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  • The Red-tailed Hawk Project: What We Do and Don’t Know About a Common but Incredible Hawk

    Bryce Robinson

    In this presentation, Bryce will outline the work of the Red-tailed Hawk Project, including many stories of surprising things the working group has learned in their investigation into the unknowns of this common species.

     

    Bryce W. Robinson is postdoctoral researcher at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, where his research focuses on the evolution of diversity in the Red-tailed Hawk. As part of this work, Bryce co-created and leads the Red-tailed Hawk Project, a working group that aims to fill knowledge gaps in our understanding of the life history and evolution of the species. Additionally, Bryce is an ornithological illustrator whose work has been featured in scientific papers, on journal covers, and in logos for organizations and events. To learn more about the Red-tailed Hawk Project, visit www.redtailedhawkproject.org.

     

    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.

  • Cedar Hollow Preserve

    For: Early Spring migrants and residents

    Place: Cedar Hollow Preserve Park Road parking lot, 8:00 a.m.

    Leaders: Tracey & Bryan O’Leary (610-888-2225, boleary0072@yahoo.com))

    Note: This walk will take between 1.5 and 2 hours through meadows, forests, wetlands, and streams. There are NO bathrooms.

    Directions: From Rt 202, take a right on Matthews Drive, a right on S Morehall Rd and then a right on E. Swedesford Road, turn left on Church Road to parking lot on right.

    Cedar Hollow Preserve

  • Waterfowl of Western Chester County, Marsh Creek State Park – NEW DATE

    For: Migrants & residents

    Google MapPlace: Marsh Creek State Park, Park Road parking lot, 8:00 a.m.

    Leader: Dorothy Bedford (609-658-1894, db@bt9.org)

    Note: We will start out at Marsh Creek State Park and continue to Struble Lake, Chambers Lake, Coatesville Reservoir and other birding areas, ending up back at Marsh Creek. Bring lunch, this is an all-day trip. Minimal walking involved.

    Directions: The park is located 2 miles west of Eagle Village off of PA 100. The address is 675 Park Road, Downingtown, PA. Meet at the main parking lot by the (closed) snack bar.

    Marsh Creek State Park

  • Northern Peru, Upland and the Amazon Basin

    John McNamara

    WCBC member John McNamara will tell us about his travels in northern Peru.

     

    John is a long-time member of the WCBC who is a serious bird photographer. He can often be seen on club trips providing advice to participants on the use of their optics.

     

    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.

  • History and Birds – Rapp’s Dam Trailhead, Chester County, PA

    For: Migrants and resident birds

    Place: Parking lot on 1123 Rapp’s Dam Rd.

    Leader: Rick Wolf (610-933-6414, randewolf@icloud.com)

    Note: We will walk approximately 2 level miles along French Creek looking for migrating & resident birds in addition to learning about the rich history of the immediate area.

    Directions: Take route 113 to Rapps Dam Road for 1/4 mile to the trail head or email or call leader for directions or use the link below.

    East Pikeland Township Building 

  • The Great Marsh

    For: Spring 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, Venmo, or cash 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.

  • Birding the Lower Rio Grande of Texas – From South Padre Island to Falcon Dam

    John McFarland

    John & Karen were volunteers at Santa Ana NWR along the Rio Grande in Texas, October - December 2024. In that time period and through various bird guides, they got to know many of the hot spots of the Lower Rio Grande Valley. This presentation will showcase many of the specialties of this area and give you insight on how you too can easily bird this unique region.

     

    John & Karen have been avid birders for over 25 years. They retired about five years ago and travel the US via RV.

     

    Zoom Link to Meeting

     

    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.

     

  • ChesLen Preserve (formerly Embreeville County Park), PA

    For: Early migrants

    Place: Newlin Township Maintenance Building, 8:00 a.m.

    Leaders: Judy Ford (484-682-7748, 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 Newlin Twp Bldg parking lot (1751 Embreeville Rd Coatesville PA 19320) is west of West Chester, on PA Rte 162, directly across from the marsh.

    Cheslen Preserve

    Newlin Township Building map

  • The Purple Martins of Southeast PA: Where Do They Come From, Where Do They Go?

    Will Krohn

    Purple Martins are the largest species of swallow in North America and, in the east, they nest almost entirely in human-constructed nesting colonies. Southeastern PA is one of two strongholds for Purple Martins in the state, and some of the largest colonies in Pennsylvania are in Chester and Delaware Counties. Purple Martins are a model organism for studying the migration and movement of songbirds due to their large size, conspicuous nature, and proximity to humans. They’re also a strong indicator of overall ecosystem health. Will's research seeks to uncover the rates at which young Purple Martins return to and disperse from the natal colony after hatching. Understanding how far Purple Martins travel from the natal colony is especially important since humans must construct all nesting colonies for the species. Purple Martins have declined by approximately 38% since 1970, so quantifying the rates and distances at which martins disperse will be a key tool for the conservation and management of the species. The Pennsylvania Game Commission and potentially other agencies will be able to use the information he collects in determining where they can best construct new colonies to bolster populations and connectivity, helping steer the recovery of this beloved bird.

     

    Will Krohn is an M.S. student in Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, studying dispersal in Purple Martins for his thesis. Will received his B.A. from Colgate University in 2023, where he double-majored in Biology and Environmental Studies. Since graduating, Will has worked as a technician on numerous avian research and conservation projects around the country, and in 2025, Will started his Master's at UD. Will is originally from Bucks County, PA, and he is an avid PA birder. In his free time, Will also enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and anything else that gets him out in nature.

     

    Zoom Link to Meeting

     

    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.

  • Stroud Preserve, Chester County, PA

    Stroud Preserve, Chester County, PA

    For: Summer residents, butterflies, etc.

    Place: Stroud Preserve parking lot, 8:00 a.m.Google Map

    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

  • E.B. Forsythe (Brigantine) NWR, NJ

    For: Shorebirds, herons

    Place: Forsythe NWR Headquarters, 8:00 a.m. Google Map

    Leaders: Bruce Piecukonis (610-247-2205, Pterodroma@comcast.net)

    Note: Meet at Forsythe at 8:00 a.m. Minimal walking involved. Bring a lunch, this is an all day trip.

    Directions: Meet at the refuge headquarters parking area (800 Great Creek Rd, Galloway, NJ 08205).

    E.B. Forsythe NWR, NJ

  • The Great Marsh

    For: Spring Migrants

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

    Leader: TBD. 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, Venmo, or cash donations at the door.

    Note: Join a local birding expert who will guide 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.