Governor’s Island Fall Migration

Date: Saturday, November 21, 2026

Leader: Loyan Beausoleil
Transportation: Public Transportation: Participants can use public transportation to arrive at the meeting location.
Meeting Point: After your registration is confirmed, the Registrar will share directions, the exact meeting place, and time with attendees.
Schedule: Half-day, ending in early afternoon.
Relative Difficulty: Expect to walk 3-4 miles on mostly flat terrain.

Trip Description: Governors Island is a 172-acre island located 800 yards off the southern tip of Manhattan. It has a long history as a military installation dating back to the Revolutionary War. After its decommissioning, it was opened to the public and quickly became a popular birding destination. Over 200 species of birds have been found there, including nesting Common Terns and a wide variety of spring and fall migrants. Species we’re likely to see are a variety of waterfowl, both types of kinglet, raptors such as American Kestrel and Cooper’s and Red-tailed Hawks, several different kinds of warblers and sparrows such as Chipping, Field, Fox and possibly Vesper or American Tree Sparrow. November is when surprises turn up on Governors Island, with sightings of Eastern Bluebirds, Eastern Meadowlarks and American Pipits also possible.

Registration: Registration opens at 9 am on Monday, November 9. After that time, click here to register. Registration closes at 6 pm on Wednesday, November 18. Members (and those who have applied for membership) will be prioritized over non-members.

Please read the About Our Trips page, if you’re going on a field trip for the first time. It details our field trip policies, recommends what to bring on a trip, and offers other useful information, pro tips, and tricks.

If after visiting the About Our Trips page, you still have questions, feel free to contact the Registrar via email.