A couple of big announcements for the next few days! First off: it’s Labor Day weekend. For those of you who, like me, mentally zonk out and forget the calendar by Friday, this is a timely reminder that there’s a good chance you won’t have to listen to your alarm clock on Monday morning. So, after you’ve gotten your extra winks, know that The New York Botanical Garden will be open (we’re usually not on Mondays) for any and all visitors looking to make the most of their day off. The forecast for Monday is suggesting highs in the 70s, so I’m thinking there’s no excuse to keep yourself cooped up indoors.

Also on the schedule for this weekend–something we’ve been pretty anxious about–is the return of the Saturday Bird Walk. The Red-tailed Hawks are getting back to their center stage antics just in time for the end of Debbie Becker’s summer hiatus, so pack along a pair of binoculars and join us at 11 a.m. on Saturday morning for a trek around the Garden with one of New York’s most experienced bird watchers. Seeing as Debbie’s been doing this long enough to name our feathered guests with her eyes closed, trust me when I say that you’re in good hands.
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Join Debbie Becker on one of her weekly bird walks this Saturday, and you just might see more sweet little phoebes at the Garden.

Northern Phoebe on Twin Lakes (photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen)

Debbie Becker’s ever-popular Bird Walks return this Saturday with a hunt for those tiny gems of the garden; hummingbirds! The walks begin at 11 a.m., leaving from the Reflecting Pool in front of the Visitor Center. A limited number of binoculars are available for loan at the Visitor Center Information Booth, so if you have a pair, bring them along, and be sure to wear sturdy shoes.

The diverse habitats of the Botanical Garden offer bird-watchers a chance to see dozens of species of birds throughout the year. The Garden’s magnificent 250-acres of outdoor gardens and collections, open meadows, native forest, and waterbodies such as the Bronx River and Twin Lakes entice birds migrating through the area in spring and fall and those that stay to nest in summer or to spend the winter.

We talked to some visitors and staff about their favorite birds and why they love birding at the Garden.

Upcoming Bird Walk themes include:

- In Pursuit of Hummingbirds September 10
- Great Hawk Migration September 24
- In Search of the Great Horned Owls November 19
- Annual Bird Count December 10
- Great Backyard Bird Count February 18

Tell us (by leaving a comment): What is your favorite bird? Have you had a great birding experience at the Garden?

Colorful Gems Spotted on Bird Walks During Spring Migration

Debbie Becker leads a free bird walk at the Garden every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. beginning at the Reflecting Pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center. Photos of scarlet tanager and black-and-white warbler: Debbie Becker

The spring bird migration is in full swing at the Garden. Recent bird walks have been a treat to the eyes and ears. Warblers are everywhere!

Warblers are small, colorful birds that migrate from areas of Central and South America to northern points in Canada and the United States. Once there, they build nests, reproduce, raise young, and then migrate back south in the fall.

Warblers are insect eaters and arrive just in time to feast on newly hatched insect larva. The warblers pass through the New York area mid-April to mid-May. Their beautiful songs and colorful feathers are enough to make any birder dizzy with delight.

This year searching for warblers is especially difficult because the trees bloomed earlier than usual due to the summer-like weather we had in April. With all the leaves on the trees, it is hard to find the songbirds as they dart about foraging for food. But diligence pays off. On our walks we’ve been treated to wonderful sightings, including the blackburnian warbler, a beautiful bird with an orange “fire throat.” All of the birders oohed and aahed as they strained their necks to see its throat—more orange than orange should be. read more »