Discover Jamaica Bay Tour Series: Hawk Watch at Fort Tilden

Please join Jamaica Bay Guardian, Don Riepe, and JBRPC for a special hawk watch atop Battery Harris East in Fort Tilden! Our beloved metropolis supports a healthy population of birds-of-prey, who enjoy NYC's plentiful high perches where they can look for tasty pigeons, rats, squirrels, and more. Fall migration is a great time to see urban raptors, many of which can be found around Jamaica Bay and Rockaway. The tall former gun batteries in Fort Tilden provide a great vantage point for spotting raptors as they cruise along the coast of Rockaway Beach. Join us as we spot these sometimes tricky-to-identify soaring birds. Birders and bird-curious are welcome! Please bring binoculars if you have them, we will have a few pairs to loan.

We'll meet inside Fort Tilden at the intersection of Hero Rd. and Murray Rd., outside the entrance to Rockaway Artist Alliance Studio 7. Parking is available in the Rockaway Artist alliance lot, no permit needed. Please dress in layers, and wear comfortable shoes suitable for walking over gravel trails, and up the stairs to Battery Harris East.

Questions? Email [email protected].

Photo of Kestrel perched on sign, by Zachary Koeber.

The Discover Jamaica Bay: By Land and By Sea Tour Series highlights city, state, and national parks throughout Jamaica Bay in Brooklyn and Queens. This tour series focuses on the unique environment and ecology of Jamaica Bay, while also highlighting the historical, cultural, and social context of the 10,000 acres of parkland in this 18,000 acre estuary. The tour series is generously supported by NYC Ferry.

Host or Publisher Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy