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  • White Clay Creek, Newark, DE

    For: Migrants and resident birds

    Place: Wedgewood Rd. parking lot, 7:45 a.m.

    Leader: Bob Murray (610-644-5440, rmurraymmi@gmail.com)

    Note: The walk will be on an abandoned railroad bed, along the banks of White Clay Creek, which forms a section of the Mason-Dixon trail. We will cover a total distance of about 3 miles. There will be bathroom facilities at the Nature Center, which is at the midpoint of the walk. We will finish up before noon.

    Note: The park charges a fee of $8 per vehicle.

    Directions: Call leader for directions if not carpooling.

    Carpooling: Meet at Painters Crossing, PA, on the northwest corner of US Routes 1 and 202. Departure time 7:00 a.m.

    White Clay Creek

  • The Purple Martins of Southeast PA: Where Do They Come From, Where Do They Go?

    Will Krohn

    Purple Martins are the largest species of swallow in North America and, in the east, they nest almost entirely in human-constructed nesting colonies. Southeastern PA is one of two strongholds for Purple Martins in the state, and some of the largest colonies in Pennsylvania are in Chester and Delaware Counties. Purple Martins are a model organism for studying the migration and movement of songbirds due to their large size, conspicuous nature, and proximity to humans. They’re also a strong indicator of overall ecosystem health. Will's research seeks to uncover the rates at which young Purple Martins return to and disperse from the natal colony after hatching. Understanding how far Purple Martins travel from the natal colony is especially important since humans must construct all nesting colonies for the species. Purple Martins have declined by approximately 38% since 1970, so quantifying the rates and distances at which martins disperse will be a key tool for the conservation and management of the species. The Pennsylvania Game Commission and potentially other agencies will be able to use the information he collects in determining where they can best construct new colonies to bolster populations and connectivity, helping steer the recovery of this beloved bird.

     

    Will Krohn is an M.S. student in Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, studying dispersal in Purple Martins for his thesis. Will received his B.A. from Colgate University in 2023, where he double-majored in Biology and Environmental Studies. Since graduating, Will has worked as a technician on numerous avian research and conservation projects around the country, and in 2025, Will started his Master's at UD. Will is originally from Bucks County, PA, and he is an avid PA birder. In his free time, Will also enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and anything else that gets him out in 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.

  • Stroud Preserve, Chester County, PA

    Stroud Preserve, Chester County, PA

    For: Summer residents, butterflies, etc.

    Place: Stroud Preserve parking lot, 8:00 a.m.Google Map

    Leaders: Armas Hill (302-529-1876, Armas@focusonnature.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

  • 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

  • ChesLen Preserve

    For: Migrants and resident birds

    Google MapPlace: Natural Lands Trust Building at 1199 Cannery Rd. Coatesville, PA 8:00 a.m.

    Leaders: Cathy Huneke (610-368-2275, cathyhuneke@hotmail.com)

    Note: From NLT building, we will walk the fields and woods, with some hills. We will walk the Yellow Trail, about 3 miles. There is a bathroom on site.

    Directions: Take Rt. 842 south toward Unionville. Second road after Barnard’s Orchard take a right on to Cannery Road. The driveway to the Natural Land’s Lenfest Center is on the left. Park by the Center.

    Cheslen Preserve

  • First State National Historic Park (formerly Ramsey Road), Wilmington, DE

    For: Migrants and resident birds

    Place: Smith Bridge Parking Lot, 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.

    Directions: Route 202 South to Smithbridge Road. Turn right onto Smithbridge Road. Turn left onto Brandywine Creek Road.  The parking lot is .3 miles on the right. GPS coordinates are 39°49'59.7"N 75°34'29.7"W.  In Google Maps, navigate to "Smith's Bridge Parking Lot, FSNHP Parking".  It is a large parking lot, and we will meet at the south end.  There are no porta pottys at the entrance. There are porta pottys at Thompson's Bridge, 5 minutes away.  For directions, navigate to "Brandywine Creek State Park, Thompson's Bridge".

     

  • Fortescue Beach and Belleplain State Forest, NJ

    For: Shorebirds, migrants

    Place: Multiple Cumberland County hotspots, 8:00 a.m.

    Leader: Bruce Piecukonis (610-247-2205, Pterodroma@comcast.net)

    Note: We will visit locations in the state forest and along Delaware Bay looking for passerine migrants and shorebirds. Bring along a lunch.

    Directions: Meet at Wawa at the intersection of NJ Routes 47 and 347 (3904 NJ-47, Dorchester, NJ 08316). NOTE: this is a full-service Wawa.

     

  • 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

  • E.B. Forsythe (Brigantine) NWR, NJ

    For: Shorebirds, herons

    Place: Forsythe NWR Headquarters, 8:00 a.m. Google Map

    Leaders: Bruce Piecukonis (610-247-2205, Pterodroma@comcast.net)

    Note: Meet at Forsythe at 8:00 a.m. Minimal walking involved. Bring a lunch, this is an all day trip.

    Directions: Meet at the refuge headquarters parking area (800 Great Creek Rd, Galloway, NJ 08205).

    E.B. Forsythe NWR, NJ

  • John Mercer & Dorothy Bedford

    John Mercer & Dorothy Bedford

    TBD

     

    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.

  • 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

  • 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