tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44390533189877785822024-11-01T06:40:11.426-04:00Robert Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12200620261663484946noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439053318987778582.post-92088701098075307742014-02-23T18:14:00.000-05:002014-02-23T18:14:25.039-05:00

Last weekend concluded another Great Backyard Bird Count. This citizen science project sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Audubon Society has been a huge success -- at the time of this post, 139,298 checklists were submitted, 4,082 species were observed, and 17,248,978 individual birds were counted. (Participants have until the end of February to submit data, so those numbers may

Robert Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12200620261663484946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439053318987778582.post-88034162337556919982013-12-08T17:36:00.002-05:002013-12-08T17:36:57.362-05:00

On Saturday, December 7, Vince Smith led a group on a bird walk at the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove that saw 37 species. Highlights included Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, and Lesser Black-backed Gull. While Lesser Black-backed Gulls are common winter visitors to the larger bodies of water in Bucks County, such as Lake Galena in Peace Valley Park, it's much rarer to see them in

Robert Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12200620261663484946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439053318987778582.post-25463031332305749492013-11-25T19:12:00.001-05:002013-11-25T19:12:12.922-05:00

On Saturday, November 16, the people attending our Winter Bird ID Course were given the chance to test their new skills on a bird walk on the grounds of the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove. 25 species were spotted, including such winter birds as Brown Creeper, Fox Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, and Dark-eyed Junco. Walk leader Vince Smith's complete list, as submitted to eBird, follows:

Robert Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12200620261663484946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439053318987778582.post-7116777733645403062013-11-17T19:03:00.001-05:002013-11-17T19:03:31.391-05:00

On Saturday, November 9, Vince Smith led a group of birders on a walk at Black Rock Sanctuary in Phoenixville that saw 31 species. Among the highlights were a number of winter visitors, including Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warbler, White-throated Sparrow, and Fox Sparrow. The complete list, as submitted to eBird, follows: Canada Goose 65Mallard 1Great Blue Heron

Robert Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12200620261663484946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439053318987778582.post-25341044207716864042013-11-10T18:58:00.000-05:002013-11-10T18:58:36.876-05:00

On Saturday, November 9, Rick Keyser lead a group on a bird walk at Welkinweir in Pottstown, PA. 37 species were seen, highlights being American Black Duck, Bald Eagle, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and Fox Sparrow. Rick's complete list, as submitted to eBird, follows: Wood Duck  8    Mixed gender flock fly overAmerican Black Duck  5&

Robert Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12200620261663484946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439053318987778582.post-27032452860241827142013-10-22T18:30:00.000-04:002013-10-22T19:02:25.000-04:00

On Saturday, October 19, Rick Keyser lead what was probably Valley Forge Audubon's first bird walk at Stroud Preserve, an impressive Natural Lands Trust preserve of over 500 acres near West Chester. 47 species of birds were spotted; highlights included Merlin, Swainson's Thrush, Hermit Thrush, Lincoln's Sparrow, and White-crowned Sparrow. This impressive count is a testament to Stroud Preserve's

Robert Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12200620261663484946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439053318987778582.post-38366014344768473262013-10-21T10:06:00.005-04:002013-10-21T14:34:19.525-04:00

By Debbie Beer I was delighted to bird Exton Park for my first time ever, on Sunday October 20, 2013.  I substituted for Bird Walk leader Sue Lucas, who provided me with great information about trails and expected species.  It was a crisp, chilly morning when our group of 5 people met in the parking lot and set out to explore Exton Park, public spaces managed by both Chester County and

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17851330079015687235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439053318987778582.post-28626598033402451032013-10-15T13:18:00.002-04:002013-10-15T13:18:48.708-04:00

On Saturday, October 12, Vince Smith lead a bird walk at the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove that saw 39 species. Now that we are reaching the heart of autumn, our neo-tropical migrants are being replaced by our "winter" birds. The only warblers spotted were Pine, Palm, and Yellow-rumped; while appearances were made by both kinglets, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and a group of Hermit

Robert Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12200620261663484946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439053318987778582.post-35011660232601817982013-09-15T17:18:00.001-04:002013-10-14T19:30:14.954-04:00

On Saturday, September 14, Rick Keyser lead a group of five people around Lake Rodenbaugh at Welkinweir that saw 40 species of birds. Plenty of fall migrants, including Yellow-throated Vireo, White-eyed Vireo, Magnolia Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, and Black-throated Green Warbler made an appearance. The complete list, as submitted to eBird follows: Great Blue

Robert Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12200620261663484946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439053318987778582.post-86739639862962669322013-09-15T17:10:00.001-04:002013-09-15T17:10:48.417-04:00

On Saturday September 14, Vincent Smith lead a bird walk at Black Rock Sanctuary in Phoenixville that saw 43 species. Fall migration was in full effect, with eight different kinds of warblers making a showing, including an adult Cape May Warbler feeding a juvenile. Other migrants included Yellow-throated Vireo, Scarlet Tanager, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. The complete list, as submitted

Robert Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12200620261663484946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439053318987778582.post-43907098817771142042013-09-07T18:50:00.001-04:002013-09-07T19:12:14.889-04:00

Friends of Heinz Refuge teamed with Valley Forge Audubon Society to host a guided bird walk September 7, 2013 at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, Philadelphia. More than 30 people came out to explore this urban oasis, one of the best birding hotspots in the area, with 300+ resident and migratory bird species recorded on the Refuge. Encompassing nearly 1,000 acres of varied habitats, Heinz

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17851330079015687235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439053318987778582.post-19164848714999895952013-09-03T16:58:00.002-04:002013-09-03T16:58:45.556-04:00

On August 24, Vince Smith led a bird walk at the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove that saw 35 species, including 3 soaring Bald Eagles. The complete list, as submitted to eBird, follows: Canada Goose  36Wood Duck  1Mallard  6Double-crested Cormorant  3Great Blue Heron  1Green Heron  1Black Vulture  3Turkey Vulture  5Bald Eagle  3Broad-winged

Robert Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12200620261663484946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439053318987778582.post-90798081286034184842013-09-03T16:55:00.000-04:002013-09-03T16:55:07.385-04:00

66 birds were observed on a field trip to Bombay Hook, NWR in Kent, DE in July. The complete list, as submitted to eBird follows: Canada Goose  21Wood Duck  2American Black Duck  15Mallard  4Double-crested Cormorant  10Great Blue Heron  6Great Egret  5Snowy Egret  8Green Heron  2Black-crowned Night-Heron  4Turkey Vulture  8Osprey  1Bald

Robert Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12200620261663484946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439053318987778582.post-78625693480658017822013-08-25T17:22:00.000-04:002013-08-25T17:29:55.233-04:00

On Sunday August 25,  Brian Henderson led a group of 11 people on a bird walk at Norristown Farm Park. A total of 54 species were observed including some shorebirds, warblers, and other migrants. The complete list, as submitted to eBird, follows: Canada Goose 2 Wood Duck 3 Mallard 3 Green Heron 5 Black Vulture 2 Turkey Vulture 3 Cooper's Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1

Robert Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12200620261663484946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439053318987778582.post-35617824786706387832013-07-23T19:46:00.002-04:002013-07-23T19:46:57.273-04:00

Exton Park, formerly known as Church Farm Pond, has become one of our most popular walk sites. The third Sunday of every month, we hold a bird walk there, exploring the meadows and wetlands of this West Whiteland township park. On our July walk, Brian Henderson lead a group that saw 38 species. The complete list, as submitted to eBird follows: Canada Goose - several heard Wood Duck 1 Mallard 2

Robert Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12200620261663484946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439053318987778582.post-28384072173654960582013-07-21T18:55:00.001-04:002013-07-21T18:55:52.063-04:00

On July 13, 2013, Vincent Smith lead a bird walk at the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove that saw 44 species. The complete list, as submitted to eBird, follows: Canada Goose  26 Wood Duck  6 Double-crested Cormorant  8 Great Blue Heron  1 Black Vulture  3 Turkey Vulture  1 Cooper's Hawk  1 Red-tailed Hawk  1 Ring-billed Gull  3 Mourning Dove &

Robert Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12200620261663484946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439053318987778582.post-72059704728284494412013-06-23T16:42:00.002-04:002013-06-23T16:42:25.667-04:00

Once a year we do a bird walk through our own Meng Sanctuary in late June to determine which birds are breeding there. This year we reported 27 species, including good numbers of Pileated Woodpecker, Wood Thrush, Ovenbird, and Scarlet Tanager. The complete list, as submitted to eBird follows: Turkey Vulture  10 Cooper's Hawk  1 Mourning Dove  1 Red-bellied Woodpecker  11

Robert Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12200620261663484946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439053318987778582.post-25224754653524287212013-06-10T20:05:00.001-04:002013-06-10T20:05:40.268-04:00

On Saturday, June 7, Brian Henderson lead 7 people on a bird walk at Evansburg State Park. The remnants of Tropical Storm Andrea had passed through the night before but the group persevered through the mud and puddles to spot 53 bird species. The highlight of the walk was a Yellow-breasted Chat by the Lesher Road powerline cut. The complete list, as submitted to eBird follows: Great Blue Heron &

Robert Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12200620261663484946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439053318987778582.post-2509878384857964242013-05-19T17:13:00.001-04:002013-05-19T17:13:30.456-04:00

On Saturday, May 18, walk leader Rick Keyser spotted 51 species and one unidentified flycatcher. Despite the gray weather, some notable birds were spotted, including Alder Flycatcher and Blue-winged Warbler. The complete list, as submitted to eBird follows: Canada Goose   2    Vocal swimming pair on Rodebaugh pond Great Blue Heron   2    Perched and flying

Robert Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12200620261663484946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439053318987778582.post-23129215407108618012013-05-12T18:40:00.002-04:002013-05-12T18:40:56.405-04:00

On May 11 we celebrated International Migratory Bird Day with a walk and bird-a-thon at the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove. A late night storm on Friday night probably benefitted us by forcing a lot of migrants down. Overall we counted 65 species including 11 warbler species and a gray-cheeked thrush. We also had good numbers for scarlet tanager and Baltimore oriole. Rose-breasted

Robert Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12200620261663484946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439053318987778582.post-56179251828938034712013-04-24T20:21:00.000-04:002013-04-24T20:21:11.548-04:00

What kind of birds can you expect to see on one of our bird walks? Here are lists of species spotted on three of our recent bird walks, as reported to eBird. Remember, you can always find our next bird walk on our Calendar of Events. On March 30, 2013, 26 species were spotted on a walk at the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove: Canada Goose  3 Wood Duck  5 Mallard  4 Common

Robert Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12200620261663484946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439053318987778582.post-84892842577062842772013-04-01T19:20:00.001-04:002013-04-01T19:20:29.265-04:00

by Robert Evans Habitat. No term in conservation carries as much importance as habitat. Protect habitat and you protect all of the plant and animal species that live there and ensure the survival of future generations. Most of us can easily list the types of habitat in our area: forest, grassland, wetland. But one type of habitat that is usually overlooked is scrub habitat. Scrub habitat plays a

Robert Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12200620261663484946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439053318987778582.post-49854896164139650272013-03-11T12:17:00.002-04:002013-03-11T12:17:40.857-04:00

by Robert Evans We recently posted the results of our 2012 Christmas Bird Count. While the results show some good news, such as high numbers for Bald Eagles, they also show that a troubling trend is continuing in our area, the decline of the American Kestrel. American Kestrels have gone from a high of 54 sightings in our 1990 CBC to a low of only 2 sightings in our 2012 CBC. This trend has been

Robert Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12200620261663484946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439053318987778582.post-16649043569107617832013-03-11T12:01:00.000-04:002013-03-11T12:01:04.923-04:00

On Sunday, March 10, 2013, Valley Forge Audubon Society had a field trip to Middle Creek WMA to view the migrating Snow Geese and Tundra Swans. Unfortunately, most of the geese had already left the area ahead of a storm system a few days earlier. A large flock was still seen coming in for a landing and the Tundra Swans were still present. A Northern Harrier also put on a good show stalking the

Robert Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12200620261663484946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4439053318987778582.post-68192704824337859912013-03-07T19:37:00.000-05:002013-03-07T19:37:01.223-05:00

by Vincent Smith, Compiler Valley Forge Audubon Society’s 2012 Christmas Bird Count was predicted to be a weather disaster. Cold temperatures and high winds, (over 40 MPH) threatened us with few birds and limited volunteers. However, our section leaders and loyal volunteers pulled through to make for a respectable count. Thank you all. It is only through all of your

Robert Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12200620261663484946noreply@blogger.com0