Thursdays are for the Loons.

Please help us kick off the 2026 GABC by supporting the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation in two amazing events!

Start the day with a paddle led by Sylvie Casella from the Loon Center.

End the night with a Bird-themed trivia night at the Hotel Saranac.

For more info click here

Paddle description from Sylvie Casella:

Join me for a guided paddle to observe loons in their natural habitat! As the Education & Outreach Coordinator and an ACA Level 2 river certified instructor, I lead these paddles in small groups so we can explore the Adirondack waterways while practicing responsible wildlife viewing and of course see some loons! This is a three-hour guided paddle to help kick off the Great Adirondack Birding Celebration, hosted by Northern New York Audubon! This paddle will be one hour longer than our regularly scheduled paddles as a special offer to those participating in the GABC. This paddle takes place on Little Clear Pond.

Registration is required, and participants should plan to bring their own boats.

To Register go to https://adkloon.charityproud.org/EventRegistration/Index/26968

This event takes place rain or shine, but in the event of storms, the rain date will be Sunday, May 31.

All Friday trips are full day trips beginning at 7 a.m. Read the full trip description for more details

Franklin County Boreal outing- Trip Leader TBD

Explore several boreal regions of New York State’s northern county, that range from moss-covered trail to tamarack-ringed bog and fen. Canada Jay, Common Loon, Yellow-bellied and Olive-sided flycatchers as well as Black-backed woodpeckers are just a few of our hopeful sightings along these spruce & fir forests and ancient wetlands. Breeding warblers and Thrush species will be at their peak, in color and vocalization, as we spend the day in the Northern Adirondack boreal. Most of this multiple-stop trip will be a mix of gentle walks on gravel road or along trails leading into forested areas. A chosen spot for lunch will surely have a great view!

Lake Champlain Valley - Trip Leader Brian McAllister*

*This trip does not meet at the VIC! We will send out meeting location instructions.

Participants leave the VIC for an all-day field trip “down the mountain” to the beautiful shoreline of Lake Champlain in search of migratory birds. This field trip will feature stops at many birding hotspots as we look at a cross-section of bird life from high elevation to low.

GABC Paddle: Osgood Pond to the Osgood River - Trip Leader Amelia Dragone*

Join us for a peaceful, guided paddle on beautiful Osgood Pond as part of the Great Adirondack Birding Celebration, hosted by Northern New York Audubon. This scenic outing will take us across the open waters of Osgood Pond and into the quiet, meandering channel of the Osgood River — a diverse habitat rich with birdlife and spring activity.

The sheltered shoreline, wetlands, and mixed forest surrounding the pond and river create ideal conditions for spotting a variety of Adirondack bird species. From loons and waterfowl to warblers and raptors, we’ll keep our eyes and ears tuned to the rhythms of the season. Along the way, we’ll pause to observe, listen, and discuss identification tips, bird behavior, and the ecology of this unique waterway.

This paddle is designed for participants who enjoy a relaxed pace with time for wildlife observation and appreciation. Whether you are an experienced birder or simply curious about the birds of the Adirondacks, this outing offers a wonderful opportunity to connect with nature from the water level.

Boats are provided by St. Regis Canoe Outfitters

*Please note that this trip is more than the $20 per trip fee

Massawepie - Trip Leader Bernie Carr/Nic Main*

*This trip does not meet at the VIC! We will send out meeting location instructions.

Massawepie Mire contains the largest peatland complex in New York State. This remote and very scenic habitat is home to several resident species of birds, but in the spring and summer months, the bird populations explode. On this trip, birders will be on the lookout for breeding migrant warblers, sparrows, flycatchers, thrush species, woodpeckers, and more. Breeding Yellow-bellied Flycatchers, Palm Warbler, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Canada Jays, Mourning Warbler, and Black-backed Woodpecker are among the many species you might see around this bog. The walking trail is an abandoned railway, so flat, dirt/gravel conditions are expected.

Birding the Saint Lawrence Valley -Trip Leader Mary Beth Warburton*

*This trip does not meet at the VIC! We will send out meeting location instructions.

The first stop on this trip will be at the Upper and Lower Lakes Wildlife Management Area and will include a two-mile round-trip walk into a large marsh, on a flat surface, and then onto a short boardwalk. UPLLWMA is home to nesting Black Terns, Virginia Rails, Soras, numerous duck species, Bald Eagles, and an impressive array of songbird species. The second stop will be at Indian Creek Nature Center, the only designated nature center that exists within

A NYSWMA and is labeled a birding “Hot Spot” on eBird. Indian Creek Nature Center has an amazing variety of habitats within its 320 acres, including open lake, marsh, deciduous forest, and pockets of land that have been managed for Golden-winged Warblers. The five-plus miles of flat, easy trails will all be explored. They include a trail to a tower for observing the open water, a trail overlooking a marsh, a trail with a deck, and another with a lean-to for resting while looking for waterfowl and other residents. During the trip, some other side roads in the area may be explored. IC has four outdoor bathroom facilities and a covered pavilion with tables. There are no food facilities in the area.

All of our Saturday Trips will be half-day trips starting at 7 a.m.

Start the day with a Dawn Chorus at the VIC! Free and open to the Public.

Bloomingdale Bog - Trip Leaders Betsy Miner and Mar Bodine

The Bloomingdale Bog Trail is a great habitat for boreal species. The area encompasses a bog and cedar woods with sedge marsh and coniferous woods. Sightings may include: Canada Jay, Black-backed Woodpecker, Palm Warbler, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Alder Flycatcher, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Cape May Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler and Lincoln's Sparrow.

Madawaska - Trip Leader Connor Vara

Madawaska has been a favored boreal birding area for a half-century or more. The area encompasses conifer forest, mixed hardwood forest, a variety of wetlands, and Madawaska Pond. Sightings may include: (Yellow) Palm Warbler, Lincoln's Sparrow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Black-backed Woodpecker, Canada Jay, Boreal Chickadee, Northern Parula, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, and Olive-sided Flycatcher. As the habitat changes to a white pine forest, the Brown Creeper can be found nesting behind loose bark. Madawaska Pond may have Green-winged Teal, American Bittern, and Bald Eagle.

Whiteface - Trip Leader Alan Belford

*This trip does not meet at the VIC! We will send out meeting location instructions.

The trip will begin with a flat, easy walk around Lake Stevens Tree Trail at the Whiteface Mountain Memorial Highway toll house. Then participants will carpool up the toll road, stopping at pull-offs and searching for mountain birds. Sightings may include: Bicknell's Thrush, Blackpoll Warbler, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher and Boreal Chickadees.

The VIC Warbler Walk - Trip Leader Brian McAllister

For this multi-destination field trip, birders will go to a variety of locations and habitats to potentially find 25+ species of breeding warblers, including magnolia, Canada, Bay-breasted, Black-throated Blue, Blackburnian, Cape May, and others. We’ll explore conifer woods, bogs, hardwood forests, and a few wetlands. We may even see several of these colorful species on their breeding territories

Onchiota birding - Trip Leader Jeff Biby

This field trip is located about about 10 miles from Paul Smiths VIC and is at the extreme northern extent of the Bloomingdale Bog. The trail that we’ll walk is an old railroad bed that also serves as the 7B corridor of the NYS Snowmobile trail system in the winter. As such, the trail is quite level and easy to navigate. However, ruts, puddles, rocks and fallen tree branches are common and would not allow the trail to be considered handicap accessible. The habitat consists of a mix of boreal spruce and fir, interspersed with some hardwoods, and stretches of boggy wetlands.

Expected species include Alder flycatcher, Red-breasted nuthatch, Winter wren, Hermit thrush, White-throated sparrow, Lincoln’s sparrow, Nashville warbler, Common yellowthroat, Northern parula, Ovenbird, Magnolia warbler, Palm warbler, Chestnut-sided warbler, and Yellow-rumped warbler. Other possible species include Canada jay, Purple finch, Olive-sided flycatcher, Black-backed woodpecker, Canada warbler, Black-and-white warbler and Black-throated green warbler.

All trips should plan to conclude by noon to head back to the VIC for our afternoon activities. Our afternoon is looking like it will be a lot of fun!

Return to the VIC for an afternoon of fun:

(1:00 - 2:00) Take an art class with Mary Sullivan and learn the art of drawing birds by observation. Learn to draw a bird using colored pencils in this hands-on workshop. You'll practice observational drawing techniques for capturing the anatomy of many common birds, and then explore colored pencil techniques to blend realistic colors and create textured feathers. No experience necessary.

(2:00-3:00) Take a nature walk around the VIC with some of our board members and naturalist friends.

(All Day) Bird off the back deck of the VIC.

(3:30 - 5:00) Take a seat and listen to our Keynote Speaker. Our Keynote speaker this year is Melissa Groo. The presentation will take place in the theater at the VIC

(5:00 - 7:00) Explore the art of “A Little Birdie Told Me!” an open exhibition celebrating the beauty and spirit of birds. up at the VIC

or

(6:00 - 8:00) Take a ride out to the Wild Center in Tupper Lake for the Black Birders Week Celebration keynote speaker: A Conversation with Dr. J. Drew Lanham (Click here for more info)

Finally, we plan to host an Owl Prowl at the VIC after the sun goes down. The timing on this will be finalized shortly and up to date in your GABC pamphlets. Please dress warm and bring a red-light headlamp if you have one. This is free and open to the public.

Our Sunday trips will be a mixture of half-day day trips and full-day trips starting at 7 a.m. Please be sure to read the descriptions below carefully.

Photo Workshop location TBD - Full Day - Trip Leader Melissa Groo*

This trip is led by our Keynote Speaker, Melissa Groo. Join Melissa and our board member Mikayla Ploof as we explore the wildlife the Adirondacks have to offer and get tips and tricks on how to capture some amazing shots.

All Photography levels welcome!

*Please note that this trip is more than the $20 per trip fee

The Adirondack Rail Trail - Half day - Trip Leader Brian McAllister*

*This trip does not meet at the VIC! We will send out meeting location instructions.

Since it’s early construction of the 1870’s, the Adirondack Railroad tracks traversed through some beautiful boreal forest and wetland ecosystems, then in 2025 these tracks were eventually converted to trails. Join our leaders as we bird these easy Adirondack Rail Trails,   in search of colorful warbler species, secretive sparrows, flycatchers, and thrushes, busy woodpeckers, and active raptors. In the extensive wetlands that these trails weave through, we’ll look for nesting waterfowl and other species that inhabit the shorelines. These multiuse trails are made of crushed stone dust so it will be easy walking, but we’ll have to keep an eye out for the occasional early morning bike rider or jogger! Total trail walk will be about 1.5 miles.

Heaven Hill Farm/John Brown Farm - Half Day- Trip Leader Jack Peneston

Heaven Hill farm hosts a hay meadow and efforts to manage mowing are focused around conservation of Bobolinks and Savannah Sparrows that use this site. We will also visit the orchard at Heaven Hill which is used by numerous passerines. We are guaranteed to see Bobolink and Savannah Sparrow, and if luck is with us we may also find Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, Short-eared Owl and other potential grassland specialists. Additional species commonly observed at both sites include Eastern Bluebird, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Indigo Bunting, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Cedar Waxwing, Chipping Sparrow, American Goldfinch, and Northern Flicker. John Brown Farm National Historic Site includes a series of open field and woodland trails that could reveal Brown Thrasher, Catbird, several sparrow species and flycatchers. Black-throated blue and Black-throated Green Warblers, Nashville Warbler and Blackburnian Warbler may be found deeper in the cooler wooded trails of this beautiful site set in the foothills of the High Peaks.

Bloomingdale Bog - Half Day - Trip Leaders Betsy Miner and Mar Bodine

The Bloomingdale Bog Trail is a great habitat for boreal species. The area encompasses a bog and cedar woods with sedge marsh and coniferous woods. Sightings may include: Canada Jay, Black-backed Woodpecker, Palm Warbler, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Alder Flycatcher, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Cape May Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler and Lincoln's Sparrow.

Madawaska - Half Day- Trip Leader Alan Belford

Madawaska has been a favored boreal birding area for a half-century or more. The area encompasses conifer forest, mixed hardwood forest, a variety of wetlands, and Madawaska Pond. Sightings may include: (Yellow) Palm Warbler, Lincoln's Sparrow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Black-backed Woodpecker, Canada Jay, Boreal Chickadee, Northern Parula, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher and Olive-sided Flycatcher. As the habitat changes to white pine forest, the Brown Creeper can be found nesting behind loose bark. Madawaska Pond may have Green-winged Teal, American Bittern and Bald Eagle.

The VIC Warbler Walk - Trip Leader Connor Vara

For this multi-destination field trip, birders will go to a variety of locations and habitats to potentially find 25+ species of breeding warblers, including magnolia, Canada, Bay-breasted, Black-throated Blue, Blackburnian, Cape May, and others. We’ll explore conifer woods, bogs, hardwood forests, and a few wetlands. We may even see several of these colorful species in their breeding territories

Can’t make it up to Paul Smiths? Headed back Sunday morning downstate? Swing by Big Bend Preserve at Moreau Lake State Park and meet our friends at Southern Adirondack Audubon! It wouldn’t be the Great ADIRONDACK Birding Celebration without our friends to the south!

Big Bend Preserve at Moreau Lake State Park - Trip Leaders Liz and Matt Roos

Officially opened to the public in 2024, Big Bend Preserve is a 860-acre addition to Moreau Lake State Park and features diverse habitats including barrens, open forests, and wetlands bordered by two miles of undeveloped Hudson River shoreline. This 3.5 mile trail may include sightings of Prairie Warbler, Eastern Towhee, Brown Thrasher, Indigo Bunting, Orchard Oriole, and Yellow-throated Vireo. This trip is hosted in cooperation with the Southern Adirondack Audubon Society.

There is no registration required for this outing. The outing will meet at 110 Old Bend Rd, Gansevoort, NY 12831 at 8.a.m.