All Events by Category
NYC Bird Alliance educates and connects New Yorkers of all ages with nature in the city, providing participants with the valuable opportunity to learn about wild birds and their habitats. We offer bird outings across all five boroughs, classes, lectures, festivals, and a summer environmental center on Governors Island. Most of our events are free, and great for beginning birders!
Want to learn more before you decide, or bird on your own? Find profiles of over 100 New York City parks, Birding 101 tips, and more on our Birding Resources pages.
Be sure to sign up for our eGret eNewsletter for updates and announcements of all NYC Bird Alliance programs registration dates. Become a NYC Bird Alliance contributing member and receive 30% on fee-based outings and classes.
"Let’s Go Birding Together" Tour, Central Park, 2018. Photo: NYC Bird Alliance
Outings and Classes
NYC Bird Alliance offers hundreds of local bird outings and classes annually. Explore one of the City’s parks with an expert guide to marvel at the hundreds of species of birds that frequent our urban landscape. Or enhance your bird knowledge and birding skills with one of our virtual or in-person classes.
NYC Bird Alliance Bird Guide Annie Barry leads a bird outing on Governors Island. Photo: NYC Bird Alliance
Governors Island
NYC Bird Alliance has a seasonal island home, right off the coast of Manhattan! Our seasonal nature center on Governors Island features plenty of information about bird conservation, as well as a book nook and craft room for kids and bird-inspired art exhibits. Sit on our porch and discuss birds with us, join a free bird outing, or borrow a pair of binoculars for free and strike out on your own.
Participant holds an Atlantic Horseshoe Crab at our annual Horseshoe Crab Festival at Jamaica Bay. Photo: Camilla Cerea
Festivals
NYC Bird Alliance educates and connects New Yorkers of all ages with nature through fun and informative festivals, providing participants with valuable opportunities to learn about wild birds and their habitats. In partnership with organizations across the City, we participate in multiple festivals that feature engaging programs and family-friendly activities. All festivals are free and open to the public.
"Meiburg and Weidensaul in Conversation," a virtual NYC Bird Alliance talk held on March 21, 2021. Screenshot: NYC Bird Alliance
Lectures & Talks
Join us for virtual talks on a wide variety of topics related to conservation, birds, or advocacy. Our lectures take place via zoom from late fall through the winter and feature a lineup of exciting authors, researchers, and experts. All lectures are free of charge, and open to the public.
Chestnut-sided Warbler found injured by Project Safe Flight volunteer. Photo: Sophie Butcher
Volunteer Opportunities
NYC Bird Alliance could not be successful in carrying out its mission of protecting the wild birds and habitats of New York City without the help of its corps of brilliant community scientists and dedicated volunteers.
Tom Stephenson, NYC Bird Alliance advisory council member and author of "The Warbler Guide," explains how to look for warblers during members event in Central Park. Photo: NYC Bird Alliance
Members only
NYC Bird Alliance contributing members enjoy many benefits, including access to free members-only bird outings led by board and advisory council members.
Wilson's Warbler by Cara Lynch, located at 1805 Amsterdam Ave., New York NY 10031. Photo: NYC Bird Alliance
Audubon Mural Project Tours
The Audubon Mural Project is a public art initiative of the National Audubon Society, in partnership with the Harlem-based Gitler & ____ Gallery. The project is inspired by the paintings of John James Audubon, and is energized by findings from the National Audubon Society that nearly half of all North American bird species face dire threats to their survival by 2080 due to climate change.
Inaugural "Let's Go Birding Together" outing in Central Park, June 2018. Photo: Andrew Maas
Let's Go Birding Together
Thank you to all who joined us for our 2022 Let's Go Birding Together outing in Central Park in collaboration with our friends at Feminist Bird Club and National Audubon Society. It was thrilling to celebrate Pride Month and spread the joy of birds in the park together with guides Angie Co, Martha Harbison, Kyu Lee, Doug McEachern, Elizabeth Norman, David Spawn, and Tod Winston! Stay tuned for what's planned for June 2023!
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NYCHA in Nature participants bird at the Beach 41st Street NYCHA housing complex
NYCHA in Nature
NYCHA in Nature is a collaboration with NYCHA residents and local organizations to engage people in urban biodiversity and climate resilience. We envision that every campus will have a set of nature and sustainability programs, with tenant associations taking the lead on programming and promotion.
Birding Guides and Educators
NYC Bird Alliance employs a friendly and knowledgeable group of naturalists and educators to help New Yorkers discover the city's wildlife and natural areas. Learn about the people who lead our trips, outings, and classes.
