Clove Lakes Park, Staten Island

Date: Saturday, May 10, 2025

Leader: Richard ZainEldeen
Public Transportation: Participants can use public transportation to arrive at the meeting location.
Meeting Point: After confirming your registration, the Registrar will share directions, the exact meeting place, and time with attendees.
Schedule: The trip will end in the early afternoon.
Relative Difficulty: Expect to walk about 2-3 miles on paved and unpaved paths with some moderate inclines.

Trip Description: Clove Lakes Park was created in the 1930s by filling in marshland and damming up a brook that ran to the Kill van Kull. Almost half of its 198 acres include some excellent bird habitat, in the form of Brooks Pond, Martling Pond, Clove Lake, streams, and one hundred acres of hilly woodlands. Paved pedestrian roads encircle the lakes, and an informal network of dirt trails wind through the woods. The Park’s name is derived from the Dutch word “kloven,” meaning a stream-cut valley. Birding is particularly good during spring migration, especially if you are looking for warblers. On spring days, it is possible to see 15-20 warbler species, including Louisiana Waterthrush (early in spring) and Cerulean, Prothonotary, Kentucky, and Mourning (later in spring) Warblers. Also watch for Scarlet and Summer Tanagers, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Empidonax flycatchers, and more.

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

Registration: Trip registration opens at 9 am on Monday, April 28. After that time, click here to register. Registration closes at 6 pm on Wednesday, May 7. 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.