Please contact trip leader in advance if you are planning to go on a field trip.

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  • French Creek State Park

    For: Winter Residents

    Place: French Creek State Park, 843 Park Rd, Elverson, PA, 8:30 a.m.

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

    Note: We will travel a route that keeps us primarily on paved trails and roads.  Heated restrooms are located nearby. This is a joint walk with WCBC and VFAS.

    Directions: From West Chester, take Hwy 100 north to Ludwigs Corner. Turn left on Conestoga Rd. Turn right on Route 345, follow the many twists and turns of Rt 345 to a left onto S. Entrance Road. Turn right onto Park Rd and park at the Playground parking lot behind the office.

     

  • For the Love of Bluebirds

    Nancy Fraim

    Nancy's presentation covers all aspects of a bluebird’s life during the year and how we can help them survive and thrive. It includes everything from identifying a bluebird, to nesting behaviors, as well as how to attract and protect them. The power point is filled with many photos and video clips which she had taken throughout her years as monitor. Lots of tips and tricks will be presented for not only bluebirds but other cavity nesters too.

     

    Nancy Fraim taught elementary students for 39 years. After retiring, Nancy became Chester County Coordinator for the Bluebird Society of PA, a Board member and Membership Chair. She shares her bluebird knowledge on BSP’s Facebook page and gives many talks to schools and organizations.
    Nancy and her husband live in Downingtown.

     

    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

    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.

  • Marsh Creek State Park

    For: Winter Residents

    Place: 700 Park Rd, Downingtown, PA, 8:30 a.m.

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

    Note: Meet at the boat house parking lot. Walk will be about 1 mile. This is a joint walk with WCBC and VFAS.

    Directions: Take Rt 100 to Park Rd. Boat House is at end of the road.

    Marsh Creek State Park

  • Exton Park, Exton PA

    For: Seasonal Birds

    Place: Exton Park, Exton, PA 8:30 a.m.

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

    Note: This is a 1.5 mile walk and will take between 1.5 and 2 hours. Public bathrooms are available.

    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 Rd. and park in the gravel parking lot on your left where the perimeter trail starts.

    Exton Park

  • Pennsylvania Bird Conservation

    Sean Murphy

    The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Recovery Division is charged with the conservation and management of all protected birds and mammals. From managing Threatened and Endangered species to coordinating statewide surveys, the agency has a wide range of avian projects with an equally wide range of partners. The presentation will highlight recent accomplishments, the agency’s role in bird conservation in Pennsylvania, and upcoming opportunities to support and help.

     

    Sean joined the Wildlife Recovery Division of the Pennsylvania Game Commission in 2019 and leads the Protected Birds Section. A Pittsburgh native, he received a Bachelor of Science from Penn State and Ph.D. from the City University of New York. Before joining, he worked as a Wildlife Biologist for a few NGOs (in Massachusetts) and the U.S. Geological Survey (in Oregon). He currently lives in the Harrisburg area and spends most of his free time with his family and coaching youth soccer.

     

    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.

  • Bryn Coed Preserve

    For: Winter Residents

    Place: Bryn Coed Preserve, 1869 Flint Rd, Chester Springs, PA 19425

    Leaders: Kristen Cooney and Patty Werth (home 484-985-8164, day of walk: 215-859-1148, Pattyww@comcast.net)

    Note: Trails are earthen on rolling hills and depending on weather conditions may be muddy and slippery. Good footwear is a must. This walk is NOT in conjunction with Valley Forge Audubon Society and is advertised only on the WCBC field trips list.

    Directions: From West Chester, take Hwy 100 N to 113N to left on Kimberton Rd for 1.1 miles to left on Flint Rd for 0.7 miles to parking lot on right.

     

  • The Great Marsh

    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.

  • Food Supplementation Increases Reproductive Performance of Ospreys in the Lower Chesapeake Bay

    Michael Academia

    Michael Academia, a recent M.Sc. graduate from the William & Mary Biology Department. He believes the "Chesapeake Bay is an ecological treasure and should be treated as such for the next generations. We have the world’s largest breeding population of ospreys and our Chesapeake Bay population should be conserved as our stronghold." Michael won the prestigious William Andersen Award at the 2022 International Raptor Research Conference for his research involving ospreys and the localized depletion of Atlantic menhaden in the Lower Chesapeake Bay. This recognition is very special to Michael and reflects his hard work and dedication to ospreys, the fish they depend on, and the environments in which they thrive.

     

    Michael conducted his studies as part of the Center for Conservation Biology. The Center has been focused on osprey research since 1970 and over the past 50 years generations of graduate students have worked with ospreys. The collective and substantial work of these students provides insight into the response of ospreys to changing menhaden availability. Currently, Michael’s manuscript is in the peer review process and will be featured in the Journal of Raptor Research. He is also active in harvest policy procedures to enact change based on the scientific evidence gathered.

     

    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.

  • Walnut Lane Park/The Mill at Anselma

    Place: Walnut Lane Park, 8:30am.

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

    Note: Meet at the parking lot for Walnut Lane Park.  After walking that park, we will move next door to The Mill at Anselma

    Directions:  Walnut Lane is just off Route 401 in Chester Springs, about ¼ mile south of The Mill at Anselma

     

  • The Great Marsh – Woodcock (and Rail) Sit

    For: Woodcock and possibly Virginia Rail

    Place: 28 Moores Road, Elverson, PA, 6:30 p.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 a donation of $5 is suggested. Donate through Paypal, Venmo, or make a cash donation at the door.
     
    Note: Enjoy an evening to observe one of the highlights of early spring migration. American Woodcock will be showing off their dazzling mating displays at dusk. Oh, and a good possibility of singing Virginia Rails as well! American Woodcock are known for their elaborate courtship displays. Males will venture out into open areas after sunset and set up a display area. Birds will initially call out with their “peent” calls to announce their presence to other Woodcock. Males will then take flight circling up to 100 meters high with a combination of specialized wings creating a twittering sound as well as vocal chirping. Birds then descend in a rapid circling motion to land in the exact spot they started from. Displays can last as long as 30 minutes.
     
    Please arrive promptly and bring a chair so you can relax and see the show! RSVP to lori@greatmarshinstitute.org to attend. This will enable us to communicate about any weather-related changes and plan for the full number of attendees.
     
    This event is hosted by the Great Marsh Institute, a non-profit with the mission of supporting scientific studies and educational opportunities for all! For full trip details see here. Conditions could be muddy and 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 Great Marsh

    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.