Birdability 2023

We're celebrating Birdability Week at Topfield Equestrian Center by offering a morning of accessible birding walks/rolls (and sits!) led by volunteers from the Putnam Audubon Society on our beautiful property in the Hudson Highlands. Four different 30-minute guided "walks" on different parts of our property with both paved and unpaved (one gravel, one grass) terrain options will be available. Come for one walk, or rotate through all four between 8 and 10 am ! We will also have the option for you to join a guided "bird circle" where you sit as a small group in one spot and identify as many species as possible for about 15-30 min. This event should be an amazing inclusive opportunity to explore our grounds, see/hear some feathered friends, and learn more about what Topfeild Equestrian Center is all about if you're interested. 

This event is free and open to the public, but donations for Putnam Audubon Society and Topfield Center are always welcome!

Please bring your own binoculars if you can - we will have a few pair on hand to share if you need! (Unfortuantely, other adaptive birding equipment will not be availabe at this event)

Rain date: 10/22/2023

Additional Important Information: 

• Walk routes vary in length from very short (less than .25 miles) to medium-short (about .25 miles) and all are flat or almost flat
• Terrains include two walks on blacktop, one on a flat, groomed gravelly path, and one on a grassy walk with a slight rise. 
• Seating will be available at 1-2 points (depending on the length) on each walk route
• Fully accessible, private bathrooms are availble onsite
• The event is open to the public and not limited in size, but we are not expecting an overly-large group. If event size is a concern for you, please call or email our office and we will happily share the RSVP size at the time of your inquiry.

If it's been a while since you've visited Topfield (or if you've never been here before), we have a new access road that not all GPS systems have picked up on yet, so here are some brief arrival instructions:

• From Rt 301, you do NOT take Stonecrop Lane (even though that is our address) - your GPS will probably tell you to turn where you see the yellow sign for Stonecrop Gardens, but you cannot access TEC on that road any longer.
• Instead, you need to take the turn for Big Woods Trailhead (there is a sign for TEC below the trailhead sign), which is new and not yet on some GPS maps (Google Maps seems to be updated, Apple Maps is not).
• Coming from the Taconic Parkway (travelling west) on 301, the trailhead is on the right-hand side about ¼ mile before Stonecrop Lane.
• OR if coming from Routes 9 or 9D (travelling east) on 301, the trailhead is on the left-hand side about ¼ mile after Stonecrop Lane.
• Once you are on the trailhead road (which is a big, beautiful, nicely paved road) you come up over the ridge and down past a parking lot.
• After the parking lot you’ll come to a stop sign where you have to turn right or left – TURN LEFT and you’ll be at the entrance gate to Topfield.
• Note that you will not enter Stonecrop or Glynwood properties to reach us.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to our office by calling 845-265-3409 or emailing programs@topfieldcenter.org Otherwise, please RSVP here and we look forward to seeing you on the 21st!