http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspot/L152773

Historic Floyd Bennett Field was New York City's first municipal airport, later a naval air station, and in 1972 became a part of Gateway National Recreation Area. A grassland restoration project was initiated in 1985. This grassland is being managed by the National Park Service and the New York City Audubon Society. The woody vegetation is suppressed by annual mowing. From early spring up to the mid-August mowing, the grasslands are full of wild flowers and grasses in hues of green, red, blue and yellow that change almost every week. These wild flowers also attract numerous butterflies.

Bird Attractions:

Floyd Bennett Field is known for its grassland birds and wintering hawks and owls. During spring migration there may be Bobolinks, Eastern Meadowlarks, Northern Harriers, American Kestrels, and on rare occasion Grasshopper Sparrows and Dickcissels moving through the grasslands. The Grasshopper Sparrow and the meadowlark no longer breed here, but the Savannah Sparrow still holds on. The Northern Harrier has also been an occasional breeder at the Field and is often seen hunting over grass and open shrubland throughout the year. Red-tailed Hawks, Coopers Hawks, Sharp-shinned Hawks, American Kestrels, Merlin and Northern Harriers are often winter residents. Resident Peregrine Falcons from the Marine Parkway Bridge make occasional hunting forays into the Field. The Short-eared Owl has become a rare winter visitor, along with Snowy Owls.

Northern Flickers, Woodcock, Ring-necked Pheasants, Brown Thrashers, Catbirds, Common Yellowthroats and White-eyed Vireos are among the 25 to 30 species of regular nesters. The many Tree Swallow nesting boxes throughout the Field are generally active and the Tree Swallows are always joined by Barn Swallows hawking insects over the grasslands. In early October, migrating Tree Swallows gather into swarming flocks of nearly 1,000 birds feeding on the numerous bayberry shrubs around the field.

Suggested route:

The many runways and roads that crisscross FBF make walking easy but be prepared to cover more than a few miles if you hope to visit all of the areas mentioned. Driving a car around the field will allow a birder to cover much more area than by foot. As an added benefit, the car acts as a good blind. Harriers, kestrels and even owls may fly within 20 feet of you. Biking is also an option.

To enter FBF by car or bike, drive southeast on Flatbush Ave and take a left onto Aviation Rd. just before the bridge to the Rockaways. Take your first left and head back northwest. Just before the Ryan Visitor Center on your left, you will find community gardens which can reward visitors with warblers and sparrows during migration. Rarities here have included Cassin's Kingbird and Dicksissel. (Be mindful to park by this area only in spots not designated for garden members. You may walk the paths between the garden plots but do not enter the gated plots themselves.)

Continuing toward the Ryan Visitor Center you will see a runway to the right. Take that runway northeast to the very end to a large parking lot. Along the way look for raptors and grassland birds. From the parking lot you have a good view of two large uninhabited islands (a scope is advisable here) with large trees and shrubs that often host winter raptors. This area is best in winter for viewing waterfowl and gulls. You may continue to the right to Raptor Point (good for waterfowl and sometimes shorebirds) or backtrack to the Visitor Center. If you backtrack, take a right at the intersection, and head northwest along the same road with the community garden. On your left, you'll see the Aviator Sports Center where you may park. The Center has bathrooms and a cafeteria. From the parking lot, continue on by foot northwest until the road ends. You'll see another runway to your right running northeast. In March, this runway is an excellent spot to see displaying Woodcock at dusk. Just beyond that intersection is the path to the North Forty Nature Trail.

The North Forty Nature Trail wends its way through shrubland and extensive stands of phragmites to a man-made 2 acre pond called the Return-a-Gift Pond, which has two blinds. The beginning of the trail through shrubland is habitat for Rufous-sided Towhees, Catbirds, Brown Thrashers, Robins, Northern Cardinals and Common Yellowthroats. The water level in the pond is the existing level of ground water in any particular season, so it can be dry at times. When wet, common avian visitors to the pond are Mallards, Black Ducks, Wood Ducks, Gadwall, Green-winged Teal, Northern Shovelers, Hooded Mergansers, Pied-billed Grebes, Glossy Ibis, Spotted, Least and Solitary Sandpipers.

If the road part of the trail has not been mowed recently, the grass can be heavily infested with dog ticks. Deer ticks carrying Lyme disease are a possible spring and summer hazard. Poison ivy is also abundant.

The following map, while geared for biking, is useful for birders.

http://tinyurl.com/FloydMap

Note that certain areas are restricted and that some runways are not open to vehicles, although you may walk in. When walking, stay on the paved runways in the grassland areas as walking on the grasslands is strictly prohibited.

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