This will be an evening trip for woodcock courtship flight.  If you’ve never seen this spectacle, prepare to be amazed: birds call noisily from the ground in grassy fields before spiraling rapidly up high, descending back down in a zigzagging noisy frenzy, only to start the cycle anew.  An amazing sight!  Following the Woodcock display, owl banding is a possibility at the banding station. Fields may be wet and muddy in spots. Boots are STRONGLY recommended.  Bring a flashlight or headlamp. Port-a-john available.

We will meet at 7:00 p.m. in the parking lot of Braddock Bay Bird Observatory, 10 Braddocks Avenue, Hilton, NY 14468.  Take the Manitou Beach Road exit from Ontario State Parkway.  Turn north and follow Manitou Beach Road until it forks.  Take the left fork to the small dirt road (there is a sign for BBBO).  The parking lot is at the end of the dirt road.

COVID-19 Policies and Procedures

Due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, the Rochester Birding Association is instituting the following procedures for all field trips. By registering for this field trip, you acknowledge that you have read and will abide by these policies.

Registration Policies:

• Advance registration through Eventbrite is required in order to attend the trip. NYS guidelines for the allowable number of attendees at an outdoor gathering change frequently.  Exact capacity limits will be determined on a trip by trip basis, and they may be subject to change.
• Individuals who did not pre-register will not be allowed to attend the field trip.
• Should you decide not to attend the trip, we encourage you to cancel your reservation to make room for others. Canceling is easily done through the Eventbrite website; see your confirmation email for details.

Health Screening Considerations:

• Full contact information is required at registration, in case contact tracing is requested.
• No one who has a temperature of 100.4F or greater (without having taken any fever-reducing medications) should attend.
• No one who has any COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, or loss of taste or smell) should attend.
• No one who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days or who has been instructed to self-isolate or quarantine should attend.
• No one who has been in close (within 6 feet) or proximate (same closed environment, but greater than 6 feet) contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has had symptoms of COVID-19 within the past 14 days, should attend.
• No one who has traveled or who lives with someone who has traveled to a country or state on the New York coronavirus travel advisory list in the last 14 days should attend.
• Participants who test positive for the coronavirus within 14 days after attending a field trip are encouraged to contact the RBA.

Social Distancing and Safety Best Practices

• Participants will be required to stay 6 feet apart at all times and wear a mask whenever they are outside of their car.
• Participants that reside in the same household may share binoculars or scopes, but we regret that otherwise optics cannot be shared. We realize this may be frustrating for those who do not have their own spotting scopes. To the extent possible, we will choose birding locations that do not require advanced optics.
• Participants are encouraged to keep hand sanitizer with them in case of accidental contact.

Waive and Release from Liability: By registering for this field trip you acknowledge that you assume all risks and hazards incidental to the activities of the event, including potential exposure to the novel coronavirus. You further release, absolve, hold harmless, defend and indemnify the Rochester Birding Association, Inc. and all individually named organizers, leaders, and participants of the event. In case of injury, you hereby waive all claims against all organizers, leaders, and participants.

Photo/Video Waiver: If you do not consent to have your image used by the RBA in the manner next described, check the appropriate box on the registration form. Otherwise, by registering for this field trip you hereby grant permission to the Rochester Birding Association to take and publish photos or videos of you in connection with the event listed above, with or without your name and for any lawful purpose including for example such purposes as publicity, illustration, advertising, and web content.