025
Spring Bird Walks
RamsHorn-Livingston Audubon Sanctuary (Catskill)
The cost per walk is $10 per person which covers the refreshments at the end of each walk! Led by local birding expert Larry Federman, a former Audubon Society Education Coordinator and President of the local Audubon chapter, Northern Catskills Audubon. You can subscribe to his mailing list by contacting him at birderlarry@verizon.net to receive information on his upcoming bird walks and talks.
Berkshire County, MA - Hoffman Bird Club
For more details & to register, please visit: https://hoffmannbirdclub.org/events/
Sat, May 3
The Joy of Birding: An Outing for New Explorers, Adams
9 am. Meet at the entrance to the Greylock Glen Outdoor Center, 135 Gould Road, Adams, MA 01220. New to birding? Not sure where to start? This session will start with a discussion on basic tools, practices, and strategies for identifying birds and connecting with your local environment. We will then stake a short walk to put what you’ve learned into practice. This walk is meant for those new to birding who want to learn more about how to engage with the world of birds. Advance RSVP required, space is limited. RSVP here.
Sun, May 4
Cummington
7:30 am. Meet at The Creamery on Route 9 in Cummington. Search for American Bittern, waterthrushes, Virginia Rails, cuckoos & more! This trip involves driving to 4-6 birding spots, some easy to moderate walking on grassy paths or along roadsides. RSVP here.
Sun, May 4
Birds and Blooms, Bartholomew’s Cobble
8:00 am. Meet at Bartholomew’s Cobble, 105 Weatogue Road, Sheffield. Join naturalist Zach Adams for a guided walk along the Housatonic River, looking for spring ephemerals and migrating warblers. Bartholomew’s Cobble is famous for its spring wildflowers and, according to eBird, is the top birding location in the Berkshires. The Trustees offer this joint program in partnership with the Hoffmann Bird Club. RSVP here.
Wed, May 7
South Stream Road, Pownal, VT
6:45 am. Meet at the Williamstown Public Library, 1095 Main Street at the intersection of Routes 2 and 7. We will carpool or caravan to the site from the library. Scope out waterfowl and bullfrogs at South Stream Pond, and stroll wooded paths searching for warblers and flycatchers. This trip is a great warbler tune-up before the Century Run trip. The birding takes place along a possibly muddy and grassy road, that skirts the pond, surrounded by deciduous trees. The trip ends before lunch. RSVP here.
Fri, May 9 6:00 pm – May 10 6:00 pm
Century Run
Join a team and continue the tradition of a Big Day! The challenge of our Hoffmann Century Run is to try to see or hear 100 species of birds in Berkshire County in 24 hours! Location TBA, RSVP here.
Sun, May 11
New Ashford
7:00 am. Meet at JW Kelly’s Real Estate, Route 7, New Ashford. RSVP here.
Wed, May 14
Hand Hollow Conservation Area and Ooms Pond, East Chatham, NY
7:00 am. Morning walk in search of warblers and other migrants. The Hand Hollow portion is an easy 2-hour walk. RSVP here.
Sat, May 17
Steepletop, New Marlborough
8:00 am. Meet at the Steepletop, 648 North Road, New Marlborough. For directions and more trail information, follow this link. Steepletop is a Berkshire Natural Resource Council property in New Marlborough. The property consists of wood roads and trails through deciduous and mixed conifer forests. The terrain has easy, gentle grades with smooth footing.
Sun, May 18
Springside Park (Spring Walk)
7:00 am. Meet at 874 North Street at the park entrance. Visit the largest municipal park in Pittsfield to look for migrating songbirds and sparrows, or walk some of the many woodland trails on the 237 acres. RSVP here.
Sun, May 18
Bobolinks at Field Farm, Williamstown
7:00 am. Field Farm is a Trustees of Reservations property at 554 Sloan Road in Williamstown. Join leader Peter Rogers to view the breeding Bobolinks at the peak of their activity! This established seasonal community of birds has been monitored annually for over 15 years as part of a citizen science project. Easy walking on mowed paths around grassy fields and meadows. RSVP here.
Wed, May 21
Tyringham
7:00 am. Meet at Lee’s Big Y parking lot at 7 AM and plan to carpool. Search for spring migrating and resident warblers, flycatchers, swallows, and raptors at several sites in the beautiful Tyringham Valley. Fairly easy walking on roads and trails. The trip will be approximately 3 hours. RSVP here.
Wed, May 21
Berkshire Green Drinks: “Flock Together with Hoffmann Bird Club”
5:30 pm. Join us for the May 2025 Berkshire Green Drinks event with Audrey Werner and Steven Miller, two Hoffmann Bird Club executive committee members! Curious about local birds or looking to explore the rewarding hobby of birding? Join Hoffmann Bird Club executive committee members Audrey Werner and Steven Miller for a special presentation introducing you to one of the Berkshires’ most active and welcoming nature organizations. In-person or Zoom. For more details and to RSVP, visit here.
Sat, May 24
October Mountain
7:00 am. Meet at Washington Town Park on Route 8 in Washington. Join our annual trip to October Mountain State Forest. This trip involves driving to multiple birding spots with some walking along roadsides. A possible stop to a marsh involves walking on uneven, narrow, grassy paths that may be wet. RSVP here.
Berkshire County, MA - Berkshire Bird Observatory
Every Wednesday at 5:30 PM from April through May 2025
Spring Bird Walks
Berkshire Food Co-op
Ben Nickley of Berkshire Bird Observatory leads a weekly bird walk right in the town of Great Barrington, in collaboration with The Great Barrington Land Conservancy.
Learn to find, identify and more fully appreciate migratory and resident birds on these community birds walks. Bring binoculars if you have them--if not, we can share. Beginners are welcome!
Bird walks last about an hour. We cover ~1.5 miles of ground along the GB Riverfront Trail. The trail is flat, fine gravel, and handicap accessible.
Please register for this free program HERE.
Local birdy things wanted!
If you have any bird walks that is not listed here, or bird related event, bird-themed art shows etc in & around the Hudson Valley, I’d love to introduce them here on Beakuency Substack and/or radio show on WGXC. Please feel free to get in touch!