Rochester Birding Association

October: Bobby Harrison - "My search for the Ivory-billed Woodpecker"
2025-10-09 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Asbury First Methodist Church, 1050 East Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14607, United States
Thursday, October 9, 2025
Speaker:
Bobby Harrison – “My search for the Ivory-billed Woodpecker”

The struggle to prove the Ivory-billed Woodpecker still exists has obsessed believers and exasperated doubters for a century. Photographer Bobby Harrision has been working for decades to document the species once and for all before the government declares it extinct. He and Tim Gallagher, at the time the editor of Cornell Lab of Ornithlogy’s Living Bird magazine, were the last to see a bird that may have been an Ivory-billed during an expedition to the Big Woods of the Arkansas Delta in 2004. Harrison has captured video of what may have been an Ivory-billed since then, but the controversy continues—and he continues to search the swamps of eastern Arkansas to get a definitive image of the elusive bird.
Bobby Harrison is an award-winning nature photographer, speaker, writer and educator based in Huntsville, Alabama. Mr. Harrison holds a B.F.A. in Photography from Andrew’s University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, and a M.S. in Media Technology from Alabama A&M University. He served as the Director of the Art Program at Oakwood University from 1992 until his retirement in 2022, holding the rank of Associate Professor. He is also a charter member of the North American Nature Photography Association and served on the Board of Directors from January 2001 to February 2004.

Mr. Harrison has published articles and photographs in various national and international magazines and calendars such as: Audubon, Living bird, Birder’s World, Wildbird, Nature’s Best, Bird Watchers Digest, Natural History, National and International Wildlife, American Photo, Birds and Blooms, Sinra, Outdoor Photographer, Outdoor and Travel Photographer, as well as other publications. Calendars include Birder’s World, Audubon, and Sanibel Island. He is currently a columnist for the magazine, Creation Illustrated.

His travels have taken him from the Pribilof Islands and the Alaska mainland to Venezuela, from the Arizona deserts to coastal Maine to photograph his favorite subject: birds. He has traveled widely throughout North America giving
presentations on birds and bird photography.

Mr. Harrison has published photographs and more than 100 articles in various national and international nature magazines. He is also one of the featured photographers in a thirteen-part television series entitled “Nature’s Best Photography”. His bird photography has garnered numerous awards including the 2021 Lucie Awards competition for wildlife photography, the 2018 Audubon Photography Awards top 100 images, and three awards in the widely acclaimed Nature’s Best International Photography Awards competition.

In 2005 Mr. Harrison was elected a Fellow of The Explores Club in New York City. On March 18, 2006 he, along with his colleague Tim Gallagher of Cornell University received The Explores Clubs Presidents Award for Conservation at their annual gala. This prestigious award is given for a significant contribution to science through exploration.

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!

High Acres Nature Area
2025-10-12 08:30 - 12:00 | High Acres Nature Area (HANA), 425 Perinton Parkway, Fairport, NY, 14450, United States
Over 130 bird species have been observed at HANA including more than 70 that nest in the diverse habitats found there. During this fall field trip we expect to see various species of migrating birds such as ducks, kinglets, warblers and thrushes, and summer resident birds getting ready to migrate south. As a bonus, the fall colors should be in full glorious display. Our approximately two-mile walk over mostly flat trails will explore about 250 acres at HANA and may include some wet spots if it has been a wet fall. No restrooms available.
Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the parking lot on Perinton Parkway approximately 1/4 mile east of the Waste Management offices.
Leaders: Brian Rohrs and Gayle Lazoration 585-281-9534

RBA Field Trip Guidelines
All field trips go rain/snow or shine unless there is a travel advisory issued. Trips run approximately 2 to 4 hours. Bring binoculars. Wear weather appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes. Please arrive at the designated meeting location 10 minutes before the start time of the trip. Colds, flu, and COVID are still around–if you’re not feeling well, please stay home. Please carpool when possible!
Waive and Release from Liability: By participating in this field trip you acknowledge that you assume all risks and hazards incidental to the activities of the event. 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, upon arrival at the trip, please write “no photo” after your name on the sign-in Field Trip Roster. Otherwise, by attending 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
2025-10-16 18:00 - 21:00 | Swiftwater Brewing, 378 Mount Hope, Rochester, NY, 14642, United States
BIRDS AND BREWS
Join us for craft beers and conversation!
A chance to meet up and socialize with people who love birds.
Thursday, October 16, 2025
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/

Batavia Wastewater Treatment Plant
2025-10-18 09:00 - 12:00 | 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 for ducks as well as passerines. 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 headquarters (5 Treadeasy Ave.). Follow Rt. 33 West from Main Street, take the second exit on the roundabout to continue on Rt. 33W. Turn left on to Industrial Blvd., continue over railroad tracks, cross over Treadeasy Ave, go up a small hill, and through the gates at the end of Industrial Blvd. Turn left after the gates, follow the driveway around to the back side of the building. If possible, we will carpool from the plant offices. Spotting scopes would be very useful.
Leader: Neal Reilly 518-256-9147 and co-leader Cathy Ballard 585-322-2621

RBA Field Trip Guidelines
All field trips go rain/snow or shine unless there is a travel advisory issued. Trips run approximately 2 to 4 hours. Bring binoculars. Wear weather appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes. Please arrive at the designated meeting location 10 minutes before the start time of the trip. Colds, flu, and COVID are still around–if you’re not feeling well, please stay home. Please carpool when possible!
Waive and Release from Liability: By participating in this field trip you acknowledge that you assume all risks and hazards incidental to the activities of the event. 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, upon arrival at the trip, please write “no photo” after your name on the sign-in Field Trip Roster. Otherwise, by attending 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
2025-10-26 09:00 - 12:00 | Durand Eastman Park, Lakeshore Boulevard, Rochester, NY, 14620, United States
Dark-eyed Juncos, woodpeckers, Winter Wrens and, if lucky, Red-headed Woodpecker, are possible. After checking out Lake Ontario and Eastman Lake for ducks, we will drive to and walk a section of Horseshoe Road. We will then drive to Log Cabin Road where we will walk the non-motor vehicle section and parts of Zoo Road, traversing the Blue Trail to return to Log Cabin Road. Steady moderate grades at sections. Length about 2.5 miles, total. No restrooms available.
Meet at 9:00 a.m. in Parking Lot D on the right side of Lakeshore Blvd. opposite Log Cabin Road. Please dress for the weather.
Leader: Jeanne Verhulst 585-362-0803 and co-leaders Doug and Elizabeth Rabjohns 585-690-6296

RBA Field Trip Guidelines
All field trips go rain/snow or shine unless there is a travel advisory issued. Trips run approximately 2 to 4 hours. Bring binoculars. Wear weather appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes. Please arrive at the designated meeting location 10 minutes before the start time of the trip. Colds, flu, and COVID are still around–if you’re not feeling well, please stay home. Please carpool when possible!
Waive and Release from Liability: By participating in this field trip you acknowledge that you assume all risks and hazards incidental to the activities of the event. 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, upon arrival at the trip, please write “no photo” after your name on the sign-in Field Trip Roster. Otherwise, by attending 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: Andrea Patterson - "40 Years of Banding At Braddock Bay: What Have We Learned?"
2025-11-13 19:00 - 21:00 | Asbury First Methodist Church, 1050 East Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14607, United States
Thursday, November 13, 2025
40 Years of Banding At Braddock Bay: What Have We Learned? – Andrea Patterson

Braddock Bay Bird Observatory has been banding birds on the south shore of Lake Ontario since 1986, and we’ve collected data on more than 300,000 birds. Thanks to a platoon of collaborating researchers including local professors and their undergraduate and graduate students, our data has been used to answer a variety of questions concerning the behavior, ecology, and biology of birds. Join us for a romp through 40 years of research, as we tackle questions like:

Have we noticed any changes in bird populations or migrations over time?
Are migrating flocks just associations of birds that happen to be coordinated by time, place, and species, or is there something more meaningful at work?
Why do birds carry extra fat in the spring?
Why do some insectivores switch their diet to fruit in the fall?
Is it possible to distinguish individual Magnolia Warblers just by their night flight calls???
What is that thing on the chin of that Great Crested Flycatcher?

We promise that you don’t need a knowledge of statistics or the scientific method to understand and enjoy this fun overview of our work.

Biography:
Andrea Patterson began volunteering at Braddock Bay Bird Observatory in 2009, and banded her first bird in the spring of 2010 when she took a bander training class from Elizabeth Brooks. Since then, she has handled more than 20,000 birds as part of the Observatory’s long-term migration study and has been lucky enough to spend time banding Saltmarsh and Nelson’s Sparrows in New Hampshire, rails (including one Black Rail!) in Louisiana, and Tawny-crowned Greenlets in Belize. Now the executive director of the Braddock Bay Bird Observatory, Andrea coordinates the migration, summer, and owl monitoring programs; facilitates the use of the Observatory as a field site for a half-dozen research affiliates; and teaches four banding classes annually.

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 and Brews - Rising Storm Brewing Co.
2025-11-17 18:00 - 21:00 | Rising Storm Brewing Co., 1880 Blossom Road, Rochester, 14625, United States
BIRDS AND BREWS
Join us for craft beers and conversation!
A chance to meet up and socialize with people who love birds.

Monday, November 17, 2025
6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Rising Storm Brewing Co.
1880 Blossom Road
Rochester

The former Daisy Flour Mill has been transformed into a spacious brew pub! Beer, wine, cider, and cocktails are all on the menu, as well as an imaginative selection of meals for your dining pleasure. We’ll be on the upper level. https://www.risingstormbrewing.com

Niagara River (Joint trip with the Buffalo Ornithological Society)
2025-11-30 09:00 - 17:00 | Fort Niagara State Park Beach Swimming Pool, 43.264037, -79.056969, NY, 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 possibly Canada — if rarities are being seen there. 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. at the large parking lot next to the swimming pool of Fort Niagara State Park Beach at coordinates : 43.264037, -79.056969. Bring beverages and lunch for this is an all day trip. We will be crossing into Canada; carpooling would be very helpful. If the trip moves into Canada, participants who wish to join 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) 716-622-5185 or tmodonnell@roadrunner.com and Neal Reilly (RBA) 518-256-9147

RBA Field Trip Guidelines
All field trips go rain/snow or shine unless there is a travel advisory issued. Trips run approximately 2 to 4 hours. Bring binoculars. Wear weather appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes. Please arrive at the designated meeting location 10 minutes before the start time of the trip. Colds, flu, and COVID are still around–if you’re not feeling well, please stay home. Please carpool when possible!
Waive and Release from Liability: By participating in this field trip you acknowledge that you assume all risks and hazards incidental to the activities of the event. 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, upon arrival at the trip, please write “no photo” after your name on the sign-in Field Trip Roster. Otherwise, by attending 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
2025-12-06 08:00 - 12:00 | 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 is 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.
Leader: Jim Kimball 585-519-9211 and co-leaders Nick Kachala 585-750-5536 and Andrew Consler 585-991-2154

RBA Field Trip Guidelines
All field trips go rain/snow or shine unless there is a travel advisory issued. Trips run approximately 2 to 4 hours. Bring binoculars. Wear weather appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes. Please arrive at the designated meeting location 10 minutes before the start time of the trip. Colds, flu, and COVID are still around–if you’re not feeling well, please stay home. Please carpool when possible!
Waive and Release from Liability: By participating in this field trip you acknowledge that you assume all risks and hazards incidental to the activities of the event. 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, upon arrival at the trip, please write “no photo” after your name on the sign-in Field Trip Roster. Otherwise, by attending 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
2025-12-07 14:00 - 18:00 | 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 available at Tops.
Meet at 2:00 p.m. at the Tops Plaza in Avon on Routes 5 and 20, 2 miles west of I-390. If possible, carpooling from Tops would be very helpful. Bring binoculars, dress warmly and in layers. Spotting scopes and FRS radios would be very useful.
Leader: John Boettcher 585-671-9639 and co-leaders Niki Banke 585-317-3751 and Robert Crandall 585-278-3455
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 Field Trip Guidelines
All field trips go rain/snow or shine unless there is a travel advisory issued. Trips run approximately 2 to 4 hours. Bring binoculars. Wear weather appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes. Please arrive at the designated meeting location 10 minutes before the start time of the trip. Colds, flu, and COVID are still around–if you’re not feeling well, please stay home. Please carpool when possible!
Waive and Release from Liability: By participating in this field trip you acknowledge that you assume all risks and hazards incidental to the activities of the event. 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, upon arrival at the trip, please write “no photo” after your name on the sign-in Field Trip Roster. Otherwise, by attending 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: Jennifer Ackerman - "What an Owl Knows"
2025-12-11 19:00 - 21:00 | Asbury First Methodist Church, 1050 East Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14607, United States
Thursday, December 11, 2025
Speaker: Jennifer Ackerman – “What an Owl Knows”
For millennia, owls have captivated and intrigued us. Our fascination with these mysterious birds was first documented more than 30,000 years ago in the Chauvet Cave paintings in southern France. With their forward gaze and quiet flight, owls are often a symbol of wisdom, knowledge, and foresight. But what does an owl really know? And what do we really know about owls? Scientists have only recently begun to understand in deep detail the complex nature of these extraordinary birds. Some 260 species of owls exist today, and they reside on every continent except Antarctica, but they are far more difficult to find and study than other birds because they are cryptic, camouflaged, and mostly active in the dark of night. Join Jennifer in a multimedia presentation on what we have learned lately about the nature of the world’s most enigmatic birds. With remarkable photos, videos, and audio recordings, Jennifer explores the rich biology and natural history of owls and examines remarkable new scientific discoveries about their brains and behavior.
Award-winning science writer and speaker Jennifer Ackerman has been writing about nature and science for more than three decades. She is the author of seven books, including the New York Times bestsellers, The Genius of Birds (Penguin Press, 2016) and What an Owl Knows: The New Science of the World’s Most Enigmatic Birds (Penguin Press, June 2023), which was named a New York Times Notable Book of 2023.
Jennifer’s previous books include The Bird Way (2020), which won the 2021 Whitley Book Award and was a finalist for the 2021 PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award. It was named a Nature Book of the Year by the London Sunday Times. Her book on bird intelligence, The Genius of Birds, was a finalist for the 2017 National Academies Communication Book Award and was named one of the ten best nonfiction books of 2016 by the Wall Street Journal. It has been published in 28 languages.
Jennifer was named a Guggenheim Fellow in 2024. She is also the recipient of a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and fellowships from the National Endowment of the Arts, the Bunting Institute of Radcliffe College (now the Radcliffe Institute), Brown College at the University of Virginia, and the Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service at Tufts University.

Note: Photo taken by Sofia Runarsdotter
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 and Brews - Fifth Frame Brewing Co.
2025-12-29 18:00 - 21:00 | Fifth Frame Brewing Company, 5370 St. Paul Blvd., Rochester, NY, 14617, United States
BIRDS AND BREWS
Join us for craft beers and conversation!
A chance to meet up and socialize with people who love birds.
Monday, December 29, 2025
6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Fifth Frame Brewing Co.
5370 St. Paul Blvd.
(In the building that was the Summerville Grill,
just before the Summerville Pier)
It’s half-price wings night at Fifth Frame!
Come enjoy the creative menu and a wide range of beers,
as well as a full bar!
https://fifthframe.co

Irondequoit Bay Outlet and Durand-Eastman Park – Year List Jump-Start
2026-01-01 09:00 - 13:00 | 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 9:00 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
RBA Field Trip Guidelines
All field trips go rain/snow or shine unless there is a travel advisory issued. Trips run approximately 2 to 4 hours. Bring binoculars. Wear weather appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes. Please arrive at the designated meeting location 10 minutes before the start time of the trip. Colds, flu, and COVID are still around–if you’re not feeling well, please stay home. Please carpool when possible!
Waive and Release from Liability: By participating in this field trip you acknowledge that you assume all risks and hazards incidental to the activities of the event. 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, upon arrival at the trip, please write “no photo” after your name on the sign-in Field Trip Roster. Otherwise, by attending 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
2026-01-03 08:00 - 12:00 | 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 a 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 on trail and weather conditions. No restrooms available.
Meet at 8:00 a.m. Enter the park at 999 Lake Road (not the parking lot nearby). Drive the park road about .6 miles, park in the pull-offs before the gate. Don’t block the gate.
Leaders: Rosemary Reilly 585-748-0802 and co-leader Pat Martin 585-301-5485
RBA Field Trip Guidelines
All field trips go rain/snow or shine unless there is a travel advisory issued. Trips run approximately 2 to 4 hours. Bring binoculars. Wear weather appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes. Please arrive at the designated meeting location 10 minutes before the start time of the trip. Colds, flu, and COVID are still around–if you’re not feeling well, please stay home. Please carpool when possible!
Waive and Release from Liability: By participating in this field trip you acknowledge that you assume all risks and hazards incidental to the activities of the event. 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, upon arrival at the trip, please write “no photo” after your name on the sign-in Field Trip Roster. Otherwise, by attending 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
2026-01-10 09:30 - 12:30 | Mendon Ponds West (Wild Wings Parking Lot – Pond Road), 27 Pond Road, Honeoye Falls, NY, 14472, United States
This trip will be a leisurely winter walk along rolling trails (approx. 1.5 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 or port-a-john.
Leader: John Boettcher 585-671-9639 and co-leader Ann McMican 585-533-1222
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 Field Trip Guidelines
All field trips go rain/snow or shine unless there is a travel advisory issued. Trips run approximately 2 to 4 hours. Bring binoculars. Wear weather appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes. Please arrive at the designated meeting location 10 minutes before the start time of the trip. Colds, flu, and COVID are still around–if you’re not feeling well, please stay home. Please carpool when possible!
Waive and Release from Liability: By participating in this field trip you acknowledge that you assume all risks and hazards incidental to the activities of the event. 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, upon arrival at the trip, please write “no photo” after your name on the sign-in Field Trip Roster. Otherwise, by attending 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
2026-01-10 17:00 - 21:00 | Asbury First Methodist Church, 1050 East Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14607, United States
SAVE THE DATE!
Annual RBA Winter Dinner
Saturday, January 10, 2026
5:00pm – 9:00 pm
Asbury First United Methodist Church
1050 East Avenue Rochester, NY
Annual elections will be held and member presentations will provide the entertainment. Reserve your seat for the potluck dinner! Everyone brings a dish to pass. Gluten Free, Vegetarian or Dairy Free dishes are welcomed or bring your favorite! Main Entrees provided will be Roasted Turkey and Ham.
Contact Niki Banke. Please include name, number of guests and the dish you plan on bringing. Please remember Asbury has a strict no alcohol policy.
Many hands make light work – we need volunteers to help set up and clean up! Contact Niki for details.Email Niki: jacksons.mama@hotmail.com or text 585-317-3751

Nations Road Area
2026-01-18 14:00 - 17:00 | Nations Road, 2658-2682 Nations Rd, Avon, NY, 14414, United States
We’ll search the Nations Road area of Avon and southward toward Geneseo to Huston Road, looking for Northern Shrikes, hawks, Snow Buntings, Horned Larks, and other birds of the fields and farmland in winter. We’ll be mostly driving, but will be getting out of the car at frequent stops along the road. Dress for the weather.
Meet at 2:00 p.m. at Tops Plaza (restroom) in Avon on Routes 5 and 20, two miles west of I-390.
The roads in this area are narrow and busy. Please plan to carpool from Tops as the number of cars allowed will be limited to ten. Spotting scopes would be very useful.
Leaders: Jim Kimball 585-519-9211 and co-leader Niki Banke 585-317-3751
RBA Field Trip Guidelines
All field trips go rain/snow or shine unless there is a travel advisory issued. Trips run approximately 2 to 4 hours. Bring binoculars. Wear weather appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes. Please arrive at the designated meeting location 10 minutes before the start time of the trip. Colds, flu, and COVID are still around–if you’re not feeling well, please stay home. Please carpool when possible!
Waive and Release from Liability: By participating in this field trip you acknowledge that you assume all risks and hazards incidental to the activities of the event. 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, upon arrival at the trip, please write “no photo” after your name on the sign-in Field Trip Roster. Otherwise, by attending 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.

Winter Waterfowl and Other Possibilities
2026-02-08 09:00 - 12:00 | Irondequoit Bay Outlet, 5000 Culver Road, Rochester, NY, United States
Starting at Irondequoit Bay Outlet, we will look for beautiful Long-tailed Ducks, mergansers, scaup and other ducks. We will also concentrate on locating wintering gulls like the occasional Lesser Black-backed, Iceland and Glaucous Gulls. We will then drive over to Summerville and Charlotte to see what might be in the Genesee River. If Redpolls or winter finches are being seen, we will stop at Durand-Eastman Park along the way. Walking is flat on pavement. Restrooms are available in the Charlotte area.
Meet at 9:00 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 for the weather. Spotting scopes would be useful.
Leader: Rick Stevens 585-689-1882 and co-leader Robin Morey 973-715-6049

RBA Field Trip Guidelines
All field trips go rain/snow or shine unless there is a travel advisory issued. Trips run approximately 2 to 4 hours. Bring binoculars. Wear weather appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes. Please arrive at the designated meeting location 10 minutes before the start time of the trip. Colds, flu, and COVID are still around–if you’re not feeling well, please stay home. Please carpool when possible!
Waive and Release from Liability: By participating in this field trip you acknowledge that you assume all risks and hazards incidental to the activities of the event. 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, upon arrival at the trip, please write “no photo” after your name on the sign-in Field Trip Roster. Otherwise, by attending 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.

Young Birder Trip – Mendon Ponds Park
2026-02-15 10:00 - 13:00 | Mendon Ponds West (Wild Wings Parking Lot – Pond Road), 27 Pond Road, Honeoye Falls, NY, 14472, United States
Mendon Ponds Park has mixed woods, fields, and bird feeders. Birds possible here include; chickadees, nuthatches, sparrows, cardinals, titmice, finches, and woodpeckers. We will meet in the parking lot of Wild Wings and the Nature Center on Pond Road. Bring binoculars and a camera. Sunflower seed will be provided. Trails are mostly flat with some easy hills. Bathrooms are available inside the Nature Center.
Note: Trips will go forward rain or shine unless there is a travel advisory. Wear sturdy shoes/boots and dress for the weather. Bring binoculars. Extra binoculars will be available to borrow. A spotting scope will be available for up close looks at birds thanks to a very generous donor!
Any questions call (518)256-9147 or email Neal Reilly
RBA Field Trip Guidelines
All field trips go rain/snow or shine unless there is a travel advisory issued. Trips run approximately 2 to 4 hours. Bring binoculars. Wear weather appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes. Please arrive at the designated meeting location 10 minutes before the start time of the trip. Colds, flu, and COVID are still around–if you’re not feeling well, please stay home. Please carpool when possible!
Waive and Release from Liability: By participating in this field trip you acknowledge that you assume all risks and hazards incidental to the activities of the event. 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, upon arrival at the trip, please write “no photo” after your name on the sign-in Field Trip Roster. Otherwise, by attending 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.

March: Tina Morris - "Return to the Sky"
2026-03-12 19:00 - 21:00 | Asbury First Methodist Church, 1050 East Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14607, United States
Thursday, March 12, 2026
Speaker: Tina Morris – “Return to the Sky”

As the bald eagle, our national symbol, was facing extinction in the continental U.S. in 1976, Tina Morris was beginning her graduate work at Cornell University. By luck and circumstance, she was selected to reintroduce the species into New York State in the hope that eagles could repopulate eastern North America. Young, female, with no experience, she faced the challenges of saving this iconic bird while striving for acceptance in the unfamiliar male-dominated world of raptor biology. Playing mother to seven eagles forced her to transcend the isolation and tedium of field research to rescue an endangered species while in turn rescuing herself.
Tina Morris completed her graduate work in ornithology and wildlife biology at Cornell in 1978, writing her thesis on the adaptations of hacking techniques to reintroduce bald eagles. Following her studies at Cornell, she worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Nature Conservancy for several years, focusing on endangered species and critical habitat conservation, before embarking on a 23 year career teaching English and biology. Since her retirement in 2020, she has devoted her time to her own writing, especially creative non-fiction with a science or nature focus. Her short stories and non-fiction essays have appeared in Cognoscenti, LitBreak, Kestrel and North by Northeast. Thirty years ago, with four children in tow, Tina and her husband bought a farm in northern Massachusetts, which they manage as a wildlife sanctuary, promoting biodiversity and habitat protection for species in decline.

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!

Braddock Bay and Hamlin Beach State Park
2026-03-14 09:30 - 13:30 | Hamlin Beach State Park, 1 Camp Hill Road, Hamlin, NY, 14464, United States
We will gather at Braddock Bay Park and drive to Hamlin Beach State Park where we will look for waterfowl. On the way there, we will look through fields for migrant waterfowl (Snow, or other rarely seen geese) and lingering winter field birds (Horned Larks, Snow Buntings or Lapland Longspurs). We may stop at Owl Woods in search of migrating owls, if they have been reported that morning. We will end back at the Braddock Bay Park Hawk Watch in hopes of spotting Rough-legged, Red-shouldered Hawks, and Bald Eagles. Dress warmly, as we will be out of the cars often at multiple locations—the lakeshore can be cold this time of year. Trails are flat but can be muddy/snowy. Waterproof boots are strongly recommended. Restrooms are available at Hamlin Beach only.
Meet at 9:30 a.m. at the Braddock Bay Park main parking lot. Use the East Manitou Road exit from the Ontario State Parkway. Bring your own FRS radios (walkie-talkies) and spotting scopes, if you have them.
Leader: Mike Tetlow 585-748-5838 and co-leader Lynn Bergmeyer 585-576-0422

RBA Field Trip Guidelines
All field trips go rain/snow or shine unless there is a travel advisory issued. Trips run approximately 2 to 4 hours. Bring binoculars. Wear weather appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes. Please arrive at the designated meeting location 10 minutes before the start time of the trip. Colds, flu, and COVID are still around–if you’re not feeling well, please stay home. Please carpool when possible!
Waive and Release from Liability: By participating in this field trip you acknowledge that you assume all risks and hazards incidental to the activities of the event. 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, upon arrival at the trip, please write “no photo” after your name on the sign-in Field Trip Roster. Otherwise, by attending 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 - Owl Woods & Hawk Watch Site
2026-03-21 08:30 - 13:00 | Owl Woods, 349 Manitou Beach Road, Rochester, NY, 14468, United States
We’ll look primarily for our smallest visiting owl, the Northern Saw-whet, which returns to this spot every year. Long-eared Owls generally put in an appearance, too, although they’re quite shy and great at hiding. After the owl walk, we’ll head to the Braddock Bay Park Hawk Watch site to learn how to identify raptors on the wing. At this time of year, we might witness flights of hundreds of raptors! The Owl Woods trails are flat and likely will be wet and muddy. Boots are strongly recommended–they’re almost mandatory! No restrooms available. Bring binoculars and, if you have them, spotting scopes.
Meet at 8:30 a.m. in the parking lot on the right side of Manitou Beach Road across from the Owl Woods trailhead.
Leaders: Doug and Elizabeth Rabjohns 585-690-6296 and co-leader Bridget Watts 585-615-1545
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 Field Trip Guidelines
All field trips go rain/snow or shine unless there is a travel advisory issued. Trips run approximately 2 to 4 hours. Bring binoculars. Wear weather appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes. Please arrive at the designated meeting location 10 minutes before the start time of the trip. Colds, flu, and COVID are still around–if you’re not feeling well, please stay home. Please carpool when possible!
Waive and Release from Liability: By participating in this field trip you acknowledge that you assume all risks and hazards incidental to the activities of the event. 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, upon arrival at the trip, please write “no photo” after your name on the sign-in Field Trip Roster. Otherwise, by attending 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.

Young Birder Trip - Owl Woods
2026-03-22 10:00 - 13:00 | Owl Woods, 349 Manitou Beach Road, Rochester, NY, 14468, United States
Owl Woods is a mix of woods and fields. Birds possible here include; chickadees, finches, cardinals, robins, and, if we are very lucky, maybe an owl!
We will meet in the Braddock Bay Owl Woods parking lot. Take the Lake Ontario State Parkway to the Manitou Beach Road exit, turn north, and the parking lot will be on your right across the street from the trailhead.
Waterproof boots will be needed, the trails are flat but can be very muddy. No bathrooms available.
Note: Trips will go forward rain or shine unless there is a travel advisory. Wear sturdy shoes/boots and dress for the weather. Bring binoculars. Extra binoculars will be available to borrow. A spotting scope will be available for up close looks at birds thanks to a very generous donor!
Any questions call (518)256-9147 or email Neal Reilly
RBA Field Trip Guidelines
All field trips go rain/snow or shine unless there is a travel advisory issued. Trips run approximately 2 to 4 hours. Bring binoculars. Wear weather appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes. Please arrive at the designated meeting location 10 minutes before the start time of the trip. Colds, flu, and COVID are still around–if you’re not feeling well, please stay home. Please carpool when possible!
Waive and Release from Liability: By participating in this field trip you acknowledge that you assume all risks and hazards incidental to the activities of the event. 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, upon arrival at the trip, please write “no photo” after your name on the sign-in Field Trip Roster. Otherwise, by attending 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.

Woodcock Courtship Flight at Owl Woods
2026-04-04 19:00 - 21:00 | Owl Woods, 349 Manitou Beach Road, Rochester, NY, 14468, United States
This will be an evening trip for American Woodcock courtship flight. If you’ve never seen this spectacle, prepare to be amazed: birds call noisily (peenting) from the ground in grassy fields before spiraling rapidly up high, making twittering, kissing-like sounds at the apex of their ascent and descending silently back down, only to start the cycle anew. An amazing sight!
Fields may be wet and muddy. Boots are strongly recommended. Bring a flashlight or headlamp.
Meet at 7:00 p.m. in the parking lot across from Owl Woods. Take the Manitou Beach Road exit from Ontario State Parkway. Turn north then right into the parking lot.
Leader: Neal Reilly 518-256-9147 and co-leader Bob Crandall 585-278-3455

RBA Field Trip Guidelines
All field trips go rain/snow or shine unless there is a travel advisory issued. Trips run approximately 2 to 4 hours. Bring binoculars. Wear weather appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes. Please arrive at the designated meeting location 10 minutes before the start time of the trip. Colds, flu, and COVID are still around–if you’re not feeling well, please stay home. Please carpool when possible!
Waive and Release from Liability: By participating in this field trip you acknowledge that you assume all risks and hazards incidental to the activities of the event. 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, upon arrival at the trip, please write “no photo” after your name on the sign-in Field Trip Roster. Otherwise, by attending 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.

High Acres Nature Area
2026-04-18 08:00 - 12:00 | High Acres Nature Area (HANA), 425 Perinton Parkway, Fairport, NY, 14450, United States
Over 130 bird species have been observed at HANA including more than 70 that nest in the diverse habitats found there. During this field trip we expect to see at least 40 species returning to nest or on their way to northern nesting grounds. Our approximately two-mile walk over mostly flat trails will explore about 250 acres at HANA and include some wet spots requiring at least ankle-high waterproof shoes or boots. No restrooms available.
Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the parking lot on Perinton Parkway approximately 1/4 mile east of the Waste Management offices.
Leader: Rosemary Reilly 585-748-0802 and co-leaders Brian Rohrs and Gayle Lazoration 585-281-9534

RBA Field Trip Guidelines
All field trips go rain/snow or shine unless there is a travel advisory issued. Trips run approximately 2 to 4 hours. Bring binoculars. Wear weather appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes. Please arrive at the designated meeting location 10 minutes before the start time of the trip. Colds, flu, and COVID are still around–if you’re not feeling well, please stay home. Please carpool when possible!
Waive and Release from Liability: By participating in this field trip you acknowledge that you assume all risks and hazards incidental to the activities of the event. 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, upon arrival at the trip, please write “no photo” after your name on the sign-in Field Trip Roster. Otherwise, by attending 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.

Highland Park - A joint trip with the Highland Park Conservancy
2026-04-22 08:00 - 12:00 | Highland Park, Reservoir Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14620, United States
We’ll be looking for spring migrants while enjoying lovely flora. This walk would be gorgeous even without the birds, but it does have birds in abundance! Find out where people have spotted the rarities that pop up in this urban treasure. Dress for the weather. We will be mostly walking on paved walkways with gentle hills; walking in grass, a possibility. No restrooms available.
Meet at 8:00 a.m. on Reservoir Avenue in front of the Conservatory building.
Leader: Jeanne Verhulst 585-362-0803 and co-leader Amy Kahn 585-310-2330

RBA Field Trip Guidelines
All field trips go rain/snow or shine unless there is a travel advisory issued. Trips run approximately 2 to 4 hours. Bring binoculars. Wear weather appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes. Please arrive at the designated meeting location 10 minutes before the start time of the trip. Colds, flu, and COVID are still around–if you’re not feeling well, please stay home. Please carpool when possible!
Waive and Release from Liability: By participating in this field trip you acknowledge that you assume all risks and hazards incidental to the activities of the event. 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, upon arrival at the trip, please write “no photo” after your name on the sign-in Field Trip Roster. Otherwise, by attending 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.

Braddock Bay Hotspots—Braddock Bay Park, East Spit, Burger Park, West Spit, Owl Woods
2026-04-25 08:30 - 12:00 | Braddock Bay Park, 199 East Manitou Road, Greece, NY, 14612, United States
Locations to be determined based on where the birds are at the time. The trip will end at the Braddock Bay Park where Bird of Prey Days will be in full swing. Carpooling is encouraged. Dress for the weather and muddy trails.
Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Braddock Bay Park main parking lot.
Leader: Neal Reilly 518-256-9147 and co-leader Robert Crandall 585-278-3455

RBA Field Trip Guidelines
All field trips go rain/snow or shine unless there is a travel advisory issued. Trips run approximately 2 to 4 hours. Bring binoculars. Wear weather appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes. Please arrive at the designated meeting location 10 minutes before the start time of the trip. Colds, flu, and COVID are still around–if you’re not feeling well, please stay home. Please carpool when possible!
Waive and Release from Liability: By participating in this field trip you acknowledge that you assume all risks and hazards incidental to the activities of the event. 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, upon arrival at the trip, please write “no photo” after your name on the sign-in Field Trip Roster. Otherwise, by attending 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.

Four Mile Creek Preserve, Webster
2026-04-26 08:00 - 12:00 | Four Mile Creek Preserve, Phillips & Lake Road, Webster, NY, United States
We will look for spring migrants along the approximately 2 to 3 miles of gently rolling hiking trails. The trails will most likely be muddy, so appropriate footwear is recommended. No restrooms available.
Meet at 8:00 a.m. in the preserve parking lot at the SE corner of Lake Road and Phillips Road in Webster.
Leaders: Sheryl Gracewski and Tom Nash 585-261-6975

RBA Field Trip Guidelines
All field trips go rain/snow or shine unless there is a travel advisory issued. Trips run approximately 2 to 4 hours. Bring binoculars. Wear weather appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes. Please arrive at the designated meeting location 10 minutes before the start time of the trip. Colds, flu, and COVID are still around–if you’re not feeling well, please stay home. Please carpool when possible!
Waive and Release from Liability: By participating in this field trip you acknowledge that you assume all risks and hazards incidental to the activities of the event. 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, upon arrival at the trip, please write “no photo” after your name on the sign-in Field Trip Roster. Otherwise, by attending 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.

Young Birder Trip - Tinker Nature Park
2026-04-26 10:00 - 13:00 | Tinker Nature Park, 1525 Calkins Road, Henrietta, NY, 14467, United States
Tinker Nature Park has ponds, woods, and bird feeders. Birds possible here include; ducks, geese, cardinals, woodpeckers, chickadees and many others.
We will meet in the parking lot of Tinker Nature Park at 1525 Calkins Road, Henrietta. Bring binoculars. Public restrooms may be available. The trails are flat and gravel but can be damp.
Note: Trips will go forward rain or shine unless there is a travel advisory. Wear sturdy shoes/boots and dress for the weather. Bring binoculars. Extra binoculars will be available to borrow. A spotting scope will be available for up close looks at birds thanks to a very generous donor!
Any questions call (518)256-9147 or email Neal Reilly

RBA Field Trip Guidelines
All field trips go rain/snow or shine unless there is a travel advisory issued. Trips run approximately 2 to 4 hours. Bring binoculars. Wear weather appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes. Please arrive at the designated meeting location 10 minutes before the start time of the trip. Colds, flu, and COVID are still around–if you’re not feeling well, please stay home. Please carpool when possible!
Waive and Release from Liability: By participating in this field trip you acknowledge that you assume all risks and hazards incidental to the activities of the event. 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, upon arrival at the trip, please write “no photo” after your name on the sign-in Field Trip Roster. Otherwise, by attending 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.

Cobb's Hill Park
2026-04-29 08:00 - 12:00 | Cobbs Hill Park, Culver Road and Norris Drive, Rochester, NY, 14610, United States
With spring in full swing, come to one of Rochester’s best-kept birding secrets: Cobb’s Hill Park’s Washington Grove. Colorful warblers and other spring migrants arrive en masse at this urban oasis of tall stately trees. We will search for Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Nashville, and Black-and-white Warblers among others. We will likely hear the flute-like Wood Thrush and see Hermit Thrushes searching the ground for food. Sparrows, orioles, and perhaps a Scarlet Tanager will make an appearance. The entrances into the grove have two short steep trails the main trails are gentle hills. No restrooms available.
Meet at 8:00 a.m. under the conifers opposite the reservoir at the flat section of Reservoir Road. Access to Reservoir Road is from Highland Avenue. Look for two stone pillars at the road entrance; the road goes up a hill. (DO NOT use the Nunda Blvd. entrance to Washington Grove).
Leaders: Tom and Jeanne Verhulst 585-362-0803, Sue Robertson 585-427-2535 and Amy Kahn 585-310-2330

RBA Field Trip Guidelines
All field trips go rain/snow or shine unless there is a travel advisory issued. Trips run approximately 2 to 4 hours. Bring binoculars. Wear weather appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes. Please arrive at the designated meeting location 10 minutes before the start time of the trip. Colds, flu, and COVID are still around–if you’re not feeling well, please stay home. Please carpool when possible!
Waive and Release from Liability: By participating in this field trip you acknowledge that you assume all risks and hazards incidental to the activities of the event. 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, upon arrival at the trip, please write “no photo” after your name on the sign-in Field Trip Roster. Otherwise, by attending 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.
