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ESCAPE FROM BROOKLYN: FALL MIGRATION AT GOVERNORS ISLAND
October 21, 2023 @ 7:30 am - 2:00 pm
Leader: Ryan Goldberg
Participant limit: 15
Focus: A peaceful birding getaway is only a five-minute ferry ride from the tip of Manhattan, one of the most built-up spots on the planet. Ditch the crowds and explore Governor’s Island at the height of fall migration. This 172-acre island, part of the borough of Manhattan and a military outpost since before the Revolutionary War, is open year-round to the public. The Lenape called it Pagganuck, or “Nut Island,” because of its abundance of chestnut, hickory, and oak trees. The island’s geography paired with its unique mix of historic forts, officers’ houses, overgrown lots, grassy fields, mature trees, and native plantings and landscaping make for an important stopover for migrants. Target species will be sparrows, grassland specialists, warblers, arriving waterfowl, migrating raptors, and possible vagrants. On eBird, over 240 species have been reported on the island, about two-thirds of those in October.
Registrar: Ryan Goldberg, email: ryangoldberg@gmail.com
Registration period: October 15-19
Notes: We will take the 7:30 AM ferry from the Battery Maritime Building, located at 10 South Street, in Lower Manhattan. There is no charge. Please arrive 5-10 minutes before the departure time.
Please prepare for a 4-6 hour trip, though people are free to stay on the island as long as they wish. The terrain is flat, with the exception of a small hill on the south side of the island. There are seasonal food vendors but bringing lunch is a safer bet. We will go at a slow pace and cover all the nooks and crannies of the island.
Current club members will receive priority. If you need to cancel, please do so at least 24 hours in advance so we can offer someone your spot; no-shows will be moved to the bottom of the list for future trips.
More information:
On the island’s history and its birds: https://www.nycaudubon.
A map of the island: https://gov-island-