NEWSLETTER
Albany, N.Y. — How many bird species can you find in six hours? Birders will find out during the Barrens Birding Blitz, a fast-paced team birding competition at the Albany Pine Bush Preserve on Saturday, September 19, 2026.
From 6 a.m. to noon, teams of novice and experienced birders will fan out across the Preserve, hiking trails and staking out prime birding locations as they compete to see and identify as many species as possible. The event will offer both mobile “traversing” teams and stationary “sit & spot” teams, allowing participants to explore the diverse habitats of the Pine Bush.
“We are looking forward to welcoming birders to the 4th annual Barrens Birding Blitz,” said Alex Soldo, event coordinator. “Holding this event is a great way to help us understand how birds use the preserve, but it’s also a celebration of birds and of fall migration."
Approximately 200 bird species can be found at the Albany Pine Bush Preserve, which is designated as a New York State Bird Conservation Area, a National Audubon Society Important Bird Area and part of the New York State Birding Trail. All participants are asked to follow the American Birding Association Code of Ethics. Birders of all skill levels are welcome. The competition will be followed by an awards ceremony and lunch at the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Discovery Center located at 195 New Karner Road in Albany, NY.
Barrens Birding Blitz
Saturday, September 19, 2026 | 6 a.m.–12 p.m.
Awards & Lunch: 12:30 p.m.
Albany Pine Bush Preserve Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY
Registration is $25 and includes a Barrens Birding Blitz T-shirt, event guidelines and birding guide/score sheet, lunch and awards. To register and learn more, visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org/events
BACKGROUND
The 3,400+ - acre Albany Pine Bush Preserve (APBP), located in New York’s Capital District, protects one of the best remaining inland pitch pine-scrub oak barrens in the world. This extraordinary fire-dependent ecosystem provides habitat for many plants and animals, including more than 20 percent of New York State’s wildlife Species of Greatest Conservation Need, such as the endangered Karner blue butterfly. The APBP is a National Natural Landmark, Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, National Recreation Trail Site, a New York State Unique Area, Birding Trail Site, Bird Conservation Area, and a National Audubon Society Important Bird Area. Characterized by rolling sand dunes and over 20 miles of trails, the APBP offers visitors many recreational opportunities including hiking, bird watching, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, mountain biking, hunting, fishing and canoeing. The Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission is a public-private partnership created by the NYS Legislature in 1988 to protect and manage the APBP and provide the public with educational and recreational opportunities. The Management Plan for the APBP guides all aspects of expanding and managing the preserve. The Commission’s goal is a preserve of 5,380 acres.
As the gateway to the Pine Bush, the Discovery Center at 195 New Karner Road, Albany, is a “green” certified interpretive center where visitors come to understand why the Pine Bush is rare and special. A visit to this unique destination is an exciting exploration where learning comes naturally through interactive exhibits, an outdoor Discovery Trail, and numerous programs on the ecology, natural history, cultural history and management of the Pine Bush. Admission to the Discovery Center is free (there is a fee for some programs). The center is open daily weekdays 9am-4pm and weekends 10am-4pm. For more information, visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org or call 518-456-0655.
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