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Local Birdingpal Contacts

Local Birdwatchers

Using the Birdingpal resources you must agree to the following: If you contact a local Birdingpal and make arrangement to go birding, you should note it is common courtesy to make sure you show up for the appointment. If for any reason you are unable to do this, the least you must do is contacting the local Pal right away.
Please note that most Birdingpals are serious birdwatchers. It is a privilege to contact them, and your message should reflect it. A local Pal does not get paid, but should he/she offer to take you out birding, using their own vehicle, it would be courteous to pay for the fuel. A lunch and/or a small gift would also be appropriate, something as simple as a souvenir of your country, or a pin from your local birding club.
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Shortcuts to Local Pals in major cities:
Albany Long Island New York Niagara Falls Rochester Syracuse Professional Guides
Local Information

Initial Last Name Area Available Language
M Staloffk Ava Anytime English
I live in upstate New York between Lake Ontario and Adirondack Mountains. I have been birding since the 1960's. My maiden name is Kelley - my great grandfather came from Roscommon.
JB Timmis Albany Anytime English
C Finger Albany Weekend English
S Mesick Albany Anytime English, some Spanish, Russian
Lots of habitat variety around Albany. Mountains, fields, marshes, rivers, deciduous and conifer forests. Adirondack National Forest and Catskill mountains both a couple hours away.
J Vellozzi Ardsley Anytime English
D Watkins Binghamton Anytime English
The Binghamton area has several very good spots to bird. One is listed on the NY important areas. Warbler migration time is most likely our best time. It is not unusual to get 20 types of warblers on a good morning. I am a member of our local bird club, where I am on the broad and lead a weekly trip to local hotspots. I have done the World Series of Birding for the last 7 years, being the captain the last 3 years. Once a year I lead a national trip to Alabama.
P Lengyel Brooklyn Anytime English, a little French
A relatively new birder, with a pretty flexible schedule looking for fellow birders to hit the local hot spots with (esp Prospect Park).
R Harris Cambridge Anytime English, German
I live in upstate New York between the Hudson River and the Vermont border, between Albany, NY and Bennington,VT.
B Marrs Centereach Anytime English
I am a profitient birder. I have traveled extensivly throughout the U.S. birding. I also have a lot of research experience working with many of the local passerines and have done bird research elsewhere in the country.
P Burkard Buffalo, Chautauqua County Weekend English, Spanish
Novice birder, area of Eastern Great Lakes, featuring migratory routes and water fowl.
N Ziemba Fredonia, Chautauqua County Anytime English
I am an intermediate birder, based in Fredonia, Chautauqua County. Dunkirk Harbor is a great sight to spot overwintering water fowl. I also know of several local "hot spots". A short 45 minute will take you to the Roger Tory Peterson Institute, as well as the local Audubon Society. I am free most weekends, and with enough daylight available, most evenings.
K Diamond Chester(Orange County) Anytime English, American Sign Language
E Williams Clinton Weekend English
I am a senior at Hamilton College in Clinton, NY. I am a passionate but intermediate birder of the birds normally found around the central NY state area. If you are interested in doing some birding in the Utica/Rome area let me know! If I am not around I have most likely gone home to the seacoast of New Hampshire for break.
J Hopkins Cornwall-on-Hudson Anytime English
I am within an hour's drive to Basha Kill Wildlife Refuge which is great for migrating warblers. Also near Wallkill River Refuge and Kenridge Farm for Orioles, warblers, etc.Also am near Iona Island for Cerulean warblers.

 

  M Klein Great Neck (Queens/Nassau Border), New York, USA Anytime English
  I love birding, especially as a social activity with other people. I have been actively birding for about 10 years and have traveled to bird in places like Iceland and Panama, among others.

I look forward to meeting new people and being out in nature. Finding birds only makes it that much more exciting! I am a talker and enjoy company. If you are looking for an extremely quiet/reserved birder, look elsewhere. We will have fun. I'm very nice but also very talkative.
Area:
North Shore Long Island. Old oak trees and water. Central Park, Jones Beach, Alley Pond Park

Area Birds:
Migrating Warbler Species, Shore Birds, Owls, Etc.

Interests:
Nature: birdwatching


 
B Spencer Haverstraw Weekend English
A Williams Hortonville Weekend English, some French
This area, Sullivan County, is in the foothills of the Catskill mountains and contains the Bashakill Wildlife Area, the Delaware River, lakes, and farmland. I am not an expert birder, but can recognize most of the local species by sight and sound.
H Sprung Hyde Park Anytime English
Hyde Park is on the Hudson River about 100 miles north of NYC. It is a rich birding area. I mostly bird with a camera and kayak. Two excellent natural areas are the Audubon Ramshorn Sanctuary near Catskill, NY and the Tivoli Bays area near Tivoli (Rhinebeck, NY). Both are best accessed by Kayak - both are fresh water tidal areas. I am NOT going to be in the area this late spring, summer and fall as I will be traveling throughout the Western and North Central US birding and picture taking for the season. I will be in semi-regular (at least weekly e-mail) contact with the world. I would be glad to give long distance advice on my area while I am away.
W Cook Hudson/Albany Weekend English
I am willing to go birding with visitors for a morning, or perhaps a full day in the vicinity of Hudson, New York without pay. I am a teacher, so I can go out on week days in the summer. I am an experienced birder and have been birding since 1976.
B McGuire Ithaca Anytime English
Instructor/trip leader for Steve Kress' Spring Field Ornithology, past president of Cayuga Bird Club, editor of 'Birding the Cayuga Lake Basin'
M Haribal Ithaca Weekend English
S Fern Ithaca Anytime English
J Dombroskie Ithaca Anytime English, some French, Spanish
I am interested in all aspects of natural history, especially entomology.
P Becker Katohna, Westchester Anytime English, French
B McAllister Lake Placid Anytime English
K Bucolo Lockport Anytime English
H Farber Melville Weekend English
I Band (ring) birds for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife during May, September & October, as a hobby. I live on Long Island, NY. where I am near ocean, bay and wooded habitat.
P Ludwig Dix Hills, Long Island Anytime English, German
Retired but still working. Can go birding on different days. Have been a casual to serious birder for over 50 years.
R Savage East Hampton, Long Island Anytime English
D Taggart Moriches/Long Island Anytime English
M Cooper Long Island Anytime English
Long Island, New York, is located along the Atlantic Flyway in Eastern North America. The widest variety of birds are present during spring and fall migration, with peak diversity in May and again from August through early October. As a coastal barrier island, winter is also good for interesting waterfowl, gulls and vagrants from western North America, while shorebirds (waders) are often the higlight during midsummer. Local specialties include, at the proper seasons, Piping Plover, Roseate Tern, Fish Crow, Sharp-tailed Sparrows, Seaside Sparrow and alcids and sea ducks.
I've been birding Long Island for over 30 years, and I've been leading field trips for local birding groups for most of that time. I'm very familiar with Long Island hotspots, somewhat familiar with Manhattan and New Jersey areas, but I can offer general guidelines for most areas in the northeastern US.
D Holgate Manlius Anytime English
Major spring migration area, near lake Ontario, various habitats, all make upstate NY a great place to bird!
R Olley Bronx, New York Weekend English
Work at Bronx Zoo, travel to S American and C America looking for local birders and people who would like to get together and travel to Mexico in a group.
R Perera Bronx, New York Anytime English
R Olley Bronx, New York Anytime English, touch of Spanish
Have traveled to Peru, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Texas for birdwatching. Live in Bronx next to Botanical Gardens. Have a house in Bonoa, Dominican Republic.
P Dorosh Brooklyn, New York Weekend
K Notopoulos Brooklyn, New York Weekend English
E Harold Brooklyn, New York Anytime English, French


A Bielskas New York, New York Weekends, some evenings. English
I'm a Native New Yorker and live in New York City and have been birding for the last few years. I love to travel, and try to bird a bit whenever I travel if it's possible. I also enjoy photography and try to incorporate that into my birding trips as well. I bird as much as I can in New York and bird quite frequently in Central Park.

I like to bird with others, and appreciate the knowledge and expertise locals can share of their favorite birding spots when I'm in an unfamiliar birding spot.
Area:
Central Park

Area Birds:
Central Park, Bronx Zoo other parks in NYC
Interests:
Nature: birdwatching, twitching, photography, butterflies, fishing, skiing, swimming, beach, surfing, snowmobiling, sky diving
Travel: stroll, walking, hiking, climbing, train, bus, car, hitchhiking, biking, long walk, backpack, portage, canoe, ship, cruise, pilot, dog sled, snow mobile
Visit: tourist site, museum, restaurant, club, vineyard, ski run/trail, monument, arboretum, architecture appreciation, shop, antique, fashion, tech, casino
Attend: concert, horse race, ballet, dance show, theatre, live music, sports event, auction, antique, convention, political rally, protest, competition, swap
Participate: night life, party, dance, club, bar, rock, country, classical, hiphop, rap, swing, wine, beer, liquor, revival, ceremony, flash mob, round table
Play: cards, sports, boardgames, billiards, chess, checkers, scrambled letters games, lawn games, water sports, computer games, motor sports


C Beilman New York, NY Weekends English, Spanish, Portuguese
I enjoy birding across the greater New York City area.

I bird regularly with a local bird birding club, and have good local knowledge to share.
Area:
Jamaica Bay, Central Park and other local hotspots and parks

Area Birds:
seasonal
Interests:
Nature: birdwatching, twitching, photography, butterflies, fishing, skiing, swimming, beach, surfing, snowmobiling, sky diving
Travel: stroll, walking, hiking, climbing, train, bus, car, hitchhiking, biking, long walk, packpack, portage, canoe, ship, cruise, pilot, dog sled, snow mobile
Visit: tourist site, museum, restaurant, club, vineyard, ski run/trail, monument, arboretum, architecture appreciation, shop, antique, fashion, tech
Attend: concert, horse race, ballet, dance show, theatre, live music, sports event, auction, antique, convention, political rally, protest, competition, swap
Participate: night life, party, dance, club, bar, rock, country, classical, hiphop, rap, swing, wine, beer, liquor, social games, computer games, casino

C Bloch New York Weekend English
P Johnson New York Anytime English, Spanish, Brazilian, Portuguese
Join me for birding in Manhattan's Central Park and Brooklyn's Prospect Park; also familiar with sites in Columbia County [2.5 hrs north of NYC, on the Hudson River]
I'm an academic working on Latin America. I have been birding for 25 yrs or so.
P Epstein New York Anytime English
P Shen New York Weekend English
S Rouff New York Weekend English
R Zain-Eldeen New York Weekend English
I do not have a car but I can take birders out to places accessible by public transportation, such as Central Park, Prospect Park, and Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.
A Rubenfeld New York Weekend English
Long-time birdwatcher (with car) familiar with NYC and metropolitan area, including Long Island, lower Hudson River Valley, and central/northern New Jersey.
C Thoreen New York Anytime English
R Elve New York Anytime English
All seasons daily sunset tour of Hudson River Park, west village generally Christopher Street to w 14 street along river side some horticultural/garden interests as well Audubon and Sierra Club, information per other areas.
J Drucker New York Weekend English, some Japanese
I am a 16 year old high school student who resides in Manhattan, New York City, and has a second home"+" in Sheffield, Massachusetts. I have been been birding over 9 years, and my passion from Ornithology has taken me all over the U.S., as well as to South America and Europe. I am very familiar with Central and Riverside Parks in Manhattan, as well as the birding locations in Southern Berkshire County, Massachusetts. As I am a student, my time may be limited, but I will try my best to show any guest the local wildlife.
J Capron New York Anytime English, French
I understand some of the best bird-watching occurs in Central Park. I would like to learn more about birdwatching here and wherever I travel.
G Waskow New York Weekend English
We have Central Park, Riverside Park and miles of shore.
J Buckler New York Weekend English
I am a Brit living in Manhattan. I have been in the US for 3 years as at 2012. I have reasonable knowledge of sites in and around Manhattan. I have previously lived and birdied in the UAE (3 years). Prior to that birding very UK centric.
H Fischer Staten Island, New York Anytime English, some German
Great parks especially in spring.
G Light Niagara County Weekend English
I am very familiar with Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, and the Lake Plains. Contact me with your bird wish list and I'll let you know which birds we may see. I also have access to up-to-date Rare Bird reports.
K Cohen Niagara Falls/Buffalo Weekend English
Western New York has many different ecological areas to explore from the hills of Allegany State park to the marshes of Iroquois National Wildlife refuge. In winter the Niagara river and Lake Ontario sustain many wintering waterfowl.
N Klein Northport Anytime English
S Ervine Ossinger Weekend English
M Thompson Oswego Weekend English
A Braunstein Riverdale Weekend English
R Minetor Rochester Weekend English
K Sucy Rochester Anytime English
I'm available most weekday mornings and weekends. I love the Rochester area and its birding spots, and enjoy showing them to new people!
L Bassett Russell Anytime English
Live in foothills of Adirondack mountains on 150 acres. Be glad to show our area to anyone traveling in the area.
J van Leeuwen Savannah Anytime English
I live in the hamlet of a small town and supply many feeding opportunities through feeders, flowers, shrubs etc... I have been birding for only 5 or 6 years and began with hummingbirds. From there my love grew to all the birds in the area.
Suffolk County

 

  R McNeil Yaphank, Suffolk County Anytime English
  Birding has been a passion of mine for 19 years in GA, TX, CT and now NY. Area:
Suffolk County has the most species of any county in NY. Whether you like seawatching at Montauk for alcids, shearwaters at Robert Moses, shorebirds at Cupsogue, or warblers at Manorville Hills. This area has a wide variety of birds in all.

Area Birds:
Typically bird the hotspots from Robert Moses SP to Montauk
Interests:
Nature: birdwatching, twitching, photography, butterflies, swimming, beach, Travel: stroll, walking, hiking, train, bus, car, long walk, Visit: tourist site, museum, restaurant, vineyard, wine

 

  M Mau Syracuse Anytime English
  Been birding all my life, started with my grandmother at 5 and never stopped. I'm now retired from the military and have tons of time to help others build their lists, learn the hobby or find that hard to find species. I'm up for anything, a couple hours or a big day just give me a shout. Area:
Syracuse, Central NY, Adirondack Area

Tons of hotspots in CNY, Montezuma NWR, 3 Rivers, Beaver Lake, Happy Valley

Area Birds:
We have awesome migrate viewing, hawk watching, passerines, shorebirds
Interests:
Nature: birdwatching
R MacLean Syracuse(East) Anytime English
W Dwyer Troy Weekend English, German, Japanese(basic)
My wife and I live near Albany, the capital city of NY state (3 hours north of New York City by car or train). There are many good local birding spots we enjoy including Five Rivers Environmental Center, Vischer's Ferry and Niles Huyck Nature Preserve.
P Relson Ulster Park Weekend English
P Schoenberger Woodstock Weekend English
B Manning Tarrytown, Westerchester Anytime English


Local wildlife photographers

Birdingpal wildlife photographers, like Pals, do not get paid. So should he/she offer to take you out using their own vehicle, it would be courteous to pay for the fuel. A lunch and/or a small gift would also be appropriate, something as simple as a souvenir of your country, or a pin from your local birding club

Initial Last Name Area Available Language
D Koch Pine Plains Anytime English
Veterinarian/Birder/Photographer Mid-Hudson Valley New York.


Professional Guides

If you contact a professional Birdingpal guide you must be prepared to pay a fee for guiding services.

Initial Last Name Area Available Language
S Haber New York Anytime English, some Spanish
I am a professional ornithologist with an undergraduate degree from Cornell University, where I worked at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. I have been a serious birder for over a decade, with international birding and fieldwork experience in Central America, South America and Europe, and I've also participated multiple times in the World Series of Birding. I'm available to guide in the New York City area and throughout New Jersey, with extensive knowledge of Central Park, Cape May, and the breeding birds of Northern New Jersey in particular. I can provide transportation with my own car as well. I pride myself on being able to cater to serious listers, casual/beginning birders, and everything in between. I generally charge $30/hour, or $200 for a full day, but this can be vary based on the need for car transport and other factors.
B Elrick West Milford Anytime English
Friendly knowledgeable birding guide in the New Jersey, New York metro area Some of the best bird migration sites in the Eastern USA are in the NY, NJ, Metro area. The migration through NJ during April and May has becoming better known in the last few years after many teams from around the world have competed in the World Series Of birding. There are also within 1hr from Manhattan Island some breeding sites of the less common and highly sought after species Including Golden-winged, Worm-eating and Blackburnian warblers. Add to that the Sandpiper migration in July through August and you have a World class birding area for most of the year.
I have 20 years experience as a bird guide in NY, NJ, PA and GA leading bird walks for bird clubs and organizations. I have a masters U,S,G,S, banding permit and earned a B,T,O, "A" ringing permit before emigrating to the USA.
The best birding is just after sunrise and so most days 4 or more hrs birding can be managed before any other commitments. There is always a minimum of a four hr charge.

Local Information
Name Description
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia New York
Local weather Yahoo
The Linnaean Society of New York Club
Audubon New York Club
Audubon Society of the Capital Region Club
Brooklyn Bird Club Club
Bedford Audubon Society Club
Bronx River-Sound Shore Audubon Society Club
Buffalo Audubon Society Club
Buffalo Ornithological Society Club
Cayuga Bird Club Club
Central Westchester Audubon Society Club
Chemung Valley Audubon Society Club
Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club Club
Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society Club
Eastern Long Island Audubon Society Club
Four Harbors Audubon Society Club
Genesee Valley Audubon Society Club
Great South Bay Audubon Society Club
Hudson River Audubon Society Club
Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon Society Club
Jamestown Audubon Society Club
New York City Audubon Society Club
North Fork Audubon Society Club
North Shore Audubon Society Club
Northern Catskills Audubon Society Club
Northern New York Audubon Society Club
Onondaga Audubon Society Club
Orange County Audubon Society Club
Putnam Highlands Audubon Society Club


 


  Queens County Bird Club Inc NYC / Long Island Anytime English
  There is a lot of information including MAPS & descriptions of most birding hotspots.

A Gilbert
Queens County Bird Club Inc
www.qcbirdclub.org
Rockland Audubon Society Club
Saw Mill River Audubon Society Club
Southern Adirondack Audubon Club
South Shore Audubon Society Club
Sullivan County Audubon Society Club
Rochester Birding Association Club
John Burroughs Natural History Society Club
Latest Sights NYC RBR
Fire Island Hawk Watch
Long Island Sites
Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island Pelagic
Birding Hotspots around the world Sites

Last update 29/01/2014