JOURNEY TO THE WILD SOUTH SHORE OF STATEN ISLAND

Leaders: Peter Dorosh and Ryan Goldberg

Participant limit: 16

Focus: Celebrate the opening of the new New York State birding trail from its beginning, at Mount Loretto Unique Area on the south shore of Staten Island. Mount Loretto is a migration hotspot that includes more than 200 acres of state-protected forests, grasslands, wetlands, and coastal shorelines, with great views of Raritan Bay. Target species include raptors, bluebirds, snipe and woodcock, ducks and grebes, grassland specialists like meadowlarks, and early migrant songbirds.

Notes: This is a public transit trip. In a first for the BBC, we will be riding the Staten Island ferry from its lower Manhattan terminal at Whitehall Street, and then taking the SI rail to Mount Loretto. The return trip may be by bus. Meet in the atrium of the ferry terminal at 6:50am for the 7am ferry departure. The ferry only runs every half hour. We’ll arrive at the North Mount Loretto State Forest, our first stop, a little before 8:30. Be prepared for extensive walking of up to 6-7 miles, mostly on flat, well-maintained but possibly wet trails. Bring your sense of adventure — along with your lunch and any other essentials needed for a full-day trip.

Registrar: Ryan Goldberg, email: ryan.goldberg@gmail.com.

Registration period: April 3rd-7th.

Current club members will receive priority. Each person must register individually; you may not register additional participants. 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.