The New York State Young Birders Club (NYSYBC) is
conducting a field trip to Braddock Bay on April 22 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. We plan to visit both Braddock Bay Raptor Research
(BBRR) and the Kaiser-Manitou Beach (songbird) banding stations, as well as
walk through the nearby Owl Woods in hopes of finding Northern Saw-whet and
Long-eared Owls. We will visit the Hawk Watch platform and share the excitement
of the spectacular hawk migration along with hawk counter, Luke Tiller, and
other observers.
The annual BBRR Birds of Prey Festival is this same
weekend (Friday-Sunday), and the NYSYBC group will be able to take in some of
the festival exhibits/events. The group also will have an opportunity to visit
other nearby areas, like Island Cottage Woods, known for the occasional coveted
“fallout,” which can produce an astounding variety of color and bird song.
Braddock Bay is a migration hot spot located on Lake
Ontario just west of Rochester. Millions of birds migrate through the area
every spring as they head north to their breeding grounds. Spectacular raptor
migrations occur each spring when the hawk counts conducted at Braddock Bay
number in the thousands. Last year over 100,000 raptors were tallied from March
through May. This area is also a focal point of songbird activity, especially
during migration when it is possible to see over 130 species of songbirds.
The field trip will start at 6 a.m. at the lot next to the lodge at Braddock Bay (near the
Hawk Watch) and head over to see birds banded as they come off the mist nets.
We will either grab something light to eat at the festival or stop at a nearby
diner for a hot lunch. The trip will officially end at 2 p.m., but I plan on birding until dusk
with anyone who wishes to continue.
Young birders, age
10–19, are invited to attend with their parents. Anyone under age 12 must
be transported and accompanied throughout the trip by a parent. Registration is
required, and the registration deadline is April 6. Please contact me at
L_Bergmey@frontiernet.net if you have questions and/or wish to sign up. Or
visit the NYSYBC website at
www.nysyoungbirders.org for further details regarding the Young Birders Club,
this field trip, and others field trips for young birders.
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