West Chester Bird Club

Every Thursday Morning Exton Park, Exton, PA
2023-07-20 08:30 - 10:30, 2023-07-13 08:30 - 10:30, 2023-07-06 08:30 - 10:30, 2023-06-29 08:30 - 10:30, 2023-06-22 08:30 - 10:30, 2023-06-15 08:30 - 10:30, 2023-06-08 08:30 - 10:30, 2023-06-01 08:30 - 10:30 (America/New_York) and 56 more dates
For: Seasonal birds
Place: Exton Park, 8:30 a.m.
Leader: Various leaders in conjunction with Friends of Exton Park
Note: Formerly known as Church Farm Pond and now a part of Exton Park, this pond and surrounding wetland had been a popular birding spot for years.
Directions: From the intersection of Routes 30 and 202, drive west along Route 30 and turn right on Valley Creek Blvd. At the end of the road, make a left on Swedesford Road and park in the gravel parking lot on your left where the perimeter trail starts. This is a 1.5 mile walk and will take between 1.5 and 2 hours.
Exton Park

Bicknell’s Thrush, Vermont Boreal Specialties & Maine Coast
2023-07-18 13:00 - 2023-07-23 12:00
For: Bicknell’s Thrush, Boreal Chickadee, Canada Jay, Spruce Grouse, Black-backed Woodpecker, coastal alcids, and (hopefully) pelagics.
Place: TBD
Leaders: Michael Blust (802-345-8612, mhblust@gmail.com)
Note1: The primary target for this trip is the Bicknell’s Thrush. We will join banders from The Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE) atop Mt. Mansfield on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning to hopefully see this thrush in the wild and in the hand. Following this we head to the northeast area of Vermont, known as the Northeast Kingdom, to try for any boreal specialties that may still be evident despite it being mid-breeding season when they tend to be quieter. Moose Bog will be our place of focus. Finally we head to the coast of Maine for breeding birds such as Common Eider and Black Guillemot . If the schedule works out we will do a whale-watch/pelagic trip with the possibility of seeing Atlantic Puffins, shearwaters, and other near-coastal pelagics.
Note2: This trip will be limited to 10 participants. Early registration with the leader is important. If you are interested in doing this trip, even if you are not sure, please let the leader know as soon as possible so we save the correct number and mix of rooms before they sell out. There is time to cancel the reservations if you change your mind, but may not be a chance to add any if you decide to go last minute.
Directions: TBD
Bicknell’s Thrush
Moose Bog
Maine Birding Trail: Pelagics and Whales

Chester County Parks Birding Series: #5 – Exton Park
2023-07-11 07:30 - 09:30
For: Summer Residents
Place: 132 Church Farm Ln, Exton, PA 19341, 7:30 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.

For the 5th location in our 2023 birding tour of Chester County’s Parks, we will visit Exton Park, one of the most heavily birded locations in the county. Come before work or camp or chores and join us to watch the early birds catch their worms.

This outing will cover 1-2 miles on natural surface trails and will last approximately 2 hours.

Restrooms are available on site at the Chester Valley Trail trailhead parking area, where we will meet.

Directions: From the intersection of Routes 30 and 202, drive west along Route 30 and turn right on Valley Creek Blvd. At the end of the road, make a left on Swedesford Road and then take the first left onto Church Farm Lane. The road dead ends at the parking lot for the Chester Valley Trail trailhead, where we will meet.

Chester Valley Trail
Exton Park

WCBC Annual Summer Picnic
2023-07-08 18:00 - 21:00, 2022-07-09 18:00 - 21:00
For: Good times!
Place: 100 Hadfield Road, Downingtown, PA, 6:00 p.m.
Host: Sandy Moser (610-269-8124, semoser@yahoo.com )
Note: Covered dish picnic. Bring food to share, tableware and lawn chair.
Call or email Sandy if you plan to attend.
Directions: From Route 30, go North on Route 340 until Rt. 340 turns left and Bondsville Rd. goes left (340 is Bailey Rd.) Take Bondsville Road past Bondsville Mills Park. At the next intersection, Bondsville Rd. goes right and Hadfield Rd is straight across. Sandy’s place is on the corner on the left side of Hadfield Rd. On the right side is a grassy area inside of a low stone wall. Go to the end of the wall, turn into the grassy area to park. From Route 322, turn south on Bondsville Rd. Turn right onto Hadfield RD. where Bondsville takes a left turn, park behind the wall.

The Great Marsh
2023-06-25 07:00 - 10:00
For: Summer Residents
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.

Every Thursday Morning Exton Park, Exton, PA-Canceled Due to Poor Air Quality
2023-06-08 08:30 - 10:30

Members' Photos
2023-06-05 19:30 - 21:30
Coordinated by Luc Jacobs. If you have photos to contribute see below.
– Make sure to label each photo with the bird species name and the location where the photo was taken. This can be done by including the info in the filename or by providing a separate list of the photos with this info.
– Get the pictures in electronic format to Luc Jacobs by Monday May 15th (earlier is appreciated)
– You can use any of the following methods to share the files:
– upload the pictures to Dropbox and email the link to jacobsluc52@yahoo.com
– upload the pictures to WeTransfer and email the link to jacobsluc52@yahoo.com
– mail a thumb drive to Luc Jacobs, 511 Annadale Drive, Berwyn PA 19312
– hand over a thumb drive to Luc Jacobs on any of the coming bird walks (contact Luc to know whether he will be participating in a specific walk)
– email Luc at jacobsluc52@yahoo.com or call Luc at 610-644-8285 (home) or 484-706-1999 (cell) to discuss an alternative method

NOTE: This meeting will be held in person at the meeting house and via Zoom. Zoom signon will start at 7:15 to enable the meeting to begin at 7:30.

Chester County Parks Birding Series: #4 – Hibernia
2023-06-04 08:00 - 10:30
For: Summer residents
Place: Pavilion #4, 1 Park Rd, Coatesville, PA 19320, 8:00 a.m.
Leaders: Kris Debolt and Peter Wade (215-219-5637, wadedeb@verizon.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 4th location is Hibernia County Park, home to woods, fields, and the 94-acre Chambers Lake. We will meander through the park’s various habitats searching land, water, and sky for passerines, waterfowl, raptors, and more.

This outing will cover about 2 miles on earthen trails and will last approximately 2-3 hours. Restrooms are available on site at pavilion #4, where we will meet.

Directions: From Downingtown, take Route 30 bypass west to exit for Route 82 north. Exit ramp, go left on Rt. 82 to the top of the hill then take a left onto Cedar Knoll Rd. Proceed about 1.9 miles to second park entrance on left #790. DO NOT go to #720 which is the first entrance to the park.

Hibernia Park

The Great Marsh
2023-05-21 07:00 - 10:00, 2023-04-23 07:00 - 10:30
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.

The Cassatt Preserve: The Headwaters of Birding at the Upper Main Line YMCA
2023-05-15 19:30 - 21:30
Club Member Brian Quindlen
The Upper Main Line YMCA in Berwyn, Pennsylvania is unlike most other YMCAs. It is situated on a 54-acre campus in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Twenty of these acres contain the Cassatt Preserve, which is part of the first conservation easement in the state of Pennsylvania. This property contains a unique history for both the habitats and the people who have enjoyed it over the last century. Serving first as a summer estate, then a Norbertine monastery, and finally a YMCA, this property would eventually be home to a robust youth birding program and environmental education center. This program is a tribute to history of the habitats, people, and birds that make this property special.

Brian “BQ” Quindlen is an avid birder, photographer, digiscoper, and educator from Malvern, Pennsylvania. As a Pennsylvania state certified K-6 elementary school teacher and K-12 environmental educator, BQ connects students with nature in a formal education setting. Also, BQ is the leader of the Garnet Valley Trailblazers nature program, an environmental education club and summer camp that takes students from first through twelfth grade birding.

Note: This meeting will be held in person at the meeting house and via Zoom. Zoom signon will start at 7:15 to enable the meeting to begin at 7:30.

Chester County Parks Birding Series: #3 – Nottingham
2023-05-13 08:00 - 11:00
For: Spring migrants
Place: 150 Park Rd, Nottingham, PA 19362, 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.

The site for the 3rd park in our series, Nottingham County Park boasts some of the most unique natural features in the park system. Located in southern Chester County near the Maryland border, this park protects a globally rare ecosystem comprised of serpentine rock, oak-pine barrens, savannahs, prairies, and many unique plants, which in turn harbor a wide variety of birds, some of which reliably breed here but very few other places in the county.

This outing will cover 1-2 miles on gently sloping natural surface trails and will last approximately 2-3 hours. Restrooms are available on site at the park office, where we will meet.

Nottingham Park

Chambers Lake, Chester County, PA
2023-05-09 08:00 - 11:00, 2022-05-10 08:00 - 11:00
For: Summer residents, butterflies, etc.
Place: Chambers Lake parking lot, 8:00 a.m.
Leaders:
Note: Trip is an approximately two- to three-hour walk covering about 2 miles with some moderate hills.
Directions: Take the Rt. 30 by-pass to the exit for Rt. 82. At end of the ramp go left and proceed to the first light. A Turkey Hill market should be on the left. Make a left at this light which should be Rt. 340. Follow Rt. 340, West Kings Highway about 2.1 miles. Turn right on Wagontown Rd. Stay on Wagontown Rd. until you get to Chambers Lake.
Chambers Lake

Birding by Ear, Hibernia Park, Coatesville, PA
2023-05-07 08:30 - 12:00, 2022-05-15 08:30 - 12:00
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

Veracruz, The River of Raptors with Hawk Mountain
2023-05-01 19:30 - 21:30
Club member John Mercer

A review of the trip I took with Hawk Mountain and ProNatura to view the River of Raptors in Veracruz, Mexico. A chronological travel log of what we did and what we saw, with pictures of birds, sites and interesting critters, but mostly birds. A terrific trip especially for raptor lovers, but we also did a lot of other birding and some cultural visits, making this a well rounded and delightful trip.

Note: This meeting will be held in person at the meeting house and via Zoom. Zoom signon will start at 7:15 to enable the meeting to begin at 7:30.

Vulture: The Private Life of an Unloved Bird.
2023-04-17 19:30 - 21:30
Katie Fallon

Vultures are often overlooked, underappreciated, and unloved, despite the vital roles they play in healthy ecosystems. Worldwide, vultures are primarily scavengers; they can help stop the spread of disease by quickly and efficiently removing dead animals from the landscape. Unfortunately, due to poisoning, direct persecution, habitat loss, and other threats, vultures are more likely to be threatened or endangered than any other group of raptors. But in the Western Hemisphere, Turkey and Black Vultures counter this trend and are increasing in number. Based on Katie Fallon’s recent book, this fun presentation will explore the life and times of the noble Turkey Vulture, including its feeding, nesting, and roosting habits, migratory behaviors, and common misconceptions. Katie will also discuss what it’s like to be up-close-and-personal with Turkey and Black Vultures through her work with the Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia

Note: This meeting will be held in person at the meeting house and via Zoom. Zoom signon will start at 7:15 to enable the meeting to begin at 7:30.

Birding by Ear for Beginners, Hibernia Park, Coatesville, PA
2023-04-15 08:00 - 10:30
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

Chester County Parks Birding Series: #2 – Springton Manor Farm
2023-04-08 08:00 - 11:00
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

Papua New Guinea: A Pilgrimage across the Pacific, for Birds and Family
2023-04-03 19:30 - 21:30
Presenter: Dorothy Bedford

When Dorothy Bedford’s sister started writing up her WWII family trilogy, based on her parent’s diaries and letters, Dorothy hadn’t dreamed of visiting PNG, where her father was an Army officer under MacArthur. As she got drawn into her sister’s research, the opportunity to visit in the guise of birdwatching became compelling. Last August, Dorothy visited Port Moresby and the Western Highlands with P.I.B for Birds-of Paradise and other specialties. She’ll share photos and stories.

Note: This meeting will be held in person at the meeting house and via Zoom. Zoom signon will start at 7:15 to enable the meeting to begin at 7:30.

eBird101: How and Why to use eBird
2023-04-02 10:00 - 12:00
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

Do birds prefer or avoid invasive non-native plants when nesting and feeding?
2023-03-20 19:30 - 21:30
Ian Stewart – Ornithologist working at the Delaware Nature Society.

This presentation describes an experiment conducted recently in southeastern PA where most of the invasive non-native plants were removed from 10 woodland plots but left in place in 10 comparable plots to see if it affected their use by nesting birds. It also describes an observational study conducted in the fall to see if insect-eating birds prefer to feed in native or non-native plants. These results will be of interest to anyone involved in restoring habitat for bird conservation.

Note: This meeting will be held in person at the meeting house and via Zoom. Zoom signon will start at 7:15 to enable the meeting to begin at 7:30.

The Great Marsh
2023-03-19 07:00 - 10:30
For: Winter Residents & Early 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.

A Fascination With Birds: Photographs from Avian Hotspots
2023-03-06 19:30 - 21:30
Laura Densmore is a second generation photographer. Her father ground his own lenses and built his own cameras during the depression. From a very young age she absorbed his lessons on composition and attention to detail.

Laura lives in Pennsbury, Chester County. She has traveled to numerous locations in search of birds. She has photographed: puffins on Skellig Michael and the Snaefellnes Peninsula in Iceland, various auks on St. Paul’s Island, which is closer to Siberia than to mainland Alaska, and gannets on Bass Island in Scotland.

Closer to home, she travels yearly to Florida for large wading birds, to south Texas for warblers and other migrating travelers, Arizona for desert birds as well as takes images out her back window.

She has studied with: Alan Murphy, Greg Downing, Ron Rosenstock and taken intense instruction from Rick Holt in Photoshop.

Her avian work tends to be portraiture and bird behavior in natural settings.

Note: This meeting will be held in person at the meeting house and via Zoom. Zoom signon will start at 7:15 to enable the meeting to begin at 7:30.

The Great Marsh
2023-02-12 08:00 - 11:00, 2023-01-15 08:00 - 11:00, 2022-12-11 08:00 - 11:00
For: Winter Residents
Place: 28 Moores Road, Elverson, PA, 8:00 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: 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.

Southeast Arizona's Most Wanted Birds
2023-02-06 19:30 - 21:30
Luke Safford – Director of Engagement & Education for the Tucson Audubon Society

Elegant Trogon, Red-faced Warbler, Montezuma Quail, Violet-crowned Hummingbird…many of us remember the first time we saw one—whether in real life or in the pages of our Sibley or Golden Guide. We’ll discuss what makes birding in the Tucson area so amazing and how to go about planning your first (or next) trip to the Sonoran Desert and Sky Islands of Southeast Arizona.

Luke’s responsibilities include overseeing the Southeast Arizona Birding Festival, field trips and event programs, the Tucson Audubon Nature Shop, and student education opportunities. He started birding and keeping a lifelist when he was six years old in Washington State thanks to his grandparents. His favorite place to bird is at Sweetwater Wetlands where he’s been leading a weekly walk with Tucson Audubon since he moved to Tucson in January 2015.

Note: This meeting will be held in person at the meeting house and via Zoom. Zoom signon will start at 7:15 to enable the meeting to begin at 7:30.

How Birds Made Us Human
2023-01-02 19:30 - 21:30
Rob Fergus
People have been living and interacting with birds since before we were human. Many of the behaviors that we take to be inherently human—including walking upright, using tools, language, writing, music, dance, sewing, pottery, home building, and flight—were perfected by birds long before we became human. This presentation looks at the shared history of humans and birds and how we may have became human by copying these behaviors from birds in our shared environment.

Rob Fergus studies human-bird interactions and received his Ph.D. in geography from the University of Texas at Austin in 2008. Rob is the former executive director of Travis Audubon Society, founder of the Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory in Austin, Texas and former National Audubon Senior Scientist for Urban Bird Conservation. He currently teaches geography and environmental studies at Rowan University and is the past president and current vice-president of the Birding Club of Delaware County.

Note: This meeting will be held in person at the meeting house and via Zoom. Zoom signon will start at 7:15 to enable the meeting to begin at 7:30.

The Bird Collision Problem in Philadelphia
2022-12-05 19:30 - 21:30
Keith Russell – Program Manager for Urban Conservation for Audubon Mid-Atlanti

Birds have been colliding with buildings and other human structures since the 19th century and much of the work that has been done historically to help us understand the phenomenon was done in Pennsylvania, and this includes pioneering research conducted in Philadelphia by the DVOC during in the 1890s. This talk will review what we have learned about the problem in Philadelphia and what has been done in recent years in Philadelphia to address it.

Keith Russell is based in Philadelphia where he works on a variety of bird conservation issues including bird collisions with human structures, birds and nocturnal lights, non-native plants, and migration stopover habitat. His work uses education, monitoring, research, advocacy, mitigation work, and habitat restoration to improve conditions for birds in ways that have also broadened engagement in the environmental movement.

Note: This meeting will be held in person at the meeting house and via Zoom. Zoom signon will start at 7:15 to enable the meeting to begin at 7:30.

Focus on Photography trip: Conowingo Dam, MD
2022-11-27 08:00 - 17:00
For: Photography, eagles, and waterfowl
Place: Parking area below dam, 8:00 a.m.
Leader: John McNamara (484-782-4820, jmckayak@gmail.com)
Note: We will be looking for eagles and other birds in the area with a focus on photography. There will be a short walk of about 1 mile on a flat trail along the river. This trip is weather dependent. Bring lunch; this is an all-day trip.
Directions: Take US Route 1 south over the Conowingo Dam. Turn left at the first road, Shuresville Road and go about 1/2 mile. Make a hard left on Shures Landing Road and go to the parking lot at the end of the road.

Every Thursday Morning Exton Park, Exton, PA - No walk on Thanksgiving
2022-11-24 08:30 - 10:30

Microbiota-mediated Behavior in Wild Birds
2022-11-21 19:30 - 21:30
Jennifer Houtz – PhD Candidate at Cornell University
Emerging evidence has revealed that gut microbiota (the microorganisms residing in the gastrointestinal tract) are essential for a wide array of host physiological functions in birds. But can gut microbiota influence the behavior of the host? This talk will discuss the potential for gut microbiota to influence the behavior of birds and how avian behavior can influence gut microbiota diversity. Our speaker, Jenn Houtz, will share results from her PhD work investigating this bidirectional relationship between behavior and gut microbiota in tree swallows.

Jenn Houtz is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Cornell University. She is a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow and a Cornell Presidential Life Sciences Fellow. Jenn received her B.S. in Animal Behavior from Millersville University of Pennsylvania, where she studied the development of gut microbiota in starlings and worked as an assistant on a project studying the social behavior of wire-tailed manakins in Ecuador. Her research interests include microbial ecology, stress physiology, behavioral ecology, and ornithology. As a first-generation student, she is also passionate about mentoring undergraduate researchers, teaching, and science outreach.

Note: This meeting will be held in person at the meeting house and via Zoom. Zoom signon will start at 7:15 to enable the meeting to begin at 7:30.

The Great Marsh
2022-11-13 08:00 - 11:00
For: Fall Migrants & Early Winter Residents
Place: 28 Moores Road, Elverson, PA, 8:00 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: 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.

Here a Sparrow, There a Sparrow: Identifying those Little Brown Birds in the Weeds
2022-11-07 19:30 - 21:30
R. Craig Hensley – Biologist with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Among the challenges birders find in the field are the LBJ’s, those nearly identical (to the untrained eye) Little Brown Jobs, or the many sparrows found across North America. However, with effort and an eye for detail, our native sparrows can be readily learned and through that discovery, their subtle beauty, enjoyed. Join birder, educator and biologist Craig Hensley of Texas — yes, Texas, for a look at the sparrows not only of Pennsylvania, but also take a peek into their diversity in Texas. And yes, have your field guide handy, for you will be challenged at the end!

Craig Hensley is a life-long educator, naturalist and professional biologist. He has been a birder since plucking cherries from the backyard tree for his mother’s cherry pies, competing with robins for their deliciousness in his home state of Iowa. He has worked as an Interpretive Naturalist and educator from Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska, to Kansas, Missouri and most recently, Texas. He has a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Management and a M.S. in Zoology with an emphasis on birds. His experience with Pennsylvania, while limited, is memorable — he remembers tall trees, lots of trees from one end of the state to another. One of his bucket list goals is to visit Hawk Mountain during migration. Craig is a father to two grown children (one a birder, one coming along ever so slowly) and five beautiful grandchildren.

Note: Due to circumstances this meeting will be held only on Zoom. Signon will start at 7:15 to enable the meeting to begin at 7:30.

Northern Saw-whet Owl Migration Project
2022-10-17 19:30 - 21:30
Sandy Lockerman

For the past 25 years, the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art in Millersburg, Dauphin County has been conducting a fall migration project on PA’s smallest owl: the northern saw-whet owl. Sandy is a licensed bander with the project and she will discuss the project and some of the findings that they have discovered over the years.

Note: This meeting will be held in person at the meeting house and via Zoom. Zoom signon will start at 7:15 to enable the meeting to begin at 7:30.

The PGC’s Kestrel Conservation Initiative: Teamwork makes the dream work!
2022-10-03 19:30 - 21:30
Dan Mummert – PA Game Commission’s wildlife diversity biologist for southeastern Pennsylvania

Since 2016 the PGC has been ramping up their conservation efforts for the American Kestrel throughout southeastern PA. This talk will provide information about these small, declining falcons and highlight some of the accomplishments made and information learned from this study. The talk will also help highlight the importance of teamwork in conservation projects such as this and explain how the success of this kestrel program has only been possible with the continued help of a dedicated team of partners and volunteers including the West Chester Bird Club.

For the past 18 years, Dan Mummert’s work has been focused on the conservation of the state’s rare and declining species of birds and mammals. Before being hired by the PGC, Dan worked as a wildlife biologist in California, Utah, Arizona, Delaware, Maryland, and western Pennsylvania. Dan studied wildlife conservation in college and received his B.S. from the University of Delaware and M.S. from Northern Arizona University.

Note: This meeting will be held in person at the meeting house and via Zoom. Zoom signon will start at 7:15 to enable the meeting to begin at 7:30.

The Great Marsh
2022-09-25 08:00 - 11:00
For: Lingering Residents & Fall Migrants
Place: 28 Moores Road, Elverson, PA, 8:00 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: 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.

Turkey Point, Elk Neck State Park, North East, MD
2022-09-19 08:00 - 13:00
For: Migrants and resident birds
Place: Parking lot at end of Route 272, MD, 8:00 a.m.
Leader: Armas Hill (302-529-1876, Armas@focusonnature.com)
Note: A walk to Turkey Point in Elk Neck State Park, one of the best places in the Mid-Atlantic for bird migration in the late summer and fall. Mostly songbirds and raptors. The walk should be back to the parking lot around noon. Afternoon birding may be available if people wish to continue. There is a bathroom by the lighthouse.
Directions: Route 95 south to Maryland Route 272 south which takes you right to the parking lot.
Elk Neck State Park
Turkey Point Lighthouse

eBird 101: How and Why to use eBird
2022-09-11 10:00 - 12:00

Ramsey Road, Wilmington, DE
2022-09-10 08:00 - 12:00
For: Migrants and resident birds
Place: Parking lot off of Ramsey Rd., 8:00 a.m.
Leader: Carol Majors (610-399-1509, carolmajors@gmail.com)
Note: A walk along the Brandywine Creek in Delaware. The walk is about 2 miles over fairly even terrain with one stream crossing.
Directions: Route 202 South to Rt. 92 just over the state line. Turn right onto Route 92 then follow it to the left. Take the first right on to Ramsey Rd. Look for the parking area on the right.

Bucktoe Common Nighthawk Watch, Kennett Square, PA
2022-08-28 17:00 - 20:00
For: Migrating Nighthawks
Place: Bucktoe Preserve parking lot, Kennett Square, PA, 5:00 p.m.
Leader: Larry Lewis – Early Bird Tours (484-340-7672, earlybirdtours@comcast.net)
Note: The Bucktoe Common Nighthawk watch goes from Aug 23 to September 3 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Bring picnic dinner and drinks and enjoy the show.
Directions: From Kennett Square, take Union Street south of town. This becomes Kaolin Road. Make a right onto Hillendale Road. Proceed about 1.5 miles to Sharp Road and make a left. The entrance is on the left at 432 Sharp Road. Look for the “BCP” sign. Upon entering driveway, make a right on gravel road opposite first driveway you see. Follow gravel road to the pavilion and parking area.
Bucktoe Preserve

The Great Marsh
2022-08-21 08:00 - 11:00
For: Summer Residents, Young Birds & Early Migrants
Place: 28 Moores Road, Elverson, PA, 8:00 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: 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.

Bombay Hook NWR and Points South, DE - NOTE NEW, NEW DATE
2022-08-06 08:30 - 20:00
For: Shorebirds, herons and summer residents
Place: Bombay Hook NWR Headquarters, 8:30 a.m.
Leaders: John Mercer (484-459-2062, mercer1135@aol.com)
Note: This is an all day trip that will start at Bombay Hook and go South as far as we can get before we stop for dinner at a local restaurant and head home. Bring lunch. Minimal walking involved.
Directions: Meet at NWR 2591 Whitehall Neck RD. Smyrna DE 19977 at 8:30 a.m. Do not leave the HQ, depending on birding on Whitehall Neck Rd, we may arrive to the HQ after 8:30. Please contact leader if you will meet the group at Bombay Hook.
Carpooling: Due to Covid concerns, check with leader to confirm if a participant limit is in effect and if carpooling is occurring.
Meet at Painters Crossing, PA, on the northwest corner of US Routes 1 and 202.
Departure time 7:00 a.m.
Bombay Hook NWR

The Great Marsh
2022-07-10 08:00 - 11:00, 2022-06-12 08:00 - 11:00
For: Summer Residents
Place: 28 Moores Road, Elverson, PA, 8:00 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.

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.

Black Rock Sanctuary, Phoenixville, PA
2022-07-10 08:00 - 10:00
For: Migrants and local birds
Place: 935 Black Rock Road, 8:00 a.m.
Leaders: John Mercer (484-459-2062, mercer1135@aol.com), Patty Werth (484-985-8164, pattyww@comcast.net) and John Werth (215-859-1148)
Note: Park #5 in our tour of Chester County’s parks is the 119-acre Black Rock Sanctuary, which contains wetlands, forest, and fields that provide excellent birding opportunities, especially from the paved loop trail which is fully accessible to those with mobility challenges.
This field trip will cover around a mile and will last approximately 2 hours.
A portable restroom is available on site.
Black Rock Sanctuary

Chino Farms IBA, MD
2022-06-11 07:00 - 17:00
For: Dickcissel and other sparrows
Place: Painters Crossing, 7:00 a.m.
Leader: John Mercer (484-459-2062, mercer1135@aol.com)
Note: Due to Covid concerns, check with leader to confirm if a participant limit is in effect and if carpooling is occurring.
Carpooling from Painters Crossing Shopping Center/Mall on the northwest corner of US Routes 1 and 202
Chino Farms is a privately owned tract of land near Chestertown, MD which has been restored to a native grassland. Nesting bird species include Northern Bobwhite, Grasshopper Sparrow and Dickcissel. Bob will also stop along the way home in other locations in Delaware depending on what is being seen. Bring lunch.
Chino Farms IBA

Warwick County Park, Pottstown, PA
2022-06-08 08:00 - 11:00
For: Nesting birds
Place: 191 County Park Road, 8:00 a.m. Meet at the parking lot below the park office
Leaders: Patty Werth (484-985-8164, pattyww@comcast.net), John Werth (215-859-1148) and John Mercer (484-459-2062, mercer1135@aol.com)

Note: Warwick County Park in northern Chester County, the 4th park in our series of monthly bird walks in Chester County Parks, is a favorite of the leaders during breeding season. With meadows, wetlands, forest, and a section of the beautiful French Creek, birds abound! In past years we have discovered the nests of Willow Flycatchers, Orchard and Baltimore Orioles, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Yellow Warblers, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, and more. No guarantees for this year, of course, but we won’t find any at all unless we try!
This field trip will cover 1-2 miles on mainly flat (and possibly muddy) earthen trails and will last 2+ hours. Modern restrooms are available on site.

Warwick County Park

Members’ photos
2022-06-06 08:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
Coordinated by Luc Jacobs. If you have photos to contribute contact Luc at jacobsluc52@yahoo.com or 484-706-1999.

NOTE: This is a virtual meeting. Zoom signon will start at 7:15 to enable the meeting to begin at 7:30.

Bucktoe Kite and Shorebird Watch, Kennett Square, PA
2022-05-25 15:00 - 20:30
For: Migrating kites and shorebirds
Place: Bucktoe Preserve parking lot, Kennett Square, PA, 3:00 p.m.
Leader: Larry Lewis – Early Bird Tours (484-340-7672, earlybirdtours@comcast.net)
Note: Join Larry as he searches the skies for migrating kites and shorebirds. The watch goes
every day from May 17 thru June 6 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The club will join
Larry on May 25. People can come and go as they want and are welcome to join Larry any of
the days he is at the watch.
Directions: From Kennett Square, take Union Street south out of town. This becomes Kaolin Road. Make a right onto Hillendale Road. Proceed about 1.5 miles to Sharp Road and make a left. The entrance is on the left at 432 Sharp Road. Look for the “BCP” sign. Upon entering driveway, make a right on gravel road opposite first driveway you see. Follow gravel road to the pavilion and parking area.
Bucktoe Preserve

Sullivan County, PA
2022-05-20 13:00 - 2022-05-22 12:00
For: Warblers, Sandhill Cranes, Whippoorwill and other upstate specialties
Place: Hotel Dushore, Friday, 1:00 p.m to Sunday 12:00 p.m.
Leaders: Armas Hill (302-529-1876, Armas@focusonnature.com) and John Mercer (484-459-2062, mercer1135@aol.com)
Note: This is a two-night trip, with accommodations at Hotel Dushore. The rooms will be roughly $140 per night. We will meet Friday at the hotel at 1:00pm, bird part of the day Friday, all day Saturday and Sunday until noon. We have rooms for 8 people tentatively reserved. Some rooms have two twin beds so people can share to save costs, but most have only one queen, so we will be limited in the number of participants. Early registration with the leaders is important. If you are interested in doing this trip, even if you are not sure, please let the leaders know as soon as possible so we save the correct number and mix of rooms before they sell out. There is time to cancel the reservations if you change your mind but may not be a chance to add a room if you decide to go last minute. Once at the Hotel, we will try to carpool if feasible.
Directions: From Interstate Route 80, take 42 north to Route 220 to Dushore Hotel.
Hotel Dushore

Hurricane Effects on Caribbean Birds
2022-05-16 19:30 - 21:30 | Zoom
Dr. Joseph M. Wunderle, Jr. – Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Caribbean Ornithology

To help understand how hurricanes affect birds and their habitats and resources, Dr. Wunderle’s talk will summarize some of the direct and indirect effects of hurricanes on bird populations in the Caribbean. Dr. Wunderle and his colleagues have been “fortunate” in having baseline samples of populations and resources before the arrival of hurricanes on different islands and they have been able to re-sample in the storms’ aftermath to enable before and after comparisons. His talk will identify some of the types of birds, habitats, and resources especially vulnerable to hurricanes as well as demonstrating some post-hurricane behavioral responses of birds. Although some Caribbean bird species such as the endangered Puerto Rican Parrot have been found to be highly vulnerable to hurricane-induced population declines, populations of other bird species have been found to be remarkably resilient to hurricane impacts. In fact, not all is doom and gloom.

Wunderle has 40 years of experience teaching and conducting research throughout the Caribbean where he focuses on ecology and conservation of migrant and resident birds. His dissertation (Ph.D., 1980, Univ. of Minnesota) fieldwork was conducted on Grenada where he also taught field courses in the nearby Grenadines. Afterwards, he taught for a year at North Carolina State University and taught with the Organization for Tropical Studies in Costa Rica. In 1982, he joined the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) where he taught and conducted research with his students for eight years before joining the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) as a Research Scientist working throughout the Caribbean, Central America, and Brazil. After 30 years with the USFS he retired, joined the board of BirdsCaribbean and returned to teaching ornithology for a semester at UPR, where he continues to advise graduate students. He has authored or co-authored numerous publications, including a field guide to the natural history of The Bahamas, based on his research and training of Bahamian students. He is a Fellow of the American Ornithological Society and a recipient of its Ralph W. Schreiber Conservation Award and a founding member and former president of BirdsCaribbean and a former president of the Neotropical Ornithological Society.

The Great Marsh
2022-05-15 08:00 - 11:00
For: Spring Migrants & Returning Summer Residents
Place: 28 Moores Road, Elverson, PA, 8:00 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.

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.

Springton Manor Farm, Glenmoore, PA
2022-05-15 08:00 - 11:00
For: Migrating and resident birds
Place: Manor House 860 Springton Rd, Glenmoore, PA, 8:00 a.m. Meet at the parking lot by the Great Barn (40.073989, -75.775482)
Leaders: Patty Werth (484-985-8164, pattyww@comcast.net) and John Werth (215-859-1148)
Note: Location #3 in the series of monthly bird walks being held in Chester County Parks 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 outing will cover 1-2 miles and will last 2+ hours.
Restrooms are available on site at the Great Barn, where we will meet.
Springton Manor Farm

Ramsey Road, Wilmington, DE
2022-05-08 08:00 - 12:00
For: Migrants and resident birds
Place: Parking lot off of Ramsey Rd., 8:00 a.m.
Leader: Carol Majors (610-399-1509, carolmajors@gmail.com)
Note: A walk along the Brandywine Creek in Delaware. The walk is about 2 miles over fairly even terrain with one stream crossing.
Directions: Route 202 South to Rt. 92 just over the state line. Turn right onto Route 92 then follow it to the left. Take the first right on to Ramsey Rd. Look for the parking area on the right. In GPS, navigate to Ramsey’s Farm, Ramsey Road, Wilmington, DE. The parking lot is across the street from the entrance.

White Clay Creek, Newark, DE - CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER
2022-05-07 07:45 - 12:00
For: Migrants and resident birds
Place: Wedgewood Rd. parking lot, 7:45 a.m.
Leader: Bob Murray (610-644-5440, rmurraymmi@gmail.com)
Note: The walk will be on an abandoned railroad bed, along the banks of White Clay Creek, which forms a section of the Mason-Dixon trail. We will cover a total distance of about 3 miles. There will be bathroom facilities at the Nature Center, which is at the midpoint of the walk. We will finish up before noon.
Note: The park charges a fee of $8 per vehicle.
Directions: Call leader for directions if not carpooling.
Carpooling: Meet at Painters Crossing, PA, on the northwest corner of US Routes 1 and 202. Departure time 7:00 a.m.
White Clay Creek

Stroud Preserve, Chester County, PA
2022-05-03 08:00 - 12:00
For: Summer residents, butterflies, etc.
Place: Stroud Preserve parking lot, 8:00 a.m.

Leaders: Armas Hill (302-529-1876, Armas@focusonnature.com)
Note: Trip is an approximately two- to three-hour walk covering about 2 miles with some moderate hills.
Directions: From West Chester, take Route 162 west for about 2 miles and turn left onto North Creek Road. The parking lot is on the right.
Stroud Preserve

North American Bird Names - The Apostrophes
2022-05-02 19:30 - 21:30 | Zoom
Bert Filemyr
Of the over 950 birds on ABA’s North American Bird List, almost 100 have apostrophes in their common names. These birds are named in honor of some of our most famous North American ornithologists (Audubon’s Shearwater, Wilson’s Plover, Cassin’s Finch, etc.). But some are named for little known people (Lucy’s Warbler, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Bicknell’s Thrush, etc.) and some are even named in honor of people who never set foot in North America (Swainson’s Thrush, Henslow’s Sparrow, Bewick’s Wren, etc.). Learn the fascinating stories behind the birds with apostrophes in their common names and the very human people who have been so honored.

Bert Filemyr is an active field birder both in the Delaware Valley and throughout North America. He has birded extensively in all 50 states. He has having seen at least 100 species in each of the lower 48 states plus several Canadian Provinces. Retired from a public school teaching career, he pursues his passion for birding while researching topics related to early American ornithology. He was a member of the championship Nikon/DVOC World Series of Birding Team, the Lagerhead Shrikes for many years. He co-authored, along with Jeff Holt the book “The Composite Prints of Audubon’s Birds of America” and a major article on Alexander Wilson in the Wilson Journal of Ornithology.

ChesLen Preserve (formerly Embreeville County Park), PA
2022-05-01 08:00 - 12:00
For: Early migrants
Place: Newlin Township Maintenance Building, 8:00 a.m.
Leaders: Judy Ford (610-486-6061, RareJBird@verizon.net) and Mike Gardner (484-880-7083, birdnerd@zoominternet.net)
Note: Approximately 3 hours, walking over mostly flat, marshy terrain, about 1-2 miles. Waterproof boots or shoes a must.
Directions: The NewlinTwp Bldg parking lot (1751 Embreeville Rd, Coatesville PA 19320) is west of West Chester, on PA Rte 162, directly across from the marsh. This is a half-day trip.
Cheslen Preserve
Newlin Township Building map
