Activities
Eastern Meadowlark by Sheri Douse
Walks and Hikes
with Genesee Valley Audubon Society are family friendly opportunities to explore nature first-hand with other environmental enthusiasts.
As part of our mission Genesee Valley Audubon Society wants to encourage all to get out and appreciate nature. To support that mission, we offer several local bird walks throughout the year. Our hope is that you will see something that peaks your interest enough that you will want to come out and experience one or more of our offerings, and bring along your family and friends. Everyone is welcome.
On the Canal Summer 2025, there’s still time to celebrate the Erie Canalways system’s 200th anniversary. GVAS has been exploring the towpaths throughout our county, and we will continue to do so through the end of October. We hope that everyone will come discover with us. Our goal is to keep these outings approximately an hour long and a mile in length. We are varying the days of the week and the times of the day; please check out our offerings and hopefully there will be at least one opportunity that will work well for you and your family and friends.
Registration is required for all activities. Please check here or our Facebook page for updates on upcoming GVAS activities and programs.
Bird and Sit at Lock 32 Pittsford
Erie Canal Heritage Trail (off Clover St)
Pittsford, NY 14534
Wednesday, September 3rd
9 am – 10 am
Register by Monday, September 1 at https://mobilize.us/s/DlIdL0
Everyone is welcome! Come try a no-pressure way to enjoy the nature around us. GVAS invites everyone who would love to spend some time outside enjoying a beautiful summer morning relaxing and seeing what we can see. You are invited to journal or draw about what you see and feel or hear, or even just soak it all in, if that is your preference. Your guide will provide some prompts to assist with reflection. Journals, sketchpads, and some writing/art supplies will be provided. You may want to bring your own if you have them. Please also bring your family and friends. Designated parking spaces with ramp access are available. There is an ADA-compliant portable toilet on the premises and some seating: a park bench and three picnic tables are on site, but might be occupied while we are there. Bring your own chair, if that is an option along with water and sunscreen/hat. If you need a chair provided, or have any other concerns, please contact us at loretta.morrell.gvas@gmail.com , so we can offer assistance. Binoculars may enhance your enjoyment. We will have some Binoculars or monoculars for you to borrow for the event.
Erie Canalways Spencerport Nature Outing
Corner of Union and Canal St
Spencerport, NY 14559
Saturday, September 27th
9 am – 10 am
Register by Thursday, September 25 at https://mobilize.us/s/rnozba
Meet at Merz Parking Lot located on the corner of Union and Canal Street South of the lift bridge (Union Street, RTE 259. We will be visiting a canal town on the west side. Here’s hoping for a beautiful almost fall morning. The towpath surface will vary from pavement, to decking, to fine gravel, but it remains fairly flat or has a very gradual incline. The Spencerport Depot and Canal Museum opens at 10:00am and can be accessed from the towpath on the south side. It’s worth a stop as are the many restaurants and shops Spencerport has to offer. Our outing will be about an hour in length. Wear comfortable shoes, bring sunscreen and a hat as the majority of the time we will be out in the open. Binoculars will enhance your enjoyment. There will be some pairs of binoculars available for you to use during our adventure. For any questions or concerns please contact Loretta Morrell at loretta.morrell.gvas@gmail.com.
Holley Falls Park, Nature Outing
1 Holley Falls Park Rd
Holley, NY 14470
Tuesday, October 14th
10 am – 11 am
Register by Sunday, October 12 at https://mobilize.us/s/5EOVx8
Come for a relaxing stroll in a beautiful park all decked out for fall. We will be searching for late fall migrants and the birds that overwinter in our area. The trail we will be taking is a mile loop with natural surface. It may be wet if there have been recent rains. Sunscreen and bug spray may be necessary. There are only undesignated parking spaces available. A portable toilet is next to the parking lot. There are several benches and picnic tables to sit and enjoy the view. There are three benches just past the parking lot. Sunscreen and bug spray may be necessary. Binoculars could enhance your enjoyment. A few pairs of binoculars will be available for use during the event. For any questions or concerns, please notify Loretta Morrell at loretta.morrell.gvas@gmail.com.
Erie Canalways Trail, Perinton Park
99 O’Connor Road
Fairport, NY 14450
Saturday, October 18th
9 am – 10:30 am
Register by Thursday, October 16 at https://mobilize.us/s/O3ykci
Meet at 99 O’Connor Road, Fairport, NY. Everyone is welcome to join us on our last outing to celebrate the Erie Canal’s 200th anniversary. While we can enjoy the towpath year round, the canal closes to navigation in the middle of October. Perinton Park offers several accessible parking spaces, a restroom, and a couple of picnic tables and benches. The towpath is paved in the park but changes to crushed stone as we travel along the towpath. Fall should be showing her colors, and we will be looking for late migrants and year round bird residents as we enjoy the views. You’ll want sunscreen and possibly a hat as most of the towpath is out in the open. Binoculars could enhance your enjoyment. A few pairs of binoculars will be available for use during the event. For any questions or concerns, please notify Loretta Morrell at loretta.morrell.gvas@gmail.com.
Nature Outing with Chickadees and Friends along the Birdsong Trail at Mendon Ponds Park
27 Pond Rd
Honeoye Falls, NY 14472
Saturday, November 1st
10 am – 11:30 am
Register by Wednesday, October 29 at https://mobilize.us/s/v7bJIy
All are welcome to participate in this outdoor adventure. Get back to nature by taking a walk in the woods; no more than 2 hours in Mendon Ponds Park. Walk a trail and feed the chickadees, tufted titmice & nuthatches while enjoying nature. Fun for the whole family!! We will meet Saturday, November 1, 2025 at 10:00 am in the Nature Center Parking lot on Pond Rd off of Clover St (the southernmost of the 3 park entrances off Clover). Binoculars may enhance your enjoyment. Dress for the weather (wear boots, warm clothes, etc.). Seed will be provided. Registration is required by Wed Oct 29. For trail details, check out the Birdsong trail assessment on Birdability here http://tinyurl.com/yrpudn4u If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact Joni Dubner at bajacool416@gmail.com
Follow Genesee Valley Audubon Society on Facebook or Twitter for updates.
Programs, Presentations & Events
are a great way to learn about a variety of environmental topics and get involved with nature.
Bird Safe Homes by Zoom
Tues. September 23, 2025 @ 7:30 pm
Presenter: June Summers
Register by Sept 21 at https://mobilize.us/s/DYnike
Fall migration already started in July and will continue through October. The second largest human caused death of birds is collision with windows. We will cover simple things you can do to your windows and lights to make your home safe for birds and other animals. We will also include the more difficult solutions that might fit your situation. You can become part of the solution and help to increase bird populations.
Bird Evolution and Anatomy by Zoom
Tues. October 28, 2025, @ 7:30 pm
Presenter: Dr. Walter Jahn
Register by Oct 26 at https://mobilize.us/s/E2xefw
Dr. Jahn will help us to understand the evolution of birds from dinosaurs using clues in their anatomy to relate to their development from the appearance of protofeathers on dinosaurs in the late Jurassic to Theropod Dinosaurs to Neoaves and birds today. This will be a wonderful learning experience. Dr. Walter Jahn has been a professor of Biology at Orange County Community College for 28 years. He is currently the Vice President and a Sanctuary Steward for the Orange County Audubon Society and a board member of the Basha Kill Area Association. He frequently leads nature walks and gives presentations on a diversity of wildlife topics including his travels in Latin America.
Wonderful Life of Dying Trees by Zoom
Tues. November 18, 2025 at 7:30pm
Presenter : Jillian Martin by Video
Register by Nov 16 at https://mobilize.us/s/zkHQn1
Most of us see a dying tree and think, “Oh, We need to cut it down,” but dead trees offer a lot of habitat value to forest and our yards. Join us to learn about the life of a dead or dying tree and how you can safely keep a dead tree in your yard to attract birds. These days one of those birds might include a Pileated Woodpecker.
What an Owl Knows: The New Science of the World’s Most Enigmatic Birds
by Zoom OR
In Person at Asbury First United Methodist Church
Fellowship Hall
1050 East Avenue
Rochester, NY 14607
December 11, 2025, 7:00pm
Presenter: Jennifer Ackerman
For millennia, owls have captivated and intrigued us. Our fascination with these mysterious birds was first documented more than 30,000 years ago in the Chauvet Cave paintings in southern France. With their forward gaze and quiet flight, owls are often a symbol of wisdom, knowledge, and foresight. But what does an owl really know? And what do we really know about owls? Scientists have only recently begun to understand in deep detail the complex nature of these extraordinary birds. Some 260 species of owls exist today, and they reside on every continent except Antarctica, but they are far more difficult to find and study than other birds because they are cryptic, camouflaged, and mostly active in the dark of night. Join Jennifer in a multimedia presentation on what we have learned lately about the nature of the world’s most enigmatic birds. With remarkable photos, videos, and audio recordings, Jennifer explores the rich biology and natural history of owls and examines remarkable new scientific discoveries about their brains and behavior. We encourage you to attend in person at the Fellowship Hall, of Asbury First United Methodist Church, 1050 East Avenue, Rochester, NY, where there will be a live connection to the speaker. If you want to attend by Zoom email June Summers, summers@frontiernet.net. She will send you the link to meeting the day before.
To participate as a volunteer with any of these activities, please visit our Get Involved page.
Genesee Valley Audubon Society
P.O. Box 15512
Rochester, NY 14615
Email: summers@frontiernet.net