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  • Finding Common Ground: Reversing the Decline of Grassland Birds Among Chester County’s Farmlands

    Zoe Warner

    The Grassland Bird Collaboration (GBC), a program of Willistown Conservation Trust, addresses grassland bird conservation needs among Chester County’s agricultural lands and nature preserves. The GBC partners with farmers, landowners, and conservation organizations to implement management practices that benefit birds that rely on farm fields for survival. This talk features the work of the GBC to conserve sensitive grassland bird species while minimizing disruption to agricultural production among Chester County’s farmlands.

     

    Zoë Warner is the GBC program manager and has been researching grassland birds in southern Chester County since 2014. She has a Ph.D. in Environmental Planning from the University of Pennsylvania.

     

    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

  • Waterfowl of Western Chester County, Marsh Creek State Park

    For: Migrants & residents

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

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

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

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

    Marsh Creek State Park

  • 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

  • Everhart Park, West Chester, PA

    For: Spring Birds

    Place: Everhart Park,100 S Brandywine St, West Chester, PA, 8:00 a.m.

    Leader: Mary Bryant (484-843-4707, mbryantvmd@gmail.com)

    Note: B.H. Warren was a medical doctor, an ornithologist for the Pennsylvania State Board of Agriculture and professor at West Chester University.  He is the author of a book published in 1890 called "Birds of Pennsylvania". Further, Er. Warren lived in the area that is now Everhart Park. As a tribute to Dr. Warren and his work with PA birds, the WC Bird Club will have a walk in Everhart Park.  There are restrooms in the park. Walk is about 1 mile and should take around 1-2 hours. There are some hills.

    Directions: From Rt. 202, take High St. towards West Chester. Turn left on Union St.  There is free on-street parking along the residential streets surrounding Everhart Park: S Union, W Miner and Dean St.

    Everhart 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

  • Beginner Bird Walk at Okehocking Preserve

    For: Local birds and early migrants

    Place: Okehocking Preserve parking lot, 8:00 a.m.

    Leader: Bob Murray (610-644-5440, rmurraymmi@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 3 East. After passing Route 926, at the next light (DelChester Road) make a u-turn and come back to the Okehocking Parking lot.

    Okehocking Preserve

  • TITLE: TBD

    Speaker TBD

    TBD

     

    Bio TBD

     

    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.

  • Westtown Lake, PA

    For: Wildflowers and migrating and resident birds

    Google MapPlace: Westtown School cabin parking lot, 8:30am.

    Leaders: Tim and Janny Sterrett (484-678-8528, timsterrett@gmail.com)

    Note: This is a half-day trip. This is a walk that will cover about 2 miles over some hilly areas and take around 3 hours.

    Directions: From West Chester, follow Route 3 east to Westtown Way road, turn right. Take the next left, follow Walnut Hill Road until you see Westtown School entrance. Turn right then park in first parking lot on the right.

    Westtown School

  • 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

  • Gordon Natural Area – West Chester University South Campus – Stadium Road Entrance, PA

    For: Spring migrants

    Place: Gordon Natural Area Stadium Road, 8:00 a.m.

    Leaders: Lois Bryman (610-701-4613, lbryman25@gmail.com)

    Note: There are no bathrooms.  Walk is about 1 mile and should take 1-2 hours. There are some hills.

    Directions: Take 926 to New Street (going North). Go approximately 2 miles, make a right on Stadium Road.  At the bottom of Stadium Road, parking is on the left.

     

  • Struble Lake and Marsh Creek State Park, PA

    For: Waterfowl, snipe

    Google MapPlace: Struble Lake Parking lot, 8:00 a.m.

    Leader: Jim Russell (610-399-1580, jrussell73@verizon.net)

    Note: This is a half day trip. There is minimal walking involved.

    Directions: From Downingtown, take Route 322 west about 7 miles then take a slight right onto Chestnut Tree Road (after Sunoco gas tanks.) In about 3 miles bear left at stop sign onto Morgantown Road. The parking area for Struble Lake is 0.5 miles on the left.

    Struble Lake

    Marsh Creek State Park