Fall Bird Walk - Sunday, September 27, 8:30am-10:00am

Catch the fall migration! Join bird guide Arabella Pajoohi for a morning of birdwatching at Untermyer Gardens This 90-minute bird walk begins at 8:30 a.m., before the garden is open to the public, when the birds are likely to be very active. While birding the gardens, a diverse ecosystem of small streams, deciduous forests, and garden beds, we may encounter a wide variety of songbirds, including sparrow species such as Savannah, Swamp, Song, and Chipping Sparrows; Ruby-throated Hummingbirds; and an abundance of warblers, including Yellow-rumped, Palm, Northern Yellow Warblers, American Redstarts, and Common Yellowthroats. With luck on our side, and some skill in identifying favorable habitats, we may also encounter Pine Siskins, American Kestrels, or Blue Grosbeaks, all of which have been recorded at the gardens in past years. About your walk leader: I am Arabella Pajoohi, an avid birder, naturalist, and an aspiring conservation biologist. At the age of five, after participating in my first Christmas Bird Count and watching a Black-capped Chickadee feed, I was forever set on the path of becoming a birder.For the past few years, I have been studying and researching the habitats and behaviors of avian species in my area in order to better identify these species; I find that understanding a bird’s behavior and habitat helps a great deal with identification. My favorite birds include the Black-capped Chickadee (my spark bird, in fact!), Tufted Titmouse, Yellow Warbler, Eastern Bluebird, along with a multitude of Corvid species. I also have a soft spot for Canada Geese, who greet me every morning with their cacophony of honking. My favorite pastimes include birding and hiking, as well as dancing. I also enjoy reading (especially outside in my hammock), swimming in lakes, skiing, and other outdoor activities, along with listening to classical music and opera (I am an opera enthusiast). Please bring your own binoculars (8 x 42 are the best for birding but others can work). Dress appropriately for the weather. We will be walking on uneven ground, flights of stairs, grass, gravel, and woodchip paths, so WEAR STURDY SHOES. Consider wearing a hat and sunscreen and bringing water with you.