![]() ![]() Although the New Haven Bird Club was founded by Yale students and faculty in 1907, Repasz said University affiliates are less of a presence in the club now. One of the club’s most popular events is its annual “Mega Bowl of Birding,” in which participants spend the day trying to spot as many different species of birds as they can.Įast Rock in particular is a great place for finding birds - in the springtime, the abundance of migratory fowl brings watchers from all over the Northeast, Repasz said. ![]() The city has a strong bird-watching culture, with a number of prime viewing spots at parks such as Edgewood and Lighthouse Point. ![]() The New Haven Bird Club has around 400 members, according to President Craig Repasz ’00. The Friends of Edgewood and East Rock Parks, both of which have more than 1,000 members, maintain reserves. New Haven is home to a number of robust organizations that take full advantage of these green spaces. New Haven is also home to West River Memorial Park, where city officials are currently in the process of building a three-mile long bird-watching trail Bishop Woods Preserve, which offers challenging hiking trails and Lighthouse Point, a multi-use park on the Long Island Sound that features picnic tables, a beach and a playground. Gahm cited East Rock and West Rock Ridge as two especially isolated sites - places that “really feel like the woods.” Each park has miles of backwoods trails available for hiking, she said, far more than a typical urban city park. “It’s very different from the rest of the Northeast.” ![]() “The city of New Haven itself is urban, but you only have to go a short ways outside to really hit woods and farmlands,” said Kaija Gahm ’20, events coordinator for the Yale Outdoors Club. From Edgewood Park to West Rock Ridge, New Haven is home to a diverse set of ecosystems for a city of its size - even if students rarely venture beyond East Rock. Students often hike to the 366-foot summit, which affords a bird’s-eye view of New Haven.įrom this vantage point, a hiker, which may be packed with back country meals, may notice the plethora of greenery dotting the New Haven landscape: parks, mountains and trails largely unexplored by students. I've been going for years and in my experience it is safe, friendly and a wonderful place to spend an hour-or an afternoon.One of the most popular Elm City destinations for Yale students is East Rock Park, located a couple miles north of main campus. For the adventurous, seek out "Giant Steps" which is a steep path leading down the rock face-big fun and exciting! East Rock Park is often active, but never over-populated, with families picnicking, groups doing Yoga and hikers and bikers galore. Considering how close it is to the business district and Yale, it offers wildlife, lessons in history, geology and geography and is always free and accessible. At sunset it is a romantic spot where you can sit watching birds doing acrobatics. The road leading to the top of East Rock is a great bike ride more than amply rewarded by the view from the top-and the exciting ride back down! From the edge of East Rock Park you can see all of New Haven, as well as the New Haven Harbor and Long Island Sound. Not only is the view second-to-none, East Rock Park is home to the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial which is among the finest military monuments in the country-it was just refurbished a few years ago and is immaculate. ![]()
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