West Kill Brewing - Catskill 3500 Club collaboration release party!

[YanaLG]

We are super excited to announce a collaboration with everyone's favorite post hike hangout, West Kill Brewing! The new beer honors the Club's unofficial mascot, the elusive Bicknell's Thrush. A portion of the proceeds will be going to support our stewardship work in the boreal zone in an effort to protect Bicknell’s Thrush's habitat.

The release is scheduled for March 25th. The Club will be at the brewery to discuss the Club, our stewardship, search and rescue work and take folks on guided hikes to the Diamond Notch Falls. We will also be selling a limited edition poster of the beautiful Bicknell Thrush IPA can art, so be sure to be there to snag yourself a copy! Note – only cash and personal checks will be accepted for the purchase of the poster.

[Blowdown Gang]

I'm not a bird person (putting it mildly), but I'll try the beer. Guided hike to DN Falls? I've seen 2-year olds walk there!

I say all this tongue-in-cheek. I think it's all a great idea although I have no idea what a brickell thrush looks like (other than the illustration above). I hope this effort helps to save them (as long as they don't $hit on my car! )

[YanaLG]

The thing about the elusive Bicknell's Thrush, it can only be found in the boreal zone, so unless you decide to drive your car to the summit of Hunter, it will be safe from their pooping, haha.

The guided hikes are of course for the benefit of non-hikers, who frequent the brewery, and the destination is quite manageable for all abilities

see you there!

[Blowdown Gang]

Not sure if we can make it, but it would be good to see you and Brian again. Btw, is this bird found only in the Catskills? If so, perhaps that's why its endangered. Maybe they should catch some to breed in captivity. Grow like a million of them and release! :-)

[YanaLG]

we need to get together soon!

The bird was discovered in the Catskills, but in our neck of the woods (no pun intended), it is found in the boreal zone of the Catskills, Adirondacks and the Whites. It winters in Hispaniola and breeds in NE. Its habitat in North America and in the Caribbean is threatened by many factors. First step is to protect its habitat. Anyway, check out the winter 2023 issue of The Canister for more, we had a great article from an Audubon expert.

[Hear the Footsteps]

Nice poster.

Better chance of seeing this reclusive bird on there than in the wild. Unless you work at it.

Hearing a Bicknell’s Thrush is relatively much easier after you learn it’s song.

[YanaLG]

thanks Don! I can't wait to get the poster.

Agree about the song, it is very distinctive and nothing like the dreamy hermit thrush. While I have seen BT literally on a trail in the Catskills, it took me nearly two hours of sitting on the summit to snag a photo. Totally worth it. Some people drive up WF to see them but I do not know if the reports are visual or by sound.

[Hear the Footsteps]

I’ve seen one less than a handful of times. No picture, but I have a video when I saw one when I was climbing Horse Hill.
In peak season I’ll hear them a lot, every day I’m out at those times.

[YanaLG]

us hikers-birders have an advantage over regular birders

[rockysummit]

All sounds great Yana! Please let us know the time people will be gathering. I may have a few photos of the BT from Slide Mountain.

[YanaLG]

it would so be great to see you, Tony! We will be there from noon till 6 pm. It will be more of a drop in and drop out kind of gathering, so feel free to come whenever it is most convenient.

and def. send me photos if you have the files handy,

[TFR]

In a sense, the 3500 Club exists because of Bicknell's Thrush. The Smiley brothers, of Mohonk fame, were birders. Learning that Bicknell's Thrush only inhabited high mountains, they decided to survey the Catskills and pick the highest peaks. Their criteria? 3500' or more! ;-) When they published their list, it wasn't long until hiker-birders (thanks Yana) picked up on it.

[YanaLG]

that is indeed, the story, and that is why the Bicknell's Thrush is our unofficial mascot. For anyone who may be interested, we had a great write-up about Bicknell's Thrush in the winter 2023 issue of the canister; look it up on the club's website.