The Great Adirondack Birding Celebration will return to the Paul Smith’s College VIC from Friday, June 3-Sunday, June 5. The event will introduce birders of all ages and skill levels to the unique boreal birds and habitats of the Adirondack Park.

Skilled birders will lead full- and half-day field trips to places including Whiteface Mountain, Madawaska Flow and Spring Pond Bog, the second-largest open expanse of peatland in New York. You can even get on the water with a paddling trip led by the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation (canoe rentals available). Depending where you visit, you might see Bicknell’s Thrush, Boreal Chickadees, hawks, Bald Eagles, and many more species.

Guests on the Spring Pond Bog trip can visit Raquette River Brewing in Tupper Lake afterward for a talk on Spruce Grouse while buying lunch and a pint of Spruce Tip IPA, a beer created in partnership with Northern New York Audubon.

Spruce Tip IPA was a collaborative beer produced by Raquette River Brewing in conjunction with Northern NY Audubon to help raise money and bring awareness to NY’s endangered population of Spruce Grouse. (Paul Smith’s VIC website photo.)

For those new to birding, two free how-to workshops are available: One at the VIC and another at International Paper John Dillon Park in Long Lake, a fully accessible wilderness campground. These beginner sessions will introduce field identification and song identification skills in a relaxed environment. Other free sessions include beginner birding field trips at the VIC and Dillon Park, and a raptor program by Mark Manske at the VIC on Saturday, June 4.

“We’re excited to welcome birders back for the 18th Great Adirondack Birding Celebration,” said Scott van Laer, director of the VIC. “Even though we’ve missed the last two years because of the pandemic, the birds never fail to come back. And the amazing variety of bird species that birders know to expect will be here this year, also.”

The Great Adirondack Birding Celebration is sponsored by the Hotel Saranac, Northern New York Audubon and Raquette River Brewing.

For schedules, rates and registration information, visit paulsmithsvic.org/gabc.

Photo at top: The Great Adirondack Birding Celebration includes a free Beginner Birding field trip at the VIC on Saturday, June 4 from  8 to 10 a.m. (Paul Smith’s VIC website photo.)