Last Friday, I made my way to Prospect Park for one of Gabriel Willow’s spring migration morning walks with the NYC Bird Alliance. I love these walks. Gabriel is such a knowledgeable and generous guide, and while I now feel confident birding on my own, I know I’m going to see many, many more birds with Gabriel listening and pointing them out. This was proven immediately true around an hour into the walk, when we stumbled upon not one but two scarlet tanagers. Can you believe it?

I had never seen a scarlet tanager before, although I’d heard one singing on another one of Gabriel’s walks. I was very upset when I didn’t manage to see that tanager, given that the bird is incredibly bright and theoretically easy to spot among the green leaves. It took me a minute to see this tanager. But when I did, I had the reaction that presumably anyone does upon glimpsing this beautiful bird: Look at that red!

Two things can be true: I am a staunch supporter of uncharismatic microfauna, and also I love to see a hot bird. The male scarlet tanager is probably one of the hottest birds to pass through New York City. It felt like seeing a celebrity, but in an actually cool way. Last month I saw Maggie Gyllenhaal in Cobble Hill and was like, well, that’s a likely place for her to be. But even though I knew a scarlet tanager might feasibly be in Prospect Park, I was still stunned by his presence. Just look at that guy! It was an honor to bask in his glow.

I saw some other cool birds, including this magnolia warbler. I have a fondness for this particular warbler because it’s the first warbler I found on my own (meaning not on one of Gabriel’s walks). I was birding last year with the help of the Merlin app, which told me there was a Magnolia warbler singing, and then after a few minutes of careful triangulation, there it was, sitting and singing in a tree! So I feel a special kinship with these little fellows. And also I thought this pic was cool, as far as blurry iphone photos go.

But Friday was not just a day for the Sabrina Carpenters of birds (tiny and good at singing). I also saw this black-crowned night heron perched glumly on this log nearby a turtle chorus. I love these birds. They are always looking grumpy and neckless, which I like. Not every bird is hopping around the highest branches and tweeting with abandon! Some guys gotta sit and stew on a log.

The last report I have from the past month is that I have been spending a lot of time on the piers at Brooklyn Bridge Park, and I’m always looking in the water to see if there are any seafaring critters about. Generally this strategy results in sightings of trash, but on Monday after sunset I saw two turtle-like creatures swimming in the East River. (It was too dark to see if they were terrapins or a proper turtle.) Their little heads were craning out of the waves, and they appeared to be heading to Manhattan. What were they doing there? Those waters feel choppy for a little guy!

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June

🐦 Guided Bird Walk at The Battery: June 3 @ 8am. Join experienced naturalist Gabriel Willow on a walk through The Battery to observe the diversity of migrating birds that visit the park. Registration required.

🌳 Trees Count at Rockaway Community Park with the Urban Park Rangers: June 4 @ 1pm. Volunteer with NYC Parks for Trees Count 2025! At each event you will receive a tote bag with all the materials needed to count trees. Next, we'll provide a 30-minute training session that includes the basics of tree identification and how to measure and assess each tree. Using our Tree Census app, you’ll split up into different zones within the park to start counting trees! Registration required.

🐦 Intro to Birding in Marine Park: June 6 @ 9am. Explore the beauty of Brooklyn’s largest green space, Marine Park! Consisting of grassland and salt marshes, this park is habitat for a variety of migratory songbirds and waterbirds. Registration encouraged.

🐦 NoMAA, National Audubon, GreenThumb Walking Tour: Join NYC Parks GreenThumb and National Audubon Society for a bilingual (English/Español) walking tour. This tour ((2+ miles) will spotlight neighborhood bird murals and community gardens from 170^th to 140^th St., culminating with a lecture by dendrologist Carey Russell about NYC’s most common tree species (English only) at Winnie Said, 1624 Amsterdam Ave & 140^th St. To register, please e-mail: amp@gitlerand.com. RSVP Required

🐦 Bilingual Birding Spanish - English at Sunset Park: June 6 @ 9:30 am. Join us in the diverse neighborhood of Sunset Park. A small hidden gem, this green space is known to provide breathtaking views of Manhattan. A wide variety of birds have also been sighted here, including juvenile Red-tailed Hawks!Registration encouraged.

Comparte con NYC Bird Alliance un paseo en Sunset Park. Este espacio verde es conocido por ofrecer vistas impresionantes de Manhattan, especialmente al atardecer.  Aquí también se ha observado una gran variedad de aves, incluidas algunas aguilillas.

🌷 🦄 Garden Festival - Wild Imaginations at The Met Cloisters: June 6 @ 10am. Let your imagination run wild in The Met Cloisters gardens! Enjoy tours, performances, art making, and more as you explore the gardens and the creatures who call them home. From buzzing bees and fluttering butterflies to sly foxes and creeping garden critters, discover how the living world has long inspired extraordinary hybrid beings: part animal, part human, part plant. Free with museum admission.

🐦 Birding, Grief and Interdependence: June 6 @ 10am. In challenging times some people turn to nature and more specifically birding to keep them grounded, to be present, to observe lifecycles in the natural world and to then bring joy. Think of how you process grief, does nature play a role in your process? If not, would you like to incorporate nature in that process? Today we will bird with the intention of working through difficult feelings and we will note how we feel before and after our bird outing. Pay what you wish, $15 suggested.

🐝 Beyond the Sting - Green-Wood’s Wasps: June 6 @ 10am. Hunters, pollinators, potters, paper-makers, DNA hijackers, zombie-makers—dozens of wasp species call Green-Wood home. In this presentation, urban naturalist Matthew Wills will introduce the major types of local wasps, revealing their surprisingly varied survival strategies, including how they weather our winters. You’ll discover why these misunderstood insects are essential to Green-Wood’s ecosystem and why the Cemetery is equally vital to them. Tickets $25.

🍄 National Trails Day Natural Areas Conservancy & New York Mycological Society: June 6 @ 10am. The Natural Areas Conservancy (NAC) and New York Mycological Society (NYMS) will host a guided walk at Forest Park. During this walk we will share information about community forestry, forest ecology, mycology and how all these things relate to one another. This is an explorative walk, you are encouraged to interact with the forest and ask questions along the way. Registration required, capped.

🐦 🧑‍🦼 Accessible Birding in Carl Schurz Park with Alex Wang: June 6 @ 11am. Located right on the coast of the East River, this park offers beautiful sights and sounds of waterbirds, Warblers, sparrows, raptors, and more also use this park as a stopover during migration. Led by birding guide and educator Alexandra Wang (Avian Alex), M.S. Ed., this inclusive outing offers specialized resources.

🦅 Hawk Watch at Tompkins Square Park: June 6 @ 1pm. New York City is home to an amazing abundance of wildlife. Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best wildlife viewing spots in the urban jungle. We offer birding programs throughout the year. Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome.

🪱 Death, Decay and Decomposition: June 6 @ 2pm. We live in a society and time where death is feared and misunderstood, where many of us are constantly inundated with news around wars and genocides. The compost pile teaches us so much about healthy living and dying, about the natural cycles of being. This workshop will allow attendees to share and hear stories of ancestral practices around Death and transformation and learn some basic science on composting.

🐦 Governors Island Bird Tour: June 6 @ 2:15pm. Did you know that nearly 240 bird species have been spotted on Governors Island? Whether you’re an expert birder or a beginner, these tours will help you discover what makes this island an excellent place for birding. Registration encouraged.

🐴 👠 🦀 Horseshoe Crab Discovery Walk at Plumb Beach: June 6 @ 6pm. Join sociology professor Lisa Jean Moore to observe horseshoe crabs during their mating rituals and meet other marsh inhabitants. Registration required.

🐦 LGBTQ+ History and Birding in Central Park: June 7 @ 9am. Join us for a history and birding tour of Central Park’s Ramble. In addition to its rich habitat for wildlife, the Ramble is a significant and historic gathering place for the queer community. Hear from Jesse McLaughlin about its queer and ecological history, and the impact of queer placemaking in New York City. Registration required.

🪼 What Lives in the East River?: June 7 @ 10am. Discover the amazing biodiversity of the East River as you get hands-on and up close with our marine life touch tank. Participants 14 years of age or older can learn how to use a seine net to humanely catch and release organisms in the river. Protective waders and all equipment will be provided.

🐦 Intro to Birding in Crotona Park: June 7 @ 10am. Join NYC Bird Alliance this spring to explore beautiful Crotona Park. Its meadows, flowering trees, and sizable pool provide excellent habitats for a variety of birds, including woodpeckers, warblers, and wading birds. Registration encouraged.

🐦 New York Botanical Garden Birding 101: June 7 @ 11am. Join NYC Bird Alliance at New York Botanical Garden. Get to see some of NYBG’s diverse landscape and learn why this unique green space is such a vital haven for a great variety of species year-round. The tour will meet at the Reflecting Pool in the Native Plant Garden. Tour free with garden admission.

🌱 Dial-a-Plantcestor: June 7. Hosted by Field Meridians.

🐦 Guided Bird Walk at The Battery: June 10 @ 8am. Join experienced naturalist Gabriel Willow on a walk through The Battery to observe the diversity of migrating birds that visit the park. Registration required.

🐢 Salt Marsh Saturday: June 13 @ 9am. Drop in to explore the Little Hell Gate Salt Marsh during Salt Marsh Saturdays! The salt marsh is one of our most beloved natural areas, and is a vital ecosystem that protects nearby areas from flooding and erosion and creates habitats for many different species of animals. From 9 AM – 12 PM, the marsh pathway gates on the boardwalk will be open and members of RIPA’s Natural Areas Team will be on site to answer questions, share interesting facts and show off some of the unique species of plants and animals that call this amazing and dynamic ecosystem home!

🌻 Wildflowers of Marine Park: June 13 @ 9am. Join botanist Zihao Wang from Torrey Botanical Society for an in-depth wildflower walk as we learn about beautiful wild plants, insects, and their fascinating relationship. Co-sponsored by Wild Ones New York Metro Region Chapter. 

🐦 Spring Birding at Kissena Park: June 13 @ 9:30am. Join us as we  explore the beautiful Kissena Park in Queens. This green space contains a wide variety of trees as well as a lake that make great habitat for migrating and resident birds alike. Registration encouraged.

🌳 🏳️‍🌈 Micro Hike in Van Cortlandt Park: June 13 @ 1pm. Join the Urban Park Rangers in learning about lichens and other micro-ecosystems. Lichens are made up of diverse colonies that include fungi, algae, bacteria, and so much more. They are so diverse that they often cannot be categorized into a single species. On this program, Rangers will help you identify the different lichen that can be found within the city and explore what it means to not be able to be conventionally categorized.

🐦 Governors Island Bird Tour: June 13 @ 2:15pm. Did you know that nearly 240 bird species have been spotted on Governors Island? Whether you’re an expert birder or a beginner, these tours will help you discover what makes this island an excellent place for birding. Registration encouraged.

🐴 👠 🦀 Horseshoe Crab Discovery Walk at Plumb Beach: June 13 @ 6pm. Join sociology professor Lisa Jean Moore to observe horseshoe crabs during their mating rituals and meet other marsh inhabitants. Registration required.

🐦 Spring Birding in Van Cortlandt Park: June 14 @ 9am. Join NYC Bird Alliance on a bird tour in one of the Bronx's largest green spaces. Participants will look for various species of resident and migrant birds and discuss a wide range of avian topics. Registration required, capped at 20.

🐦 🏳️‍🌈 Let's Go Birding Together (LGBT) in Central Park: June 14 @ 9am. Join NYC Bird Alliance and QueerBirders for a Let's Go Birding Together event. Let’s Go Birding Together walks welcome the LGBTQ+ community, allies, families, and anyone looking for a fun, inclusive birding experience. Registration required.

🦅 Hawk Watch in Flushing Meadows Corona Park: June 14 @ 10am. New York City is home to an amazing abundance of wildlife. Experience the majesty of NYC’s top aerial predator. Join us to learn about Red-Tailed Hawks and other raptors of NYC and hopefully catch a glimpse of a nesting pair.

🐴 👠 🦀 Horseshoe Crab Exploration: June 14 @ 2pm. Every spring an ancient ritual unfolds along the Atlantic coast: Horseshoe Crabs emerge from the ocean to spawn on our beaches. Join the Rangers for coastal exploration and observation of these “living fossils.” Learn how they have survived for 450 million years (and counting) and why they are crucial to our own survival.

🐦 🧑‍🦼 Accessible Birding in Fort Tryon Park with Alex Wang: June 20 @ 11am. Fort Tryon Park offers stunning views of the Palisades and Hudson River from its soaring cliffs of bedrock. Spanning 67 acres, the park features many well-paved walkways designed to accommodate a wide range of mobility needs. Led by birding guide and educator Alexandra Wang (Avian Alex), M.S. Ed., this inclusive outing offers specialized resources.

🐦 Governors Island Bird Tour: June 20 @ 2:15pm. Did you know that nearly 240 bird species have been spotted on Governors Island? Whether you’re an expert birder or a beginner, these tours will help you discover what makes this island an excellent place for birding. Registration encouraged.

👴 ⛰️ Father's Day Forest Hike: June 21 @ 1pm. Celebrate Father’s Day with the Urban Park Rangers on a guided hike through Central Park's North Woods! Explore the rich biodiversity of a forest full of birds, plants, trees and more.

🐝 Pollinators in Their Prime at Inwood Hill Park: June 21 @ 1pm. Learn more pollinator species and their role in the ecosystem while tending to our pollinator garden.

🔭 Summer Sun - Scopes on the Solstice: June 21 @ 1pm. Join Marine Park Alliance and the Amateur Astronomers Association as we celebrate the longest day of the year by viewing the sun through telescopes with filters to allow for safe solar observation. 

🐢 Diamondback Terrapins at Sunset Cove Park: June 21 @ 1pm. Join the Urban Park Rangers to learn about the natural history and ecology of diamondback terrapins. This species thrives in the waters of New York City, particularly around Jamaica Bay area.

🎣 Catch-and-Release Fishing at Brooklyn Bridge Park: June 21 @ 3pm. Have you ever gone fishing in NYC? Join Brooklyn Bridge Park staff to learn about the ecology of the East River as you participate in a free catch-and-release fishing lesson at the Pier 5 fishing stations (at the end of the pier). All equipment will be provided; humane hooks will be used. This free fishing program runs for two hours, with each participant/group allowed to fish with the rod for 30 minutes.

🦇 Bat Café: White-nose Syndrome: June 23 @ 6:30pm. White-nose syndrome has reshaped bat populations across North America,but what exactly is it, and why does it matter? This Bat Café explores the science behind the disease, how it spreads, and what it means for the future of bats. $10.

🐦 NYCHA in Nature: New Lane Houses: June 26 @ 10am. Join NYC Bird Alliance for a morning of beginner-friendly birding to look and listen for birds! We'll meet infront of New Lane houses to begin and see what birds we notice around us before heading to Alice Austen House and Park. No experience necessary! Binoculars provided. Please note this outing is weather permitting. Registration encouraged.

🦇 Bat Walk at the Ridgewood Reservoir: June 26 @ 7pm. Join wildlife scientist Nic Comparato to observe and learn about bats at the Ridgewood Reservoir. There are over 1,400 species of these winged mammals worldwide. Come discover which ones live at the Reservoir as well as learn about other nocturnal animals. Registration required.

🦇Summer on the Hudson - Bats of Riverside Park: June 26 @ 8pm. Spot nighttime wildlife and discover New York’s local bats at this evening guided walk with Gotham Bat Conservancy.

🎣 Hudson River Fishing Clinic: June 27 @ 10am. Celebrate Free Fishing Weekend with a catch and- release fishing session in partnership with the Hudson River Fisherman’s Association. Gear provided.

🐝 🦋 Pollinator Palooza at Randall’s Island: June 27 @ 12pm. Buzz over to the Urban Farm for a colorful afternoon of pollinator-themed afternoon of activities, games, crafts, and garden tours. Learn from our expert Horticulturalists about the work they do to plant and maintain the park’s gardens, and stroll through the Urban Farm on a self-guided tour of what’s growing. 

🐦 Governors Island Bird Tour: June 27 @ 2:15pm. Did you know that nearly 240 bird species have been spotted on Governors Island? Whether you’re an expert birder or a beginner, these tours will help you discover what makes this island an excellent place for birding. Registration encouraged.

Ongoing:

🛳️ Urban Naturalist Tour: Abandoned Islands of the East River at Sunset: Join Classic Harbor Line Join aboard a cozy, elegant, 1920s-style Manhattan yacht -- as we travel past abandoned islands rich with history and modern day wildlife! Throughout the journey, our knowledgeable naturalist-guide (Gabriel Willow or Russell Jacobs) will share insights into the conservation efforts aimed at preserving these precious ecosystems. Bring binoculars! (This is an affiliate link!)

🦪 Shoreline Cleanup with the Billion Oyster Project: On Thursdays at 2pm, loin us in collecting debris from New York City's shorelines to prevent it from re-entering the waterways when the tide returns. This is important in achieving our goal of protecting the biodiversity that lives near our reef sites.

🌹 New York Restoration Project: Everyone deserves access to high-quality public green space. If you’re interested in forest stewardship, volunteer with the NYRP in the parks of northern Manhattan clearing invasive plants, mulching, and clearing litter. Volunteer dates listed in the link above. Registration required.