PAUL SMITHS — The Great Adirondack Birding Celebration will return to the Paul Smith’s College VIC from this Friday to Sunday.

The event will introduce birders of all ages and skill levels to the unique boreal birds and habitats of the Adirondack Park.

Skilled birders will lead full- and half-day field trips to places including Whiteface Mountain, Madawaska Flow and Spring Pond Bog, the second-largest open expanse of peatland in New York. Anyone interested can even get on the water with a paddling trip led by the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation (canoe rentals available).

Depending where participants visit, they might see Bicknell’s Thrush, Boreal Chickadees, hawks, Bald Eagles and many more species.

Guests on the Spring Pond Bog trip can visit Raquette River Brewing in Tupper Lake afterward for a talk on Spruce Grouse while buying lunch and a pint of Spruce Tip IPA, a beer created in partnership with Northern New York Audubon.

For those new to birding, two free how-to workshops are available: One at the VIC and another at International Paper John Dillon Park in Long Lake, a fully accessible wilderness campground. These beginner sessions will introduce field identification and song identification skills. Other free sessions include beginner birding field trips at the VIC and Dillon Park, and a raptor program by Mark Manske at the VIC this Saturday.

“We’re excited to welcome birders back for the 18th Great Adirondack Birding Celebration,” said Scott van Laer, director of the VIC. “Even though we’ve missed the last two years because of the pandemic, the birds never fail to come back. And the amazing variety of bird species that birders know to expect will be here this year, also.”

For schedules, rates and registration information, visit paulsmithsvic.org/gabc.