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APRIL MONTHLY PROGRAM
This is a Virtual Program Only!
7:00 PM, Friday, April 19, 2024
“Wings Over Wyncote:
The Story of the Wyncote Bird Club 1914 to 1967
and the Work to Protect Birds.”
Presented by Leigh Altadonna
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Join us to celebrate the 110th Birthday of the Wyncote Bird Club/Wyncote Audubon Society! Founded in April 1914, the Wyncote Bird Club pursued a mission to protect birds and their habitats. The “Club” has continued to thrive due to the incredible work of many important individuals who founded and led the “Club” from its founding and through to its transition in 1967 as a chapter of the National Audubon Society. Dr. Altadonna’s program will profile several of the individuals and milestones involved with the “Club” over the years. He will share images and anecdotes that profile some of these leaders and the contributions they made to stimulate broader interest in birds and their protection at the local, national, and international levels. Ernest Harold Baines, Ester Heacock, Florence Griscom, Edward Hicks Parry, Herbert Mills and others are among the personalities Leigh will profile. Some selected activities of the Wyncote Bird Club will be shared. He will also spotlight some of the ways the “Club” influenced a cadre of individuals who have influenced the national and international conservation movement. Leigh Altadonna, was a youth member of the Wyncote Bird Club and has served in many capacities with the Wyncote Bird Club, Wyncote Audubon and with the Friends of Briar Bush as well.
THIS IS A VIRTUAL PROGRAM ONLY!
YOU MUST REGISTER TO PARTICIPATE.
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OUTREACH PROGRAMS
Wyncote Audubon’s strategic plan has identified a need to provide “in-person” programs throughout our “chapter territory in communities and neighborhoods from western Montgomery County and in Philadelphia. These programs may be in conjunction with the many Bird Towns in Montgomery County, our Bird Safe Philly efforts and in partnership with our conservation partners.
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GET STARTED THIS SPRING:
Tips (And Help!) for Creating Healthy Wildlife Habitat in Your Yard
Do you want to attract more birds and butterflies to your property and don’t know where to start? Do you find the idea of adding native plants daunting? Wyncote Audubon is inviting you to a special program presented by Paige Menton of Journeywork. This is an “in-person” program aimed to teach how to attract more birds and butterflies to your property. It will provide participants with ideas on how to start a project on a modest basis. The program is aimed for folks who want to add native plants to their yard and take small steps to convert sections of a lawn to native plants that attract pollinators and birds. Paige will share tips for starting small, explain how to sheet mulch, and offer guidance about hardy, native, deer resistant plants and where to buy them. She will also explain Journeywork’s volunteer model to help private landowners remove invasive species and install native plant gardens on their properties. Learn more at: journeywork.org.
This program is being sponsored by the Wyncote Audubon Society with the support of cohosts in Montgomery County and Philadelphia including the Borough of Red Hill, Pennypack Environmental Center, Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, Plymouth Meeting Friends, and the Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust. Attend the program that is most convenient for your personal schedule or the location of the presentation. Use the registration link below to select the presentation you wish to attend. It is a free program open to all who want to make a difference in their yards for birds.
7:00 PM Thursday, April 4, 2024
Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education (SCEE)
8480 Hagy’s Mill Road, Philadelphia, PA 19128
7:00 PM, Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Plymouth Meeting Friends
Anne H. Wilson Room
2150 Butler Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
7:00 PM, Thursday, May 2, 2024
Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust (PERT)
2955 Edge Hill Road, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006
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INTRODUCTION TO PHOTOGRAPHY: WILDLIFE EDITION
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Sunday, April 21, 2024
Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust (PERT)
2955 Edge Hill Road, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006
Join Troy Bynum for this introductory photography workshop and unlock the secrets of digital photography! Troy is a Wyncote Audubon Board member and owner of TB Wildlife Photography LLC and is an avid birder and wildlife photographer local to the Philadelphia area. This hands-on course delves into the essentials of Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO, empowering participants with a solid foundation. Explore Exposure Compensation, Auto-Focus, Metering, and more, while mastering important terminology and troubleshooting techniques. Perfect for beginners and seasoned photographers alike, this workshop cultivates the skills needed to capture images with your unique artistic flair. By the end, you’ll confidently use manual settings to photograph wildlife and diverse subjects, applicable across various camera types – DSLR, mirrorless, bridge, and superzoom. Elevate your photography journey with this workshop!
Pre-registration is required through the PERT. The cost is: $35 for Pennypack Trust Members/$40 for non-members. This is a joint program with the Wyncote Audubon Society and the Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust.
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HUNTLEY MEADOWS PARK
8:30 AM TO 12:00 PM, SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 2024
Join Wyncote Audubon’s Field Trip Chair, Troy Bynum, on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at 8:30 AM at Huntley Meadows Park, the largest park operated by the Fairfax County Park Authority (1,452 acres or 588 hectares). Huntley Meadows Park is located in the Hybla Valley area of Fairfax County, Virginia, south of the city of Alexandria. The park features a visitor center, a beaver-created wetland with a boardwalk, wildlife observation platforms, and an interpretative trail system. With nearly 250 species reported in eBird, we’re bound to see many exciting birds! This is a joint field trip of the Wyncote Audubon Society and DVOC.
Troy will arrive on Friday, April 12, 2024, and stay at Towne Place Suites by Marriott - 6245 Brandon Ave, Springfield, VA 22150. This hotel is 15-20 minutes (8 miles) away from Huntley Meadows Park. If interested in staying at this hotel, contact Troy directly at (267) 269-8022 for a group discount.
(Above video tells more about the property)
Fairfax County, VA, USA (map)
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BELLEPLAIN STATE FOREST & CAPE MAY NWR
Visitor Center-Belleplain State Forest
1 Henkinsifkin Road, Woodbine, NJ 08207
7:30 AM to 2:30 PM, Saturday, April 27, 2024
Join DVOC field trip leaders Art Crawford and Edwin Schafer for this field trip to Belleplain State Forest and the Cape May National Wildlife Refuge. We will start at the Belleplain State Forest Headquarters: 1 Henkinsifkin Rd, Woodbine, NJ 08270. We will hit the hotspots in search of early migrants and breeders setting up territories and then drive 26 miles down the Garden State Parkway to explore Cape May National Wildlife Refuge. Dress for the weather. Bring water and snacks. Bring insect repellant for ticks and early biting insects. We will most likely stop at Wawa or somewhere for food and restrooms along the way. The DVOC has extended an invitation to interested members of Wyncote Audubon to participate!
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THE COSTA RICA TRIP WITH HILLSTAR!
March 14, 2025 to March 25, 2025
Hello Everyone,
I have some exciting updates for our Costa Rica trip planned for March 2025!
First, the tour to Costa Rica will be from March 14, 2025, to March 25, 2025. You can look at the itinerary attached to see what we’ll be doing each day of the tour. The exact prices for the trip are still being worked out; however, the estimate listed in the itinerary is still accurate. I will be sure to provide everyone with an update on the trip's final cost as soon as it’s confirmed.
Secondly, we were able to confirm enough rooms for ten people! As the itinerary states, we will have two people in each room. Please get in touch with me ASAP if you’d like a single room. We have three people confirmed, and this trip is first-come, first-served, so once the slots are filled, the remaining people will be added to a waitlist in case confirmed party members need to drop. Please contact me directly if you want to confirm a spot for this trip.
Lastly, confirmed attendees can register and pay initial deposits for the trip starting March 15, 2024. I’ll be sharing a URL to confirmed attendees to complete this process - so reach out to me to confirm your attendance before it’s too late.
I’m so excited to partner with Hillstar Nature to lead the Wyncote Audubon Society on this international adventure. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, comments, or concerns.
Regards,
Troy Bynum, Owner | Operator
TB Wildlife Photography LLC
(267) 269-8022
Image: Toucanet and Baltimore Oriole in Costa Rica. Photo: Matthew Johnson
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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. Come see some of our year round and winter residents that frequent these areas. There is always a chance to catch an unusual or unexpected species too. No preregistration is required.
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LOWER GWYNEDD BIRD TOWN BIRD WALK
8:30 am to 10:30am Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Penllyn Woods
Join Steven Saffier, Lower Gwynedd EAC associate member at Lower Gwynedd’s amazing park tucked behind the Penllyn section of Lower Gwynedd. The park contains a loop trail through an old forest and trails that take us through woods and over the Wissahickon Creek. Great park for woodpeckers and winter residents. Note: the address is listed, as 1227 Township Line Road but that will get you lost. Enter via Township Line road OFF of Penllyn Blue Bell pike, between Lantern Lane and Wissahickon Ave. Or GPS China Grace Church at 225 Penllyn BlueBell Pike and then drive about 100 yards south on the pike to Township Line Road. Please RSVP to contactus@lowergwynedd.org
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ABINGTON BIRD TOWN BIRD WALK
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM, Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Lorimer Park from 798 Welsh Road
Join Jennifer Sherwood for her monthly bird walk at Lorimer Park. We will walk portions of the Pennypack Trail into 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 parking lot for the Pennypack Trail located at 798 Welsh Road, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006
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CHELTENHAM BIRD TOWN BIRD WALK
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM, Saturday, April 20, 2024
High School Park
Join Judith Gratz at 8:00 a.m. on the third Saturday in February for a walk to search for the birds in the Park and along the Tookany Creek. The Cheltenham Bird Town, Tookany/Tacony Frankford Watershed Partnership, Friends of High School Park, and the Wyncote Audubon Society sponsor these walks. Directions: Meet at High School Park, located at High School Road and Montgomery Ave. in Elkins Park. There is free parking in the SEPTA lot adjacent to the Park. A Regional Rail train stops one block from the Park, and the 28 bus stops at the corner of the Park.
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UPPER DUBLIN BIRD TOWN BIRD WALK
8:30 AM TO 10:00 AM, Saturday, April 20, 2024
Robbins Park Environmental Education Center
Join Nilesh Shaw at the main parking lot of Robbins Park to walk the trails through several of the varied habitats in this park located near Temple University’s Ambler Campus. The Upper Dublin Bird Town, DVOC, and the Wyncote Audubon Society cosponsor this bird walk. Directions: Meet in the parking lot located at 1419 E Butler Pike, Ambler, PA 19002
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GREATER PHILADELPHIA AREA BIRDATHON
5:00 PM, Friday, May 3 to 5:00 PM, Friday, May 4, 2024
Wyncote Audubon, under the leadership of Margaret Rohde with Wyncote Audubon and Wissahickon Trails has organized the 2024 edition of the Greater Philadelphia Area Birdathon! There are many ways to participate to raise funds for your own bird conservation cause. Check out details on the Wyncote Audubon website: wyncoteaudubon.org
Wyncote Audubon “Swifts Team” will again be participating to raise funds to support Wyncote’s efforts on behalf of Bird Safe Philly. Look for our Birdathon appeal letter coming soon to let you know the work your contributions to our Birdathon and the Swifts Team will support!
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BIRD SAFE PHILLY
Volunteers Needed for Spring Migration 2024
Members of Wyncote Audubon have been important to the successful launch of “Lights Out” and “Bird Safe Philly” that now enters its fourth year. We look to expand our efforts in the coming year. Bird Safe Philly is gearing up to be ready for Spring Migration for 2024 and we need VOLUNTEERS! Volunteers are needed from April 15, 2024 through May 31, 2024.
- 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 us at wyncoteaudubonsociety@gmail.com. More details about these opportunities are also available at https://www.birdsafephilly.org.
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WYNCOTE AUDUBON SOCIETY
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
Margaret Rohde chairs the Nominating Committee of the Wyncote Audubon Society with support from Leigh Altadonna and Nilesh Shah. The Committee has issued a call for nominations for Officers and Directors and welcomes suggestions form our members. Nominees are sought for President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. These positions are for one-year terms from July1 2024 to June 30, 2025. Six nominees are also sought for three-year terms as Directors for the “Class of 2027.” All suggestions can be submitted to wyncoteaudubonsociety@gmail.com no later than Friday, May 3, 2024. In addition to a name, please provide contact information and a short description and rationale to support the individual you believe would make a good nominee. It is the role of the Nominating Committee to put forward a recommended slate of officers and directors for election. The proposed slate of all nominations will be subject to a vote by all members of the National Audubon Society, who reside in our chapter territory, to take a moment to endorse the slate presented by the Nominating Committee through the virtual ballot in mid-May to mid-June.
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CHECK OUT THE “CALENDAR” ON THE WYNCOTE AUDUBON WEBSITE
TO KEEP UP WITH SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS!
https://wyncoteaudubon.org
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YOU ARE WHAT HOPE LOOKS LIKE TO A BIRD! | |
Website and Emails for Wyncote Audubon By: | | | | |
