 |
| SEASONAL SPOTS FOR SPRING-TIME BIRDING |
| SPRING FEATURED SPOTS Mashomack Preserve, & the Marine Nature Study Area (click here) |
| Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Open all year, 7 days, sunrise to sunset. Visitor's Center: 8:30 to 5:00, call for info: 718-318-4340. A wide variety of habitats that allow for excellent viewing of wading birds, shorebirds, rails, warblers, flycatchers, vireos. Well maintained paths and viewing areas. And don't forget the feeders near the Visitor's Center. |
| Morton's Bird Sanctuary (click for more information) Located on Noyack Road, Sag Harbor Open daily, sunrise to sunset Nice habitat diversity and well maintained trails. The main trail leads thru wooded areas (Sparrows, Cardinals, Towhees, warblers) to the shoreline (Mergansers, Loons) , and the loop trail travels thru fields (nesting Tree Swallows, House Wrens) wooded areas, and past a small pond (occasional ducks and lots of turtles and dragonflys). Don't forget to bring seed with you! The birds will eat out of your hand! A good way to introduce children to wild birds. |
| Essays / Backyard / Tips & Quiz / Links / Sightings / Conservation / Bird ID / Featured Bird / My Photos / Seasonal Spots / Home |
| Go here for more Spring Birding Spots Recommended by John Turner, naturalist and author of "Exploring the Other Island" |
 |
| Connetquot River State Park Preserve... for information call (631) 581-1005 "Connetquot River State Park Preserve covers 3,400 acres of woodlands, and wetlands with the Connetquot River flowing through park. This park was once a hunting and fishing preserve for wealthy individuals. The park has fifty miles of trails and several ponds that make for great bird watching, Some of the birds that can be seen here are Common Bobwhites, Ruffed Grouse, Wild Turkey, Blue Jays, Great Crested Flycatcher, Woodcocks, Piloted Woodpeckers, Blue-Winged, Prairie, Chestnut-Sided, and Canada Warbler. Toward evening listen for Whip-poor-wills. The magnificent Wood Duck nest here. Hermit Thrushes, Veeries, White-eyed Vireos, and Ring-necked Pheasants add to the wonder of this location. Be sure to look the Ospreys that hunt over the river." (click here for more information, directions, hourse & fees) |
 |
 |
| Stony Brook Harbor - great place!!! The harbor has extensive mud flats, and when these flats are exposed the birds come out. Look for Snowy Egret, Great Egret, Yellow and Black-crowned Night Herons, Common Tern, Laughing Gulls, Least Tern, Belted Kingfisher, Killdeer, Least and Semi-palmated Sandpiper, Yellowlegs and spotted Sandpiper. (click here for directions) |
| Hunters' Garden in Eastport Hard place to find, but well worth the effort. Great place for warblers, tanagers, thrushes! Dirt road leading in, but recently kept in fairly good order (may not be good after rains). Fairly isolated, so as much as I hate to say it...women should probably not go alone. Directions: Sunrise Highway to Route 51 north toward Riverhead/Eastport. Go exactly 3.0 miles and look for dirt road leading into woods on west side of Route 51. (There is a median cross-over directly at that point. If you reach Suffolk Community College you have gone too far.) If you are going north on Route 51, the dirt road is directly past the sign that says "Town of Riverhead/ Eastport". |
| Central Park in Manhattan Although not on Long Island, a MUST for the spring for every birder. One of the best places for migrating warblers on the eastern seaboard. (click for information) |
| South Shore Nature Center, East Islip (click for more information) WHAT A GEM!! Located on the South Shore and run by the Town of Islip, this nature center has wonderful and varied habitats for birdwatching. Established in 1977, the trails are composed of a system of boardwalks that extend through wetlands consisting of both fresh water and salt water habitats, as well as an upland trail. The center is open weekdays from 9:00am to 5:00pm all year long, and 7 days a week from April until October. For more information call 631-224-5436 |
| Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge One of my favorite behavior watching spots, especially in spring! Migrants going through and nesters re-claiming territory. Bird watching during the spring migrations allows you to view a variety of birds including raptors, waterfowl and songbirds. Located off Montauk Highway in Shirley. |
 |
 |
| Birding the North Fork
(with Jody) Morre's Woods, Greenport Fort Corchaug, Cutchogue Cedar Beach, Southold Arshamomaque, Southold Hussing Pond, Mattituck Dam Pond, E. Marion North Fork Sod Farms (choose a location & click for information) |
| Essays/Backyard/Links/Sightings/Library/Conservation/Bird ID/Featured Bird/Photos/Seasonal Spots/Home |
| Stony Brook Harbor |
| South Shore Nature Center |
| OTHER GREAT PLACES (click on each for info) Sweetbriar Nature Center, Smithtown Hempstead Lake State Park, W.Hempstead Sunken Meadow State Park, Kings Park |
| Birding the South Fork
(with Eric Salzman) DUNE ROAD: SHINNECOCK TO MORICHES (click for information) Great time to visit Dune Road. The crowds don't start unti lthe end of May and until then you can still get by without a permit. (After June 1st. be sure to get a day pass.) Lots of shorebirds and wading birds, as well as hawks!. Drive slowly and visit all the pull-offs along the road, watch the canals, and visit the ocean side as well as the bay side. |
 |
| Wertheim Wildlife Refuge, Shirley |
| Massapequa Preserve (click for more information) Woodlands, ponds, lakes and frehswater wet-lands border Massapequa Creek. A large variety of woodland and water birds visit this lovely preserve with great pathways to explore. |
 |
| Massapequa Lake |