Field Trips

For: eBird class and walk

Place: Welkinwier, 1368 Prizer Rd, Pottstown, PA, 10:00 a.m.

Leaders: John Mercer (mercer1135@aol.com) and Patty Werth (home: 484-985-8164, day of walk: 215-859-1148, Pattyww@comcast.net)

Note: eBird is a global birdwatching and citizen science project run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that not only contributes to the scientific database, but has become a powerful personal tool that birdwatchers can use to keep track of bird sightings, manage bird lists, photos, and audio recordings, see real-time maps of species distribution, and find places to go birding. This approximately 2-hour program will be divided into two parts.  A classroom session will be held first where instructors will help you get started on eBird and go over best practices for using the website and the mobile app.  Following that there will be a short birding field trip during which we will practice using eBird, so please bring binoculars if you have them.   The classroom portion of this program will take place under an accessible pavilion and will be held rain or shine. If you are planning on using eBird on your phone, please have the mobile app (which is free) downloaded before you arrive. We are expecting to have wifi available during the program, so if you use a laptop you may want to bring that also. Accessible restrooms are available on site.

Meet in the visitor parking lot west of the main entrance.

Note: This is a joint program with Valley Forge Audubon Society, all are welcome.

Directions: Route 100 N towards Pottstown. Turn left on Prizer Rd, Welkinwier will be on the left in about 0.8 miles.

Welkinwier

For: Early Spring migrants

Place: 860 Springton Rd, Glenmoore, PA 19343, 8:00 a.m.

Leader: John Mercer (484-459-2062, mercer1135@aol.com), Patty & John Werth (pattyww@comcast.net)

Note: The Chester County Parks system has seven wonderful parks which provide excellent birdwatching opportunities.  Join us as we explore all seven of the parks, one per month, in 2023.
 
Our second location is Springton Manor Farm, part preserve and part farm and home to many types of bird-friendly habitats across its 300 acres. Of note here are centuries-old oak and maple trees, and a thriving Purple Martin colony during the summer.
 
This trip will cover about 2 miles on rolling natural surface trails and will last approximately 2-3 hours. Restrooms are available on site at the Great Barn, where we will meet.
 
Directions: Take Rt. 322 West through Guthriesville, take a soft right onto Springton Road at traffic light, Cross Highspire Road, continue .5 miles to park entrance on right.
 
Springton Manor Farm

For: Learning the basics of birding by ear

Place: Parking lot by Pavilion #5 at Hibernia Park, 8:00 a.m.

Leaders: John Mercer (484-459-2062, mercer1135@aol.com)

Note: This trip is geared to beginner birders who would like to start to learn how to improve their birding skills by birding by ear. There will be a discussion of the basics followed by a short 0.6 mile walk over even terrain followed by a refresher of the birds heard on the walk. Trip will be between 1.5 and 2 hours.

Directions: From Downingtown, take Route 30 bypass to Reeceville Road exit (Brandywine Hospital). Turn left at end of exit ramp, turn right onto Reeceville Road. Follow Reeceville Road until it crosses Route 82 and becomes Cedar Knoll Road. Follow Cedar Knoll Road to the second park entrance on the left. Turn left. Pavilion 5 is the first pavilion on the left.

Hibernia Park

For: Spring Migrants

Place: 28 Moores Road, Elverson, PA, 7:00 a.m.

Leader: Mike Coulter. If you plan to attend please email the Great Marsh Institute at lori@greatmarshinstitute.org to let them know to expect you. This will help them to organize and keep groups small. This event is free but donations are always welcome via Paypal or donations at the door. Note that the time has been shifted an hour earlier this month.
 
Note: Join local birding expert Mike Coulter as he guides us through the Great Marsh, an ancient periglacial marsh and the largest marsh in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
 
This event is hosted by the Great Marsh Institute, a non-profit with the mission of supporting scientific studies and educational opportunities for all! This event is free, but donations of any amount are welcome to support the Institute! For full trip details see here. This will be about a 3 hour walk. Conditions could be muddy and very wet so wear appropriate footwear.

Please note that the property is private but you can always visit during our planned trips.
 
Directions: The marsh is off of Rt. 401 four miles northwest of Rt. 100 at Ludwig's Corner. Lat/Long = 40.127651, -75.767697 or use 28 Moores Road for GPS directions. Meet at the grassy parking area at the top of the hill near 28 Moores Road. Once you turn off of Rt. 401 on to Moore's Road proceed 1/4 mile along the gravel road. You will cross a bridge and at the 1/4 mile mark make a right up the hill on the paved part of the drive. This is the first right after the bridge. At the top of the hill you should see other cars parked in the meeting area.

For: More advanced practice at birding by ear

Place: Hibernia Park parking lot by pond on Lion Head Rd., 8:30 a.m.

Leaders: John Mercer (484-459-2062, mercer1135@aol.com)

Note: We will walk along the creek to picnic tables where we will review the birds heard, then return. The total walking is about 0.4 miles, but the session can take up to two hours.

Directions: From Downingtown, take Route 30 bypass to Route 82 north (left turn). At the next left, turn onto Route 340 west. Go about 1.5 miles and turn right onto Wagontown Road. Follow Wagontown Road around to Park Road. (Be careful, at one point it seems Wagontown ends in a tee, but it continues to the right. Turn right onto Lyons Head Drive (between the pillars with lion faces on them.) Follow Lyons Head Drive until you see the pond on the right, the parking area is after the pond.

Hibernia Park

For: Summer residents, butterflies, etc.

Place: Chambers Lake parking lot, 8:00 a.m.

Leaders: