STATE COLLEGE BIRD CLUB

2024 Fall 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: 

(The complete schedule of regular meetings will be announced very soon)

September 25, 2024, Wednesday 7:00 pm
Regular Meeting  (IN PERSON) at Millbrook Marsh Nature Center's Barn
Mercy Melo will present a program titled "Collaboration in Conservation: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work".

October 23, 2024, Wednesday 7:00 pm
Regular Meeting (IN PERSON) at Millbrook Marsh Nature Center's new Classroom and not the Barn.
A ZOOM option is available; please see our listserv.
Dr. Anne Johnson will be presenting a program titled "Birds Biting Bad Bugs: Birds as Predators of the Invasive Spotted Lanternfly".

November 20, 2024, Wednesday 7:00 pm
Regular Meeting
(IN PERSON) at Millbrook Marsh Nature Center's new Classroom and not the Barn. A ZOOM option is available; please see our listserv.
Steven Feldstein will present a program titled "My six months birding in Korea: Eastern Palearctic ornithology, common and rare birds, and the thriving Korean birding community".


December 18 (or 11), Wednesday 7:00 pm




Fall Field Trips of the State College Bird Club


All field trips are open to members and non-members.
Please contact Kathy Bechdel
for questions or information about the field trips.

Thursday, September 5, 7- 8 PM
Location:  Fisherman's Paradise

Trip leader: Julia Plummer
 
Heronry at Fisherman's Paradise, at the end of Spring Creek Road, Bellefonte, PA.  Watch the Great Blue Heron return to their roosts on the hillside behind the fish hatchery.  Meet at the gate to the fish hatchery on the bridge between the first two parking areas.  Bring a folding chair to set up along the fence.

This field trip is open to members and non-members.


The Arboretum at Penn State's Thursday Bird Walks

Meet at 8 am at the Overlook Pavilion (paid parking available at law school, free parking at Sunset Park), walk through the grassy paths toward Big Hollow, end around 9:30am.
 
Thursday, September 5 
Thursday, September 12 
Thursday, September 19 
Thursday, September 26
 

Saturday, September 14, 9 - 10 AM
Location: 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 in the parking lot.
 
This field trip is open to members and non-members.
 

Saturday, September 21, 8 - 10 am
Location: Chicory Lane Farm
 
Trip Leader:  Joe Gyekis
 
Chicory Lane Farm is managed for wildlife habitat, including old fields, young forest, and wetland. A network of mowed trails loop around the property. We will look for a mix of resident and fall migrant birds. First will be a gentle walking loop, then we will climb the hill to look at the sky from the high meadow, feel free to join one or both halves. If rain is heavy, we will cancel, but we will continue with light rain. Click here for more details about the trip.

Restroom is available.

Drive east on Route 45 from Boalsburg about 1.5 miles past the bridge in Spring Mills 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 or this link https://maps.app.goo.gl/KihqbfSjUSy5TeJu6
 
This field trip is open to members and non-members.


Tuesday, September 24, 2024 at 6pm
Pennsylvania Game Commission Barn Owl Banding


Join Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Biologist, Clay Lutz, for an overview of the biology and status of Barn Owls in Pennsylvania during a banding session of young owls.

This field trip is for State College Bird Club MEMBERS ONLY to show appreciation for their continuing support.

Given that parking is limited, this field trip is capped at 20 participants. Please register by emailing Kathy Bechdel. Once registration is completed, detail directions will be provided.

Field Trip Leader: Clay Lutz and Jon Kauffman


Sunday, October 13, 2024, 8am – 10am
Exploring Haugh Family Preserve

Join Jon Kauffman in exploring Haugh Family Preserve. This preserve can host many fall migrants with close to 100 species recorded for the month of October over the years. Species include Sora, Marsh Wren, and up twelve species of sparrows.
 
Meet at the Circleville Park parking lot off of Circleville Road. Participants will then be lead around the Circleville Community Gardens, the nearby Bike Path, and a visit to the nearby marsh.
 
This field trip is open to members and non-members.


Saturday, October 19, 9 - 11 am
Location:  Wildwood Park, Harrisburg, PA  (wildwoodlake.org)
 
Trip Leader: Rick Price from Appalachian Audubon Society
 
Join us for a joint field trip with the Appalachian Audubon Society as we walk the trails of Wildwood Park.  Wildwood Park is south-central PA’s premier wetland and study area. The park is 229 acres of shallow lake, swamp, riparian areas, field, forest and 6 miles of trails.  We will concentrate on the area near the Nature Center and the lake.
 
The field trip is open to members and non-members.
 

Sunday, November 17, 8 - 11 AM

Location: Bald Eagle State Park
 
Trip Leader: Bob Snyder
 
We will meet at the beach at Bald Eagle SP at 8am and bird until 11 am.  We will visit various locations around the main park area including the beach, winter launch, the Sunken Road Overlook and then drive to the top of the dam for a short walk down the service road to view Hunter's Cove and the emergency spillway marsh at the dam.
We will be looking for waterfowl on the lake and also hope to find winter birds such as Northern Shrike, Snow Buntings, American Pipits and American Tree Sparrows.  If time and weather permits (and if I find them in advance), we might decide to drive to the Bullit Run canoe launch area to look for early Rusty Blackbirds or Winter Wrens.

I would recommend wearing some sturdy boots and come prepared for rain or snow showers and wind. Please bring binoculars and if you have a spotting scope bring that along and if you have a camera, bring that as well.
 
This field trip is open to members and non-members.







Birding Events sponsored by partner organizations


Shaver's Creek Wednesday Migration Mornings
Meet in front of the Shaver's Creek Environmental Center.

September 4, 2024, 7:30 am – 9:00 am
September 11, 2024, 7:30 am – 9:00 am
September 18, 2024, 7:30 am – 9:00 am
September 25, 2024, 7:30 am – 9:00 am
October 2, 2024, 7:30 am – 9:00 am

Bird Walks with The State College Bird Club
Millbrook Marsh Nature Center

Tuesdays, September 17 - October 22, 8 - 9:30 AM

Observe birds that are migrating to and through the Centre Region. Walks take place at Millbrook Marsh Nature Center 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.

Birds and Bagels
Millbrook Marsh Nature Center

Saturday, September 21, 8 - 9:30 AM
All Ages
$10 Residents; $15 Non-Residents
Register Now

We'll treat you to a selection of freshly baked bagels complemented by steaming coffee or tea. After breakfast, embark on a gentle guided walk with knowledgeable guides from the State College Bird Club who can help you spot and identify various bird species, their calls, and behaviors, making it a perfect outing for both avid birdwatchers and novices alike.





Christmas Bird Counts: (dates and other counts to be announced)

Penns Creek Christmas Bird Count
State College Christmas Bird Count
Huntingdon
Christmas Bird Count
Raystown Christmas Bird Count
Bald Eagle State Park Christmas Bird Count



Previous schedules:

Spring 2024
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