Each year, avian visitors from the far north move south to spend the winter in our north-ern New York region. Adirondack birding guide Joan Collins will talk about why the birds migrate to our region, and where to find them.

The presentation will use photographs, audio, and video to feature many species that visit northern New York in winter, including owls and finches. Some species, like Rough-legged Hawk, Northern Shrike, and Snow Bunting, can be found every winter. Others, such as Pine Grosbeak, irregularly irrupt, while some species visit on a regular schedule, such as the Common Redpoll, which arrives every other winter.

Joan Collins, owner of Adirondack Avian Expeditions & Workshops, LLC, leads birding tours year-round. She is a New York State licensed guide, an Adirondack 46er, and has climbed all the Adirondack fire tower peaks. She writes the “Birdwatch” column for Adirondack Explorer magazine, and has published several journal, magazine, and newspaper articles on wildlife and conservation topics in various publications. 

Collins served as a peer reviewer for the Second Atlas of Breeding Birds  in New York State project. She is a past President of the New York State Ornithological Association and Editor of New York Birders. She served for many years as a Board of Directors member of the Audubon Council of New York State, and Northern New York Audubon Society, also as a past President. 

Her website can be found at: www.adirondackavian expeditions.com. 

Follow her on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/AdirondackAvian