ISLAND HOPPING: FALL MIGRATION AT GOVERNORS ISLAND
September 28 @ 7:30 am - 2:00 pm
Leader: Ryan Goldberg
Participant limit: 20
Focus: Ditch the crowds and hop over to Governors Island at the height of fall migration. Because of its location in the harbor, this 172-acre island is an important stopover for migrants, a fact amplified by its unique mix of historic structures, overgrown lots, grassy fields, mature trees, and native landscaping. Target species will be warblers, sparrows, grassland specialists, migrating raptors, and potential vagrants. On eBird, over 245 species have been reported on the island.
Registrar: Ryan Goldberg, email: ryangoldberg@gmail.com
Registration period: September 22-26
Notes: We’ll 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.
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 a better option. We’ll go at a slow pace and cover all the nooks and crannies of the island. Birds can end up anywhere there.
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