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Birding Trip to Ft. Edward Important Bird Area

Did you know that a large section of northern Washington County is home to a treasure trove of endangered, threatened and at-risk birds?

Come take a special tour of the Fort Edwards Grasslands with the Agricultural Stewardship Association and Laurie LaFond from the Southern Adirondack Audubon Society for your chance to see some of the wonderful birds this area sustains and learn more about the why protecting their habitat is critical. Winter provides an excellent opportunity to see some of these grassland bird species, including Short-eared Owls, Rough-legged Hawks, Northern Harriers and more!

Grassland birds rely on habitat provided by agricultural fields managed as hayfields and many species have suffered dramatic declines over the last four decades due to loss of this rapidly disappearing habitat.   Thankfully, the Audubon Society has designated the Fort Edward Grasslands as an Important Bird Area and is working with The Nature Conservancy and local organizations like ASA to help conserve this vital habitat.

The tour is scheduled for Saturday, February 20^th from 9 a.m. until noon at the Little Theater on the Farm in Fort Edward. Our trip will begin with a quick auto tour followed by an easy walk on private property. Please remember to dress warmly and bring snowshoes if there is snow on the ground, binoculars and water.

Possible sightings include over-wintering Snow Buntings, Northern Harriers, Horned Larks, Snowy and Short-eared Owls, Red-tailed, Rough-legged and Coopers Hawks. Feeders at the farm bring in the usual cast of characters such as Blue Jays, Chickadees, Goldfinches, Cardinals, Sparrows and more.