How to Participate

Registration Process

Each trip has a date when registration begins. Use the link to the trip’s registration form on or after that date.

Registration for most field trips takes place on Monday mornings at 9 a.m. ET, about two weeks before the excursion. However, this is not true for all field trips, so carefully check the posted registration date. 

Except in the case of Tuesday morning walks in Central Park, numbers are limited, so you will need to wait to hear back from the trip registrar to learn if you have secured a spot on the trip.

Regardless of the type of trip, you will receive a follow-up email with more information, including start time and location. Only in the case of Central Park migration trips is the information automated. Please wait for the trip registrar to contact you for additional information for all other trips.

Pro Tip: Popular trips tend to fill up within a few minutes or in the first few hours. We suggest you mark your calendar with the registration date and time for all trips you are interested in so you can register as soon as registration opens.

Limited Number of Trip Participants

Except in the case of the Central Park Tuesday morning spring and fall migration walks, the number of field trip participants is typically limited to twelve to fifteen people. Birding is a quiet activity, and this critical rule is in place to ensure an excellent individual experience while respecting and protecting wildlife and our natural environments. 

Pro Tip: Become a member of the Linnaean Society to gain access to more field trips and enjoy all our other member benefits, including monthly speakers, events, conservation, other volunteer opportunities, and social events. 

Trip Registrar

Each trip has a trip registrar who coordinates the trip and ensures that everyone has a good experience. They can answer your questions, help you find a carpool ride, and even deal with unexpected weather events. 

The trip registrar will send an instructional email a few days before the trip to provide information, including the exact starting time and place, small changes to the itinerary, and what to bring. Always check this website for information about any schedule changes before a field trip or event. 

After the trip is complete, the trip registrar will write a trip report that includes a bird list and photos from the day; it will be published on the website.

Pro Tip: If you are a photographer, send your photos to the trip registrar, who may feature them on our website and on our social media. The photo guidelines must be adhered to for selection consideration.

Transportation

Many of our trips are accessible via public transportation, but some require a car to reach diverse seasonal hotspots in the tri-state area. Drivers and car owners are encouraged to participate!

Typically, there are no costs associated with our trips. However, if you are riding in a carpool, we ask that you compensate the driver. The trip registrar will communicate the suggested donation to the driver. If a group rents a car, they are responsible for arranging the rental and splitting the cost. 

Pro Tip: If you are new to the Linnaean Society or don’t know anyone offering a ride, your trip registrar can usually help find a seat in a carpool for out-of-town trips. 

Trip End Time

Please note that the exact end time for trips cannot be given in advance due to factors such as the amount of bird activity, the pace of the group, changes in the leader’s plans based on up-to-the-minute information, or traffic conditions.

Canceling Or Leaving Early

Please be courteous and immediately notify the registrar if you need to cancel. Similarly, please inform the registrar if you need to leave a trip at a specific time. However, accommodating such a request may not be possible.

Pro Tip: Many of our trips are oversubscribed, and there is usually a waitlist of people who would love to take your spot. Let the trip registrar know as soon as possible so another person can take your spot on the trip.

What To Expect On The Trip

Best Practices for Group Birding

Trip participants work as a team and are encouraged to help each other by sharing knowledge and observations in the field. First and foremost, we respect all the environments we visit and support the protection of all wildlife. Also, birding alone or with a friend differs from birding on an organized field trip. With that in mind, please read our best practices for group birding guidelines. 

What To Bring

The most essential items for birding are binoculars and a curiosity to observe and learn. Many people use field guides or phone apps such as eBird, Merlin Bird ID, or iNaturalist to verify and record their observations.

Pro Tip: Plenty of water and food is always recommended. Often, the leader will plan time for a group picnic along the way. 

What To Wear

Dress comfortably and be prepared for walking and spending extended periods outside. Dress appropriately for the expected weather, which might require rain gear, warm clothing for cold weather, or a hat, sunscreen, and insect repellent for warm weather. Boots might sometimes be necessary for muddy, swampy locations or wetland trips.

Pro Tip: Avoid wearing white or bright colors that will distract and possibly scare the birds away.

Trips Requiring Scopes 

Some trips, such as those to the ocean, are greatly enhanced using a scope. Leaders and members often share, but please check with the registrar for advice on participating in a scope trip if you don’t have one. 

Documenting The Trip

Trip Reports

Trip reports are lists of the species observed on each trip. In order for a species to be listed, it must be seen by at least two of the trip participants during the trip. The trip registrar is charged with ensuring a list is created, and the trip leader will verify the accuracy of the list. If the list is submitted on eBird, it is ideal that only one list is created and shared will all participants. 

Trip Photography

Many of our members are enthusiastic photographers, and we encourage photos to be taken on our field trips. If you wish to submit photos to be included on a trip report, please read these important photography specifications outlined below.