STATE COLLEGE BIRD CLUB

2024 Spring Calendar for Bird Club meetings and field trips,
and other birding events

Additional details of field trips may be posted to the State College Bird Club listserv group 

All meetings are open to everyone.  When indicated in the meeting schedule, please join us remotely through the Zoom link which will be available on the Listserv or by emailing the Bird Club President (see the main page for how to contact).


Regular Meetings: 

.
January 31, 2024, Wednesday 7:00 pm
Regular Meeting (ONLINE Zoom Meeting)
Jasper Chao will present a program titled "What We Can Learn From Nature's Most Disgraced Birds: The Microbiomes of New World Vultures".

February 28, 2024, Wednesday 7:00 pm
Regular Meeting (ONLINE Zoom Meeting)
Amber Wiewel will present a program titled "Let's (Try To) Count All the Birds in Pennsylvania! A Look at PA's Third Bird Atlas".

March 27, 2024, Wednesday 7:00 pm
Annual Photo and Sound Sharing (ONLINE Zoom Meeting)
Our meeting will feature the work of the Bird Club's audio recorders and photographers.  Each contributor will share and narrate some of their favorite sounds and or images of birds they have taken that they would like to share.  Thanks to Nick Bolgiano and Betsy Manlove for organizing this year’s annual event.

To submit, email up to five photos or sound files to Nick no later than March 20.  Include the species, date, and location of where the image was taken, or sound recorded.  Photo format should be the highest quality and JPEG, JPG, or PNG are accepted.  Audio file format should be MP3 or .WAV.


(additional details for other meetings will be announced)




Winter and Spring Field Trips of the State College Bird Club


All field trips are open to members and non-members.

Sunday, April 7, 2024 (8:00am-11:00am)
Bald Eagle State Park


Trip Leader: Bob Snyder

Meet at the Swimming Beach parking lot.

We will be looking for migrating waterfowl: possibly various ducks and other waterfowl, Tundra Swans, Bald Eagles and winter hawks that may be in, or passing through the park while heading back north.
 
Bring binoculars, a spotting scope (handy if you have one) and a camera. 
Please dress for the weather and time of year; we can still have snow squalls in late March and wear a pair of sturdy hiking boots, as we might walk down from the war memorial on the dam to Hunter Run Cove and the spillway marsh.

Saturday, April 13, 2024 (8:00 am-10:00am)
Colyer Lake

Trip Leader: Julia Plummer

Join us to explore the birds of Colyer Lake.  After meeting in the parking lot on Lake Road, we will scan the lake for waterfowl and early swallows. From there, we will take a leisurely walk down the road to the end of the lake to look for resident and migrant birds. There is also a trail around the lake and those who are interested can continue along the trail for a longer hike, while the rest of the group continues back to our cars.  Meet us at the parking lot on Lake Road (GPS 40.772478, -77.680872). 

Saturday, April 20, 2024 (8:00am-10:00am)
Chicory Lane Farm, Spring Mills, Pa

Trip Leader: Joe Gyekis

ChicoryLane Farm is now managed for wildlife habitat, including old fields, young forest, and wetland. A network of many trails loop around the property. Be prepared for some mud and wet grass. We will look for a mix of resident and spring migrant birds. If rain is heavy, we will cancel, but we will continue as scheduled with light rain. Drive 20 miles east on Route 45 from Boalsburg then turn left onto Brush Mountain Road. Continue about 0.7 mile until you see a straight gravel driveway heading back to the right, at blue & white sign #246, into old field habitat. You can navigate in your GPS to 40.875564, -77.549939.

chicorylane.com

Saturday, April 27, 2024 (9:00am-10:00am)
Tudek Park


Trip Leader: Constanza Ehrenhaus

This walk will be designed for beginner birders, especially families with children.  Of course, all are welcome.  The area is stroller friendly and the walk will be kept to one hour to fit younger learners' attention spans.  We will meet near the restrooms at the upper parking lot.
 
Wednesday, May 15, 2024 (7:30am - 9:30am)
Search for Cerulean Warblers on the Lower Trail, Blair County

Please join Nick Bolgiano for a leisurely walk along a stretch of the Lower Trail in Blair County. The goal of this trip is to find Cerulean Warblers, in the core of their Lower Trail habitat. See keystonefund.org/success-story/a-perfect-habitat/ for more information on Nick Bolgiano's search for Cerulean Warblers. This stretch of the Lower Trail is also great for Acadian Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Wood Thrush, Louisiana Waterthrush, Yellow-throated Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Baltimore Oriole.

Please meet at the Mt. Etna trailhead parking lot at 7:30am (www.rttcpa.org/index.shtml). Travel West on Route 22 from the intersection of Route 453 at Water Street. Turn Left on Fox Run Rd at 3.3 mi (just after the westbound turns to 2 lanes, making this easier if traffic) or Left on Etna Furnace Rd at 4.6 mile. Continue Right near the river to reach the Mt. Etna trailhead parking lot. There is a modern outhouse available.

From the Mt. Etna trailhead parking lot, the group will walk South along the Lower Trail for 1-2 miles out and back.




Birding Events sponsored by partner organizations


Shaver’s Creek Migration Morning
Wednesday April 3, 10, 17, 24, May 1 and 8,  7 to 8:30 am at the center.

Bird Walks with the State College Bird Club at Spring Creek Park
Tuesdays, April 9 through May 14,  8 - 9:30 AM

Walks take place at Spring Creek Park and are led by members of the State College Bird Club. This program is open to all ages and is great for beginners. Please dress for the weather and bring binoculars. In the case of heavy rain, the walk that morning will be canceled. A suggested donation of $5 per participant supports Millbrook Marsh Nature Center. Registration is not required. Meet at pavilion #1  which is the pavilion closest to the restroom which is near the parking lot just off Houserville road.

The Birding Cup 2024
Friday, May 3, 7pm until Saturday, May 4, 7pm
More details to follow.

Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology Birding Festival will be held in Washington, PA
Friday, May 31 to Sunday, June 2, 2024

 
Preliminary information is available at https://pabirds.org/2024-overview/



Previous schedules:

Spring 2023  Fall 2023
Spring 2022  Fall 2022
Spring 2021  Fall 2021
Spring 2020  Fall 2020
Spring 2019  Fall 2019
Spring 2018  Fall 2018
Spring 2017  Fall 2017
Spring 2016  Fall 2016
Spring 2015  Fall 2015
Spring 2014  Fall 2014
Spring 2013  Fall 2013
Spring 2012  Fall 2012
Spring 2011  Fall 2011
Spring 2010  Fall 2010
Spring 2009  Fall 2009
Spring 2008  Fall 2008
Spring 2007  Fall 2007
Spring 2006  Fall 2006
Spring 2005  Fall 2005