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  • Birds and the Butterflies of Honduras

    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.

     

  • My Trip to Belize

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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.

  • The Great Marsh

    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.