Friends of Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge

08/21/2026

Saturday night- early bird migration surge predicted! Lights out!

07/31/2026

Just a quick technical note: one does NOT need to have a Facebook account to access our page! Simply search Friends of the Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge in your computer browser and you will be brought right to our page! This is the best way to stay up-to-date with information regarding our activities.

07/31/2026

Good afternoon, friends! We (the Friends of the Shawangunk Grasslands Executive Board) are looking for a volunteer(s) who may be interested in joining the board in the newly created role of "membership coordinator". Tasks would include recruiting new membership, retaining existing members, and maintaining accurate member databases. We would also love to start publishing our four season newsletter again (this task can be separate from the membership position). Please reach out via email to Bethany Ganley-Waterman ([email protected]) with questions or interest!

06/16/2026

Dr. Walter Jahn, (Friends member, OCAS & BKAA board member) will be leading a birding walk at the Shawangunk Grasslands:

Saturday, June 20 9am-11am

We will meet at the parking area accessible from the main entrance of the Shawangunk Grasslands

902 Hoagerburgh Rd, Wallkill, NY.

We will begin by looking for grassland
birds from platforms near the parking area and then walk along flat trails on a 2 hour loop.

All are welcome!

05/26/2026

This may be the Responsible Party for:
knocking over the bird feeder
knocking over a bird house
knocking over trailcam

05/04/2026

BIRD WALK ANNOUNCEMENT!

Dr. Walter Jahn (Friends member, OCAS & BKAA board member) will be leading a spring birding walk at the Shawangunk Grasslands on Saturday 5/16, meeting in the parking area at 9 AM. The two hour walk will cover flat terrain on an easy path. You are welcome to join as we look for exciting migratory birds in this great habitat!

04/23/2026

Beauty from the ashes! Seeing a blackened field might look stark at first, but look closer. The ash left behind acts as a natural fertilizer, waking up dormant seeds for an explosion of native wildflowers and grasses. This "tender new growth" is a high-protein feast for pollinators, birds, and deer!

*reposted from the Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge

04/20/2026

John Burroughs Natural History Society is hosting this year's Big Sit fundraiser on May 2 at the Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge! Contact information is at the bottom of this post if you are interested!

Spend some time on the observation deck at Galeville (SGNWR) looking and listening for those ever important (and harder to find) grassland species. Team Shawangunk Redemption could have another Sandhill Crane up their sleeves. Pledges raised in recent years have been used to install a bench on the new observation platform, a new refuge sign, a new updated “Where to Bird in Ulster County” panel on the Galeville Gazebo and supplies for the pollinator garden. This year the Shawangunk Redemption will bird to support the Friends of SGNWR and JBNHS trustee Annie Mardiney and her important work in bird rehabilitation and education with Wild Mountain Birds. Please contact Debbie Carney ([email protected]) or Evelyn Leigh ([email protected]) to plan and schedule your shift.

« All Events JBNHS ULSTER COUNTY BIG SIT 2026 May 2 « SPRING MIGRATION AND WILDFLOWERS IN SAUGERTIES SPRING MIGRATION AT NYQUIST- HARCOURT WILDLIFE SANCTUARY » JBNHS’ 11 th annual Big Sit is also our BIG fundraiser for the year (that’s why we do ours in May) but serves too as a friendly compe...

04/19/2026

Some more pics from today's Spring Fling! Thank you to all who attended! Also, a big thank you to Bob Rawluk, President of the Ulster County Beekeepers Association, Anna Harris from US Fish and Wildlife Service, and Annie Mardiney from Wild mountain birds! The rain did not stop us from having a great day!

04/19/2026