Field trips are open to non-members as well as members.
Feel free to phone or E-mail the field trip leader or contact person ahead of time to
obtain further information, directions or restrictions (e.g. dogs are not normally
allowed on field trips). The area code for Nova Scotia is 902. NSMNH = The Nova
Scotia Museum of Natural History, 1747 Summer Street, Halifax.
Ideas and suggestions for future trips are welcome. You do not need to be an expert
to lead a field trip, and the trip does not need to last all day. You just need to
share your favourite birding spots. Any questions, comments or suggestions, as well as
all field trip reports should be directed to the Events Editor, Suzanne Borkowski 445-2922.
Email:
Contact Hans Toom or your Regional Coordinator to participate
No storm date for this trip.
Pre-Registration is Necessary!
Meet at 8:30 p.m; exact date and location (Rear Irish Cove Rd. or Glengarry Rd.) to be determined. This is a great opportunity to experience Cape Breton’s remarkable wealth of owl species and numbers. The date will be set later because an exceptionally calm and clear evening is required. Please give your contact information to the trip leaders if you would like to participate, and they will provide you with the details as soon as they are determined.
No storm date for this trip.
Pre-Registration is Necessary!
Depart 6:00 p.m. on Friday from the Prospect Point Wharf in Shag Harbour, Shelburne County. Bring food, drinking water, warm clothing, footwear for rough (beach cobble) and wet terrain, a flashlight, mattress sheet and a sleeping bag. Carry gear in waterproof bags or containers. Field guides are available on the island as are cooking pots, utensils and dishes. There is a charge of $45.00 for three nights accommodation for NSBS members plus a donation for the boat trip.
Please Note: If getting on or off the island cannot be done safely, the trip will be moved to Brier Island.
No storm date for this trip.
Due to road closures resulting from the Bluenose Marathon this trip has been CANCELLED. No storm date for this trip.
Pre-registration is Necessary!
Meet at 10:00 a.m. in the parking lot of the Frog Pond on the Purcell's Cove Road (Hwy 253). The unmarked parking lot is on the east/left hand side, shortly after Burns Drive. Bring binoculars and a field guide if you have them, a snack, and sturdy footwear. We will spend a couple of hours identifying birds in and around the Frog Pond in Jollimore. Storm date: None
Meet at 8:00 a.m. in the parking lot of Mount Uniacke House. Take exit #3 off Hwy #101 and drive approx. 8 km along Route #1 towards Windsor. Uniacke House is on your left. The main gate will be locked, but the 2nd gate (coming from Halifax) will be open. We will start by exploring some of the grounds at Mt. Uniacke then continue along back-country roads through Hants County. Bring a lunch to be enjoyed at Smileys Park. No storm date for this trip.
Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Grub and Grog Restaurant on Hwy #103 at Sable River. We’ll explore the areas in and around Port L’Hebert. Wear sturdy footwear and bring a lunch. No storm date for this trip.
Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the dam area of Petite Riviere, near the intersection of Conquerall Mills and the Crousetown Road. Directions: Turn left off Hwy #103 at the sign for Conquerall Mills just past exit #14. Drive 3.5 km along this road. The dam will be on your left. We will be exploring Fitch Road and Dagley Road along Publicover Lake, as well as Brown Branch Brook, Mount Pleasant, and Hebb Mills. In the afternoon we can check out Station Road, Fauxburg, Long Hill and Oakland. Bring a lunch, sturdy footwear, socks that can be pulled up over pantlegs (to discourage ticks) and sunblock.
No storm date for this trip.
Meet at 6:00 a.m. in the “Park and Ride” lot at the junction of Prospect Road (Route #333) and St. Margaret’s Bay Road (Route #3) near exit #2 on Hwy #103. Duration: 3 hours. Waterproof footwear and fly repellent are recommended.
No storm date for this trip.
Meet at 8:30 a.m. in the parking lot of the Seaside Adjunct. Please be advised a small entrance fee is now being charged. Directions: Take Hwy #103 to exit #22 (unmarked) and drive approx 6 km down the St. Catherine’s River Road to the park. There are washroom facilities on site. We will be walking from the parking lot to the ocean where Piping Plover will be nesting. Expect warbler species in full breeding plumage and nesting shorebirds on the trail to the headland. Wear waterproof footwear, long pants (to discourage ticks) and bring a lunch. No storm date for this trip.
Pre-Registration is Necessary!
Meet in the parking lot of Fisherman’s Cove in Eastern Passage at 7:00 am. Space on the boat to McNab’s is limited (approx. 8 people). A second trip will probably be necessary. There is a charge of $11.00 for the round trip. With a group discount it may only be $10.00. Bring a lunch, water, rubber boots or hiking boots; sunscreen and insect repellent. You will be returned to the mainland by 4:00 pm.
No storm date for this trip.
Meet at 1:00 p.m., Kirkwood Art Studio, East Lake Ainslie, Cape Breton (Route 395). This afternoon trip will include some lakeshore and forest birding and a spectacular look at an eagle’s nest, and possibly even a visit to the Kenlock Dump! Pack a lunch, as we will be stopping for a picnic on the trail! Storm date: Saturday, June 7
Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the A.P.B.S. parking lot. Take exit #3 from Hwy #104 at the Wandlyn Inn and proceed a few kilometres toward Nappan. Watch for the entrance on the left. Wear appropriate footwear for wet conditions and bring insect repellent.
No storm date for this trip.
Meet at 8:00 am at the trail entrance, located on Cottage Road between Champlain Avenue and Cedar Court. This three kilometre trail is located close to downtown Sydney and boasts two freshwater brooks and 14 acres of mixed forest. Over 100 bird species have been recorded in the diverse habitats of the Baille Ard Trail.
No storm date for this trip.
Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Chapel Gully Trail parking lot. Come down Main Street, turn right onto Union, pass the Marina and take the next right onto Wilmot. The parking lot is at the top of the hill. We will be walking a number of habitats from Jack Pine woods to the coastal barrens of Louse Harbour. Storm date: Sunday June 8
This easy walk follows the rail bed of the former train line that ran from Windsor to Truro via Kennetcook. It runs along the Herbert River for a good part of its length. Meet at the Newport Rink parking lot at 9:00 a.m. Take Exit 5 from Highway 101 and follow Highway 14 east for about 10 km to the village of Brooklyn. At the cenotaph, keep left and follow Highway 14 north for just under 1 km. At the intersection (Petro Canada station) Highway 14 turns right. Continue straight on Highway 215 (Note the YEILD sign. you do NOT have the right of way!) The rink is on the right as soon as you exit the intersection. Bring insect repellent. We should be done by lunchtime.
Storm date: Sunday, June 15
Meet at 7:00 a.m. in the back parking lot of the Milford Community Centre. Take Exit #9 off Highway #102 to Milford. Turn right at T intersection. Take next right and drive past the fire hall to the Community Centre's back parking lot. We will spend the first hour walking the trails at the centre. Facilities are unavailable on the route after the first hour or so.
No storm date for this trip.
Meet at 4:15 a.m. in the parking lot for the Cole Harbour Salt Marsh Trail on Bissett Road; or at 4:30 a.m. at the entrance to the trail on Caldwell Road just past the intersection of Caldwell and Hines Rd. We’ll leave half the cars on Bissett Rd. and the other half on Caldwell Road, then walk back to Bissett Road. This 5-km walk will last several hours during which we’ll be learning to identify birds by sound. Bring insect repellent, water and snacks.
No storm date for this trip.
Meet at the Wallace Wharf at 8:30 a.m. Primary points of interest are the impoundments at the Wallace Bay National Wildlife Area. The morning will consist of a three-hour walk along a woodland trail, so come prepared with sturdy footwear, water, and a lunch.
No storm date for this trip.
Pre-Registration is Necessary!
Meet at 1:00 pm at the Bird Islands Boat Tour office, 1672 Old Route 5 in Big Bras d’Or.
Travel by boat with fellow birders to see an important local seabird colony, part of which we own, and now a Wildlife Management Area, where Puffins, Guillemots, Great Cormorants, and many other species breed. Space is limited to 28 people. Please pre-register with Maureen by June 28th. Cost: approx. $37 plus tax (group rate to be determined).
No storm date for this trip.
Tree Swallow. Photo: Richard Stern.
Saturday May 10 2008 – Spring Migration Count
Leader: Hans Toom 868-1862 Email:
Contact Hans Toom or your Regional Coordinator to participate
No storm date for this trip.
Thursday May 15 2008 – Owling in Southeastern Cape Breton
Leaders: Barc Cunningham 564-6063 Email:
and John W. MacInnis 539-6451Pre-Registration is Necessary!
Meet at 8:30 p.m; exact date and location (Rear Irish Cove Rd. or Glengarry Rd.) to be determined. This is a great opportunity to experience Cape Breton’s remarkable wealth of owl species and numbers. The date will be set later because an exceptionally calm and clear evening is required. Please give your contact information to the trip leaders if you would like to participate, and they will provide you with the details as soon as they are determined.
No storm date for this trip.
Friday May 16 2008 – Bon Portage Island
Leader: Claire Diggins 825-6152 Email:
Pre-Registration is Necessary!
Depart 6:00 p.m. on Friday from the Prospect Point Wharf in Shag Harbour, Shelburne County. Bring food, drinking water, warm clothing, footwear for rough (beach cobble) and wet terrain, a flashlight, mattress sheet and a sleeping bag. Carry gear in waterproof bags or containers. Field guides are available on the island as are cooking pots, utensils and dishes. There is a charge of $45.00 for three nights accommodation for NSBS members plus a donation for the boat trip.
Please Note: If getting on or off the island cannot be done safely, the trip will be moved to Brier Island.
No storm date for this trip.
Saturday May 17 2008 – Dartmouth Lakes CANCELLED
Leader: Mike King 434-6099 (H), 430-2748 (Cell) Email:
Due to road closures resulting from the Bluenose Marathon this trip has been CANCELLED. No storm date for this trip.
Sunday May 18 2008 – Beginning Birders’ Field Trip
Leader: Suzanne Borkowski 445-2922 Email:
Pre-registration is Necessary!
Meet at 10:00 a.m. in the parking lot of the Frog Pond on the Purcell's Cove Road (Hwy 253). The unmarked parking lot is on the east/left hand side, shortly after Burns Drive. Bring binoculars and a field guide if you have them, a snack, and sturdy footwear. We will spend a couple of hours identifying birds in and around the Frog Pond in Jollimore. Storm date: None
Monday May 19 2008 – Historic Hants County
Leader: Suzanne Borkowski 445-2922 Email:
Meet at 8:00 a.m. in the parking lot of Mount Uniacke House. Take exit #3 off Hwy #101 and drive approx. 8 km along Route #1 towards Windsor. Uniacke House is on your left. The main gate will be locked, but the 2nd gate (coming from Halifax) will be open. We will start by exploring some of the grounds at Mt. Uniacke then continue along back-country roads through Hants County. Bring a lunch to be enjoyed at Smileys Park. No storm date for this trip.
Saturday May 24 2008 – Port L’Hebert
Leaders: Dorothy Poole 354-4844 Email:
and Clyde Stoddart 745-2105Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Grub and Grog Restaurant on Hwy #103 at Sable River. We’ll explore the areas in and around Port L’Hebert. Wear sturdy footwear and bring a lunch. No storm date for this trip.
Sunday May 25 2008 – Conquerall Mills
Leader: James Hirtle 693-2104 Email:
Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the dam area of Petite Riviere, near the intersection of Conquerall Mills and the Crousetown Road. Directions: Turn left off Hwy #103 at the sign for Conquerall Mills just past exit #14. Drive 3.5 km along this road. The dam will be on your left. We will be exploring Fitch Road and Dagley Road along Publicover Lake, as well as Brown Branch Brook, Mount Pleasant, and Hebb Mills. In the afternoon we can check out Station Road, Fauxburg, Long Hill and Oakland. Bring a lunch, sturdy footwear, socks that can be pulled up over pantlegs (to discourage ticks) and sunblock.
No storm date for this trip.
Wednesday May 28 2008 – The Fred Dobson Warbler Walk
Leader: Joan Waldron 477-4273 Email:
Meet at 6:00 a.m. in the “Park and Ride” lot at the junction of Prospect Road (Route #333) and St. Margaret’s Bay Road (Route #3) near exit #2 on Hwy #103. Duration: 3 hours. Waterproof footwear and fly repellent are recommended.
No storm date for this trip.
Saturday May 31 2008 – Kejimkujik Seaside Adjunct
Leaders: Peter Davies 354-5389 Email:
and Gary Hartlen 354-7250 Email:
Meet at 8:30 a.m. in the parking lot of the Seaside Adjunct. Please be advised a small entrance fee is now being charged. Directions: Take Hwy #103 to exit #22 (unmarked) and drive approx 6 km down the St. Catherine’s River Road to the park. There are washroom facilities on site. We will be walking from the parking lot to the ocean where Piping Plover will be nesting. Expect warbler species in full breeding plumage and nesting shorebirds on the trail to the headland. Wear waterproof footwear, long pants (to discourage ticks) and bring a lunch. No storm date for this trip.
Saturday May 31 2008 – McNab’s Island
Leader: Cheryl Davis 435-5886 Email:
Pre-Registration is Necessary!
Meet in the parking lot of Fisherman’s Cove in Eastern Passage at 7:00 am. Space on the boat to McNab’s is limited (approx. 8 people). A second trip will probably be necessary. There is a charge of $11.00 for the round trip. With a group discount it may only be $10.00. Bring a lunch, water, rubber boots or hiking boots; sunscreen and insect repellent. You will be returned to the mainland by 4:00 pm.
No storm date for this trip.
Saturday May 31 2008 – Lake Ainslie and Area
Leader: Barrie Fraser 258-2364Meet at 1:00 p.m., Kirkwood Art Studio, East Lake Ainslie, Cape Breton (Route 395). This afternoon trip will include some lakeshore and forest birding and a spectacular look at an eagle’s nest, and possibly even a visit to the Kenlock Dump! Pack a lunch, as we will be stopping for a picnic on the trail! Storm date: Saturday, June 7
Saturday June 7 2008 – Amherst Point Bird Sanctuary
Leader: Kathleen Spicer 392-2815 Email:
Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the A.P.B.S. parking lot. Take exit #3 from Hwy #104 at the Wandlyn Inn and proceed a few kilometres toward Nappan. Watch for the entrance on the left. Wear appropriate footwear for wet conditions and bring insect repellent.
No storm date for this trip.
Saturday June 7 2008 – Baille Ard Trail, Sydney, Cape Breton
Leaders: Laura Saunders (727-2894) and Bill Bussey (733-2799)Meet at 8:00 am at the trail entrance, located on Cottage Road between Champlain Avenue and Cedar Court. This three kilometre trail is located close to downtown Sydney and boasts two freshwater brooks and 14 acres of mixed forest. Over 100 bird species have been recorded in the diverse habitats of the Baille Ard Trail.
No storm date for this trip.
Saturday June 7 2008 – Canso and Area
Leaders: Steve Bushell 366-2527 Email:
and Tom Kavanaugh 366-3476Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Chapel Gully Trail parking lot. Come down Main Street, turn right onto Union, pass the Marina and take the next right onto Wilmot. The parking lot is at the top of the hill. We will be walking a number of habitats from Jack Pine woods to the coastal barrens of Louse Harbour. Storm date: Sunday June 8
Saturday June 14 2008 – Herbert River Trail
Leader: Patrick Kelly 798-3329 Email:
This easy walk follows the rail bed of the former train line that ran from Windsor to Truro via Kennetcook. It runs along the Herbert River for a good part of its length. Meet at the Newport Rink parking lot at 9:00 a.m. Take Exit 5 from Highway 101 and follow Highway 14 east for about 10 km to the village of Brooklyn. At the cenotaph, keep left and follow Highway 14 north for just under 1 km. At the intersection (Petro Canada station) Highway 14 turns right. Continue straight on Highway 215 (Note the YEILD sign. you do NOT have the right of way!) The rink is on the right as soon as you exit the intersection. Bring insect repellent. We should be done by lunchtime.
Storm date: Sunday, June 15
Saturday June 21 2008 – Shubenacadie
Leader: Rob Woods 261-2122 Email:
Meet at 7:00 a.m. in the back parking lot of the Milford Community Centre. Take Exit #9 off Highway #102 to Milford. Turn right at T intersection. Take next right and drive past the fire hall to the Community Centre's back parking lot. We will spend the first hour walking the trails at the centre. Facilities are unavailable on the route after the first hour or so.
No storm date for this trip.
Sunday June 22 2008 – Dawn Chorus on the Shearwater Flyer Trail
Leader: Cindy Staicer, 494-3533 (wk); 478-3635 (cell) Email:
Meet at 4:15 a.m. in the parking lot for the Cole Harbour Salt Marsh Trail on Bissett Road; or at 4:30 a.m. at the entrance to the trail on Caldwell Road just past the intersection of Caldwell and Hines Rd. We’ll leave half the cars on Bissett Rd. and the other half on Caldwell Road, then walk back to Bissett Road. This 5-km walk will last several hours during which we’ll be learning to identify birds by sound. Bring insect repellent, water and snacks.
No storm date for this trip.
Saturday July 5 2008 – Wallace Bay
Leader: Paul MacDonald 627-2568 Email:
Meet at the Wallace Wharf at 8:30 a.m. Primary points of interest are the impoundments at the Wallace Bay National Wildlife Area. The morning will consist of a three-hour walk along a woodland trail, so come prepared with sturdy footwear, water, and a lunch.
No storm date for this trip.
Saturday July 5 2008 – Bird Islands
Leader: Maureen Cameron-MacMillan 727-2733 Email:
Pre-Registration is Necessary!
Meet at 1:00 pm at the Bird Islands Boat Tour office, 1672 Old Route 5 in Big Bras d’Or.
Travel by boat with fellow birders to see an important local seabird colony, part of which we own, and now a Wildlife Management Area, where Puffins, Guillemots, Great Cormorants, and many other species breed. Space is limited to 28 people. Please pre-register with Maureen by June 28th. Cost: approx. $37 plus tax (group rate to be determined).
No storm date for this trip.