Upcoming Events
Christmas Bird Count - Putnam County
The Christmas Bird Count is an annual nationwide tradition that dates back to the early 1900s in which intrepid birders count every bird they see or hear over one day in an assigned geographic area. The Putnam County CBC will be held on Saturday, December 28th, 2024 beginning at 12am and ending 5pm (for those intrepid birders) with an in person compilation that evening. For more information, please email birds@putnamhighlandsaudubon.org
Lecture with Suzie Gilbert: “Birds I Have Known: Encounters with Temporary Guests”
Presented by the Putnam Highlands Audubon Society, Lecture by Suzie Gilbert.
FREE EVENT. REGISTRATION REQUIRED.
Click here to register.
In this thrilling presentation, Suzie Gilbert will describe memorable encounters she has had during her 30 years of wild bird rehabilitation.
November 'Third Saturday' Bird Walk Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center
Saturday, November 16, 2024
Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center
79 Farmstead Ln, Wappingers Falls
Meet in parking lot by the barns at south entrance.
7:00 - 9:00 a.m.
Please join us as we search for migratory sparrows, late migrants, and other unique species. Other specialty species such as American Kestrel, American Pipit, and Horned Larked are also a possibility. Farms are a great place to bird during migration months so maybe a surprise or two will make an appearance!
October 'Third Saturday' Bird Walk North Highland Park- Registration is Free
Saturday, October 19
Quarry Pond AKA North Highland Park at Glassbury Court
30 Revolution Rd, Nelsonville, NY 10516
Meet in parking spots next the pond. You will enter on Revolution Rd off of Route 9, and immediately turn right down the road towards the pond opposed to heading into the housing development.
8:15 - 10:15 a.m.
We are pleased to announce this free event in collaboration with the Philipstown Recreation Department.
The walking paths around Quarry Pond can be great for variety of different birds from sparrows in the tall grasses, to ducks on the pond, to hawks migrating high, and to woodland birds in the adjacent trails.
Raptors for Rookies
This multimedia program is an introduction/review of identifying birds of prey, also called raptors. Over twenty species of raptors may be spotted in our area, including various kinds of eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls. Saw Mill River Audubon Executive Director Anne Swaim will present a multimedia program with some of the best raptor images from local photographers, video clips, and more. Find out when and where raptors may be seen and how they are doing in the mixed rural and suburban landscapes of the Lower Hudson Valley. Also find out about raptor resources to sharpen your raptor ID skills.
September 21- Guided Bird Walk-Hubbard Lodge, Cold Spring, NY
Red-Shouldered Hawk- Kyle Bardwell
September 17- Tuesday Morning Bird Walk- Croton Point Park, Croton on Hudson, NY
Magnolia- Kyle Bardwell
POP-UP Mid-Week Bird Walk With Charlie Roberto - Little Stony Pt, Cold Spring, NY
Green Heron- Kyle Bardwell
Butterfly Walk and Talk
Butterfly walk and talk with Charlie Roberto. Location will be private land in Garrison; directions provided for paid registrants. No children under 10 years old, as this is primarily a highly informational field experience. We will be walking in generally mowed fields and meadows.
Croton Point Park Mid-Week Walk
Larry Trachtenberg will be leading a mid-week bird walk at Croton Point for Putnam Highlands Audubon Society. This walk is situated in peak spring migration at a location which can be spectacular for migrating birds. Larry is a regular at Croton Point Park and knows exactly where to find birds. We will meet at the large parking lot below the Nature Center.
Please note that registration is required for this event.
Dutchess County May Census and World Migratory Bird Day
Putnam Highlands Audubon Society is joining in to help Waterman Bird Club with the annual Dutchess County May census. Waterman Bird Club hosts an annual May census where local members cover specific territories counting and report all bird species that they see. This census is done in peak spring migration when the diversity of species around can be outstanding. May 11th also happens to be World Migratory Bird Day! Meet at the Dennings Point trailhead parking lot at 7AM sharp.
This is a free event, but registration is required.
April Bird Walk at Little Stony Point
Spring migrants will be in full song and fresh plumage! A wide variety of birds can be seen on this walk including Cerulean Warbler.
Please note that registration is required for this event.
Appreciating New York's Rich Diversity of Bats
Ashley Meyer, a biologist with the New York State Department of Environment Conservation, whose recent field work surveyed wintering bats in abandoned mines of Fahnestock State Park, will describe a variety of bat species, where and how they live, which are endangered and threatened, and why.
Please note that registration is required for this event through the Desmond-Fish Public Library.
Annual Spring Dinner
Join Putnam Highlands Audubon Society for our annual spring dinner, scheduled for March 23 from 5:00 – 8:00 PM at the Taconic Outdoor Education Center—always a wonderful time to see old and new friends and support your local conservation society.
Please note that this is a ticketed event. Space is limited, and attendees are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance. Register now to save your spot!
March Bird Walk at Croton Point Park
As winter transitions to spring, join us for our annual March trek to Croton Point Park to look for early spring migrants, such as Killdeer and Osprey, and lingering wintering oddities. Click here to read about our 2022 walk to Croton Point Park.
Please note that registration is required for this event.
Conserving Our Native Rabbit, the New England Cottontail
Join us for a presentation about conservation of the New England Cottontail Rabbit by Dr. Susan Booth-Binczik, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation wildlife biologist.
Please note that registration through the Desmond-Fish Public Library is required for this event.
February Bird Walk at Shawangunk Grasslands
Join us for our annual February trip to the famous Shawangunk Grasslands to look for raptors such as Northern Harriers and Rough-legged Hawks, as well as highly sought after Short-eared Owls.
Please note that registration is required for this event.
Eagle Watch at Boscobel
Put on your winter weather gear to join Constitution Marsh Audubon staff and Putnam Highlands Audubon Society volunteers for our ninth annual eagle viewing at Boscobel House and Gardens. Birding experts and staff will be at Boscobel’s belvedere, high above the Hudson River to help visitors spot soaring and roosting bald eagles.
Bald eagles migrate south from northern New York and Canada through the Hudson Valley at this time of year. They stop along the way to feed in the water and rest within the adjacent highlands. Come enjoy the incredibly beautiful vistas and remarkable views of eagles that Boscobel has to offer!
Participant should wear proper clothing and are encouraged bring their own viewing equipment, such as binoculars, scopes, and cameras.
Please note that tickets purchased through Boscobel are required for this event, and advanced reservations for gardens and grounds admissions tickets are recommended.
Endangered Sturgeon in the Hudson: Secrets from a Fisheries Biologist
Parish Hall at St. Mary's in Cold Spring
Saturday, January 27th 3:00 PM
Fisheries biologist Amanda Higgs has been working on the Hudson for decades, catching, tagging, and studying Atlantic and Short-nosed Sturgeon, two federally-endangered fish that have existed since the Late Triassic Period, about 130 million years ago.
Sturgeon are the largest and most ancient fish in North America, and the Hudson River is considered one of their healthiest locations on the entire eastern seaboard. Amanda will describe both species, how they live and reproduce, current threats, and current management operations designed to help these amazing fish recover and thrive.
Come hear a real working biologist describe her hands-on and hands-wet conservation work.
$7.50 Donation supports PHAS Programs
Register Here
January 'Third Saturday' Bird Walk - Jones Beach State Park and Point Lookout
Start the new year with a trip to the beach! We will look for sea ducks such as Common Eider, Surf Scoter, and Harlequin Duck, as well as wintering shorebirds such as Purple Sandpiper and Ruddy Turnstone.
Registration Required Register Here
Read about January 2022 Jones Beach Walk
2024 Christmas Bird Count
2024 Christmas Bird Count
Putnam County
Tuesday January 2nd 2024
3:00 PM 4:00 PM
The longest running citizen science survey in the world, the CBC provides critical data on population trends.
Tens of thousands of participants know that it is also a lot of fun. Data from over 2,300 circles are entered after the count and become available to query under the Data & Research link provided on the National Audubon website.
This year's Putnam Christmas Bird Count will be on January 2nd. Contact us if you are interested in participating but need more information.
An In-Depth Look at the Hudson River
Join the Putnam Highlands Audubon Society and Desmond Fish Library for a presentation by noted science educator Steve Stanne. He will share his knowledge and insights from over 40 years of studying and writing about the Hudson River, including information on fish diversity, tides, salinity, food webs, and present areas of concern.
Steve Stanne has been teaching about the Hudson estuary since 1980 when he became education director at Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, a position he held for 19 years. In that time Steve became well-versed in the estuary’s natural history and ecology, its tides and shipping, and its rich history. From 1999 until retirement in 2017 he directed the Hudson River Estuary Program’s education efforts through a partnership between Cornell University and NYSDEC. Steve’s workshops have introduced many educators to the pleasures of teaching about the estuary, and he designed signature river education programs including the Classroom of the Waves aboard Clearwater and the Estuary Program’s Day in the Life of the Hudson and Harbor as well as coordinating placement of the blue and white sturgeon signs at highway crossings of Hudson River tributaries. Steve is the principal author of The Hudson: An Illustrated Guide to the Living River, published by the Rutgers University Press. He was also the project manager and chief writer of the Estuary Program’s State of the Hudson reports in 2009 and 2015.
November Third Saturday Walk - Big Woods Lot in Fahnestock State Park
Where: Big Wood Parking Lot Fahnestock State Park.
Please join us for a stationary bird count at the Big Woods Lot in Fahnestock State Park this November. We will be stationed with binoculars and scopes, scanning the skies for migrating raptors and other migratory bird species.
Many raptors move through the State Park in the fall, heading South. In November you have the possibility of getting some interesting and more uncommon migrants such as Golden Eagle or Rough-Legged Hawk. There is always the possibility for migrating songbirds such as Snow Buntings or Lapland Longspurs, and maybe even a rare vagrant such as a Cave Swallow!
Register Here
Winter Bird Seed Sale
With winter coming, and your birds need feeding. Stock up now! As always, we offer quality Blue Seal Products at a great price that also helps to support PHAS.
We are pleased that prices on many items have come down since to 2022 high and we have passed the savings on to you.
Curbside Pickup: Saturday, December 16th 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon, at the Hubbard Lodge 2920 U.S. 9, Cold Spring, NY 10516 All necessary precautions for prevaling health trends will be taken.
Orders must be received by: Friday December 1st
Webinar -Neonics, the Toxic Truth: The Pesticides Threatening Bees, Birds and Our Health
Thursday, November 9, 7:00 pm via Zoom
Neonics, the Toxic Truth: The Pesticides Threatening Bees, Birds and Our Health
Dan Raichel, Acting Director of the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Pollinator initiative, will explain dangers of neonicotinoid pesticides -- AKA neonics -- to pollinators, biodiversity, and our own health as well as neonics’ surprising prevalence in our environment.
REGISTER HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/699227477207
This webinar will explain the science behind the threats posed by neonicotinoid pesticides, aka neonics, to pollinators, biodiversity, and our own health as well as neonics’ surprising prevalence in our environment. This popular pesticide contaminates our soil, water, and plant life on an unprecedented scale. Science is telling us that neonics have been driving mass losses of birds and bees, raising alarm bells for a whole host of wildlife, clean water, and the health of all New Yorkers.
Bio: Dan Raichel is Acting Director of the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Pollinator initiative, which focuses on protecting our nation’s bee populations from the ever-growing threats to their health and existence—in particular, the use of bee-toxic pesticides. Raichel was formerly co-director of NRDC’s Community Fracking Defense Project and an advocate for the cleanup of industrial pollution in the New York region.
PHAS Fall Bird Seed Sale
Fall is here, winter coming, and your birds need feeding. Stockup now! As always, we offer quality Blue Seal Products at a great price that also helps to support PHAS.
Pre-Orders -Curbside Pickup: Saturday, October 28th 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon, at the Hubbard Lodge 2920 U.S. 9, Cold Spring, NY 10516 All necessary precautions for prevaling health trends will be taken.
October 'Third Saturday' Bird Walk Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center
Saturday, October 14
Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center
79 Farmstead Ln, Wappingers Falls
Meet in parking lot by the barns at south entrance.
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Please join us as we search for migratory sparrows, late warblers, and other unique species. Other specialty species such as American Kestrel, American Pipit, and Horned Larked are also a possibility. Farms are a great place to bird during migration months so maybe a surprise or two will make an appearance!
Family Nature Activities
Sunday, October 1st, 2 pm at NY State Parks Hubbard Lodge Cold Spring NY
Educator Pete Salmansohn will lead highly-interactive, fun nature explorations. All designed for helping both big and little people tune into nature.
Co-Sponsored by Philipstown Garden Club
Free evet for Children age 6 and up with adults
Registrations are necessary due to large demand. (max. of 16)
September "Third Saturday" Bird Walk-Saturday Hubbard Lodge, Cold Spring, NY
September 16th, 2023
8:00 AM – 10:30 AM --- Hubbard Lodge, Fahnestock State Park
Free Event
Description of the event:
Our bird guides will be leading our now annual September walk at Hubbard Lodge in Fahnestock. This time of year, is great for viewing migrant songbirds. It will be a relatively short and easily traversable walk to the nearby wetland.
It is recommended to bring bincoulars, however we will have binoculars available for participants if participants do not own a pair.
This Event is Free but Registration is Required Register Here
Questions or Concerns contact event coordinator
Kyle Bardwell ktbardwell@gmail.comn (845) 926-0735
September Mid-Week Bird Walk - Croton Point Park, Croton on Hudson, NY
We are offering a mid-week bird walk! Larry Trachtenberg, a veteran birder of Croton Point Park will be leading the walk for all who are interested. We will be meeting at the gravel parking lot situated by the Croton Point Campground, surrounded by Pine Trees.
It is recommended to bring bincoulars, however we will have binoculars available for participants if participants
This Event is Free but Registration is Required Register Here
Questions or Concerns contact event coordinator
Kyle Bardwell ktbardwell@gmail.comn (845) 926-0735
August Pop Up - Vortex Optics Binoculars and Scopes Demo - West Point Foundry Preserve, Cold Spring, NY
Vortex Optics is interested in partnering with PHAS and selling their optics and has graciously sent an assortment of items for us to test out. Members should take advantage of this awesome opportunity to test out a variety of different top end binoculars.
We will be assembling at 8:00 AM sharp at the parking lot located at West Point Foundry Preserve in Cold Spring. From there we will walk participants over to the overlook platform of the marsh, where we will have spotting scopes and binoculars out for trial.
Participants will have a chance to try out the binoculars and scopes in a prime location to watch birds!
Please park at the large parking lot located at West Point Foundry Preserve.
80 Kemble Ave, Cold Spring, NY 10516
Questions or Concerns contact event coordinator
Kyle Bardwell ktbardwell@gmail.comn (845) 926-0735