OCTOBER MONTHLY PROGRAM

7:30 PM, Friday, October 21, 2022

Barred Owls:

Learn How they Live and Their Traits!

Rob Bierregaard

Our October program is scheduled for 7:30 PM on Friday, October 21,2022 at the Upper Dublin Public Library located at 520 Virginia Drive, Fort Washington, PA 19034. This is a free, “in-person” program, and we welcome participation from all interested in the program. You do not need to be a member to attend. The Library is equipped with very up-to-date technology that will allow us to continue to offer the program virtually if you are unable to participate in-person.

We encourage in-person participants to come at 7:00 PM to enjoy a half hour of refreshments and informal conversation with friends and new acquaintances!

MILITIA HILL HAWK WATCH

The Militia Hill Hawk Watch at Fort Washington State Park continues to monitor the fall migration of raptors for its 35^th season! This all--volunteer effort is again coordinated this year by Jamie Stewart and Rich Conroy. Monitors will be on hand from 9:00 AM through 5:00 PM daily throughout the fall migration. Visitors to the MHHW are encouraged and welcome! 

Image above: Juvenile Broad Wing Hawk by Jamie Stewart

ABINGTON BIRD TOWN WALK

Tuesday, October 18, 2022, 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM

Lorimer Park from the Welsh Road Parking Area

Join Jennifer Sherwood, Chair of Abington Bird Town for this monthly bird walk at Lorimer Park. We will walk portions of the Pennypack Trail and trails in Lorimer Park, an official Audubon IBA (Important Bird Area). We hope to see many of our fall migrants as they stopover at the park on their southward journey. 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 Welsh Road Parking Lot at 800 Old Welsh Road, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006. Valley, PA 19006. It is at the intersection with Terwood Road on the southwest corner – look for the Pennypack Trail sign!

CHELTENHAM BIRD TOWN WALK

Saturday October 22, 2022, 7:30 AM

Tookany Creek Park

Join Judith Gratz in her series of monthly bird walks to explore some of the birding opportunities in Cheltenham Bird Town. Come help us find fall migrants and other birds in this area. The Cheltenham Township Bird Town, Sustainable Cheltenham, the Tookany/Tacony Watershed Partnership, and the Wyncote Audubon Society are supporting these walks – Meet at the Central Avenue Parking Lot near the end of the park.

UPPER DUBLIN BIRD TOWN WALK

Saturday, October 22, 2022, 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM

Robbins Park

Join Nilesh Shah to search for birds at Robbins Park, near the Ambler Campus of Temple University. Come see what fall migrant birds are stopping over to rest and feed in the habitats created at the park. These walks are being sponsored by the Upper Dublin Bird Town, Upper Dublin Parks and Recreation, and supported by the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club, and the Wyncote Audubon Society.  Meet in the parking area of Robbins Park located at 1419 E. Butler Pike, Ambler PA 19002, across from Meetinghouse Road & Temple Ambler Campus.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS

September brings the return of many community events at which Wyncote Audubon will be a participant with our tabling information and displays. Many of these events are in support of our Bird Town Pennsylvania partners fall festivals, and Native Plant Sales. 

Abington Bird Town Native Plant Garden Tours!

Abington Township's Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) and Abington Bird Town present fall garden tours showcasing local home gardens with native plants. See three unique approaches (on two dates) and take home ideas on how to include native plants in your own yard. Native plants support the life cycles of wildlife, including birds and beneficial insects, making your garden not just an oasis for humans but also a productive year-round habitat for all. The two events take place on:

Saturday, October 1: Two neighboring gardens in Abington (one of these gardens was also on display at the summer garden tour in June), with a mix of gardens in the shade and sun.

Saturday, October 15: One garden in Abington/Jenkintown, with sun and shade gardens, as well as shady woods and a stream (closed-toe shoes and pants recommended). 

Interested participants must register for each tour date separately, and each person who will attend must be registered (i.e., if you want to bring a spouse or friend, they need to register as well). An adult must accompany all minors. When you register, you will select a specific time to arrive between 10 AM and 12 PM. Timed entry ensures the best viewing experience for everyone.

The registration cost, including the transaction fee, is $5. Proceeds support the Abington EAC’s sustainability and native plant initiatives. To request a fee waiver due to financial hardship, please e-mail EAC@abingtonpa.gov. Registrants will receive e-mail prior to the event with the garden addresses and parking information. Rain dates will be the next day (a Sunday). Restrooms will not be available. All participants should follow current CDC guidance regarding COVID-19.

Register through the Abington Parks and Recreation website here: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/abingtonparksandrec/activity/search?activity_select_param=2&activity_keyword=garden&viewMode=list

WE NEED THE HELP OF OUR WYNCOTE AUDUBON MEMBERS!

Bird Safe Philly and “Lights Out”

The work and activities of Bird Safe Philly continues in earnest through the fall migration. The participating buildings in center city go “dark” from midnight to 6:00 AM from August 15^th to November 15^th.

We need volunteers willing to help one day each week. All are welcome, no experience is necessary and you will receive training by shadowing one of our volunteer monitors. Volunteer monitors walk specific routes of several blocks in the city between 5:30 AM and 8:00 AM to determine how many birds and which species were colliding with buildings and glass throughout fall migration. The monitors record data for each bird collected. Dead birds are taken to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University where they are kept for research.

We also need injured bird transport by volunteers willing to drive an injured bird that has been placed in a container for transport to one of our participating bird and wildlife rehabilitator clinics. While there are not injured birds every day of the week, we do need to have a volunteer “assigned” in the event an injured bird is found and needs to be transported at 8:00 AM to a clinic. Learn more about Bird Safe Philly and volunteer opportunities at birdsafephilly.org!

Bird Safe Philly Facebook and Instagram Is Launched!

Bird Safe Philly is now represented on Facebook and Instagram! Please Like, Follow, and Share the content to help spread the word about bird collisions in the greater Philadelphia/southeastern Pennsylvania region. See what Bird Safe Philly is doing to document and mitigate for collisions. Please share through your own personal social media network as well as the organization page that you participate.

·       Bird Safe Philly (@birdsafephilly) • Instagram photos and videos

·       Bird Safe Philly | Facebook

Please direct any questions to birdsafephilly@gmail.com

Volunteer for Our Audubon Adventures Educational Outreach Team

Wyncote Audubon is gearing up to get back to visiting schools and working with our “Audubon Adventures Clubs” in Philadelphia and Montgomery Counties. We are returning after a hiatus of nearly three years due to the COVID pandemic. Wyncote Audubon sponsors subscriptions to any teacher (grades 3 through 6) who would like a subscription to a package of Audubon Adventures topics. Our Wyncote Audubon volunteers work in teams to visit schools for special programs in 2022/2023. The two educational initiatives are:

The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) where we prepare and encourage students, families and schools to get involved with this international "community science” program sponsored by Cornell, Audubon and Birds Canada. The GBBC takes place each year over Presidents’ Weekend. Our volunteer teams begin working with schools in December and January on winter bird identification, schoolyard bird walks, and how to participate in the GBBC.

Preventing Bird Collision with Glass is the focus of a special edition of Audubon Adventures that recently was developed. Wyncote Audubon will seek to work with Bird Safe Philly to have students take simple action to mitigate bird collisions with windows at their homes, schools, and other buildings in their communities. We will train volunteers to help do outreach to students, teachers and schools.

Express your interest in volunteering for either, or both, of these programs to: wyncoteaudubonsociety@gmail.com.