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ISLAND HOPPING: FALL MIGRATION AT GOVERNORS ISLAND
October 11, 2025
Leader: Ryan Goldberg
Participant limit: 15
Focus: Ditch the crowds and hop over to Governors Island at the peak of fall migration. Located in the heart of New York Harbor, this 172-acre island is an important stopover for migrants, with a mix of historic structures, overgrown lots, grassy fields, mature trees, and native plantings. Target species will be warblers, sparrows, grassland specialists, migrating raptors, and potential vagrants. On eBird, 250 species have been reported on the island.
Registrar: Ryan Goldberg, email: ryangoldberg@gmail.com
Registration period: October 5-9
Notes: We’ll take the 7 AM ferry from the Battery Maritime Building, located at 10 South Street, at the base of Manhattan. There is no charge. Please arrive 5-10 minutes before the departure time.
This will be 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 your own lunch is the best option. We’ll go at a slow pace and cover all the nooks and crannies of the island. Birds can end up anywhere.
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.
More information:
On the island’s history and its birds: https://www.nycaudubon.org/events-birding/birding-resources/birding-in-nyc/birding-in-manhattan/governors-island
A map of the island: https://gov-island-site.s3.amazonaws.com/pages/visitor-info/Visitor_Map_2022_02_11_EN.pdf