Conesus Inlet State WMA Field Trip - Registration Opens July 23, 2022
2022-07-30 07:30 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | Vitale Park, Vitale Park, Big Tree Rd, NY, 14480, United States
Explore this expansive wetland for Virginia Rails and Wood Duck families. We’ve seen eagles on a reliable basis, Cliff Swallows and more. This trip is a combination of driving, stopping at overlooks and short walks on dirt trails and dikes. Length about 1.5 mile of walking.
Restrooms are available at the meeting place only.
Meet at 7:30 a.m. at Vitale Park on Route 20A in Lakeville. The Park entrance is by the Lakeville post office on the south (lake) side of Route 20A and across the street from Smith’s Hardware. There’s a possibility of a trip extension to the Geneseo Airport area. Spotting scopes would be very useful.
COVID-19 Policies and Procedures
The Rochester Birding Association has instituted the following procedures for all field trips for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic. By registering for a 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 have eased considerably, but out of an abundance of caution, we will continue capacity limits that will be determined on a trip-by-trip basis.
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 before 1:00 PM the day before the trip 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

Mask wearing is required for participants who are not fully vaccinated; it is optional, but encouraged for those fully vaccinated.
We will continue to encourage social distancing whether or not a mask is worn.
As long as participants continue to socially-distance, we will allow scope sharing.
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.

Beginner Trip: Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge - Registration Opens July 31, 2022
2022-08-07 13:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, Seneca Falls, NY, 13148, United States
Learn more about the fall migration of shorebirds in this nearby birding treasure. We’ll visit key spots you’ll want to revisit again and again! There will be a number of stops during this mostly driving trip.
Restrooms may be available at the Visitor Center.
Meet at 1:00 p.m. in the Bushnell’s Basin Park and Ride lot. The lot is off Route 96 just south of Exit 27 from I-490. Alternatively, meet up with the group at the first stop, the Montezuma visitor center at 2:00 p.m. Bring binoculars and, if you have them, spotting scopes.
Note: This is a field trip for beginners. New birders should feel free to join these trips regardless of experience level: bring binoculars if you have them. The pace & focus of Beginner Trips may not be satisfying for experienced birders. Our Beginner Trips focus on teaching identification skills, learning new habitats, and answering questions. Experienced birders are welcome but may be pressed into service as educators!
COVID-19 Policies and Procedures
The Rochester Birding Association has instituted the following procedures for all field trips for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic. By registering for a 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 have eased considerably, but out of an abundance of caution, we will continue capacity limits that will be determined on a trip-by-trip basis.
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 before 1:00 PM the day before the trip 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

Mask wearing is required for participants who are not fully vaccinated; it is optional, but encouraged for those fully vaccinated.
We will continue to encourage social distancing whether or not a mask is worn.
As long as participants continue to socially-distance, we will allow scope sharing.
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.

New! Braddock Bay East Spit Field Trip, a Field Trip for Young Birders - Registration Opens August 13, 2022 at 7:30pm
2022-08-20 10:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Braddock Bay East Spit, 105 East Manitou Road, Rochester, NY, 14610, United States
This trip is open to young birders ages 8 to18 accompanied by a parent. The East Spit of Braddock Bay is a well-known spot for migrating shorebirds in late summer. Herons, eagles, Osprey and early warbler migrants are also possible. The trail is a woodland path between Lake Ontario and the Braddock Bay Marshes. We will walk out to the end of the spit and back, about 1 mile. The trail is muddy, narrow and has uneven, rocky footing in places. Sturdy waterproof shoes or boots and bug spray will be needed. Crossing the channel to the barrier island will be completely optional and dependent on water levels.
Restrooms are usually available next to the Marina building.
Meet at 10:00 a.m. in the East Spit parking lot beyond Westport Marina at Braddock Bay. Note: You must drive through the Marina to reach the East Spit parking lot. Spotting Scopes will be provided by the leaders.
RBA Guidelines for Field Trips
In order to protect the health of our birders and the wider community, and in order to ensure compliance with any NYS COVID-19 mandates that might be in effect, the following policies and guidelines will govern our field trips for the foreseeable future. By registering for a field trip, you acknowledge that you have read and will abide by these policies.
Registration:

Advance registration through Eventbrite will continue for all field trips.
Registration opens at 7:30 p.m. seven days before the trip date.
Generally, capacity limits have been greatly expanded, but will be determined on a trip-by-trip basis with input from leaders (or if there are NYS mandates).
If you are not be able to attend, we encourage you to cancel your reservation before 1:00 p.m. the day before the trip to make room for others. (Canceling is done through the your Eventbrite confirmation email.)

Health Screening Considerations:

Full contact information is required at registration, in case contact tracing is requested.
No one who has any COVID-19 symptoms (or Flu or cold, for that matter!) should attend.  Symptoms: cough, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, runny nose, fever of 100.4 F or greater without fever-reducing medications, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or loss of taste or smell.
No one who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days or who has been instructed to self-isolate or quarantine should attend.  [The current (August 2022) CDC protocol, for COVID-19 is a minimum of 5 days isolation ended only if there is no fever, without medication, on day 6 or after 24 more hours without a fever. After that, one is to wear a mask for another 5 days when outside the home.]
No one unwilling to wear a mask who has been in close contact (within 6 feet) with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has had symptoms of COVID-19 within the past 10 days, should attend.
Participants who test positive for the coronavirus within 14 days after attending a field trip are encouraged to contact the RBA at info@rochesterbirding.org.

Safety Best Practices:
If participants have met the above requirements:

Mask wearing is optional.
Scope use/sharing is allowed.
You are encouraged to keep hand sanitizer with you.

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.

Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge Field Trip - Registration Opens August 14, 2022 at 7:30pm
2022-08-21 10:30 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, Seneca Falls, NY, 13148, United States
We’ll be looking for waterfowl and migrating shorebirds. Expect to see herons, eagles and possibly falcons. There will be a number of stops during this mostly driving trip.
Restrooms may be available at the Visitor Center.
Meet at 10:30 a.m. at the Montezuma Visitor Center. Pack a lunch. Spotting scopes would be useful. Radios would be helpful.
RBA Guidelines for Field Trips
In order to protect the health of our birders and the wider community, and in order to ensure compliance with any NYS COVID-19 mandates that might be in effect, the following policies and guidelines will govern our field trips for the foreseeable future. By registering for a field trip, you acknowledge that you have read and will abide by these policies.
Registration:

Advance registration through Eventbrite will continue for all field trips.
Registration opens at 7:30 p.m. seven days before the trip date.
Generally, capacity limits have been greatly expanded, but will be determined on a trip-by-trip basis with input from leaders (or if there are NYS mandates).
If you are not be able to attend, we encourage you to cancel your reservation before 1:00 p.m. the day before the trip to make room for others. (Canceling is done through the your Eventbrite confirmation email.)

Health Screening Considerations:

Full contact information is required at registration, in case contact tracing is requested.
No one who has any COVID-19 symptoms (or Flu or cold, for that matter!) should attend.  Symptoms: cough, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, runny nose, fever of 100.4 F or greater without fever-reducing medications, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or loss of taste or smell.
No one who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days or who has been instructed to self-isolate or quarantine should attend.  [The current (August 2022) CDC protocol, for COVID-19 is a minimum of 5 days isolation ended only if there is no fever, without medication, on day 6 or after 24 more hours without a fever. After that, one is to wear a mask for another 5 days when outside the home.]
No one unwilling to wear a mask who has been in close contact (within 6 feet) with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has had symptoms of COVID-19 within the past 10 days, should attend.
Participants who test positive for the coronavirus within 14 days after attending a field trip are encouraged to contact the RBA at info@rochesterbirding.org.

Safety Best Practices:
If participants have met the above requirements:

Mask wearing is optional.
Scope use/sharing is allowed.
You are encouraged to keep hand sanitizer with you.

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.

New! Braddock Bay East Spit Field Trip - Registration Opens August 20, 2022 at 7:30pm
2022-08-27 08:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Braddock Bay East Spit, 105 East Manitou Road, Rochester, NY, 14610, United States
The East Spit of Braddock Bay is a well-known spot for migrating shorebirds in late summer. Herons, eagles, Osprey and early warbler migrants are also possible. The trail is a woodland path between Lake Ontario and the Braddock Bay Marshes. We will walk out to the end of the spit and back, about 1 mile. The trail is muddy, narrow and has uneven, rocky footing in places. Sturdy waterproof shoes or boots and bug spray will be needed. Crossing the channel to the barrier island will be completely optional and dependent on water levels.
Restrooms are usually available next to the Marina building.
Meet at 8:00 a.m. in the East Spit parking lot beyond Westport Marina at Braddock Bay. Note: You must drive through the Marina to reach the East Spit parking lot. Spotting Scopes would be very helpful.
RBA Guidelines for Field Trips
In order to protect the health of our birders and the wider community, and in order to ensure compliance with any NYS COVID-19 mandates that might be in effect, the following policies and guidelines will govern our field trips for the foreseeable future. By registering for a field trip, you acknowledge that you have read and will abide by these policies.
Registration:

Advance registration through Eventbrite will continue for all field trips.
Registration opens at 7:30 p.m. seven days before the trip date.
Generally, capacity limits have been greatly expanded, but will be determined on a trip-by-trip basis with input from leaders (or if there are NYS mandates).
If you are not be able to attend, we encourage you to cancel your reservation before 1:00 p.m. the day before the trip to make room for others. (Canceling is done through the your Eventbrite confirmation email.)

Health Screening Considerations:

Full contact information is required at registration, in case contact tracing is requested.
No one who has any COVID-19 symptoms (or Flu or cold, for that matter!) should attend.  Symptoms: cough, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, runny nose, fever of 100.4 F or greater without fever-reducing medications, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or loss of taste or smell.
No one who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days or who has been instructed to self-isolate or quarantine should attend.  [The current (August 2022) CDC protocol, for COVID-19 is a minimum of 5 days isolation ended only if there is no fever, without medication, on day 6 or after 24 more hours without a fever. After that, one is to wear a mask for another 5 days when outside the home.]
No one unwilling to wear a mask who has been in close contact (within 6 feet) with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has had symptoms of COVID-19 within the past 10 days, should attend.
Participants who test positive for the coronavirus within 14 days after attending a field trip are encouraged to contact the RBA at info@rochesterbirding.org.

Safety Best Practices:
If participants have met the above requirements:

Mask wearing is optional.
Scope use/sharing is allowed.
You are encouraged to keep hand sanitizer with you.

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.

Beginner Trip: Charlotte & Turning Point Park - Registration Opens August 27, 2022 at 7:30pm
2022-09-03 08:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Charlotte / Ontario Beach Park, Charlotte Park, 4800 Lake Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14613, United States
We’ll be looking for shorebirds, warblers, and other fall migrants along the river and lakeshore. At Charlotte Beach, we’ll look for gulls in many plumages and some shorebirds, too. At Turning Point Park, we will look for the usual suspects and fall migrants. Bring binoculars. The Charlotte Beach area is mostly flat and paved-one long steep grade at Turning Point Park. Length about 2.0 miles total.
Restrooms are available at Charlotte only.
Meet at 8:00 a.m. at Ontario Beach Park in Charlotte in the northeast corner of the parking lot, beside the Genesee River outlet. Bring binoculars and, if you have them, spotting scopes.
Note: This is a field trip for beginners. New birders should feel free to join these trips regardless of experience level: bring binoculars if you have them. The pace & focus of Beginner Trips may not be satisfying for experienced birders. Our Beginner Trips focus on teaching identification skills, learning new habitats, and answering questions. Experienced birders are welcome but may be pressed into service as educators!
RBA Guidelines for Field Trips
In order to protect the health of our birders and the wider community, and in order to ensure compliance with any NYS COVID-19 mandates that might be in effect, the following policies and guidelines will govern our field trips for the foreseeable future. By registering for a field trip, you acknowledge that you have read and will abide by these policies.
Registration:

Advance registration through Eventbrite will continue for all field trips.
Registration opens at 7:30 p.m. seven days before the trip date.
Generally, capacity limits have been greatly expanded, but will be determined on a trip-by-trip basis with input from leaders (or if there are NYS mandates).
If you are not be able to attend, we encourage you to cancel your reservation before 1:00 p.m. the day before the trip to make room for others. (Canceling is done through the your Eventbrite confirmation email.)

Health Screening Considerations:

Full contact information is required at registration, in case contact tracing is requested.
No one who has any COVID-19 symptoms (or Flu or cold, for that matter!) should attend.  Symptoms: cough, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, runny nose, fever of 100.4 F or greater without fever-reducing medications, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or loss of taste or smell.
No one who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days or who has been instructed to self-isolate or quarantine should attend.  [The current (August 2022) CDC protocol, for COVID-19 is a minimum of 5 days isolation ended only if there is no fever, without medication, on day 6 or after 24 more hours without a fever. After that, one is to wear a mask for another 5 days when outside the home.]
No one unwilling to wear a mask who has been in close contact (within 6 feet) with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has had symptoms of COVID-19 within the past 10 days, should attend.
Participants who test positive for the coronavirus within 14 days after attending a field trip are encouraged to contact the RBA at info@rochesterbirding.org.

Safety Best Practices:
If participants have met the above requirements:

Mask wearing is optional.
Scope use/sharing is allowed.
You are encouraged to keep hand sanitizer with you.

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.

September Meeting in Person & via Zoom with Speaker Dominic Sherony - "Eastern Australia: It’s Unique and Spectacular Birds"
2022-09-08 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Asbury First Methodist Church, 1050 East Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14607, United States
If you had to select two words to characterize Australian birds, they might be strange and beautiful. There are bird families that have spectacular colors, some that have ancient origins, and others with unusual behaviors. The varied habitats and geological history of Australia resulted in a diversified bird population that has a high percentage of endemic species. Dominic will focus on selected families of birds or individual species and present their uniqueness and, in some cases, their unusual lifestyles.
Dominic Sherony was born and grew up in northern Illinois and attended University of Detroit and Illinois Institute of Technology, completing degrees in Chemical Engineering. He worked for Xerox Corporation for 31 years after graduate school. In that period, he took up bird watching as a hobby in 1972 and has been an active birder since, especially after his retirement. Dominic has many and varied interests in birding including leading local trips. He was a member of the New York State Avian Records Committee for eleven years, and was a region co-coordinator with Robert Spahn for the NYS 2000 breeding bird atlas. Dominic has written numerous papers about birds, has volunteered at the Braddock Bay Bird Observatory, volunteers presently at HANA, enjoys the challenge of photographing birds, and occasionally give talks.
Look for the Zoom link in your email a few days prior to the meeting. The Zoom Room will open at 6:45 PM. Don’t wait until the last minute to sign on, you might be left out!

Whiting Road Nature Preserve Field Trip - Registration Opens September 3, 2022 at 7:30pm
2022-09-10 08:00 - 11:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Whiting Road Preserve, 403 Whiting Road, Webster, NY, 14580, United States
This preserve includes about 240 acres of land that is made up of a variety of birding habitats. This results in decent birding lists throughout the year. The trails are well marked and maintained. However, they do get muddy at times, so appropriate footwear is recommended based on the weather leading up to the trip date. Most of the trails are somewhat flat, but there definitely will be a bit of up and down trail climbing in some sections. Hopefully, our trek will take us on parts of the blue, brown, orange, and red trails. Moderate difficulty in a few spots. Length about 2.5 miles.
Restrooms are not available.
Meet at 8:00 a.m. in the parking lot on Whiting Road in Webster, 0.6 miles south of Lake Road.
RBA Guidelines for Field Trips
In order to protect the health of our birders and the wider community, and in order to ensure compliance with any NYS COVID-19 mandates that might be in effect, the following policies and guidelines will govern our field trips for the foreseeable future. By registering for a field trip, you acknowledge that you have read and will abide by these policies.
Registration:

Advance registration through Eventbrite will continue for all field trips.
Registration opens at 7:30 p.m. seven days before the trip date.
Generally, capacity limits have been greatly expanded, but will be determined on a trip-by-trip basis with input from leaders (or if there are NYS mandates).
If you are not be able to attend, we encourage you to cancel your reservation before 1:00 p.m. the day before the trip to make room for others. (Canceling is done through the your Eventbrite confirmation email.)

Health Screening Considerations:

Full contact information is required at registration, in case contact tracing is requested.
No one who has any COVID-19 symptoms (or Flu or cold, for that matter!) should attend.  Symptoms: cough, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, runny nose, fever of 100.4 F or greater without fever-reducing medications, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or loss of taste or smell.
No one who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days or who has been instructed to self-isolate or quarantine should attend.  [The current (August 2022) CDC protocol, for COVID-19 is a minimum of 5 days isolation ended only if there is no fever, without medication, on day 6 or after 24 more hours without a fever. After that, one is to wear a mask for another 5 days when outside the home.]
No one unwilling to wear a mask who has been in close contact (within 6 feet) with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has had symptoms of COVID-19 within the past 10 days, should attend.
Participants who test positive for the coronavirus within 14 days after attending a field trip are encouraged to contact the RBA at info@rochesterbirding.org.

Safety Best Practices:
If participants have met the above requirements:

Mask wearing is optional.
Scope use/sharing is allowed.
You are encouraged to keep hand sanitizer with you.

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.

Durand-Eastman Park Field Trip - Registration Opens September 4, 2022 at 7:30pm
2022-09-11 08:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Durand Eastman Park, Lakeshore Boulevard, Rochester, NY, 14620, United States
We’ll be looking for thrushes and other migrants. Durand can be surprising this time of year. This will be an easy 2-3 hour walk mostly along paved roads, with a steady medium grade at one point. Length about 2.5 miles, total.
Restroom facilities are not available on this route, but are in other areas of the park.
Meet at 8:00 a.m. in the Lake Shore Blvd. parking lot between Zoo Road and Log Cabin Road (Parking Lot D).
RBA Guidelines for Field Trips
In order to protect the health of our birders and the wider community, and in order to ensure compliance with any NYS COVID-19 mandates that might be in effect, the following policies and guidelines will govern our field trips for the foreseeable future. By registering for a field trip, you acknowledge that you have read and will abide by these policies.
Registration:

Advance registration through Eventbrite will continue for all field trips.
Registration opens at 7:30 p.m. seven days before the trip date.
Generally, capacity limits have been greatly expanded, but will be determined on a trip-by-trip basis with input from leaders (or if there are NYS mandates).
If you are not be able to attend, we encourage you to cancel your reservation before 1:00 p.m. the day before the trip to make room for others. (Canceling is done through the your Eventbrite confirmation email.)

Health Screening Considerations:

Full contact information is required at registration, in case contact tracing is requested.
No one who has any COVID-19 symptoms (or Flu or cold, for that matter!) should attend.  Symptoms: cough, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, runny nose, fever of 100.4 F or greater without fever-reducing medications, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or loss of taste or smell.
No one who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days or who has been instructed to self-isolate or quarantine should attend.  [The current (August 2022) CDC protocol, for COVID-19 is a minimum of 5 days isolation ended only if there is no fever, without medication, on day 6 or after 24 more hours without a fever. After that, one is to wear a mask for another 5 days when outside the home.]
No one unwilling to wear a mask who has been in close contact (within 6 feet) with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has had symptoms of COVID-19 within the past 10 days, should attend.
Participants who test positive for the coronavirus within 14 days after attending a field trip are encouraged to contact the RBA at info@rochesterbirding.org.

Safety Best Practices:
If participants have met the above requirements:

Mask wearing is optional.
Scope use/sharing is allowed.
You are encouraged to keep hand sanitizer with you.

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.

New! Sandra L. Frankel Nature Park (Brickyard Trail) - Registration opens September 7, 2022 at 7:30pm
2022-09-14 08:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Sandra L. Frankel Nature Park (Brickyard Trail), 1239 Westfall Road, Rochester, NY, United States
The Brickyard Trail is a wide, flat, fine gravel, multi-use trail situated between Elmwood Avenue and Westfall Road in Brighton (across from the east end of Buckland Park). It contains woods at both ends and ponds and marsh in the middle, providing good bird habitat. We will walk the full length of the trail and back (1.7 miles) to look for migrating fall warblers, kinglets, sparrows, wrens, and finches. There might even be a late Green Heron hanging around.
Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Westfall Road entrance. There is parking in the five spots next to the trail. (Enter from Westfall Road at The Landing at Brighton complex—make the first right, drive about 100 feet to the parking spots.) There is additional parking across Westfall Road at the Buckland Park Headquarters at Buckland House (where the eagle statue is). Cross Westfall Road at the crosswalk to the trail entrance. RTS “South Clinton” bus stop is a few yards from trail head on Westfall Rd. Dress for the weather. Insect repellent may be needed for the wooded sections.
No restrooms. Wheelchair friendly.
RBA Guidelines for Field Trips
In order to protect the health of our birders and the wider community, and in order to ensure compliance with any NYS COVID-19 mandates that might be in effect, the following policies and guidelines will govern our field trips for the foreseeable future. By registering for a field trip, you acknowledge that you have read and will abide by these policies.
Registration:

Advance registration through Eventbrite will continue for all field trips.
Registration opens at 7:30 p.m. seven days before the trip date.
Generally, capacity limits have been greatly expanded, but will be determined on a trip-by-trip basis with input from leaders (or if there are NYS mandates).
If you are not be able to attend, we encourage you to cancel your reservation before 1:00 p.m. the day before the trip to make room for others. (Canceling is done through the your Eventbrite confirmation email.)

Health Screening Considerations:

Full contact information is required at registration, in case contact tracing is requested.
No one who has any COVID-19 symptoms (or Flu or cold, for that matter!) should attend.  Symptoms: cough, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, runny nose, fever of 100.4 F or greater without fever-reducing medications, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or loss of taste or smell.
No one who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days or who has been instructed to self-isolate or quarantine should attend.  [The current (August 2022) CDC protocol, for COVID-19 is a minimum of 5 days isolation ended only if there is no fever, without medication, on day 6 or after 24 more hours without a fever. After that, one is to wear a mask for another 5 days when outside the home.]
No one unwilling to wear a mask who has been in close contact (within 6 feet) with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has had symptoms of COVID-19 within the past 10 days, should attend.
Participants who test positive for the coronavirus within 14 days after attending a field trip are encouraged to contact the RBA at info@rochesterbirding.org.

Safety Best Practices:
If participants have met the above requirements:

Mask wearing is optional.
Scope use/sharing is allowed.
You are encouraged to keep hand sanitizer with you.

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.

Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge Field Trip - Registration Opens September 10, 2022 at 7:30pm
2022-09-17 10:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, Seneca Falls, NY, 13148, United States
We’ll be looking for waterfowl and migrating shorebirds. Expect to see herons, eagles and possibly falcons. There will be a number of stops during this mostly driving trip.
Restrooms may be available at the Visitor Center.
Meet at 10:30 a.m. at the Montezuma visitor center. Pack a lunch. Spotting scopes would be very useful.
RBA Guidelines for Field Trips
In order to protect the health of our birders and the wider community, and in order to ensure compliance with any NYS COVID-19 mandates that might be in effect, the following policies and guidelines will govern our field trips for the foreseeable future. By registering for a field trip, you acknowledge that you have read and will abide by these policies.
Registration:

Advance registration through Eventbrite will continue for all field trips.
Registration opens at 7:30 p.m. seven days before the trip date.
Generally, capacity limits have been greatly expanded, but will be determined on a trip-by-trip basis with input from leaders (or if there are NYS mandates).
If you are not be able to attend, we encourage you to cancel your reservation before 1:00 p.m. the day before the trip to make room for others. (Canceling is done through the your Eventbrite confirmation email.)

Health Screening Considerations:

Full contact information is required at registration, in case contact tracing is requested.
No one who has any COVID-19 symptoms (or Flu or cold, for that matter!) should attend.  Symptoms: cough, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, runny nose, fever of 100.4 F or greater without fever-reducing medications, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or loss of taste or smell.
No one who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days or who has been instructed to self-isolate or quarantine should attend.  [The current (August 2022) CDC protocol, for COVID-19 is a minimum of 5 days isolation ended only if there is no fever, without medication, on day 6 or after 24 more hours without a fever. After that, one is to wear a mask for another 5 days when outside the home.]
No one unwilling to wear a mask who has been in close contact (within 6 feet) with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has had symptoms of COVID-19 within the past 10 days, should attend.
Participants who test positive for the coronavirus within 14 days after attending a field trip are encouraged to contact the RBA at info@rochesterbirding.org.

Safety Best Practices:
If participants have met the above requirements:

Mask wearing is optional.
Scope use/sharing is allowed.
You are encouraged to keep hand sanitizer with you.

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.

Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge Field Trip - Registration Opens September 18, 2022 at 7:30pm
2022-09-25 11:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, NY, United States
We’ll look for migrant ducks and various passerines in this “get to know Iroquois in autumn” trip. This trip is a combination of driving and walking and includes a boardwalk, forest trail, and dirt road. Length about 3.5 miles total on mostly flat trail.
Port-a-john available about midway through trip.
Meet at 11:00 a.m. at the Brockport Wegmans’ parking lot (restroom). For those traveling from the west, meet at the Upper Stafford Marsh Overlook near 5999 Albion Road, Oakfield, NY at 11:30 a.m.
Bring a lunch and beverages as this trip can go until sundown. Spotting scopes would be very useful.
RBA Guidelines for Field Trips
In order to protect the health of our birders and the wider community, and in order to ensure compliance with any NYS COVID-19 mandates that might be in effect, the following policies and guidelines will govern our field trips for the foreseeable future. By registering for a field trip, you acknowledge that you have read and will abide by these policies.
Registration:

Advance registration through Eventbrite will continue for all field trips.
Registration opens at 7:30 p.m. seven days before the trip date.
Generally, capacity limits have been greatly expanded, but will be determined on a trip-by-trip basis with input from leaders (or if there are NYS mandates).
If you are not be able to attend, we encourage you to cancel your reservation before 1:00 p.m. the day before the trip to make room for others. (Canceling is done through the your Eventbrite confirmation email.)

Health Screening Considerations:

Full contact information is required at registration, in case contact tracing is requested.
No one who has any COVID-19 symptoms (or Flu or cold, for that matter!) should attend.  Symptoms: cough, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, runny nose, fever of 100.4 F or greater without fever-reducing medications, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or loss of taste or smell.
No one who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days or who has been instructed to self-isolate or quarantine should attend.  [The current (August 2022) CDC protocol, for COVID-19 is a minimum of 5 days isolation ended only if there is no fever, without medication, on day 6 or after 24 more hours without a fever. After that, one is to wear a mask for another 5 days when outside the home.]
No one unwilling to wear a mask who has been in close contact (within 6 feet) with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has had symptoms of COVID-19 within the past 10 days, should attend.
Participants who test positive for the coronavirus within 14 days after attending a field trip are encouraged to contact the RBA at info@rochesterbirding.org.

Safety Best Practices:
If participants have met the above requirements:

Mask wearing is optional.
Scope use/sharing is allowed.
You are encouraged to keep hand sanitizer with you.

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.

Hamlin Beach State Park Field Trip - Registration Opens October 2, 2022 at 7:30pm
2022-10-09 08:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | NY
We’ll start off walking flat wooded and brushy areas of the park, looking for thrushes, sparrows, and maybe a half-hardy warbler or two. After that, we’ll stop by the lake watch to view ducks on the water and in flight, learning about the lake watch process. Dress appropriately for cooler weather along the lake, and wear comfortable footwear.
Restroom facilities are available.
Meet at 8:00 a.m. in Hamlin Beach State Park, Parking Lot 1. Spotting scopes would be very useful.
RBA Guidelines for Field Trips
In order to protect the health of our birders and the wider community, and in order to ensure compliance with any NYS COVID-19 mandates that might be in effect, the following policies and guidelines will govern our field trips for the foreseeable future. By registering for a field trip, you acknowledge that you have read and will abide by these policies.
Registration:

Advance registration through Eventbrite will continue for all field trips.
Registration opens at 7:30 p.m. seven days before the trip date.
Generally, capacity limits have been greatly expanded, but will be determined on a trip-by-trip basis with input from leaders (or if there are NYS mandates).
If you are not be able to attend, we encourage you to cancel your reservation before 1:00 p.m. the day before the trip to make room for others. (Canceling is done through the your Eventbrite confirmation email.)

Health Screening Considerations:

Full contact information is required at registration, in case contact tracing is requested.
No one who has any COVID-19 symptoms (or Flu or cold, for that matter!) should attend.  Symptoms: cough, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, runny nose, fever of 100.4 F or greater without fever-reducing medications, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or loss of taste or smell.
No one who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days or who has been instructed to self-isolate or quarantine should attend.  [The current (August 2022) CDC protocol, for COVID-19 is a minimum of 5 days isolation ended only if there is no fever, without medication, on day 6 or after 24 more hours without a fever. After that, one is to wear a mask for another 5 days when outside the home.]
No one unwilling to wear a mask who has been in close contact (within 6 feet) with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has had symptoms of COVID-19 within the past 10 days, should attend.
Participants who test positive for the coronavirus within 14 days after attending a field trip are encouraged to contact the RBA at info@rochesterbirding.org.

Safety Best Practices:
If participants have met the above requirements:

Mask wearing is optional.
Scope use/sharing is allowed.
You are encouraged to keep hand sanitizer with you.

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.

October Meeting in Person & via Zoom with Speaker Dr. Andrew Stillman - "Ecology in Action through Wildfire, Woodpeckers, and Birders Like You"
2022-10-13 00:00 - 23:59 (America/New_York) | Asbury First Methodist Church, 1050 East Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14607, United States
photo credit: black-backed woodpecker, Kurt Bauschardt, via Flickr.
How do we harness new scientific knowledge and use it as a tool for change? In this program, Dr. Andrew Stillman will share new findings from ongoing research efforts and describe what it means for bird conservation. We will hear stories about the emerging pattern of giant wildfires in the Western U.S., elusive fire-loving woodpeckers of California, and new approaches to leverage eBird data for conservation policy across the continent.
Dr. Andrew Stillman is an Atkinson Postdoctoral Fellow at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. A Western New York native, Andrew holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Biology from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Connecticut. His research program stems from an interest in applied ecology—studying wildlife and applying that knowledge to key questions in conservation and management. Current projects span the fields of disturbance ecology, global change, and citizen science while providing opportunities for student mentorship and science outreach. Find out more at https://andrewstillman.weebly.com/
Look for the Zoom link in your email a few days prior to the meeting. The Zoom Room will open at 6:45 PM. Don’t wait until the last minute to sign on, you might be left out!

Batavia Wastewater Treatment Plant Field Trip
2022-10-15 09:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Batavia Wastewater Treatment Plant, 9 Treadeasy Ave, Batavia, NY, 14020, United States
Why a wastewater treatment plant? Open water and a great location mean that this spot appears regularly on fall birding lists. We will drive on the banks of the ponds, getting out wherever the birds are congregating. Discover the great opportunity this spot (and its helpful staff) offers.
Restrooms might be available at the plant offices.
Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the wastewater treatment plant at the end of Industrial Blvd., which is off Pearl Street (Route 33) at the western edge of the city of Batavia. From the NYS Thruway (I-90) at Batavia, exit 48, go south on Route 98 into the city of Batavia. At the second light (candy store), make a right turn onto Oak Street, which is Route 33. Continue on Rt. 33 west approximately 0.5 miles to Industrial Blvd. and make a left. Proceed south past the railroad tracks and straight up the hill and through the open gates to the entrance building of the treatment plant (first building on your left).
Or, from Rochester, take I-490 W, to Exit 2 (Route 33 west). Follow Route 33 west through Batavia; turn left onto Oak Street (Route 33), stay right at roundabout, continue on Route 33, 0.5 miles to Industrial Blvd., turn left. Continue straight across the railroad tracks and up the hill. Turn left into the parking lot of the offices.
If COVID guidelines allow, we will carpool from the plant offices. Spotting scopes would be very useful.
RBA Guidelines for Field Trips
In order to protect the health of our birders and the wider community, and in order to ensure compliance with any NYS COVID-19 mandates that might be in effect, the following policies and guidelines will govern our field trips for the foreseeable future. By registering for a field trip, you acknowledge that you have read and will abide by these policies.
Registration:

Advance registration through Eventbrite will continue for all field trips.
Registration opens at 7:30 p.m. seven days before the trip date.
Generally, capacity limits have been greatly expanded, but will be determined on a trip-by-trip basis with input from leaders (or if there are NYS mandates).
If you are not be able to attend, we encourage you to cancel your reservation before 1:00 p.m. the day before the trip to make room for others. (Canceling is done through the your Eventbrite confirmation email.)

Health Screening Considerations:

Full contact information is required at registration, in case contact tracing is requested.
No one who has any COVID-19 symptoms (or Flu or cold, for that matter!) should attend.  Symptoms: cough, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, runny nose, fever of 100.4 F or greater without fever-reducing medications, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or loss of taste or smell.
No one who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days or who has been instructed to self-isolate or quarantine should attend.  [The current (August 2022) CDC protocol, for COVID-19 is a minimum of 5 days isolation ended only if there is no fever, without medication, on day 6 or after 24 more hours without a fever. After that, one is to wear a mask for another 5 days when outside the home.]
No one unwilling to wear a mask who has been in close contact (within 6 feet) with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has had symptoms of COVID-19 within the past 10 days, should attend.
Participants who test positive for the coronavirus within 14 days after attending a field trip are encouraged to contact the RBA at info@rochesterbirding.org.

Safety Best Practices:
If participants have met the above requirements:

Mask wearing is optional.
Scope use/sharing is allowed.
You are encouraged to keep hand sanitizer with you.

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.

Durand Eastman Park Field Trip
2022-10-29 09:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Lakeshore Boulevard, Rochester, NY, 14620, United States
Waxwings, winter finches, and lingering migrants are possible. We may visit Irondequoit Bay to look for waterfowl. Steady moderate grade at one point. Length about 2.5 miles, total.
Restrooms may be available on this route.
Meet at 9:00 a.m. in the Lakeshore Blvd. parking lot between Zoo and Log Cabin Roads (Parking Lot D). Please dress for the weather.
RBA Guidelines for Field Trips
In order to protect the health of our birders and the wider community, and in order to ensure compliance with any NYS COVID-19 mandates that might be in effect, the following policies and guidelines will govern our field trips for the foreseeable future. By registering for a field trip, you acknowledge that you have read and will abide by these policies.
Registration:

Advance registration through Eventbrite will continue for all field trips.
Registration opens at 7:30 p.m. seven days before the trip date.
Generally, capacity limits have been greatly expanded, but will be determined on a trip-by-trip basis with input from leaders (or if there are NYS mandates).
If you are not be able to attend, we encourage you to cancel your reservation before 1:00 p.m. the day before the trip to make room for others. (Canceling is done through the your Eventbrite confirmation email.)

Health Screening Considerations:

Full contact information is required at registration, in case contact tracing is requested.
No one who has any COVID-19 symptoms (or Flu or cold, for that matter!) should attend.  Symptoms: cough, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, runny nose, fever of 100.4 F or greater without fever-reducing medications, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or loss of taste or smell.
No one who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days or who has been instructed to self-isolate or quarantine should attend.  [The current (August 2022) CDC protocol, for COVID-19 is a minimum of 5 days isolation ended only if there is no fever, without medication, on day 6 or after 24 more hours without a fever. After that, one is to wear a mask for another 5 days when outside the home.]
No one unwilling to wear a mask who has been in close contact (within 6 feet) with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has had symptoms of COVID-19 within the past 10 days, should attend.
Participants who test positive for the coronavirus within 14 days after attending a field trip are encouraged to contact the RBA at info@rochesterbirding.org.

Safety Best Practices:
If participants have met the above requirements:

Mask wearing is optional.
Scope use/sharing is allowed.
You are encouraged to keep hand sanitizer with you.

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.

November Meeting in Person & via Zoom with Speakers Amy Kahn & Kate Kremer - "We Birders Made a Difference! -- Lessons learned from a citizen action project working to make the Heritage Wind Project safer for birds"
2022-11-10 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Asbury First Methodist Church, 1050 East Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14607, United States
In 2007 The Rochester Birding Association (RBA) first published its position that it supports wind energy as an alternative to fossil fuel power generation, provided that the facilities do not cause undue harm to nesting and migrating birds. Through our conservation committee we have been active in seeing that this happens by challenging wind projects to reduce the impacts on birds and habitat through better project siting. We will show an example of how citizens affected policy and that will result in a commercial project that has fewer impacts to the environment while still meeting their goal of increasing the green energy supply.
Amy Kahn worked for 44 years as a professional ecologist, environmental scientist and educator, much of that time for the State of New York. She has served as Conservation Chair for Rochester Birding Association for 9 years and is a past RBA Vice President and President. She is dedicated to finding ways to produce green energy while preserving biodiversity. Amy received her MS in Environmental and Forest Ecology from SUNY CESF. She believes that individuals working together with others to affect positive change is the way we have a chance to succeed in passing this world on to future generations.
Kate Kremer is an RBA member and a founding member and Vice President of Save Ontario Shores (SOS). SOS is a not for profit organization formed in 2015, made up of Orleans and Niagara County residents who came together to explore local impacts of Lighthouse Wind, a large scale industrial wind project proposed in the towns of Yates and Somerset on the shores of Lake Ontario. She worked with other organizations to form the POWER coalition that opposed the siting of the Lighthouse Wind project in the Great Lakes shoreline migratory stopover region. She worked with RBA, Genesee Valley Audubon and the American Bird Conservancy, among other local groups, to bring local voices and local expertise to several industrial wind siting cases.
Look for the Zoom link in your email a few days prior to the meeting. The Zoom Room will open at 6:45 PM. Don’t wait until the last minute to sign on, you might be left out!

Niagara River
2022-11-27 09:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Niagara River, Old Fort Niagara, Youngstown, NY, 14174, United States
The Niagara River area is famous for the variety and number of gulls in winter. Join us on our birding venture along the Niagara River in both the US and Canada (yes, Canada!). We will start at Lake Ontario and work our way south to the Falls. Our focus will be on waterfowl and gulls, including Bonaparte’s Gull and Little Gull, with possible late migrating Common Tern, with additional stops for Red-headed Woodpecker, Black Vulture and late migrating passerines. This is a joint trip with the Buffalo Ornithological Society.

Meet at 9:00 a.m. in large parking lot next to the swimming pool of Fort Niagara State Park Beach, 1 Scott Avenue, Rt 18F, Youngstown, NY. Bring beverages and lunch for this is an all day trip. We will be crossing into Canada (as of October 1, 2022, all COVID restrictions were dropped). Carpooling would be helpful. Participants MUST bring passports or Enhanced Driver’s licenses. Dress warmly and in layers. Spotting scopes and FRS radios would be very helpful.

Leaders: Tom O’Donnell of the Buffalo Ornithological Society (BOS) 716-284-5569 and Neal Reilly 518-256-9147; Co-Leader: Cathy Ballard 585-322-2621

RBA Guidelines for Field Trips
In order to protect the health of our birders and the wider community, and in order to ensure compliance with any NYS COVID-19 mandates that might be in effect, the following policies and guidelines will govern our field trips for the foreseeable future. By registering for a field trip, you acknowledge that you have read and will abide by these policies.
Registration:

Advance registration through Eventbrite will continue for all field trips.
Registration opens at 7:30 p.m. seven days before the trip date.
Generally, capacity limits have been greatly expanded, but will be determined on a trip-by-trip basis with input from leaders (or if there are NYS mandates).
If you are not be able to attend, we encourage you to cancel your reservation before 1:00 p.m. the day before the trip to make room for others. (Canceling is done through the your Eventbrite confirmation email.)

Health Screening Considerations:

Full contact information is required at registration, in case contact tracing is requested.
No one who has any COVID-19 symptoms (or Flu or cold, for that matter!) should attend.  Symptoms: cough, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, runny nose, fever of 100.4 F or greater without fever-reducing medications, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or loss of taste or smell.
No one who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days or who has been instructed to self-isolate or quarantine should attend.  [The current (August 2022) CDC protocol, for COVID-19 is a minimum of 5 days isolation ended only if there is no fever, without medication, on day 6 or after 24 more hours without a fever. After that, one is to wear a mask for another 5 days when outside the home.]
No one unwilling to wear a mask who has been in close contact (within 6 feet) with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has had symptoms of COVID-19 within the past 10 days, should attend.
Participants who test positive for the coronavirus within 14 days after attending a field trip are encouraged to contact the RBA at info@rochesterbirding.org.

Safety Best Practices:
If participants have met the above requirements:

Mask wearing is optional.
Scope use/sharing is allowed.
You are encouraged to keep hand sanitizer with you.

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.

Conesus Lake Area
2022-12-03 08:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Conesus Lake Area, Vitale Park, Big Tree Road, NY, 14480, United States
We’ll be looking for Tundra Swans, Canvasback, Redhead and other waterfowl. This trip is a combination of driving, stopping at overlooks and short walks on mostly level dirt trails and dikes. Length about 1.5 mile walking. Dress warmly and in layers.
Restrooms are available at Vitale Park only.
Meet at 8:00 a.m. at Vitale Park on Route 20A in Lakeville. The park entrance is by the Lakeville post office on the south (lake) side of 20A and across the street from Smith’s Hardware. Spotting scopes would be very useful.
RBA Guidelines for Field Trips
In order to protect the health of our birders and the wider community, and in order to ensure compliance with any NYS COVID-19 mandates that might be in effect, the following policies and guidelines will govern our field trips for the foreseeable future. By registering for a field trip, you acknowledge that you have read and will abide by these policies.
Registration:

Advance registration through Eventbrite will continue for all field trips.
Registration opens at 7:30 p.m. seven days before the trip date.
Generally, capacity limits have been greatly expanded, but will be determined on a trip-by-trip basis with input from leaders (or if there are NYS mandates).
If you are not be able to attend, we encourage you to cancel your reservation before 1:00 p.m. the day before the trip to make room for others. (Canceling is done through the your Eventbrite confirmation email.)

Health Screening Considerations:

Full contact information is required at registration, in case contact tracing is requested.
No one who has any COVID-19 symptoms (or Flu or cold, for that matter!) should attend.  Symptoms: cough, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, runny nose, fever of 100.4 F or greater without fever-reducing medications, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or loss of taste or smell.
No one who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days or who has been instructed to self-isolate or quarantine should attend.  [The current (August 2022) CDC protocol, for COVID-19 is a minimum of 5 days isolation ended only if there is no fever, without medication, on day 6 or after 24 more hours without a fever. After that, one is to wear a mask for another 5 days when outside the home.]
No one unwilling to wear a mask who has been in close contact (within 6 feet) with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has had symptoms of COVID-19 within the past 10 days, should attend.
Participants who test positive for the coronavirus within 14 days after attending a field trip are encouraged to contact the RBA at info@rochesterbirding.org.

Safety Best Practices:
If participants have met the above requirements:

Mask wearing is optional.
Scope use/sharing is allowed.
You are encouraged to keep hand sanitizer with you.

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.

Beginner Birder Trip - Nations Road
2022-12-04 14:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Nations Road, 2658-2682 Nations Rd, Avon, NY, 14414, United States
Sharpen your skills on wintering hawks and Short-eared Owls. Other wintering birds such as Horned Larks, Snow Buntings, and Lapland Longspurs are often present. This trip is a combination of driving and viewing at stops along roads. Length about .5 mile walking along the road.
Restroom facilities are not available except at Tops. Bring binoculars.
Meet at 2:00 p.m. at the Tops Plaza in Avon on Routes 5 and 20, 2 miles west of I-390. If COVID guidelines allow, carpooling strongly advised. Dress warmly and in layers. Spotting scopes and FRS radios would be very useful.
Note: This is a field trip for beginners. New birders should feel free to join these trips regardless of experience level: bring binoculars if you have them. The pace & focus of Beginner Trips may not be satisfying for experienced birders. Our Beginner Trips focus on teaching identification skills, learning new habitats, and answering questions. Experienced birders are welcome but may be pressed into service as educators!
RBA Guidelines for Field Trips
In order to protect the health of our birders and the wider community, and in order to ensure compliance with any NYS COVID-19 mandates that might be in effect, the following pol27icies and guidelines will govern our field trips for the foreseeable future. By registering for a field trip, you acknowledge that you have read and will abide by these policies.
Registration:

Advance registration through Eventbrite will continue for all field trips.
Registration opens at 7:30 p.m. seven days before the trip date.
Generally, capacity limits have been greatly expanded, but will be determined on a trip-by-trip basis with input from leaders (or if there are NYS mandates).
If you are not be able to attend, we encourage you to cancel your reservation before 1:00 p.m. the day before the trip to make room for others. (Canceling is done through the your Eventbrite confirmation email.)

Health Screening Considerations:

Full contact information is required at registration, in case contact tracing is requested.
No one who has any COVID-19 symptoms (or Flu or cold, for that matter!) should attend.  Symptoms: cough, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, runny nose, fever of 100.4 F or greater without fever-reducing medications, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or loss of taste or smell.
No one who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days or who has been instructed to self-isolate or quarantine should attend.  [The current (August 2022) CDC protocol, for COVID-19 is a minimum of 5 days isolation ended only if there is no fever, without medication, on day 6 or after 24 more hours without a fever. After that, one is to wear a mask for another 5 days when outside the home.]
No one unwilling to wear a mask who has been in close contact (within 6 feet) with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has had symptoms of COVID-19 within the past 10 days, should attend.
Participants who test positive for the coronavirus within 14 days after attending a field trip are encouraged to contact the RBA at info@rochesterbirding.org.

Safety Best Practices:
If participants have met the above requirements:

Mask wearing is optional.
Scope use/sharing is allowed.
You are encouraged to keep hand sanitizer with you.

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.

December Meeting in Person & via Zoom with Speaker Dr. Benjamin Van Doren - "Changing Migrations in a Changing World”
2022-12-08 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Asbury First Methodist Church, 1050 East Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14607, United States
Migratory birds face increasing challenges as they cross hemispheres under the cover of darkness. Dr. Benjamin Van Doren will discuss recent advances in the science of monitoring and forecasting bird migration, and how the BirdCast project at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is bringing migration to the masses in an era of big data. Dr. Van Doren will also discuss how light pollution impacts migratory birds, presenting recent insights into the drivers of urban bird collisions and how lights-out programs can make a difference.
Dr. Benjamin Van Doren studies the eco-evolutionary responses of migratory birds to environmental change. His research spans spatial and population scales and straddles ecology, evolution, behavior, and conservation. Dr. Van Doren earned a PhD in Zoology from Oxford University, and he has received achievement awards from the Linnean Society of London, Zoological Society of London, and the American Ornithological Society. As a Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, he explores how climate change, light pollution, and human-dominated landscapes influence migratory bird ecology and behavior.
Look for the Zoom link in your email a few days prior to the meeting. The Zoom Room will open at 6:45 PM. Don’t wait until the last minute to sign on, you might be left out!

Birds & Brews @ Strangebird Brewery
2022-12-29 18:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Strangebird Brewery, 62 Marshall Street, Rochester, NY, 14607, United States
Drop in for a casual evening of bird talk. good food, and great beers! Strangebird is the winner of the 2022 New York State Brewery of the Year Award, so you’re sure to find something you like on their menu of hand-crafted brews—and they serve ciders, cocktails, and wine as well. The fresh food menu includes wings, pizzas, sandwiches, and more. No reservation required—-just show up ready to talk about birds, birding, travels, and whatever else comes up.

Birds & Brews @ Strangebird Brewery
2022-12-29 18:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Strangebird Brewery, 62 Marshall Street, Rochester, NY, 14607, United States
Join us for craft beers and conversation!
A chance to meet up and socialize with people who love birds.
Thursday, December 29, 2022
6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Strangebird Brewery
62 Marshall Street
Strangebird has a wide range of beers, ciders, wines, and cocktails,
and a menu of made-from-scratch, locally sourced seasonal foods.

Irondequoit Bay Outlet and Durand-Eastman Park – Year List Jump-Start
2023-01-01 08:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Irondequoit Bay Outlet, 5000 Culver Road, Rochester, NY, United States
Get started on your annual list! We’ll look for winter waterfowl on the Bay, then move to Durand-Eastman Park where we will stroll Log Cabin Road and Zoo Road looking for finches, waxwings, and resident birds. This trip is mostly on paved roads. No restrooms available.
Meet at 8:00 a.m. in the large parking lot next to the Outlet bridge on the west side of Irondequoit Bay Outlet (Irondequoit Bay State Marine Park).
Dress warmly! Spotting scopes would be very useful.
Leaders: Norma Platt and John Boettcher 585-671-9639

2023 RBA Guidelines for Field Trips
RBA field trips will abide by CDC (or NYS) health guidelines that might be in effect at the time of the field trip. By registering for a field trip you are agreeing that you will also abide by those guidelines. CDC recommendations related to COVID-19 can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html. NYS recommendations related to COVID-19 can be found here: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/isolation
Misc:

Scope use/sharing is allowed.
You are encouraged to keep hand sanitizer with you.

Registration:

The RBA will continue with advance registration through Eventbrite for all field trips.
Registration opens at 7:30 p.m. seven days before the trip date.
Registration closes at 1:00 p.m. the day before the trip.
Capacity limits have been greatly expanded but will be determined on a trip-by-trip basis with input from leaders (or if there are NYS mandates).
If you are not able to attend, we encourage you to cancel your reservation before 1:00 p.m. the day before the trip to make room for others.

Cancellation:
Canceling is done through your Eventbrite confirmation email.
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, please 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.

Webster Park – Campground Area
2023-01-07 08:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Webster Park – Campground Area, 1034 Lake Road, Webster, NY, 14580, United States
In mature forest and scrubby areas we’ll look for overwintering resident birds, lingering migrants such as Hermit Thrush and special winter visitors such as Evening and Pine Grosbeaks, White-winged and Red Crossbills and Bohemian Waxwings. This is a mostly level walk, partly on dirt road, partly on wooded dirt trail that can be uneven in places.
Wear boots with good traction and dress warmly as we may be outside for 2-3 hours, although you are free to leave at any time. Trip length will depend upon trail and weather conditions. No rest rooms available.
Meet at 8:00 a.m. in the parking lot on the south side of Lake Road across from Kanatota Lodge.
Leaders: Pat Martin 585-301-5485 and Rosemary Reilly 585-748-0802

2023 RBA Guidelines for Field Trips
RBA field trips will abide by CDC (or NYS) health guidelines that might be in effect at the time of the field trip. By registering for a field trip you are agreeing that you will also abide by those guidelines. CDC recommendations related to COVID-19 can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html. NYS recommendations related to COVID-19 can be found here: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/isolation
Misc:

Scope use/sharing is allowed.
You are encouraged to keep hand sanitizer with you.

Registration:

The RBA will continue with advance registration through Eventbrite for all field trips.
Registration opens at 7:30 p.m. seven days before the trip date.
Registration closes at 1:00 p.m. the day before the trip.
Capacity limits have been greatly expanded but will be determined on a trip-by-trip basis with input from leaders (or if there are NYS mandates).
If you are not able to attend, we encourage you to cancel your reservation before 1:00 p.m. the day before the trip to make room for others.

Cancellation:
Canceling is done through your Eventbrite confirmation email.
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, please 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.

Beginner Birder Trip – Mendon Ponds Park Songbird Trail
2023-01-14 09:30 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Mendon Ponds Park, 95 Douglas Road, Honeoye Falls, NY, 14472, United States
Registration begins at 7:30 p.m. on January 7, 20203, and ends at 1:00 p.m. on January 13, 2023.
This trip will be a leisurely winter walk along rolling trails (approx. 1-1/2 miles) featuring some very close looks at our winter passerines! Bring your binoculars, some sunflower seeds, and your camera! This is a family-friendly field trip.
Meet at 9:30 a.m. at the visitor center on Pond Road near Clover Street. Restroom is available at the visitor center.
Leaders: John Boettcher 585-671-9639 and co-leader Cathy Ballard 585-322-2621

2023 RBA Guidelines for Field Trips
RBA field trips will abide by CDC (or NYS) health guidelines that might be in effect at the time of the field trip. By registering for a field trip you are agreeing that you will also abide by those guidelines. CDC recommendations related to COVID-19 can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html. NYS recommendations related to COVID-19 can be found here: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/isolation
Misc:

Scope use/sharing is allowed.
You are encouraged to keep hand sanitizer with you.

Registration:

The RBA will continue with advance registration through Eventbrite for all field trips.
Registration opens at 7:30 p.m. seven days before the trip date.
Registration closes at 1:00 p.m. the day before the trip.
Capacity limits have been greatly expanded but will be determined on a trip-by-trip basis with input from leaders (or if there are NYS mandates).
If you are not able to attend, we encourage you to cancel your reservation before 1:00 p.m. the day before the trip to make room for others.

Cancellation:
Canceling is done through your Eventbrite confirmation email.
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, please 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.

Annual RBA Winter Dinner
2023-01-14 17:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Asbury First Methodist Church, 1050 East Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14607, United States
Save the date and come hungry! Everyone brings a dish to pass and there will be an optional donation, so drop some cash in the bowl if you like. The main entrees are Roasted Turkey and Honey Basted Ham. Gluten-free and vegetarian dishes are gladly welcomed.
Note: The church requests that no alcoholic beverages be consumed on the premises.
To make a reservation, contact Wanda Thistle by phone 585-281-0956 or send Wanda an email . In the email please include: your name, the number of people attending, and the side dish you will be bringing.
We will have a White Albatross table where members can sell or trade artwork, field guides, and other gently used items. If you bring something for the White Albatross Table, be sure to price it, and let us know if you want the sale price to go as a donation to RBA or back to you.
Our evening entertainment will be presentations by members of photos from their travels or from local birding adventures, as well as artwork or carvings. If you plan to give a presentation, please let us know and how long it will take. Please email Richard Ashworth or call him at (585) 381-2189; Richard will be coordinating this segment of the evening.
If you can help with this event, please contact Wanda Thistle at 585-281-0956.
Many hands make light work.

Avon and Lima Rural Tour
2023-01-21 14:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Nations Road, 2658-2682 Nations Rd, Avon, NY, 14414, United States
Registration begins at 7:30 p.m. on January 14, 2023, and ends at 1:00 p.m. on January 20, 2023.
We’ll search the Nations Road area, looking for Northern Shrikes, hawks, Snow Buntings, and other birds of the fields and farmland in winter. We’ll be mostly driving, with frequent stops along the road. Please carpool, if possible!
Meet at 2:00 p.m. at Tops Plaza (restroom) in Avon on Routes 5 and 20, two miles west of I-390. Spotting scopes would be very useful.
Leaders: Jim Kimball 585-519-9211 and Rick Stevens 585-425-7849

2023 RBA Guidelines for Field Trips
RBA field trips will abide by CDC (or NYS) health guidelines that might be in effect at the time of the field trip. By registering for a field trip you are agreeing that you will also abide by those guidelines. CDC recommendations related to COVID-19 can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html. NYS recommendations related to COVID-19 can be found here: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/isolation
Misc:

Scope use/sharing is allowed.
You are encouraged to keep hand sanitizer with you.

Registration:

The RBA will continue with advance registration through Eventbrite for all field trips.
Registration opens at 7:30 p.m. seven days before the trip date.
Registration closes at 1:00 p.m. the day before the trip.
Capacity limits have been greatly expanded but will be determined on a trip-by-trip basis with input from leaders (or if there are NYS mandates).
If you are not able to attend, we encourage you to cancel your reservation before 1:00 p.m. the day before the trip to make room for others.

Cancellation:
Canceling is done through your Eventbrite confirmation email.
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, please 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.

Birds and Brews - Swiftwater Brewing
2023-01-25 18:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Swiftwater Brewing, 378 Mount Hope, Rochester, NY, 14642, United States
Join us for craft beers and conversation!
A chance to meet up and socialize with people who love birds.
Wednesday, January 25, 2023
6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Swiftwater Brewing
378 Mount Hope Avenue, Rochester
Swiftwater has a wide range of beers, ciders, wines, and canned cocktails, and a menu of small plates, large plates, sandwiches and cookies. Check it out at https://swiftwaterbrewing.com/
