Soar into Spring with Nature & Birding Programs at Wave Hill
Springtime at Wave Hill is a nature-lover’s paradise—serene paths, breathtaking vistas and feathered friends abound in this lush garden oasis. This spring, Wave Hill offers a variety of nature and birding opportunities for all interests and ages, from Live Bird Demonstrations to the Let’s Talk Turtles Nature Presentation. Get outside, and get exploring!
Many of these programs are part of Spring Wings Week, a week of bird-themed activities held during School Vacation Week, or part of Wave Hill’s annual Arbor Weekend celebration. For more information on these seasonal events, please visit the website.
All nature and birding sessions listed here are free with admission to the grounds. Register, where required, online or onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center.
What: Spring Nature & Birding Opportunities
Where: Wave Hill, West 249th Street and Independence Avenue, Bronx, New York
Schedule:
Spring Birding, Sundays, April 12, May 10, and SAT, April 11, 9:30AM
Naturalist Gabriel Willow contributes his extensive knowledge of diverse bird species and their behavior on these captivating walks through the gardens and woodlands. Observe the plants, insects and habitats at Wave Hill that make it an appealing destination for such a wide variety of birds. Birders of all levels welcome! Severe weather cancels. (NYC Audubon Members enjoy two-for-one admission). Ages 10 and older welcome with an adult. Registration recommended.
Live Bird Demonstrations, SAT, April 11, 12PM and 2PM
Volunteers for Wildlife return to Wave Hill to share live birds such as the eastern screech owl, American kestrel, red-tailed hawk, mallard duck, dove and barred owl. Between programs, get a close-up look at skulls, feathers and other bird-related artifacts. Ages eight and older welcome with an adult. Spring Wings Week event.
Owl Pellet Dissection, SAT, April 11, 2-4PM
Owls are creatures who swallow their prey whole. Parts of the prey, such as bones, feathers and fur are bound up during digestion into a tight pellet, which the owl regurgitates. Drop-in for this exploratory workshop, and discover the origins of the owl’s diet. Ages six and older welcome with an adult. Spring Wings Week event.
Junior Arborist Station, SAT, April 25, 11AM-3PM
Kids ages seven and older are invited to don tree-climbing harnesses and hardhats and ascend into the canopy of our old sugar maple tree to get a birds-eye view of Wave Hill. On hand to assist budding arborists, as well as answer questions about the big old trees at Wave Hill, are arborists from Almstead Tree, Shrub & Lawn Care, which has generously sponsored this drop-in event. Ages seven and older welcome with an adult. Arbor Weekend event.
Early Morning Bird Walk, SAT, May 16, 8AM
Join naturalist Gabriel Willow on a special early morning walk to spot birds in the gardens and woodlands as well as the skies above Wave Hill. You’ll be amazed by the diversity of birds that are active on the grounds before the gates open to the public. Ages 10 and older welcome with an adult. Registration recommended.
Nature Presentation: Let’s Talk Turtles, SUN, May 17, 1PM
Spring is an “active” time for turtles, as the females wander around in search of safe places to lay their eggs. Join an environmental educator from the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum to discover fascinating facts about these rotund reptiles, and meet a turtle or two from the Museum’s collection. Ages six and older welcome with an adult. Registration recommended.
Support for Wave Hill’s Garden Programs is provided by the Hagedorn Fund. Support for Public Programs is provided by The William Froelich Foundation. Arbor Weekend is sponsored by Almstead Tree, Shrub & Lawn Care.
Wave Hill, Inc. is an independent, non-profit cultural institution governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. The buildings and grounds of Wave Hill are owned by the City of New York. With the assistance of the Bronx Borough President and Bronx representatives in the City Council and State Legislature, Wave Hill’s operations are supported with public funds through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; the Zoos, Botanical Gardens and Aquariums Grant Program administered by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; the National Endowment for the Arts; the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
