Car rental in Staten Island and Birding on Staten Island

Car rental in Staten Island and Birding on Staten Island

Looking for a fun (and free!) family activity for your upcoming car rental in Staten Island vacation? Have you ever thought about bird watching? Bird watching on Staten Island is a rewarding experience for both young and old alike. From ducks and geese to sparrows and pigeons, Staten Island is a great place to learn more about feathered friends of all sizes. You and your car rental travelers group will find more than 3,000 acres of varied habitats on the island, including watery marshlands, ancient old-growth forests and spacious grasslands. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to enjoy the great outdoors of Staten Island – in fact, you don’t have to spend any! Plan to embark on a free bird watching adventure during your upcoming car rental in Staten Island vacation.

The best places for birding

Car rental in Staten Island travelers will find more than a dozen great birding locations on the island. These include popular parks like Great Kills Park, Conference House Park and Wolfe’s Pond Park. The following is a short overview of some of Staten Island’s best places to bird:

  • Midland Beach: If you’re on the Island during the late fall months or early spring, keep an eye out for waterfowl along the Lower New York Bay and Raritan Bay. Car rental in Staten Island travelers will also spot purple sandpipers along the abundant rock jetties. During the winter, finches invade the beach, as do red and white-winged crossbills and evening grosbeaks.
  • Clay Pit Ponds: This unique park is the only place on Staten Island where you’ll find oak-pin barren habitat. Many birds call the preserve home, including waterfowl and a variety of different sparrow species. Car rental in Staten Island travelers are encouraged to visit the Park Headquarters for trail maps and more information on local wildlife.
  • Clove Lakes Park: Migrating birds often make a stop in this popular park space, providing plenty of great birding opportunities. Starting in late March, car rental in Staten Island travelers will enjoy visits from northward bound birds. By May, a seasoned birdwatcher can spot more than 25 different species of wood-warblers, along with rose-breasted grosbeaks, flycatchers and cuckoos. Many of the same species make a return visit in the fall, using the park as their south-bound stopover.

Every season is a birding season

It doesn’t matter whether the first snow has just fallen, or if the sun is shining at full force – every season is a good season for birding on Staten Island. Different parts of the Island offer different birding experiences depending on the weather, so don’t forget to come back and visit again once the barometer starts to move. For more information on seasonal birding locations on Staten Island, visit www.birdingonstatenisland.com. Owned and operated by Seth Wollney, the Bird Watching on Staten Island website is a great resource for both professional and amateur birding enthusiasts.

Participate in Nature Section events to learn even more about Staten Island birding

Another great birding resource in Staten Island is the Nature Section. Founded in 1945 by members of the Staten Island Museum, the Nature section is dedicated to providing local Island residents and visitors with family-friendly outdoor activities. Currently, monthly meetings of the Nature Section are held on the fourth Thursday of every month from September until June. Car rental in Staten Island travelers can also participate in monthly ecology walks on the second Sunday of every month (these outings are offered year-round). The Nature Section is responsible for conducting Staten Island’s Christmas Bird Count, as well as the Waterfowl Count and Butterfly Count. For more information on the Nature Section, please visit the State Island Museum at 75 Stuyvestant Place.

Check out the Staten Island car rental All Car Rent a Car location at 950 Bloomingdale Rd., Staten Island, NY 10309