Van Cortlandt Nature Group Walk

September heralds the beginning of autumn as we say farewell to summer. Fall bird migration is underway, and Van Cortlandt Park is an important stopover for migrating birds and provides critical breeding habitat. Raptors, warblers, thrushes, sparrows, and other songbirds find Van Cortlandt Park to be a productive area.
Hibernating mammals like chipmunks and squirrels are hoarding for the winter months. Pollinating bees, wasps, butterflies are still going strong, and dragonflies are on the hunt for mosquitos. Rosehips, blackberries, elderberries, and acorns provide welcome food for chipmunks, squirrels, migrant and resident birds. In the meadows and woodlands, asters, sunflowers, ironweed, Joe-Pye and boneset flowers are still in bloom and attracting many nectar-feeding insects.