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KFN Calendar of Events

The KFN runs events for members throughout the year. Event details such as the trip leader, meeting times and location, can be found on our calendar of events or in the KFN monthly newsletter.

There are four different calendars included in the composite calendar below. If you would like to subscribe to any/all of them, please open the subscribe link in a browser that has your preferred profile open/logged in.

KFN Meetings — subscribe
KFN Outings — subscribe
External Events of Interest to KFN Members — subscribe
KFN Junior and Teen Naturalists — to subscribe, contact a junior or teen leader for the link

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Kingston Field Naturalists Monthly Calendar

Field Trip Registration Form

Field Trip Registration Form

Event Type Descriptions

Meetings

Monthly meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month from September to May. The April meeting is the Annual General Meeting and the May meeting is a dinner with an extra cost to participate. General meetings and the annual general meeting are currently (2025) conducted at Kingston Secondary School (KSS) located at 145 Kirkpatrick Street in Kingston. Participants may also participate remotely via Google Meet or by phone (details in the newsletter). Doors open at 7:00 p.m. with snacks and a social preceding the meeting which starts at 7:30 p.m.

Field Trips

Field trips are normally scheduled once per month and take a variety of forms to a variety of locations for a variety of purposes. Some are longer than one day and go further afield (e.g. Point Pelee or Algonquin Park), but most are one day events that occur in the local area. Information about upcoming field trips can be found in the newsletter or the website calendar.

Rambles

Rambles are slow walks to notice nature that take place at a wide variety of locations in the region. Rambles take place on the first and third Tuesday of each month throughout the year with the exception of the third Tuesday in December, the third Tuesday in July and the first Tuesday in August. Please see the calendar or newsletter for information on upcoming rambles.

The KFN Bioblitz

The KFN hosts an annual Bioblitz in June at a different location each year. This event records as many species as possible in as many taxa as possible in a 24 hour period from 3 p.m. on Friday to 3 p.m. on Saturday.  Details become available on the website calendar and in the newsletter leading up to the event.

Spring and Fall Round-Ups

Every spring and fall there is a weekend of birding (from noon on Friday to noon on Sunday) that aims to count as many bird species as possible. Participation involves submitting eBird lists during the time period. The data that is collected is compiled into a summary that was published in The Blue Bill until the end of 2024 and is now published on the KFN website.

May Bird Walks

Every Wednesday in May, KFN hosts a morning and an afternoon bird walk at Lemoine Point that is open to both members and the public. This is a great opportunity for those new to birding, including young people, to get an introduction into this hobby.

Christmas Bird Counts

In late December the KFN joins birders world-wide on this point-in-time survey of birds.  This contributes to an overall, long-term picture of species and numbers. For dates and information on how to participate, please check the website calendar or the newsletter.

Important note: Please be aware that ticks carrying Lyme disease are a concern on any ramble or field trip, so please take precautions against tick bites. Please read the information in the following PDF document, adapted from a brochure from the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care.

Lyme Disease Information

Detailed Upcoming Events List

May 2025

Friday May 16 12:00 PMSunday May 18 12:00 PM

KFN Spring Roundup

This is an annual event where we try to log the largest number of bird species over a 48 hour period. Bird on your own or with friends in any part of the Kingston Circle and report your sightings on eBird.
There will be at least two field trips planned for the roundup – check the Events page on the website for details.

Saturday May 17

8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
KFN Field Trip - Birding the K&P Trail - Sydenham Road to Jackson Mills

As part of the Spring Roundup, we will go out in search of spring migrants along the K&P Trail.
Leader: Steve Coates
Meet at the Sydenham Road parking lot at 0800 for a walk along two busy sections of the trail. Indigo buntings are likely to be in song. Hopefully the marsh wrens, egrets, gallinules, and green herons will be back in their usual spots by then. 
The plan is to return to the cars by 1100 or so. Bring water and weather appropriate clothing.

Sunday May 18

6:00 AM – 11:00 AM
KFN Field Trip - Moscow Marsh and Camden Lake

Marsh birds, waterfowl, and grassland birds with chances for Least Bittern and Black Tern.
Leader: Tom Wheatley
Bring sunscreen and mosquito/tick repellent. Rubber boots may be useful depending on conditions in the woods.
Meet at Moscow Marsh at 06:00. Directions are in the Moscow Marsh site guide at https://kingstonfieldnaturalists.org/wildlife/birding-in-the-kingston-region/birding-hotspots/birding-moscow-marsh-a-site-guide/

Conditions: short walk on a gravel path, short flight of steps up to a viewing platform, short walk across a grassy field, optional walk on an uneven boardwalk through the forest

Tuesday May 20

9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Ramble

Location: Back 40 Forest (site of BioBlitz, thanks Carolyn Bonta)

Rambles are slow walks to notice nature in a variety of local habitats. Please register with Anne (n8ture.anne [at symbol] sympatico [dot] ca or 613 389 six-seven-four-two) by the Sunday prior to this ramble to receive details of location and directions.

Please be aware of Poison Ivy, Wild Parsnip, ticks and other nasties. Wearing long pants tucked in socks or boots is recommended. A snack or lunch as well as water, a hat and sunscreen are advised and hiking poles may be useful.

Wednesday May 21

6:30 AM – 8:30 AM
May Bird Walks
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
May Bird Walks

Thursday May 22

6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Wingspan

Wingspan is a competitive, medium-weight, card-driven, engine-building board game about birds!

Participants in this recurring KFN social event are split into groups and play one game with their group. Social interaction and cookies are encouraged.

No experience with the game is necessary as you can learn from other players in a game situation.

Space can be limited as we usually play in a private residence with limited copies of the board game.

If you are interested in joining in, please contact waycik @ fieldnat . org (take out the spaces).

Wednesday May 28

6:30 AM – 8:30 AM
May Bird Walks
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
May Bird Walks

Saturday May 31

8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
KFN Field Trip - Birding Lennox and Addington County

Leader: Steve Coates
Meet at the park and ride at County Road 4 and 401 at 0800. The first stop will be the Menzel Centennial Provincial Nature Reserve, north of Napanee, but we will bird Roblin Road on the way in. Then over to Nugent Road to (hopefully) find some Loggerhead Shrikes. Time permitting, we will head down to Morven Creek for some shore birds. Return to the park and ride by 2ish.
That time of year there is bound to be a lot of insects around Menzel, bug spray will be a must, as well as sunblock, water and snacks as needed.