CAA: Fall Birding Event
Thursday, September 25, 2025 in The Ramble, Central Park, NYC
Twenty-two lucky alumni can participate in our first fall CAA birdwatching event, led by Tod Winston (left) of NYC Bird Alliance (formerly Audubon), on Thursday, September 25, 2025, during peak fall migration season. This time we'll meet at 8 am in Central Park's Ramble, a woodland landscape that is less hilly than the North Woods where we've previously gone birding.
No experience birdwatching is necessary!
Who can participate:
► You must be a dues-paying CAA member to register; one guest allowed.
► Up to 22 people only.
► Contact us to join the waiting list if registration is full. If we can get another 15 to 20 people who are interested, we will schedule another birding event.
When: Be an early bird and join us at 8 am, Thursday, September 25, 2025.
Where: Central Park's Rambles; details to come
Terrain: There are unpaved, winding paths, stone steps and some inclines.
How Long: Our guide is available through 11 am, but you can peel off early if desired. Most likely, we will birdwatch from 8 am to 10/10:30 am.
What can we expect to see? You can expect to see warblers, including Bay-breasted Warblers, Black-throated Green Warblers, and Palm Warblers, as well as thrushes like Swainson's Thrush and Hermit Thrush. Other common sightings include Northern Flickers, Cedar Waxwings, sparrows, and Indigo Buntings. You might also see various birds of prey, like hawks and falcons, passing through during migration.
BYOB: Please bring your own binoculars! If you don't have any, let Andrea know at news@chasealum.org. A very limited number will be supplied by NYC Bird Alliance.
What if it rains? The event will go on if there is light drizzle. If it's a true rainy day, the event will be postponed.
Please note: Bathroom facilities are available near The Ramble.
Who is our guide? Tod Winston wears several NYC Bird Alliance hats. In his role as Urban Biodiversity Specialist, Tod conducts bird surveys at several high-profile green spaces across the city including Madison Square Park and the Javits Center green roof. As one of NYC Bird Alliance's birding guides, he teaches the Beginning Birding course and leads walks and trips around the city including the popular spring Birding by Ear series. Read more about Tod's work as one of NYC Bird Alliance's guides.
Tod began working with NYC Bird Alliance in 2007 as a volunteer writer for The Urban Audubon member newsletter and surveyor for the Harbor Herons Nesting Survey. Since then he has served in many roles including Associate Director of Content, Program Manager, Communications Manager, and Conservation Research Associate, where he led NYC Bird Alliance's Harbor Herons Nesting Survey and helped with wading bird and cormorant bird-banding. Tod also worked for several years at National Bird Alliance, as Program Manager for the organization's Plants for Birds project.
A lifelong birder who got to know the wonders of the natural world in the company of his nature-loving father, Tod is grateful to spend his time bringing new people to the joy of birds and aiding in their conservation. Tod holds a BA in psychology from Oberlin College and a certificate in postbaccalaureate basic sciences from Columbia University.
What if I want to learn more before I go birding? No advance homework is required, but these links might get you psyched about the outing:
►NYC Bird Alliance's Birding 101 page
►NYC Bird Alliance's Central Park page.