NEWSLETTER
Albany, NY - The Barrens Birding Blitz is an annual community event held at the Albany Pine Bush Preserve (APBP), taking place on Saturday, September 20, 2025 during the peak of fall bird migration. This friendly competition is a full day event, with teams birding and counting the species they see and hear throughout the preserve from 6 AM to 12 PM. The event will culminate in an awards ceremony and catered lunch in the APBP Discovery Center at 12:30 PM. Birdwatchers of all skill levels are invited to participate, from novice to expert. Teams will compete to spot and identify as many species as possible in the time allotted.
Event committee chair, Alex Soldo said, “Participating teams will be able to compete for three separate prizes – the 1st place prize is given to the team with the highest total species count. Not only is this an exciting opportunity for birders, but the eyes and ears of each team member helps provide us with a snapshot of the birds moving through the preserve during fall migration.”
Details about the event can be found at www.AlbanyPineBush.org/events. Participants are required to make a reservation with a $25 registration fee that includes a t-shirt, event guidelines, birding guide (score sheet), lunch, and a chance to compete for team prizes with birding friends old and new.
The Albany Pine Bush Preserve has ~200 bird species. The preserve is a New York State Bird Conservation Area, a National Audubon Society Important Bird Area & part of the New York State Birding Trail. This birdwatching event will keep in guidance with the American Birding Association Code of Ethics and is presented by the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission, Audubon Society of the Capital Region, and Southern Adirondack Audubon Society.
Other bird related events at the Albany Pine Bush Preserve:
Observe live bird banding and interview Albany Pine Bush Preserve science staff.
When:
Monday LABOR DAY September 1- 6am-11am
Tuesday September 23 – 7am-Noon
Saturday October 11 – 7am-Noon
Tuesday October 21 – 7am-Noon
Where: Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY. Green trail behind the Discovery Center.
Details: Stop by the Albany Pine Bush Preserve to see wild birds up close and personal as Preserve scientists carefully fit them with uniquely coded leg-bands, before releasing them back to the wild. Bands are provided by the US Geological Society Bird Banding Lab to licensed banders so scientists can identify individuals; this allows us to study how long birds live, where they breed, and when and where they migrate. While in-hand, the banders carefully take measurements that can indicate a bird’s health, age, and breeding condition. We and the USGS use this information to evaluate the health of bird populations and the habitats they rely on during the breeding and non-breeding seasons. Tracking the distribution and abundance of species that specialize on our fire-dependent inland pitch pine-scrub oak barrens can also help guide the management and restoration of this globally-rare habitat.
Open to the public.
Science Lecture: Avian response to the restoration and management of the Albany Pine Bush Preserve
Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 7pm
To understand the effects of our habitat management on birds, we have been monitoring bird response to our work at both the community and species level. Suitable for tweens, teens and adults.
This free lecture is being offered both online and in-person. Registration required. 518-456-0655 www.AlbanyPineBush.org/events
###