Shirley Chisholm State Park and Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

Date: Saturday, November 14, 2026

Leader: Peter Dorosh
Transportation: Carpool Trip: While carpool rides for everyone usually work out, there is no guarantee of enough volunteer drivers to accommodate all participants. The Registrar will work to organize rides and to notify participants when a rental car may be necessary. Registrar will also inform participants of the carpool fee, which is based on the trip location; the cost of any rental cars should be split evenly by those participants.
Meeting Point: After your registration is confirmed, the Registrar will share directions, the exact meeting place, and time with attendees.
Schedule: Full-day trip.
Relative Difficulty: The terrain at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is flat, but at Shirley Chisholm State Park there are hills. Expect to walk one to two miles at each location.

Trip Description: This trip features visits to several coastal sites ringing Jamaica Bay, including Shirley Chisholm State Park and Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. The bays and salt marshes offer many waterbirds, woodland, and brush-loving birds. In the past, we were treated to a Vesper Sparrow and an Ash-throated Flycatcher at Shirley Chisholm, while the East Pond in Jamaica Bay offers at least sixteen duck species, sometimes including an Eurasian Wigeon. One of the most intriguing sights in East Bay is the three Tundra Swans, which are unusual in this area. The itinerary for this trip often changes from year to year, adding to the excitement and fun.

Registration: Registration opens at 9 am on Monday, November 2. After that time, click here to register. Registration closes at 6 pm on Wednesday, November 11. 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.