For: Winter residents
Place: Assigned territories, any time from midnight to midnight.
Coordinator: Larry Lewis (484-340-7672, earlybirdtours@comcast.net)
Note: Contact coordinator early for questions or to let him know of your interest so that sector assignments and leaders can be identified.
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.
For: Winter Residents
Place: French Creek State Park, 843 Park Rd, Elverson, PA, 8:30 a.m.
Leaders: Patty and John Werth (484-985-8164- home and 215-859-1148 for day of walk, 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: Harlequins, eiders, loons and other waterfowl
Place: Barnegat Light State Park. Meet at Barngegat Light Borough Hall, 8:15 a.m.
Leader: Dorothy Bedford (609-658-1894, db@bt9.org)
Note: There will be a walk of about 1.5 miles between the dunes to get to the end of the jetty. Brigantine is a fee area (per car); bring your National Park Service "Eagle Pass". Bring lunch, this is an all-day trip.
Directions: Meet at Barnegat Light Borough Hall, 10 E 7th St, Barnegat Light, NJ 08006. Follow NJ Route 72 onto Long Beach Island. Turn left onto Long Beach Island Blvd. Go about 7 miles to 7th Street on right. Please make a rest-stop at Wawa, 370 NJ Rt 72, Manahawkin (approach from East Bay Ave. Plan 30 minutes to Barnegat Light from Wawa). Forsythe NWR Visitor Center address: you MUST use 800 Great Creek Rd, Galloway NJ or Google will steer you 30 miles wrong.
Carpooling: If so, meet at Gateway Shopping Center, 125 Swedesford Road, Wayne (junction of 202 and 252). Departure time is 5:45 a.m. (Estimated return no later than 5 p.m.)
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 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.
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.
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 Yard House and Modell's Sporting Goods. Departure 7:30 a.m.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.