North Country Adirondacks Winter Birds, February 14-17, 2025

Date: Friday, February 14 through Monday, February 17, 2025

Leader: Joan Collins
Carpool Trip: This is a carpool trip. The Registrar will coordinate rides for participants without a vehicle. Drivers with snow-ready cars, who are willing to provide rides, are encouraged to attend. Riders should expect to pay a suggested carpool fee to the driver in addition to other trip fees. Generally, there are enough drivers to accommodate everyone, but rides are not guaranteed as they depend on volunteer availability. Once in the Adirondacks, we will consolidate into three vehicles.
Meeting Point: After your registration is confirmed, the Registrar will share directions, the exact meeting place, and time with attendees.
Schedule: Expect four full days of birding: two days at various locations on the way to and from the Adirondacks and two full days in the Adirondacks with Joan. When birding with Joan, the days are long, starting early (between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m.). We will monitor the weather and adjust plans if the forecast is snowy or dangerous.
Relative Difficulty: This trip is somewhat demanding due to the cold and snowy conditions. Trails will be unpaved and uneven, with some hills and forest hiking in the snow. Participants need to be prepared for very cold temperatures and must bring appropriate winter clothing to stay warm. Indoor bathrooms are infrequent. This is an ear-birding trip, requiring total silence while searching for birds.

Trip Description: Enjoy a winter weekend birding in the Adirondacks with Joan Collins, the preeminent Adirondack guide. This four-day trip will focus on boreal, mixed forest, and wetland habitats, where we will see both year-round residents and irruptive winter species.

Winter in the North Country unveils a thrilling opportunity to encounter many spectacular birds, including the famed “boreal trio”: Boreal Chickadee, Black-backed Woodpecker, and Canada Jay. The mix of irruptive birds, a delightful surprise each year, is determined by the availability of tree seed crops. These could include Red Crossbill, White-winged Crossbill, Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll, Evening Grosbeak, Snowy Owl, and Bohemian Waxwing, adding an element of unpredictability and excitement to your birding experience. Joan will leverage ear-birding to identify birds, and it is not uncommon to hear without seeing certain species.

Participants will also stop at multiple birding hotspots while traveling to and from the Adirondacks.

Space is limited to 11 people. We will spend three nights in an Adirondack hotel and start daily between 5:00 and 6:00 a.m. This winter wonderland is extremely cold and snowy, with participants spending time outside in near or below-zero temperatures. Before the trip, participants will join a video call to learn more about the itinerary, the specific target list, what to pack to stay warm, and what to expect.

2024 Trip Report
2023 Trip Report

Please read The Linnaean Society of New York COVID-19 Field Trip Guidelines before registering.

Registration: Registration opens at 9 am on Monday, November 4. After that time, click here to register. Registration closes at 6 pm on Friday, November 15. Members (and those who have applied for membership) will be prioritized over non-members.

Please read the About Our Trips page, if you’re going on a field trip for the first time. It details our field trip policies, recommends what to bring on a trip, and offers other useful information, pro tips, and tricks.

If after visiting the About Our Trips page, you still have questions, feel free to contact the Registrar via email.