Monday, April 2, 2012

Young Birders Club to Visit Braddock Bay


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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