{"id":13358,"date":"2025-03-03T13:35:57","date_gmt":"2025-03-03T18:35:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/?p=13358"},"modified":"2025-03-03T13:35:57","modified_gmt":"2025-03-03T18:35:57","slug":"i-bird-ny-challenge-returns-across-state-capital-region-trails","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/2025\/03\/03\/i-bird-ny-challenge-returns-across-state-capital-region-trails\/","title":{"rendered":"I Bird NY Challenge Returns Across State, Capital Region Trails"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>I Bird NY Challenge Returns Across State, Capital Region Trails<\/h1>\n<p>The 2025 I Bird NY challenge has begun, with birding trails across the state, including the Capital Region, welcoming participants of all ages to identify and learn about different birds and receive a commemorative patch and a chance to win prizes.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;No matter where you live or where you come from, birdwatching is a fun, easy, and affordable activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, abilities, identities, and backgrounds,&quot; said DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar. &quot;Now with nearly 400 locations across New York State, the NYS Birding Trail welcomes new and experienced birders to enjoy both migrating and resident birds in a diverse variety of habitats.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>According to the DEC, birdwatching is one of the fastest-growing outdoor recreational activities in the U.S. In a report from 2022, the National Survey of Hunting, Fishing, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation said 7.4 million animal watchers generated $10.8 billion in New York State that year.<\/p>\n<p>The I BIRD NY Challenge was created in 2017 to build the state&#8217;s efforts in access to natural resources and to promote no- and low-cost opportunities outside. In 2024, more than 1,800 birders participated and completed the challenge, the DEC said.<\/p>\n<p>In the Capital Region, you can participate in the challenge at these birding trails:<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Albany County:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail<\/li>\n<li>Albany Pine Bush Preserve<\/li>\n<li>Ann Lee Pond Nature &#038; Historic Preserve<\/li>\n<li>Corning Preserve<\/li>\n<li>Emma Treadwell Thacher Nature Center<\/li>\n<li>Five Rivers Environmental Education Center<\/li>\n<li>John Boyd Thacher State Park<\/li>\n<li>Knox Wetland<\/li>\n<li>Lawson Lake County Park<\/li>\n<li>Margaret Burke Wildlife Management Area<\/li>\n<li>Noonan Preserve<\/li>\n<li>Normans Kill Preserve East<\/li>\n<li>Normans Kill Preserve West<\/li>\n<li>Partridge Run Wildlife Management Area<\/li>\n<li>Tivoli Lake Preserve<\/li>\n<li>Washington Park<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rensselaer County:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Capital District Wildlife Management Area<\/li>\n<li>Frear Park<\/li>\n<li>Grafton Lakes State Park<\/li>\n<li>Schodack Island State Park<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Saratoga County:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Hudson Crossing Park<\/li>\n<li>Moreau Lake State Park<\/li>\n<li>Peebles Island State Park<\/li>\n<li>Saratoga National Historic Park<\/li>\n<li>Saratoga Spa State Park<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Schenectady County:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Great Flats Nature Trail<\/li>\n<li>Lions Park<\/li>\n<li>Collins Park &#038; Lake<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Schoharie County:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Franklinton Vlaie Wildlife Management Area<\/li>\n<li>Landis Arboretum<\/li>\n<li>Mine Kill State Park<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Greene County:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Devasego Park Day-Use Area<\/li>\n<li>Mountain Top Arboretum<\/li>\n<li>North-South Lake Campground &#038; Day Use Area<\/li>\n<li>Vinegar Hill Wildlife Management Area<\/li>\n<li>Vosburgh Swamp Wildlife Management Area<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Columbia County:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Olana State Historic Site<\/li>\n<li>Clermont State Historic Site<\/li>\n<li>Lake Taghkanic State Park<\/li>\n<li>Stockport Wildlife Management Area<\/li>\n<li>Taconic State Park: Harlem Valley Rail Trail<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ulster County:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Ashokan Promenade<\/li>\n<li>Ashokan Rail Trail<\/li>\n<li>Bluestone Wild Forest: Onteora Lake<\/li>\n<li>Catskills Visitor Center<\/li>\n<li>Great Vly Wildlife Management Area<\/li>\n<li>Kenneth L. Wilson Campground &#038; Day Use Area<\/li>\n<li>Minnewaska State Park Preserve<\/li>\n<li>Mohonk Preserve<\/li>\n<li>Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dutchess County:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Tivoli Bays Wildlife Management Area<\/li>\n<li>Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center<\/li>\n<li>Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve<\/li>\n<li>James Baird State Park<\/li>\n<li>Mills Norrie State Park<\/li>\n<li>Peach Hill Park<\/li>\n<li>Taconic State Park: Rudd Pond<\/li>\n<li>The Preserve at Vassar<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The challenge is open to all ages and ends on November 1. Participants must identify any 10 birds and submit the challenge sheet to the DEC, which can be found on the DEC website. Sheets can be submitted online, through email or through the mail. All participants will receive a commemorative patch and certificate. Two youth and two adult winners will be chosen for birding prizes.<\/p>\n<p>For more information on the trails or to get a challenge sheet, visit the DEC&#8217;s I BIRD NY website.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Conclusion:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The I Bird NY Challenge is a unique opportunity for individuals of all ages to explore and learn about the diverse bird species in New York State. With over 400 locations across the state, there&#8217;s something for everyone to enjoy. So, grab your binoculars and get ready to spot some birds!<\/p>\n<p><strong>FAQs:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Who can participate in the I Bird NY Challenge?<br \/>\nAll ages are welcome to participate in the challenge.<\/li>\n<li>How do I get a challenge sheet?<br \/>\nChallenge sheets can be found on the DEC&#8217;s I BIRD NY website, and can be submitted online, through email or through the mail.<\/li>\n<li>What are the rules for the challenge?<br \/>\nParticipants must identify any 10 birds and submit the challenge sheet to the DEC. All participants will receive a commemorative patch and certificate. Two youth and two adult winners will be chosen for birding prizes.<\/li>\n<li>How long does the challenge run?<br \/>\nThe challenge is open from now until November 1.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I Bird NY Challenge Returns Across State, Capital Region Trails The 2025 I Bird NY challenge has begun, with birding trails across the state, including the Capital Region, welcoming participants of all ages to identify and learn about different birds and receive a commemorative patch and a chance to win prizes. &quot;No matter where you [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":13359,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-13358","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.news10.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2022\/09\/f98abc3ccde24dc39ec2931217ba7bf4.jpg?w=900&w=900&resize=900,598&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13358"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13358"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13358\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13360,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13358\/revisions\/13360"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13359"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13358"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13358"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13358"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}