APRIL PROGRAM

“BIRDING MAGEE MARSH"

Ohio’s Spring Birding Hotspot

7:30 PM, Friday, April 21,2023

Upper Dublin Public Library, 520 Virginia Drive, Fort Washington, PA 19034

Presented by Bert Filemyr

Over the past 20 years the birding community has discovered the amazing spring birding opportunities along the northern lakefront of Ohio. This talk will describe the evolution of those birding opportunities and provide a guide to birders wishing to visit there.

Bert Filemyr is an active field birder both in the Delaware Valley and throughout North America. He has visited the Magee Marsh area multiple times since his first visit in 2005. Bert has birded extensively in all 50 states, as well as many of the Canadian provinces.

We encourage everyone to consider attending the  “in-person” meeting but it can also be enjoyed virtually. For more information about the program and Bert Filemyr, go to the Wyncote Audubon website to register via Eventbrite.

BIRD TOWN PENNSYLVANIA BIRDWALKS

All are welcome to participate, including new birders and experienced birders alike. Bring binoculars if you have them; wear comfortable footwear and clothing. No preregistration is required. Spring migration is underway and each of this months bird walks bring opportunities to spot migrants passing through on their way to northern breeding grounds, returning summer resident species and, of course, our year round resident species.

ABINGTON BIRD TOWN WALK

Tuesday, April 18, 2023, 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM

Welsh Road Parking Lot

Join Jennifer Sherwood, Chair of Abington Bird Town for this monthly bird walk at Lorimer Park. We will walk portions of the Pennypack Trail through Bethayres Swamp and into the north end of Lorimer Park, an official Audubon IBA (Important Bird Area). These walks are being sponsored by the Abington Bird Town, and the Abington Environmental Advisory Council, and supported by the Wyncote Audubon Society. Directions: Meet at, the Pennypack Trail Parking Lot at 800 Welsh Road Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006. 

CHELTENHAM BIRD TOWN WALK

Saturday, April 22, 2023, 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM

Tookany Creek Park from the Central Avenue Parking Lot

Join Judith Gratz for this monthly bird walk at Tookany Creek Park. We will walk portions of the trails along the Tookany Creek in the Park, part of an official Audubon IBA (Important Bird Area). These walks are being sponsored by the Cheltenham Bird Town, and Sustainable Cheltenham, and supported by the Tookany Tacony Watershed Partnership and the Wyncote Audubon Society. Directions: Meet at the Parking Lot at the Central Avenue end of Tookany Park.

UPPER DUBLIN BIRD TOWN WALK

8:30 AM Saturday, April 22, 2023

Robbins Park, 1419 East Butler Pike, Ambler, PA 19002

Join Nilesh Shah as he resumes the monthly bird walks at Upper Dublin Bird Town. The Delaware Valley Ornithological Club, Upper Dublin Bird Town, and the Wyncote Audubon Society support these monthly bird walks. Directions: Meet by the Masons Mill Park Lion Drinking Fountain.

UPPER MORELAND BIRD TOWN WALK

9:00 AM Saturday, April 22, 2023

Masons Mill Park, 3500 Masons Mill Rd, Willow Grove, PA 19090

Join Wyncote Audubon Society’s Leigh Altadonna for this bird walk around the perimeter trail at the Park. This walk will be in advance of the Upper Moreland Earth Day Event at the Park and a great way to start your celebration of Earth Day. Directions; Park in the lot located adjacent to the Robbins Park Environmental Center.

WISSAHICKON TRAILS/WYNCOTE AUDUBON BIRD WALK

Sunday, April 30, 2023, 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Wissahickon Waterfowl Preserve and Four Mills or Green Ribbon Trail

Join Jamie Stewart, Wissahickon Trails, and Leigh Altadonna, Wyncote Audubon, for a bird walk at the Wissahickon Waterfowl Preserve and Four Mills or the Green Ribbon Trails. Meet at 8:00 PM the Wissahickon Waterfowl Preserve. We will look for waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, and more. We will then move to do a loop at the Green Ribbon Trail after which we will return to the Waterfowl Preserve. We will hope to see some of our early spring migrants. Directions: Meet at 1-93 Maple Street, Ambler, PA 19002 and park along Maple Street adjacent to the Waterfowl Preserve.

SECOND ANNUAL GREATER PHILADELPHIA AREA BIRDATHON

5:00 PM, FRIDAY, MAY 5 TO 5:00 PM, SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023

SAVE THE DATE - REGISTRATION WILL OPEN SOON!

The Wyncote Audubon Society established the Greater Philadelphia Birdathon in May 2022. This move was sparked by the transition of the Birdathon originally sponsored by Wissahickon Trails (formerly the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association) to the sponsorship of the Wyncote Audubon Society. The nominal registration fees are NOT a fundraiser for Wyncote Audubon but intended to cover the costs for administering the Birdathon. The Wyncote Audubon Society’s 24-hour traveling Birdathon Team, the Swifts, will raise funds from their donors in support of Bird Safe Philly. We welcome any other Wyncote members to form additional teams to raise funds for Bird Safe Philly as well!

Anyone can form a team to participate in the Greater Philadelphia Area Birdathon to raise funds for their own not-for-profit and bird conservation projects. To participate, simply recruit a minimum of two or more individuals who will look for birds anytime during the 24-hour period between 5:00 PM on Friday, May 5^th to 5:00 PM on Saturday, May 6^th. There are several options for any team to participate:

·      24-hour Traveling Team: Your Birdathon Team may travel anywhere in the greater Delaware Valley and tally all the bird species you positively identify by sight or sound during any portion of time throughout the 24 hour window.

·      4-hour Big Sit: Your Birdathon Team chooses one location to “sit” in one location and tally all the bird species you positively identify by sight or sound during any four hour period that falls within the 24 hour window. The site would presumably “sit” at a location within the Bird Town.

·      24-hour Backyard Sit: Similar to the “Big Sit” but provides a 24 hour window to tally all the bird species you positively identify by sight or sound during the 24 hour window in your own yard. The site would presumably “sit” at a location within the Bird Town.

Any organization can recruit multiple teams, with each pursuing one or more of the options. There is also a “Youth” category for teams under 18 years of age. School ecology clubs, scout groups, or other youth groups can chooses to participate in any of the optional ways that suit the team.

Each Birdathon Team needs to set up their own internal procedures to solicit donations as is typical with most “Thon” type of events. The team needs to identify the goal or project for which the funds raised will be dedicated. Each team is also required to keep a tally and checklist of the species each team identifies. This is not a “bird count” of the number of each bird species seen; rather it is a count of the number of bird species identified.

To participate, each team must register through the Wyncote Audubon Society. The name of each team and team members, the contact information for each teams “captain” and team members is requested. The category of each team’s approach (traveling, big sit, backyard sit) is needed. In addition the “good cause” the funds raised is to be dedicated is requested, as is the final checklist of species seen. There is a nominal registration fee requested to cover the administrative cost, provisions for a Birdathon sticker/decal for each participant, the cost of food for a culminating event to which all participants are invited. “Winning” teams are recognized, the total combined number of species tallied is celebrated, and the range of “good causes” for which each of the teams raised funds is highlighted as well.

Registration will open soon! Save the Date and gather your team together!

VOLUNTEER!!!

WYNCOTE AUDUBON COMMUNITY OUTREACH

The Wyncote Audubon Society is able to successfully participate in many community festivals, Bird Town, native plant sales and other events because of our Community Outreach volunteers. We welcome individuals who are able to give two, three or more hours to help at the events we support. Contact Sherry Krider, Wyncote Audubon Vice President and Community Outreach Committee Chair to learn more at: wyncoteaudubonsociety@gmail.com.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS

Wyncote Audubon’s Community Outreach volunteers will be tabling at multiple events over the course of the next three months. In April we are supporting multiple Earth Day events and native plant sales promoted by Environmental Advisory Committees, Bird Towns, and other community based organizations. We provide information and handouts related to “plants for birds,” native plant gardening, attracting birds and bird feeding, taking measures to mitigate bird collisions with glass, and much more. Look for the Wyncote Audubon displays at the following April events.

ABINGTON NATIVE PLANT SALE

Abington Free Library, 1033 Old York Road, Abington, PA 19001

9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Saturday, April 22, 2023

The Abington Environmental Advisory Council, Abington Shade Tree Commission, and Abington Bird Town are conducting their annual spring event at the Abington Library. Abington residents are eligible to receive a native tree. The native plant sale is open to all. Wyncote Audubon will provide literature and information that will be available at the native plant sale. For more information go to: www.AbingtonPA.gov/eac.

HATBORO EARTH DAY!

Pennypack Community Center, 130 Spring Avenue, Hatboro, PA 19040

10:00 M to 2:00 PM, Saturday, April 22, 2023

The Hatboro Environmental Advisory Council is sponsoring this celebration of Earth Day at the Pennypack Community Center! There will be a host of displays and information available for participants. Wyncote Audubon will provide information on native plants, Bird Safe Philly, and activity booklets and materials for young people. For more information go to: www.myhatboro.org.

UPPER MORELAND EARTH DAY!

Masons Mill Park, 3500 Masons Mill Rd, Willow Grove, PA 19090

9:00 AM to 1:30 PM, Saturday, April 22, 2023

At 9:00 AM, Wyncote Audubon will lead a bird walk around Mason Mill Park. A number of organizations will be providing exhibits and displays beginning at 10:00 AM. Wyncote Audubon will be among those present with its display. For more information go to: https://www.uppermoreland.org/204/Environmental-Advisory-Council.

AMBLER EARTH FEST

Ambler Borough Hall, 131 Rosemary Ave, Ambler, PA 19002

10:00 M to 2:00 PM, Saturday, April 29, 2023

Wyncote Audubon will return to Ambler for this annual event with our outreach table display. Wyncote Audubon will provide information on native plants, Bird Safe Philly, and activity booklets and materials for young people. For more information go to:

https://www.amblereac.org › earth-fest.

State Representative Napoleon Nelson’s

THIRD ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE

Gratz College, 7605 Old York Road, Melrose Park, PA 19027

10:00 M to 3:30 PM, Friday, April 21, 2023

The theme of this year’s conference is: “Our Environmental Future Starts at Home.” The purpose is to let participants know about available benefits and about how their local government is advancing a more sustainable future. The keynoter is former DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell who now heads up PennFuture. Wyncote Audubon and Bird Safe Philly will be on the exhibitors’ floor with other advocacy organizations, nonprofits, government agencies, and businesses will interact directly with the public. For more information and to register for this event go to:

Rep. Nelson's Third Annual Environmental Conference (pahouse.com)

BIRD SAFE PHILLY

Volunteers Needed for Spring Migration

April 1 through May 31, 2023

Members of Wyncote Audubon have been important to the successful 2021 launch of “Lights Out” and “Bird Safe Philly.” We look to expand our efforts in the coming year. Bird Safe Philly is gearing up to be ready for Spring Migration for 2023 and we need VOLUNTEERS! Volunteers are needed from April 1, 2023 through May 31, 2023.

• We need folks willing to give one morning a week at 8:00 AM to transport injured birds, as needed, from center city to the SCEE Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic.

• We also need individuals willing to monitor a walking route from 5:30 AM to 8:00 AM one day a week to collect, document, and transport birds that have perished due to collisions with center city buildings. These casualties are collected by the Academy of Natural Sciences where they are used in ongoing avian research.

To volunteer or learn more details about these opportunities contact Robin Irizarry and Stephanie Egger at wyncoteaudubonsociety@gmail.com. More details about these opportunities are also available at https://www.birdsafephilly.org.

Wyncote Audubon Society | wyncoteaudubonsociety@gmail.com | wyncoteaudubon.org

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