The Adirondack Park is a popular destination for birding all year long, but spring offers a special flurry of excitement as migrating birds pass through the area in large numbers and other species return home to their breeding grounds. Early spring is also a great time for birding in the Adirondacks because there’s less foliage on the trees to impede visibility, and relatively fewer biting insects.
Adirondack Spring Birding Events
Bird enthusiasts flock to the Adirondacks for special spring birding events each year, including the Great Adirondack Birding Celebration at Paul Smiths Visitor Interpretive Center outside of Saranac Lake, NY. Held in late May-early June, the GABC features field trips to local Important Bird Areas (IBAs) and live bird-on-hand presentations with respected ornithologists.
Birders of all ages and skill levels also enjoy the Adirondack Boreal Birding Festival. This free, four-day event held in early June features birding hikes, walks, safaris, outings and seminars in Hamilton County.
Spring Birding Species
More than 200 bird species inhabit or migrate through the Adirondacks each year. By the end of April, the earliest-arriving migrants arrive in a rush of frenetic activity, and the influx continues through May.
Among the most colorful and interesting of the migratory birds that breed in the Adirondacks are 29 species of warblers, including the Yellow-rumped Warbler, the Palm Warbler, the Black-throated Green Warbler and the Mourning Warbler. There are also more than 25 species of upland birds, including the Common Grackle, the Hermit Thrush, the Rose-breasted Grossbeak and the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Wetland bird species include the American Bittern, the Common Loon, the Hooded Merganser, the Great Blue Heron and the Ringed-neck Duck.
Spring Birding Spots in the Adirondacks
The Adirondack Park is home to six Important Bird Areas (IBAs) as designated by Audubon New York. The Lake Champlain Birding Trail, the St. Lawrence River Plan, the Central Adirondacks, Moose River Plains, The William C. Whitney Wilderness, Adirondack High Peaks, and the Adirondack Loon Complex have been identified as important for bird conservation due to the diverse bird species they support, and most Audubon IBAs provided designated trails and viewing areas, open to the public for birding.
Other recommended birding spots in the Adirondacks include:
- Heart Lake Trail in Lake Placid, NY
- John Brown Farm Trails in Lake Placid, NY
- Barnum Brook Trail near Paul Smiths, NY
- Boreal Life Trails near Paul Smiths, NY
- Heron Marsh near Paul Smiths, NY
- Osgood Pond near Paul Smiths, NY
- Pillsbury Mountain in Hamilton County, NY
- Snowy Mountain in Hamilton County, NY
- Blue Mountain in Hamilton County, NY
- Wakely Mountain in Hamilton County, NY
- Tug Hill Wildlife Management Area in Lewis County, NY
- Indian Creek Nature Center in Lawrence County, NY
Enjoy Spring Birding in Your Own Backyard
Arguably the best way to experience spring birding in the Adirondacks is on your own parcel of land. Adirondack Mountain Land has several properties for sale in prime birding locations, including waterfront property, deeded lake access, build-ready plots, and land with stunning mountain and lake views. Browse our property listings or contact us for assistance with your search.