Tour Information
Note: The information presented here is an abbreviated version of our formal General Information for Tours to New York City. Its purpose is solely to give readers a sense of what might be involved if they take this tour. Although we do our best to make sure that what follows here is completely accurate, it should not be used as a replacement for the formal document which will be sent to all tour registrants, and whose contents supersedes any information contained here.
ENTERING THE UNITED STATES: Non-US citizens will need a valid passport and may need a tourist visa. Consult your nearest US Embassy or consulate for details.
HEALTH: Birdwatching in New York poses no major health hazards. Insect repellent may be useful at Jamaica Bay, where saltmarsh habitats host the usual biting flies. Precautions should also be taken against ticks, which can be encountered in numbers if you leave the marked trails at either site.
PACE OF THE TOUR: In Central Park, we will walk a leisurely total of two to three miles; at Jamaica Bay, plan on approximately a mile and a half. Both of the major locations we visit have many benches offering a chance for a brief rest; the itinerary includes short breaks every couple of hours, and the leader is happy to sit whenever participants wish to. All of our walking will be conducted at a slow and easy pace. The Central Park areas visited are not amenable to birding by wheelchair, but Jamaica Bay is accessible.
Restroom breaks are built into the itinerary on both days; if facilities are required at other times, that is always easily arranged.
CLIMATE: May in New York City can be enchanting. Humidity is low, and temperatures range from a refreshing 50 to a very comfortable 80 degrees F, perfect for a leisurely birding walk. Winds and precipitation both average light for the month, but an umbrella will be handy should we encounter a warm spring shower. A light jacket or sweater will keep the chill off in the morning.
ACCOMMODATION: Our Big City Weekends do not include accommodation. Participants interested in recommendations for convenient hotel lodging should contact the WINGS office.
FOOD: Our Big City Weekends do not include meals. On Saturday, participants can bring their own food or purchase lunch at the Boathouse Coffee Shop; those who wish can join the leader for an early dinner that evening. Participants must bring their own lunches on Sunday. Please bring a BAP-free water bottle for use on both days (New York City has some of the best drinking water in the country).
DRESS: Informal.
TRANSPORT: Our Big City Weekends do not include transportation. Our meeting place at Central Park is easily reached on either the C or the B subway line; in the afternoon, we’ll take an uptown bus to the north end of the Park. Jamaica Bay is also easily accessible on public transportation from Manhattan, and there is ample free parking for those wishing to drive.
SMOKING: Smoking is prohibited whenever the group is gathered. If any location where the group is gathered has a more restrictive policy than the WINGS policy, the stricter policy will prevail.
GENERAL INFORMATION AND CONDITIONS OF WINGS TOURS: Please take a moment to read our General Information and Conditions. This section contains important information about how we conduct tours, e.g., what is included in the tour price, refund and cancellation policies, pace of the tours, and other information that will help you prepare for the tour. If you don’t have access to the WINGS website, please ask the WINGS office to send you a copy.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A more complete General Information for Tours to New York will be sent to each registrant on receipt of booking. Final information with instructions for meeting the group, etc., will be mailed about three weeks before trip departure. Other news will be communicated as necessary. If you have any questions, please let us know.
Created: 28 October 2009