West Chester Bird Club

Every Thursday Morning Exton Park, Exton, PA
2024-07-18 08:30 - 10:30, 2024-07-25 08:30 - 10:30, 2024-08-01 08:30 - 10:30, 2024-08-08 08:30 - 10:30, 2024-08-15 08:30 - 10:30, 2024-08-22 08:30 - 10:30, 2024-08-29 08:30 - 10:30, 2024-09-05 08:30 - 10:30 (America/New_York) and 58 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

WCBC Annual Summer Picnic
2024-07-20 18:00 - 21:00
For: Good times!
Place & Time: Copeland School, 674 Copeland School Road, West Chester, PA; 6:00 p.m.
Hosts: Randy and Janet Aylam (aylamrs@verizon.net))
Notes: Covered dish picnic. As is our custom, the picnic will be pot luck. Everyone should bring some food to share and drinks for yourself. Please bring non-disposable plates and cutlery to avoid waste. There will be tables and chairs available in the building.
Also there is a small wooded park, Jane I Reed Park, located a short walk from the schoolhouse if anyone would like to do a short birding walk. The park has a path about a .3 mile loop in the woods and it is about a .4 mile walk to the park, so allow 1 – 1.5 hours if you want to do a bird walk. If anyone is interested, let us know and we can try to set up something more formal for people to join together for the walk.
Parking: In the East Bradford township building lot, across from the schoolhouse. There is also a large lot on the north side of Copeland School Rd, before the stop sign. If you have to park there, use caution crossing Copeland School Rd. Please try the township building lot first, it should hold everyone.

The Great Marsh
2024-07-27 08:00 - 11:00
For: Summer Residents
Place: 28 Moores Road, Elverson, PA, 8:00 a.m.
Leader: Barry Blust. 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 day has been shifted from Sunday to Saturday this month.
Note: Join local birder Barry Blust 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
2024-08-10 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: 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
2024-08-18 08:00 - 11:00
For: Summer Residents & 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 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.

Chester County Parks Birding Series: #5 - Exton Park Evening Walk
2024-08-24 18:00 - 20:00
For: Early migrants such as Common Nighthawk
Place: Exton Park, 6:00 p.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 2024.
This 1-2 mile evening walk along level earthen paths will cover about a mile and take about 2 hours. Restrooms are available at the parking area where we will meet. This field trip is a collaboration between WCBC and Valley Forge Audubon Society.
Directions: Meet at the trailhead parking area for the Chester Valley Trail off of Church Farm Lane, NOT at the gravel lot on Swedesford Rd.
Exton Park

Chester County Parks Birding Series: #7 – Hibernia Park
2024-08-27 12:56
For: Fall migrants and resident birds
Place: : 1 Park Rd. Coatesville, PA
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 2024.
This outing will cover about 2 miles and will last approximately 2-3 hours. There is a modern restroom at the park office, where we will meet. This field trip is a collaboration between WCBC and Valley Forge Audubon Society.
Directions: We will meet at the park office near the mansion off of Park Rd.
Hibernia Park

Ramsey Road, Wilmington, DE
2024-09-07 08:00 - 12:00
For: Migrants and resident birds
Place: Parking lot off of Ramsey Rd., 8:00 a.m.
Leader: Carol Majors (484-883-8311, carolmajors@gmail.com)
Note: A walk along the Brandywine Creek in Delaware. The walk is about 2 miles over fairly even terrain. New bridge over 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.

Turkey Point, Elk Neck State Park, North East, MD
2024-09-17 07:30 - 12:00
For: Migrants and resident birds
Place: Royal Farms at the junction of US Route 40 & MD Route 781. On the eastern side of Elkton, on the north side of Route 40, 7:30 a.m.
Leader: Armas Hill (302-529-1876, Armas@focusonnature.com)
Note: A walk to the marsh and other habitats at Elk Landing, the Elk River Park and then to the Elk Neck State Forest including the arboretum. Lastly to the Elk Neck State Park, at the head of Chesapeake Bay, 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 completed around noon. Afternoon birding may be available if people wish to continue. If so, bring lunch. There is a bathroom in the state park.
Directions: Route 95 south to Delaware 896 south. Turn right on Rt. 40 to the parking lot at the intersection of Rts. 40 and 781.
Elk Neck State Park
Turkey Point Lighthouse

The Great Marsh
2024-09-22 08:00 - 11:00, 2025-08-24 08:00 - 11:00
For: Summer Residents & 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, 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.

Chambers Lake Big Sit, Hibernia Park, Coatesville, PA
2024-10-05 08:00 - 20:00
For: Fall migrants
Place: The South side of Chambers Lake, 8:00 a.m.
Leader: Larry Lewis – Early Bird Tours (484-340-7672, earlybirdtours@comcast.net)

Note: A Big Sit is an all-day affair, but everyone is welcome to come and go as they please. It is usually a fun time to see how many birds can be spotted while not moving out of a 15 foot circle. Great fun, with plenty of food and camaraderie, like tailgating.
Directions: From Coatesville, PA (in western Chester County): From the Rt. 30 By-pass north of Coatesville, take Rt. 82 exit north. Turn left at the 4-way stop sign (Rt.340) and go 1.3 miles to Wagontown Rd. Turn right on Wagontown Rd. and continue on this winding hill for 1.5 miles (you will pass the Hibernia Park entrance on your right). Continue up the hill and the lake will become visible on the right. If attending the “Big Sit”, continue a couple of tenths of a mile further along Wagontown Rd. past the lake parking lot and to the western dike of the lake. Carefully pull off the road and park in the grass near the dike. You will see us sitting on the dike near the road.
Chambers Lake

Smithsonian’s Feather Identification Lab
2024-10-07 19:30 - 21:30
Faridah Dahlan & Ingred Rochon
Did you know that molecular and microscopic identification of feathers plays a key role in aviation safety? The Smithsonian’s Feather Identification Lab processes over 11,000 wildlife strike cases each year to determine which species of birds are involved in collisions with aircraft – the first step to implementing preventative measures to keep both birds and people safe. Learn how the lab identifies both whole feathers and fragmentary bird remains (aka “snarge”) using the Smithsonian’s collection of 600,000 bird specimens, as well as the resources of the museum’s Laboratories of Analytical Biology.

Presenter Faridah Dahlan is a molecular specialist who has worked for the Feather Lab since 2008. Ingrid Rochon began working at the Smithsonian in 2016 as a museum technician, joining the Feather Lab in 2023 as an apprentice microscopist under Dr. Carla Dove.

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: Hibernia Park
2024-10-12 08:00 - 11:00
For: Fall migrants and resident birds
Place: : 1 Park Rd. Coatesville, PA
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 2024 & 2025.
This outing will cover about 2 miles and will last approximately 2-3 hours. There is a modern restroom at the park office, where we will meet. This field trip is a collaboration between WCBC and Valley Forge Audubon Society.
Directions: We will meet at the park office near the mansion off of Park Rd.
Hibernia Park

The Great Marsh
2024-10-13 08:00 - 11:00
For: 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, 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.

My Patagonia Trip, and More!
2024-10-21 19:30 - 21:30
Club Member Sheila Martin

This is a continuation from last last spring. Jump on board with WCBC member Sheila Martin as we pictorially explore untamed Patagonia – where some of the world’s most stunning landscapes are filled with wildlife to the max! Moment by moment the experience of hiking the walkways around Iguazu Falls is simply nature at its finest. And, for Sheila, when Plush-crested Jay & Chestnut-eared Aracari appeared on the parking lot, she knew it would be days of incomparable sighting thrills, including up to two dozen dizzying endemics to follow, just in that pre-tour locale! Atlantic coastal Argentina in November offers exceptional close-up wildlife observation, straight down to the straits of Tierra del Fuego – with Red Knots ready to migrate, and Austral Negrito & “Loica” ever-present. Farther inland, we find the best puma-viewing on the planet! It was southern-hemisphere springtime ’22 – and all the breeding birds were showing off their best. While in Chile, the quaint atmosphere, friendly locals and Patagonia Sierra-finch, Tufted Tit-tyrant plus Magellanic Woodpecker further enriched her experience. Relive with Sheila her outrageously memorable jaunt through a stark & jaw-dropping part of the globe, full of scenery, wild mammals, and birds, birds, BIRDS!

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.

E.B. Forsythe (Brigantine) NWR, NJ
2024-10-26 08:30 - 17:00
For: Shorebirds & herons
Place: Forsythe NWR Headquarters, 8:30 a.m.
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 7:00 a.m.
Directions: Call leader for trip details, carpooling and directions.
Edwin B. Forsythe NWR

Bring Back the Pollinators!
2024-11-04 19:30 - 21:30
Tom Lindeman
Birds, native plants and pollinators have CO-evolved over the millennia. The importance of the inter-connected relationships among them has a critical impact on the ecosystem. We will discuss how individuals can make a difference in fostering these relationships and help create a healthy habitat for all concerned.

Tom “Dedko” Lindeman is:
– An Educator, Consultant, and Interventionist as an Ambassodor for The Xerces Society and a local Advocate for DarkSky International.
– A student/observer of honey bees” in central-eastern Pennsylvania (village of Egypt in central eastern Pennsylvania) and has been housing bees, packaging honey products, relocating swarms, making new friends, and sharing “Bee Talk’ presentations with civic, education, and fraternal groups. Tom believes there is much to learn from the honey bee “superorganism” behaviors and how they can be applied to human society. He maintains an actively-managed website, www.Dedkosbees.com
– A career educator, holding advanced degrees in education of the deaf/hearing impaired, as well as an administrator of education programs for adjudicated and disadvantaged youth.
He and his wife Diane have two adult children and four grandchildren.

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.

Zoom Link to Meeting

The Great Marsh
2024-11-17 08:00 - 11:00, 2024-12-15 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, 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.

My Quest to see all the Hummingbird Species
2024-11-18 19:30 - 21:30
Hank Davis

I became passionate about Hummingbirds on a trip to Cuba with the Delaware Nature Society in 2013. Since then, I have traveled to Ecuador 3 times, Costa Rica 2 times, Brazil 4 times, Mexico once, Trinidad & Tobago once, and Peru once. I still have many more countries to go to. I would love to see all 360+ species but realize that will not happen. There are places where one just does not go to see Hummingbirds. So far, my life list is 160 species, of which I have photographed 149. This presentation is primarily a photographic journey of my quest to see Hummingbirds.

Hank Davis is originally from New York City but has lived in the Delaware Valley for 50+ years. Upon his move to the area, he gained an appreciation for nature and open space. Ultimately, this led to a career in horticulture that lasted many years. Since his retirement, he decided to pursue his lifelong passion in photography. While his primary photographs are of horticulture, he has recently included birds, dragonflies and butterflies to his portfolio.
Hank also serves the community by volunteering to take photographs for the Delaware Nature Society, Bucktoe Creek Preserve, Longwood Gardens and the Delaware Center for Horticulture.

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.

Zoom Link to Meeting

Endangered, Extinct, and Little-known Birds from the Collections of the Academy of Natural Sciences: Some Remarkable Stories about Avian Biodiversity
2024-12-02 19:30 - 21:30
Jason Weckstein

Jason Weckstein, Associate Curator of Ornithology at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University and Associate Professor in the Department of Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science, Drexel University will talk about iconic specimens from the Academy of Natural Sciences Ornithology Collection. The Academy of Natural Sciences Ornithology collection is approximately the 6th largest bird collection in the world and is the 2nd largest University based bird collection in the world. The collection is worldwide in scope and houses a large proportion of the described bird species in the world. Jason will touch on some of his favorite specimens in the collection including endangered, extinct, and little known species from around the world.

Jason Weckstein obtained his BS in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan (1993), his MS in Zoology from the University of Minnesota (1997), and his Ph.D. in Zoology from Louisiana State University (2003). For his dissertation, he reconstructed the coevolutionary history and host-parasite associations between toucans and their ectoparasites using DNA sequences. After the Ph.D. he continued studying birds and parasites as a postdoctoral fellow at the Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, where he stayed on as a staff scientist until joining the Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Sciences faculty and Academy of Natural Sciences in 2014 as an Associate Professor/Associate Curator.
Weckstein is a fellow of the American Ornithological Society and has authored over 80 peer-reviewed publications and delivered over 50 presentations at universities and both national and international scientific meetings. He has over 20 years of experience working in natural history museums and has conducted research on birds and their parasites in the United States, Canada, South Africa, Ghana, Malawi, Nicaragua, Brazil, and Mexico. In addition to teaching, training, and research, Jason’s additional interests at the Academy of Natural Sciences include collections building, curation, and public outreach.
Weckstein’s research focuses on three main areas: 1) avian comparative biology and evolutionary history, 2) biodiversity of birds and their parasites, and 3) coevolutionary history of birds and their parasites. He utilizes field collected bird and associated parasite specimens and analyzes their DNA sequence data to reconstruct their ecology and evolutionary history.

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.

Zoom Link to Meeting

Crows: The Avian Einsteins - ZOOM ONLY
2025-01-06 19:30 - 21:30
Constance Sidles

Crows are among the smartest of all birds. They can recognize human faces, pass knowledge along to new generations, work together to protect each other, set up sentries to watch for danger, even use tools. Indeed, all members of the crow family (called corvids) are intelligent, including ravens, jays, and magpies. If you’d like to learn more about these geniuses of the avian world, join master birder and author Constance Sidles as she takes you into the secret world of crows.

Constance Sidles is a master birder and long-time member of Birds Connect Seattle (formerly Seattle Audubon Society), where she served on the board and is chair of the Publications Committee. She currently serves on the Conservation Committee. Connie is on the faculty of the University of Washington as an instructor in continuing education programs. She also teaches classes for various Audubon societies across the country. Connie is an author with more than 600 published articles and is founder and president of Constancy Press. She has written four books about nature focusing on her favorite “backyard” Montlake Fill, (formally called Union Bay Natural Area) on the University of Washington campus.

Note: This meeting will be held Zoom only. Zoom signon will start at 7:15 to enable the meeting to begin at 7:30.

Zoom Link to Meeting

Shark River Inlet and North Shore of New Jersey
2025-01-11 09:00 - 17:00
For: Loons, grebes and other waterfowl
Place: Belmar Manutti Marina parking lot in Belmar, NJ, 9:00 a.m.
Leaders: John Mercer (484-459-2062, mercer1135@aol.com)
Note: Minimal walking involved. Bring lunch, this is an all-day trip.
Directions: The Belmar Manutti Marina is at: 905 Route 35, Belmar, NJ 07719. Follow Route 35 to 10th Street where you turn left into the Marina.
Carpooling: Meet leader at the King of Prussia North parking lot between Dick’s Sporting and Bonefish Grill . Departure 7:30 a.m.

Beginner Bird Walk at Randolph Woods, Malvern, PA
2025-01-18 10:30 - 13:30
For: Introduction to birding
Place: Malvern Library Parking Lot, 10:30 a.m.
Leader: John Mercer (484-459-2062, mercer1135@aol.com)
Note: We will start this beginner bird walk by learning how to use binoculars. We will then take a walk to Randolph Woods looking for birds and talking about how to go about starting the hobby of birding. The walk will be about 2.5 miles long and take 2-3 hours. Please bring binoculars if you have them.
This walk is in conjunction with the Malvern library.
Directions: Meet at the Malvern Library at 1 E. First Avenue, Malvern.

The National Aviary in Pittsburgh
2025-02-03 19:30 - 21:30
Robert S. Mulvihill

The National Aviary in Pittsburgh Does Bird Conservation Around the World. Formally designated as the “National” Aviary by an act of Congress signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1993, the National Aviary was first established as a local Conservatory-Aviary in 1952. For more than 70 years the facility has pursued its mission to “Inspire respect for nature through an appreciation of birds.” In addition to serving as a popular recreation and education destination, the National Aviary pursues important bird conservation work around the world. Ornithologist, Bob Mulvihill, will give us a look behind the scenes at some of the National Aviary’s ground-breaking contributions to bird conservation efforts, from Louisiana to the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, South Africa, Guam, and right back here in Pennsylvania, too.

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
2025-02-16 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, 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.

Waterfowl of John Heinz NWR, Philadelphia, PA
2025-03-01 08:30 - 11:30
For: Winter residents
Place: John Heinz NWR, 8601 Lindbergh Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19153 (NOT the Rt 420 access), 8:30 a.m.
Leaders: Dorothy Bedford (609-658-1894, db@bt9.org), and Patty and John Werth (home: 484-985-8164, day of walk: 215 859-1148, Pattyww@comcast.net)
Note: This is a walking outing. The impoundment at JHNWR is a celebrated winter waterfowl destination providing forage adjacent to the Delaware River. Unlike most other WCBC waterfowl trips, it is ALL WALKING. The Wetland Loop is 3.5 miles and is expected to take 3 hours if we do the entire loop (although last year there was so much to see we only covered 1.7 miles, to the observation tower and back). More refuge information at https://www.fws.gov/refuge/john-heinz-tinicum/visit-us. This is a joint walk with Valley Forge Audubon Society.

Evening Woodcock Walk, Marsh Creek State Park, PA
2025-03-02 17:30 - 18:30
For: Waterfowl & American Woodcock
Place: Main parking lot on west (Lyndell) side of Marsh Creek State Park at 5:30 p.m.
Leader: Barry Blust (610-996-7913, barryblust@comcast.net)
Note: Please park down towards the water so as to not disturb the woodcocks in their display area.

Ecuador, A Preview of What to Expect for Our 115th Anniversary Trip
2025-03-03 19:30 - 21:30
Club Member John Mercer
John is back to tell us about another one of his trips, this time to Ecuador, where he added almost 300 species to his lifelist. He will discuss plans to have the club celebrate its 115th anniversary by scheduling an Ecuador trip in 2026 for interested members.

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.

Zoom Link to Meeting

The Great Marsh
2025-03-09 08:00 - 11:00
For: Winter Residents & Early 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.

Safari in Assam, India
2025-03-17 19:30 - 21:30
Jeff Kenney and Angela Romanczuk
Join Jeff and Angela as they recount their January 2025 travels through the state of Assam in eastern India. They visited four National Parks while having up close and personal encounters with Indian rhinoceros, water buffaloes, Indian elephants, and over 300 species of birds. They will also share general observations about travel in India, as well as what you can do to help make your trip to India a success.

Jeff and Angela will also be able to answer any PA Bird Atlas questions you may have after the presentation is complete.

Jeff Kenney has lived in Chester County for most of his life. Having been introduced to birding as a child by his father Mike, Jeff’s passion for birds and nature was mostly dormant until being rekindled in 2020. Now an avid (and moderately obsessive) state and county lister, Jeff’s favorite place to bird in Chester County is the Crow’s Nest Preserve/State Game Lands 43 complex in Elverson. Jeff currently resides in Phoenixville with his two dogs, Vita and Grits, and is a founding board member of In Color Birding Club, as well as a Force of Nature volunteer with Natural Lands.

Angela Romanczuk has lived in multiple Pennsylvania counties, but has spent most of her adult life in Montgomery and Chester counties. While Angela has always loved being outdoors, it wasn’t until 2020 that she was introduced to birding. She now enjoys exploring under-birded areas all over Pennsylvania and is forever on the lookout for the American Woodcock. Angela’s favorite local places to bird are Crow’s Nest Preserve in Chester County, Congo Open Space in Montgomery County and her backyard. She is a founding board member of In Color Birding Club and a Force of Nature volunteer with Natural Lands.

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.

We Count! Raptor Migration Monitoring in the Americas
2025-04-07 19:30 - 21:30
Julie Brown
Julie will speak about the Hawk Migration Association’s work and the continental network of hawkwatching sites, why collecting spring and fall migration data is important and what we’ve learned about raptor movements and populations. She’ll dive into migration data from across the continent and what it’s showing us about the health of raptor populations.

Julie Brown is the Raptor Migration and Programs Director at the Hawk Migration Association. Before joining HMANA in 2009, she migrated throughout the US and tropics working as a field biologist primarily with raptors, focusing on human impact studies, migration research and behavioral studies. She received her BS in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Maine and received her MS in Conservation Biology from Antioch University New England where she studied Peregrine Falcon migration in Costa Rica for her thesis. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband, whom she met hawkwatching, and her two bird-loving children, a flock of chickens, her dog and lots of fruit trees. She is a volunteer counter at the Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory each fall.

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.

Chester County Parks Birding Series - Hibernia Park
2025-04-12 08:00 - 11:00
For: Spring migrants and resident birds
Place: 1 Park Rd, Coatesville, PA, 8:00 a.m.
Leader: John Mercer (484-459-2062, mercer1135@aol.com), Patty & John Werth (pattyww@comcast.net)
Note: This outing will cover about 2 miles and will last approximately 2-3 hours. There is a modern restroom at the park office where we will meet. This field trip is a collaboration between WCBC and Valley Forge Audubon Society.
Directions: We will meet at the park office near the mansion off of Park Rd.
Hibernia Park

The Great Marsh
2025-04-13 08:00 - 11:00
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.

The Utilization of Autonomous Recording Devices (ARU's) at The Great Marsh in Chester County
2025-04-21 19:30 - 21:30
Mike Coulter
Since 2019, the Great Marsh Institute has been utilizing Autonomous Recording Units (ARUs) for the purpose of detecting and monitoring bird species within The Great Marsh in Chester County. ARU’s are useful in remote locations and for targeting rare species. Raw field data is analyzed through a multi-step process which then shows the distribution and relative density of various species. This long-term research allows the tracking of trends which inform future conservation decisions. In this program, avian researcher Mike Coulter of the Great Marsh Institute will describe the purpose and process of this study and the results obtained to date.

Mike Coulter, a lifelong Chester County resident, has been birding the county for over 30 years and has focused his efforts on The Great Marsh for the past 13 years in an effort to better understand the bird species present at this unique 700 acre+ habitat. As a member of GMI’s Science Advisory Board, he has been instrumental in developing strategies for habitat improvement.

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
2025-04-22 08:00 - 12:00
For: Spring migrants, butterflies, etc.
Place: Stroud Preserve parking lot, 8:00 a.m.
Leaders: Lois Bryman (610-399-4613, lbryman25@gmail.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

National Go Birding Day Walk, East Whiteland Township, PA
2025-04-26 10:00 - 12:00
For: Migrants and resident birds
Place: Valley Creek Park, 361 N. Morehall Road, Malvern, 10:00 a.m.
Leader: John Mercer (484-459-2062, mercer1135@aol.com)
Flyer:

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Birds and the Butterflies of Honduras
2025-05-05 19:30 - 21:30
Robert Galardo
If tropical birds and butterflies fascinate you, then you’ll be sure to enjoy this virtual presentation. It will be an up-close and personal look at these colorful denizens of Honduras. To date, more than 800 species of birds and over 1,300 butterflies have been found there. This little known Central American country still receives little attention, but Robert will take you on a picture-filled journey on what he, and other colleagues, have been doing there for the past 30 years. After nearly two decades of field work, Robert published two lengthy volumes on the birds of Honduras (in English and Spanish). He and his partner, Olivia, then set out to start working on the country’s butterflies; a field of fauna that was virtually unknown. After seven years of field work, they finally finished the first edition of the Guide to the Butterflies of Honduras. Join Robert on this enlightening presentation and get to know the beautiful country he calls ‘home’.

Robert is originally from California. His passion for all things natural lead him to get a degree in Natural Resources Planning and Interpretation from Humboldt State University in his home state. Immediately after graduating, he joined the Peace Corps and served as a volunteer in Honduras from 1993-1996. He remained in that country and has been there ever since. He and Olivia reside at Emerald Valley, an international butterfly center, home to 755 species of butterflies and 200 birds.

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.

Chester County Parks Birding Series - Nottingham County Park
2025-05-18 08:00 - 11:00
For: For breeding birds such as Yellow-breasted Chat and Prairie Warbler
Place: 150 Park Rd., Nottingham, PA 8:00 a.m.
Leader: John Mercer (484-459-2062, mercer1135@aol.com), Patty & John Werth (pattyww@comcast.net)
Note: Nottingham County 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 walk will cover 1-2 miles on gently sloping natural surface trails and will last approximately 2-3 hours. Modern restrooms are available on site at the park office. This field trip is a collaboration between WCBC and Valley Forge Audubon Society.
Directions: Turn left as you enter the park. We will meet in the first large parking area just beyond the park office.
Nottingham Park

My Trip to Belize
2025-05-19 19:30 - 21:30
Club member John Mercer
A travelogue of the trip I took with the Hawk Migration Association of North America to visit the Belize Hawk watch and do a lot of other birding.

John Mercer is the treasurer of the West Chester Bird Club.

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.

Hibernia County Park, Coatesville, PA
2025-05-31 08:00 - 12:00
For: Local Birds
Place: Pavilion 4 Lot 790 Cedar Knoll Rd.
Leaders: Kris Debolt and Peter Wade (215-219-5637, wadedeb@verizon.net )
Note: 3 hr. trip, about 2 miles in mostly flat field or hard dirt paths
Directions: From Downingtown, take the Rt. 30 Bypass west, to exit for Rt. 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

Members' Photos
2025-06-02 19:30 - 21:30
Coordinated by Luc Jacobs.

Every year, we end our meetings and presentations on the first Monday in June with a showing of members’ photos. If you would like to contribute and show your photos, below is the process for getting the photos to Luc Jacobs. This is quite a bit of work for Luc, so please get your pictures to Luc as soon as you can.

1. Maximum 50 photos per participating member
(depending on the number of people that want to show pictures, Luc may need to make a selection and pair the numbers down a bit. We think the absolute maximum number of photos should not exceed 300. E.g. if 7 people send 50 photos each, Luc will take out 7 photos per submission to bring it down to 301).

2. The photos need to be in JPEG format. Ideally each photo file should be 2Mb or less. However, if you don’t know how to compress your files, Luc with do so himself if it becomes too much for the Powerpoint presentation file

3. Each file name should include the name of the bird. If you want to also show on the slides the location where the photos were taken, please include the name of the location also in the file name, or include a Word document with the cross reference of location to the file name. Luc will then make sure that the location is shown on the slides.

4. The photos should preferably be sent to Luc Jacobs via websites such as DROPBOX or WETRANSFER. These services are free if you don’t exceed 2 Gb for the 50 photos combined.

5.Luc’s email address is jacobsluc52@yahoo.com

6. Please make sure to get your photos to Luc by May 15th at the very latest. Earlier submissions are encouraged.

7. If you want to give the photos to Luc on a memory stick or a CD, get in touch with him via phone (cell: 484-706-1999) or via email to discuss day, time and location to hand over the memory stick or the CD, You can also mail a memory stick or CD to his home address at 511 Annadale Drive, Berwyn, PA 19312.

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.

Zoom Link to Meeting

Sullivan County, PA
2025-06-13 13:00 - 2025-06-15 12:00
For: Warblers, Sandhill Cranes, Whip-poor-will 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 $160 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

Chester County Parks Birding Series: Springton Manor Farm
2025-06-22 08:00 - 12:00
For: Purple martins and breeding birds
Place: Springton Manor Farm
Leader: John Mercer (484-459-2062, mercer1135@aol.com), Patty & John Werth (pattyww@comcast.net)
Note: The Chester County Parks system’s 300-acre Springton Manor Farm in Glenmoore is part preserve and part farm and home to many types of bird-friendly habitats. Of special note here are centuries-old oak and maple trees as well as thriving Purple Martin and Barn Swallow colonies during the summer.
Directions: 860 Springton Rd, Glenmoore, PA 19343. Meet at the parking lot at the end of the park road, by the big barn.
Springton-Manor-Farm

Chester County Parks Birding Series: Hibernia County Park
2025-07-13 18:30 - 21:00
For: Evening birding
Place: Hibernia County Park at Chambers Lake
Leader: John Mercer (484-459-2062, mercer1135@aol.com), Patty & John Werth (pattyww@comcast.net)
Note: Enjoy an end-of-the-day bird walk with Park Ranger Rita Mounayar on the less-travelled trails of Hibernia Park starting from Chambers Lake.
Directions: Meet at the Chambers Lake parking lot: 214 Wagontown Rd, Coatesville, 19320
Hibernia Park

The Great Marsh
2025-07-27 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 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.

Chester County Parks Birding Series: TBD
2025-08-07 17:59
For: Migrants and resident birds
Place: TBD
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 2024 & 2025.
Directions: TBD

Chester County Parks Birding Series: Warwick County Park
2025-08-17 08:00 - 12:00
For: Local birds
Place: 191 County Park Rd. Pottstown, PA
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 2024 & 2025.

The 535-acre Warwick County Park in northern Chester County includes dense hardwood forest, wetlands, meadows, and riparian areas along a section of French Creek, an “exceptional value” stream. This diversity provides excellent habitat for birds. This 1.5 to 2 hour walk on mainly flat (and possibly muddy) terrain on unpaved trails will cover approximately 2 miles. A modern restroom is on site. This walk is a collaboration of WCBC and Valley Forge Audubon Society.

Directions: From the intersection of Routes 100 and 23, proceed west on Route 23 for 3.4 miles. Turn left onto County Park Road (entrance is somewhat hidden) and continue 0.3 miles to the entrance to Warwick County Park, on the left. Follow the drive to the last parking lot on the left.

Ramsey Road, Wilmington, DE
2025-09-11 17:16
For: Migrants and resident birds
Place: Parking lot off of Ramsey Rd., 8:00 a.m.
Leader: Carol Majors (484-883-8311, 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 as it turns to the left. Then 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.

Turkey Point, Elk Neck State Park, North East, MD
2025-09-16 07:30 - 12:00
For: Migrants and resident birds
Place: Royal Farms at the junction of US Route 40 & MD Route 781. On the eastern side of Elkton, on the north side of Route 40, 7:30 a.m.
Leader: Armas Hill (302-529-1876, Armas@focusonnature.com)
Note: A walk to the marsh and other habitats at Elk Landing, the Elk River Park, and then to the Elk Neck State Forest including the arboretum. Lastly to the Elk Neck State Park, at the head of the Chesapeake Bay, 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 completed around noon, and afternoon birding may be available if people wish to continue. If so, bring a lunch. There is a bathroom in the state park.
Directions: Route 95 south to Delaware 896 south. Turn right on Rt. 40 to the parking lot at the intersection of Rts. 40 and 781.
Elk Neck State Park
Turkey Point Lighthouse

The Great Marsh
2025-09-21 08:00 - 11:00, 2025-10-12 08:00 - 11:00
For: Late Summer 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, 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.

Rose Tree Hawk Watch
2025-09-21 09:00 - 16:00
For: Migrating hawks, hopefully Broadwings will be coming through
Place: Rose Tree Park, Media, PA, 9:00 a.m.
Leader: John Mercer (484-459-2062, mercer1135@aol.com)
Note: I will be there from 9 to 4, stop by any time to see the hawk watch and what we do. If you get lucky, you can be there when the Broadwings pass through; this is the time when they are coming through. Bring along a chair, sunscreen, and a lunch if you plan on spending some time there.
Directions: Rose Tree Park is on Route 252, just north of the intersection with Route 1. The watch is at the Gazebo near the south entrance of the park.

Shaw's Bridge Park, West Chester, PA
2025-09-23 07:30 - 09:30
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 porta-potty there.
Shaw’s Bridge Park

Crow's Nest Preserve, Elverson, PA
2025-09-27 08:30 - 11:00
For: Seasonal Birds
Place: Crow’s Nest Preserve, 201 Piersol Road, Elverson, PA, 19520, 8:30 a.m.
Leader: Rhoda McNitt (610-213-0713, rhodamcnitt@verizon.com)
Note: We will explore the Creek and Chief’s Grove Trail. This will be a 2.5-mile trip with moderate walking. We will be looking for seasonal birds.
Directions: Park at the Visitor’s Center.
Crow’s Nest Preserve

Cape May, Cape May, NJ
2025-10-04 07:30 - 2025-10-05 17:00
For: Fall migrants, warblers, shorebirds and waterfowl
Place for Saturday: Cape May Point State Park Lighthouse parking lot, 7:30 a.m.
Place for Sunday: Higbee Beach parking lot, 7:00 a.m.
Leaders: Barry Blust (610-996-7913, barryblust@comcast.net)
Note: Contact Barry for details. Please make your own reservations if you plan on staying overnight.
Note: This trip involves considerable walking, 2 to 4 miles each day, over relatively flat terrain, but some walking in sand will be involved. Please join us both days or either day.
Cape May Bird Observatory
Cape May Point State Park

Introduction to Wildlife Photography
2025-10-06 19:30 - 21:30 | Zoom
Troy Bynum

Join this introductory photography workshop and unlock the secrets of digital photography! This hands-on course delves into the essentials of Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO, empowering participants with a solid foundation on digital photography basics. Explore Exposure Compensation, Auto-Focus, Metering, and more, while mastering important terminology and troubleshooting techniques.

Perfect for beginners and seasoned photographers alike, this workshop cultivates the skills needed to capture images with your unique artistic flair. By the end, you’ll confidently use manual settings to photograph wildlife and diverse subjects. The information covered in this course is applicable across various camera types – DSLR, mirrorless, bridge, superzoom, and even your phone. Elevate your photography journey with this workshop!

Participants should bring a camera with a fully charged battery and the instruction/user manual for use during the hands-on portions.

Troy Bynum, owner of TB Wildlife Photography LLC, is not only an enthusiastic birder but also a passionate wildlife photographer from Philadelphia, PA. Troy’s work focuses on capturing and showcasing the remarkable colors, intricate patterns, and rich textures that are abundant throughout the natural world. In his work, Troy draws attention to the oftentimes overlooked naturally occurring beauty found in the wild. Troy is on a mission to accentuate and celebrate the inherent magnificence of nature.

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 - Wolf's Hollow
2025-10-11 08:00 - 11:00
For: Migrants and resident birds
Place: 1399 Schoff Rd, Atglen, PA 19310, 8:00 a.m.
Leaders: John Mercer (484-459-2062, mercer1135@aol.com), Patty and John Werth (pattyww@comcast.net)
Note: Paths are both earthen and paved and gently rolling. We will travel 1-2 miles over 2-3 hours. There is a portable restroom on site. This field trip is a collaboration between WCBC and VFAS.
Directions: Go west on Strasburg Road to Parkesburg, then south on 10 to Highland Drive. Turn right and go 3.4 miles to the intersection with Schoff Rd, then turn right on Schoff and go 1 mile to the park entrance on the right.
Wolf’s Hollow Park

Waterloo Mills Preserve, Devon, PA
2025-10-15 08:00 - 10:00
For: Migrants, local fall birds and sparrows
Place: Waterloo Mills Preserve, Devon, PA, 8:00 a.m.
Leader: Kevin Fryberger (Natural Resource Manager for Brandywine Conservancy, kfryberger@brandywine.org)
Note: Kevin will give a brief introduction about the property and lead us around this beautiful private preserve of 170 acres in the heart of the Main Line. It contains wildflower meadows, marshes, mature woods and over a mile of the meandering Darby Creek. The preserve is owned by the Brandywine Conservancy. It will be an easy 2 mile walk and we’ll be especially looking for late fall migrants and sparrows, with a possible chance for Lincoln’s Sparrow.
Directions: GPS coordinates of the entrance on South Waterloo Road: (40.0248571, -75.4186609). Drive carefully down the narrow gravel road for about 1000 feet and you will reach the parking lot.
