Break out the binoculars! Did you know that there are nooks and crannies on Newtown Creek that harbor wildlife? Did you know that creeping along in a canoe is the best way to view the intertidal zone and view a heron unruffled? In 2013 we will be leading approximately one birdwatching canoe tour per month, led by our own certified trip leaders in intimate groups of about ten paddlers.

Next Tour: Sunday May 26, 3:30 pm

Buy a ticket via Newtown Creek Alliance today:

All tours depart from and return to the North Brooklyn Boat Club at 49 Ash Street in Greenpoint. Your ticket price includes insurance, certified guides and all equipment! Trips may be canceled or postponed due to weather conditions – all participants will be notified and reimbursed if need be.

A group of NBBC trip leaders took to the water today, paddling the East River with a photographer from The New Yorker. There weren’t any dolphins to be seen, but a harbor seal was seen patrolling the chilly waters!

Update: We’re excited to see this great photo by photographer Gabriele Stabile published in The New Yorker’s Goings on About Town!

On Saturday, March 16th, a few members of the North Brooklyn Boat Club paddled out on a snowy and foggy afternoon to look for the dolphin recently sighted in the East River. They didn’t have to paddle far, as the mammal was just off our North Brooklyn shores. The boat club has seen some amazing wildlife on birdwatching trips and with the filter feeder working group in partnership with Newtown Creek Alliance, but this is an exciting first. The photos and footage here was captured from a canoe near the shores of Greenpoint.

As the harbor becomes cleaner and marine mammal sightings become more prevalent, it is even more important to abide by NOAA’s viewing guidelines for marine mammals. These guidelines are in place to protect these species and to help boaters avoid accidentally violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act & Endangered Species Act, which is punishable by fines of up to $50,000. In general, you should never attempt to feed marine mammals and remain a respectful distance (50 yards is the minimum recommended distance for dolphins, porpoises, seals and sea turtles).

Photos from a February survey of Newtown Creek’s wildlife during extreme low tide conditions. Variously documented organisms included mussels, barnacles, oysters, mud snails, and an unidentified fish (possible stripped bass). As always with off season trips, on-water participants were wearing proper safety gear/attire for near freezing air and water temperatures.

A group of North Brooklyn Boat Club members took to the water today, January 1st, to celebrate the New Year, new drysuits for cold weather paddling and our first winter season on the water. Happy New Year!

Our beloved peapod rowboat, which sat gently in our boatyard awaiting restoration, was lost at sea during Hurricane Sandy. We feared she might be sunk, but fortunately some neighbors on the creek spotted her resting on the rocky banks of Hunters Point near the mouth of the creek. A rescue was staged by by NBBC and the peapod was safely returned to the Broadway Stages Boatyard.

On September 30, 2012 NBBC hosted a public event dedicated to stewardship of our local water bodies and improving water quality across neighborhoods, regions and nations. The event featured free walk up paddle opportunities on Newtown Creek followed by presentations from a number of local organizations including the Newtown Creek Alliance, Riverkeeper, Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance and New York City Water Trails Association.

Most importantly the event marked the arrival of the Capital to Capitol by Canoe expedition to NYC. A project of the Canadian Wildlife Federation, this 1800 kilometer paddle traveled the rivers, lakes, canals, harbours and bays from Ottawa to Washington D.C. in a 34 foot voyageur canoe. The expedition crew stayed at the boatyard and was joined by NBBC’s own Will Elkins for the remainder of their paddle to Washington D.C.

Much thanks to presenters Roland Lewis, Nancy Brous, Rob Buchanan, Phillip Museagaas, Kate Zidar, Sarah Durand, Elias Dueker, Max Finkelstein and Clive Doucet!

The Broadway Stages Boatyard is located at 437 McGuinness Blvd (at Ash Street) right below the Pulaski Bridge pedestrian path.

Special thanks to our sponsors the New York Distilling Company and the Brooklyn Brewery.

Come join us this Sunday as we convene to both clean the boatyard and creek! Before our Sept 20th Fundraiser Party, Rock the Pulaski – we need able and willing hands on deck to clean up and prepare the boatyard. There are a variety of odd jobs for everyone so bring a friend and come lend a hand.

Simultaneously, NBBC will be hosting a continuation of an active Saturday of birdwatching, model boat piloting, and shoreline cleanup on the Queens-side of Newtown Creek as a participating site of the international coastal cleanup day. We will be both dockside and out in canoes collecting and surveying debris floating through our waterways and wedged ashore. Great opportunity to get out in a canoe and add to our ever-growing archive of fascinating flotsam! Gloves, bags, and all other necessary sanitation equipment provided. Open to all (eager scavengers and landside spectators alike).