Birds, Birding, Bird Walks in New York City's Central Park

Directions to Turtle Pond Dock
Sunday walks: Spring, Summer, Fall

Turtle Pond is located in the Center of Central Park, bordered by the famous outdoor Delacorte Theater and the Belvedere Castle. The dock is on the north side of the pond, next to the theater. The most direct route to this point is to enter the park at 81^st Street and Central Park West, near the Museum of Natural History. A few hundred feet down the path you will bear slightly left and come to a stop light and crosswalk. Ahead and across the street you will see the Delacorte Theater. Cross the street, but be extremely careful to look for cars, runners, roller bladers, and especially bikers, who won’t slow down or yield the right of way, despite the law. Follow the path straight up the hill past the theater on your right. After you pass the theater completely, bear slightly right along the pathway and then, where there’s a break in the fence, take your first right path leading out to the Turtle Pond dock, which is obscured by large trees and shrubs.

At the corner of 81^st Street and Central Park West is a subway stop for the
B and C lines.   Since there are frequent subway disruptions due to construction, especially on weekends, you might want to visit the MTA service advisory web page before heading out. There is also #M79 bus service at this intersection.

A subway alternative lies a few blocks away at 79^th Street and Broadway, where the #1 train stops. However, as of summer and fall of 2006, the #1 has not been running weekends, and has been replaced by the #2 train. The #M79 bus also stops at this corner.

You can also enter the park at East 79th St. near the Metropolitan Museum and make your way more or less west to Turtle Pond dock. See map.

Our spring, summer, and fall walks start at Turtle Pond Dock. Walks continue every weekend even in winter, but during the coldest months we switch the starting point to the Boathouse, where we can gather inside and buy warm beverages and breakfast.

Here's a Central Park map showing Turtle Pond and surrounding landmarks.


Directions to Conservatory Gardens

Walks in the north end of the park, usually Friday mornings, start at Conservatory Gardens. We meet inside the huge gate and just down the steps at 105th Street and 5th Avenue. There are bathrooms open year-round at Conservatory Garden, and that is good. Easiest way to get there by subway is to take the #2 or #3 train to 110th street and Central Park North. Then walk south along the east side of the Harlem Meer (or down 5th Avenue) until you reach Conservatory Garden. You can also take the #6 train to Lexington Avenue and 103rd street.   Walk west for three blocks and then north by two. Finally, buses run up Madison Avenue regularly, too.

Here's a map of the north end that lets you click on any section for a close-up look.

Directions to The Boathouse
Sunday & Friday walks in winter

The Boathouse is located along the East Drive, adjacent approximately to
75^th St. East and Fifth Avenue. The easiest way to get there is to enter the park
at 72^nd and Fifth Avenue. Just a few feet inside the park there are steps at your right leading down to the sailboat pond, known officially as Conservatory Water. If you pause to look up at the buildings here, you can see the nest of the world’s most famous redtail hawks, Pale Male and Lola.   It’s located on the curved cornice over the top center window of the shorter apartment building nestled between two taller buildings.

At the bottom of the path at the pond, turn left on any of the several paths there and walk about a hundred yards to the East Drive. You will see the Boathouse across the drive on the Central Park lake. The group generally meets inside at the tables in the cafeteria area. Just look for folks with binoculars. There is also a “Nature Book” located here, where Bob DeCandido and other birders log recent Central Park bird and nature sightings.

This map shows you the Boathouse neighborhood and all of Central Park.