Birders of ALL levels—from beginner to expert—are welcome on Mearns Club field trips. Please join us!

In January 2009, the Mearns Club adopted the American Birding Association Code of Birding Ethics. Please keep the tenets of the code in mind when participating in Mearns Club field trips.

Information, including maps, for the birding locations mentioned in the list of field trips here can found on the pages of the Birding Areas section of this website (see the navigation menu).

The leader’s phone number is included for each trip so that you can call if you have any questions. Any changes to the field trip schedule will be announced via the Mearns Groups.io group.

Field trip leaders are responsible for the following: (1) Sending out a trip cancellation notice, if necessary, via Mearns Groups.io, or notifying Bob Slechta (845-541-8210) or Joyce Depew (845-978-9952) so that they can send out a cancellation notice. (2) Sending a written trip report both to Groups.io and, more importantly, to Rich VanTieghem (rich.w2vt@gmail.com) for inclusion in the next Orange Feather.

Field Trip Schedule through March 2026

Please note that there is no need to sign up for field trips; you can just show up at the designated meeting location. Any last-minute changes or cancellations will be posted in our Groups.io email group.

January

January 17, 2026, Saturday, New York State Waterfowl Count. Contact Bob Slechta (845-541-8210) if you’d like to participate.

January 31, 2026 (rescheduled) January 24, 2026, Saturday, Eagle Trip, Putnam/Westchester Counties. Meet Gerhard Patsch (845-258-0620) at 9:00 am at the scenic overlook on Rte 6/202 three-quarters of a mile south of the eastern end of the Bear Mountain Bridge—100+ eagles are possible!

March

March 7, 2026, Saturday, Black Dirt Region. Meet Joyce Depew (845-978-9952) in the parking lot of the Jolly Onion restaurant in Pine Island at 9:00 am to search for Horned Lark, Lapland Longspur, and lots of blackbirds!

March 14, 2026, Saturday, Rye, New York. Meet Jodi Brodsky (845-282-1058) at 9:30 am at the northern end of the Rye Playland parking lot for loons, Long-tailed Ducks, grebes, and Purple Sandpipers. Call Jodi if you plan on going. If she doesn’t receive any calls, there will be no trip!

March 21, 2026, Saturday, Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge. Meet Johanna Bloomfield (541-778-1754) at the Oil City Road platform at 9:00 am for a great variety of waterfowl and, hopefully, Sandhill Cranes.

March 29, 2026, Sunday, Eastern Orange County Lakes. Meet Bob Slechta (845-541-8210) at 9:00 am in the parking lot of the Station Road Square mini-mall at the intersection of Rte 94 and Orrs Mills Road, and we’ll scan the local lakes for waterfowl.

April

April 11, 2026, Saturday, Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge. Meet Rich Van Tiegham (201-370-2721) at the Oil City Road platform at 9:00 am for ducks, gallinules, egrets, Sandhill Cranes, and more.

April 26, 2026, Sunday, 6 1/2 Station Road Audubon Refuge. Meet Liz McKnight (201-400-1428) at 8:30 am at the junction of 6 1/2 Station Road and the Heritage Trail for ducks, swallows, kinglets, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and more.

April 29, 2026, Wednesday, Stewart State Forest. Meet Bob Slechta (845-541-8210) at 8:30 am at the Barron Road north parking area for a good mix of early migrants, including warblers, flycatchers, and more.

May

May 2, Saturday, Bashakill Wildlife Management Area. Meet Joyce Depew (845-978-9952) at 8 am in the DEC parking lot on Haven Road before you cross the kill heading east. As many 70 species could be encountered on this trip!

May 8–9, Friday–Saturday, Break 100.