Dutchess Watershed Awareness Month

Here is some additional tips and information you will need for all of the Ralph T Waterman Bird Club Walks that are part of Watershed Awareness Month.

1. Wear long pants and sturdy footwear.
2. Bring insect repellent and sunscreen…most trails have sun and some shade.
3. Bring Binoculars, camera.
4. Snacks- Lunch- Water….many Club members bring a lunch for after the walk.
5. Rain—heavy rain cancels the trip
6. Walks description– Moderate — terrain can sometimes be uneven, rocky and muddy. Walks usually end at around noon depending on what is observed. Participants may of course leave at any time. Trips are usually posted in the Sunday Poughkeepsie Journal (Mid -Hudson,Section B).

Additional Driving Directions for Bird Walks
Here are some general directions to each site:

1. Vassar College Farm…parking area for the farm is in back of the set of large barns near the gardens, on the south side of NY 376 and Hooker Ave., opposite the Poughkeepsie Day School.

2. Buttercup West…access to the west side of the sanctuary is off of Mountain Road which is off 82. Look for the Buttercup Sanctuary signs on the WEST side of Route 82. There is a sign at Stissing Lane which then goes into Mountain Road. There is then another small sign on Mountain Road which points the way to the Sanctuary.

A little further south on Route 82 you can also turn onto Stissing Road which also takes you to Mountain Road and Buttercup Sanctuary West.

Parking is somewhat limited to about 10 vehicles.

3. Pond Gut… is in the Town of LaGrange but the nearest village is Verbank in the Town of Union Vale.
From the North – Route 82
- Make a right turn onto Skidmore Road.
- Then make a right turn onto Gidley Road.
- Turn right onto Pond Gut Road
- Continue on Pond Gut Road to end.
- There will be a parking area there. Be careful as it may be very muddy.

From the South – Route 82
- Make a left turn onto Moore Road
- Make a left onto Gidley Road
- Veer right onto Pond Gut Road.
- Continue on Pond Gut Road to end.
- There will be a parking area there. Be careful as it may be very muddy.

From the North – Taconic State Parkway
- Take a left off of the TSP at Drake Road. This will have you crossing the median and continuing onto  Rossway Road.
- Turn left onto Downing Road
- Turn left onto Gidley Road
- Turn left onto Pond Gut Road
- Continue on Pond Gut Road to end.

From the South – Taconic State Parkway
- Take a right off of the TSP onto Rossway Road
- Proceed as above.

4. Thompson Pond Preserve…is in the Town of Pine Plains which is the nearest village. Access from NY 82 is recommended. Turn west at the firehouse onto Lake Rd. in Pine Plains. Drive approximately one and one-half miles across the causeway to the main entrance at the foot of Stissing Mountain. There is also access to Lake Rd. from Route 199 traveling east from the Taconic State Parkway toward Pine Plains.

For more information about the Ralph T Waterman Bird Club visit their website at http://www.watermanbirdclub.org . Here you can also find more information about other bird walks and events hosted by the club.