field trip registration
Monday, February 10, 2025
4:30 pm to 6:00 pm
Shawangunk Grasslands
National Wildlife Refuge
[Google map link]
Meet us 4:30 pm at the Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge in Orange County in late afternoon. More about the Grasslands.
This is drive up birding! You can stand by your car and watch or walk just a few steps to a low viewing platform. The view ahead is grasslands where Northern Harriers, Kestrels and other raptors hunt in the late afternoon and, as the sun sets, Short-eared Owls arise out of the grasslands to hunt the same grassland habitat.
Dress in layers and bring other layers in your car, just in case. This is an exposed open habitat. We may or may not see owls. We will leave when it is too dark to see.
Arriving late afternoon and meeting 4:30 pm in the parking area, we hope to watch hunting Northern Harriers and other winter grassland birds for an hour or so before dusk.
Then, by sunset, 5:25 pm, or shortly thereafter or even before sunset, we hope to be watching one or more Short-eared Owls hunting these same grasslands.
There will likely be other birders and bird photographers there. If you can’t find our group, text or call 914-548-3235.
Shawangunk Grasslands NWR is ~70 min drive from Northern Westchester.
https://goo.gl/maps/gupMBd6KvpB2
Street address for mapping:
Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge
902 Hoagerburgh Road
Wallkill, NY 12589
Bring binoculars or let us know in advance if you want to borrow one or more from SMRA to use during this field trip. We will have one or more spotting scopes available to share any longer distance views with participants.