Saturday, January 11, 2025
The 20th annual Esopus Bend Nature Preserve Winter Bird Count (WBC) will be conducted on Saturday, January 11, 2025. Participants will census wintering birds throughout the 160-acre Nature Preserve, recording numbers of individuals and species diversity. WBC results are part of the Preserve’s biodiversity database and will help provide future guidance for land management and stewardship decisions.
Esopus Bend Nature Preserve is located on the banks of Esopus Creek in the Village and Town of Saugerties in northern Ulster County. Previous counts conducted during early January have recorded a cumulative total of 70 species, and a single-year high count of 966 individuals. Highlights from previous counts include Bohemian Waxwing, White-winged Crossbill, Gray Catbird, Field Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Winter Wrens, six species of woodpeckers, and double-digit numbers of wintering Hermit Thrushes.
The WBC is a great way for birders and nature enthusiasts to start off the New Year and contribute to our knowledge of the winter bird population inhabiting Esopus Bend Nature Preserve. Additional field observers are always welcome, and full day participation is not required, but you should be prepared to invest several hours out in the field under cold winter conditions.
Pre-registration is required. Please contact Steve Chorvas ([email protected] or 845-246-5900) to register, or for additional information, no later than Thursday, January 9th.
