New Locations Bring Total Number of Sites Statewide to 332

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced the addition of seven new locations to the New York State Birding Trail. These new locations bring the total number of birding trail locations across the state to 332, providing a variety of quality birding experiences for New Yorkers and visitors to enjoy.

Birdwatching has become one of New York’s fastest-growing recreation and tourism activities. DEC manages the New York State Birding Trail in collaboration with partners that include the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. The statewide trail network includes promoted birding locations that can be accessed by car or public transportation, providing an inclusive experience for all visitors to enjoy birds amid beautiful natural settings with little or no cost or investment in equipment.

The newly added locations are located on public and private lands across the state:

• Adirondacks/North Country: Up Yonda Farm Environmental Education Center, Bolton
• Central – Finger Lakes: Finger Lakes Museum & Townsend-Grady Wildlife Preserve, Branchport
• Greater Niagara: Hunters Creek Park, East Aurora
• Greater Niagara: Mossy Point, Wales
• Hudson Valley: Mohonk Preserve, Gardiner
• Southern Tier: Point Gratiot Park, Dunkirk
• Southern Tier: Dunkirk Harbor, Dunkirk

The new additions feature a diversity of habitats including deep woods where birders may observe a variety of woodland warblers, shoreline and harbors attracting many wintering waterfowl, and riparian areas where birders may observe spotted sandpipers and flycatchers.

In addition to state-owned and managed locations for the Birding Trail, publicly and privately managed sites can complete a simple self-nomination process to be considered for inclusion on the trail. As DEC moves towards long-term management of the trail, nominations will now be reviewed and added to the Birding Trail on a quarterly basis. Deadlines for nomination submissions for each quarter are as follows:

• Quarter one: March 30
• Quarter two: June 30
• Quarter three: September 30
• Quarter four: December 31

Selected sites meet criteria to help ensure a positive experience for visitors throughout the state. Additionally, sites post signage noting them as official locations on the Birding Trail. For information on the nomination process and the updated form and guidelines, visit the I BIRD NY website.

New segments of the Birding Trail were opened in a phased approach from October 2021 through August 2022. With 332 locations, the Statewide Birding Trail provides birding opportunities for everyone, regardless of age, ability, identity, or background, across New York State. DEC continues to solicit input from a wide range of New Yorkers and organizations that represent Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities and is making trail information available in both English and Spanish. Bird walks will be held in collaboration with organizations working with BIPOC communities.

The New York State Birding Trail map is available at the I BIRD NY website, and provides valuable information on each site such as location, available amenities, species likely to be seen, directions, and more. Digital information on the Birding Trail will be updated periodically, so budding outdoor enthusiasts are encouraged to check back often. DEC encourages birding enthusiasts to visit I Bird NY for more information on where and how to observe birds, upcoming bird walks, a downloadable Beginner’s Guide to Birding (PDF) (available in Spanish (PDF)), and additional resources.

Adirondack Almanack file photo from Up Yonda Farm