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 (MearnsBirdClub@groups.io), or notifying Joyce Depew (845-978-9952) so that she can send out a cancellation notice. (2) Sending a written trip report to MearnsBirdClub@groups.io.

Field Trip Schedule through May 2026

There’s no need to sign up for field trips, and you don’t have to be a club member to join us. Just show up at the designated meeting location. Any last-minute changes or cancellations will be posted in our Groups.io email group.

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. See how many birds your team (at least 2 people) can identify in Orange, Ulster, Rockland, and Sullivan counties in any contiguous 24-hour period, starting Friday, May 8. Contact Karen Miller (845-381-3283) for details. Rules for the 2026 break can be found here.

May 16, Saturday, Hudson Highlands Nature Center Outdoor Discovery Campus. Meet Brenda Jordan (207-461-0348) at the Cornwall dog park on Muser Drive at 8 am, and we’ll see if we can find a Cape May or Mourning Warbler.

May 23, Saturday, Stewart State Forest. Meet Bill Fiero (845-728-5208) at the Ridge Road North parking area at 8 am for a good mix of warblers, local breeders, and possibly even a White-eyed Vireo.

May 30, Saturday, Shawangunk Grasslands. Meet Tom and Jane (845-443-5440) at 8:30 am for grassland species such as Bobolinks, Grasshopper and Savannah Sparrows, and Meadowlarks.

June

June 13, Saturday, noon–3 pm, annual club picnic at Winding Hills County Park, Montgomery. The annual Mearns Club picnic will be held on Saturday, June 13, 2026 (rain or shine) at 12 noon. It will be at Winding Hills County Park, Route 17K, Montgomery, NY. Follow arrows to the picnic area, where we have reserved a pavilion. The club will provide chicken, water, and sodas. Bring something to share (appetizers, snacks, salads, or desserts). All are welcome.

If you have any questions you can call Linda Strohl (845-496-3021) or Tracy Patsch at (845-258-8858).

Hope to see you there.