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  • Perched on the Edge: Birds of Newfoundland & Labrador

    Jared Clarke

    Join us for an overview of birds & birding at the eastern edge of Canada & North America. From spectacular seabird colonies to lush boreal forests and puffins to warblers, Newfoundland & Labrador offers a unique blend of habitats and a wide diversity of birds - along with may other natural and cultural highlights to enjoy along the way.

     

    Jared Clarke grew up on the northeast coast of Newfoundland and was introduced to the outdoors at a very young age, mostly by his grandfathers. Always a nature enthusiast, he became interested in birds while working for a local conservation group. Jared soon became one of the most avid birders in the province. Despite his “official” training as a health researcher (Ph.D. Medicine), his love of nature and sharing it with others increasingly led him astray. He currently runs a small bird and nature tour business, called Bird•The•Rock, and routinely leads trips at home and abroad for various tour companies. You can follow his adventures at www.birdtherock.com.

     

    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.

  • Every Thursday Morning Exton Park, Exton, PA

    Every Thursday Morning Exton Park, Exton, PA

    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

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

    For: Shorebirds, herons

    Place: Forsythe NWR Headquarters, 8:30 a.m. Google Map

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

    Note: Meet at Forsythe at 8:30 a.m. Minimal walking involved. Bring a lunch, this is an all-day trip. Carpooling will be from Painter's Crossing.  We will leave at 7:00a.m.

    Directions: Call leader for trip details, carpooling and directions.

    E.B. Forsythe NWR, NJ

  • Every Thursday Morning Exton Park, Exton, PA

    Every Thursday Morning Exton Park, Exton, PA

    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

  • Bird migration in the Anthropocene: Opportunities and Challenges Defining the State of the Art in Studying Bird Movements

    Andrew Farnsworth

    BirdCast is a collaborative project that employs the expertises of computer scientists and ornithologists to harness the power of big data to study movements of birds and, more broadly, capture the spectacle of bird migration. I will be speaking about monitoring bird migration with data collected by citizen scientists and the US weather surveillance radar network to forecast where, when, and how many birds will migrate and to observe these movements in near real-time at a continental scale. I will discuss magnitudes and extents of migration, challenges of monitoring birds' nocturnal movements at scales relevant to their biology, and ways we use radar to remotely sense interconnected patterns in time and space. Birds truly represent dynamic and global communities, and recent trends in methods and analyses showcase what may be the future of bird migration research and conservation to study birds' complex roles in terrestrial, aerial, and aquatic systems. In the age of big data and observation, the potential of what remains for us to learn is inspiring.

     

    Andrew Farnsworth is a Visiting Scientist in the Center for Avian Population Studies at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Andrew began birding at age 5 and quickly developed his long-standing fascinations with bird migration. His current research applies remote sensing technologies, including weather surveillance radar, audio and video recording and monitoring tools, citizen science datasets, and machine learning techniques, to study bird movements. Andrew received his BS in Natural Resources from Cornell, MS in Zoology from Clemson University, and PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Cornell University. He lives in New York, NY with his wife Patti and two daughters Aja and Elle. Andrew is also active in his family foundation, whose mission includes support for climate change education, promoting women's health and rights, children's education, and land conservation. He is also a musician when time and space allow.

     

    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.

  • Every Thursday Morning Exton Park, Exton, PA

    Every Thursday Morning Exton Park, Exton, PA

    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

  • Valley Forge Park – Pawlings Farm Area

    For: Migrants and local fall birds

    Place: Parking area below dam, 8:30 a.m.

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

    Note: We will explore some of the fields looking for fall residents and migrants. This will be a 2.5-hour trip with moderate walking.

    Directions: From Route 202, take 252 north about 2.5 miles to Route 23. Turn left on Route 23. Go about 1.5 miles, turn right on Ferry Lane, then right on Pawlings Road. Go about 1 mile, turn right at Pawlings Farm sign. Park on lot after farm house.

     

  • The Great Marsh

    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, 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.

  • Shaw’s Bridge Park, West Chester, PA

    For: Seasonal Birds

    Place: Shaw's Bridge Park at 274 S. Creek Road, West Chester, PA.

    Leaders: Mary Bryant (mbryantvmd@gmail.com)

    Note: We will explore the trail looking for seasonal birds. This walk is about 1.5 miles and should take around 2 hours.

    Directions: Park at lot; there is a port-a-potty there.

    Shaw's Bridge Park

  • Every Thursday Morning Exton Park, Exton, PA

    Every Thursday Morning Exton Park, Exton, PA

    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

  • Chester County Parks Birding Series – Black Rock Sanctuary

    For: Fall Residents

    Place: 953 Black Rock Road, Phoenixville, PA 19460, 8:00 a.m.

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

    Note:  This outing will cover about 1-2 miles through woods and fields and will last approximately 2 hours.  A portable restroom is available on site.  This field trip is a collaboration between WCBC and Valley Forge Audubon Society.

    Directions: From Route 202N take route 29 towards Phoenixville. Turn left on to Main Street. After crossing the bridge, turn Right on High then left on Dayton Street which becomes Route 113. Follow Rt. 113 to Park on right side.

    Black Rock Sanctuary

  • Ecological Sustainability in West Chester Borough

    Will Williams - Sustainability Director – Borough of West Chester

    Mr. Williams will present on past, present, and future projects, initiatives, and policy related to ecological sustainability and habitat restoration in the borough. Will is a Chester County native and avid birder, who lived in West Chester for 12 years and worked for the borough for six. Recent additions to his lifelist include a Yellow-billed Cuckoo in Delaware, a Cerulean Warbler in Chadds Ford, and a Great Tit in Morocco.

     

    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.