Spring 2023
Unless otherwise noted, all field trips are open to the public and do not require registration. We hope to see you in the field!
FEBRUARY
1. THE GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT (17-20Feb-weekend): There is no excuse for not birding this winter: your house window, apartment heights balcony, even if you are tenting this weekend, what do you see … hear? Share the delight. So, over four days, for as much as you are able, pass sightings along to the folks at Audubon and Cornell Lab of Ornithology. All the details are here: (www.birdcount.org).
MARCH
3. MILL HILL ROAD, Lycoming Township (5Mar-Sun-an hour before sunset): The Ulmer family has graciously permitted us to view raptors at dusk in their set-aside fields just off the 6900 block of Daugherty’s Run Rd. Target birds: Short-eared Owl, Northern Harrier, Kestrel, and other seasonal field species. Two Directions: 1. From Williamsport Ford dealership (3600 West Fourth St), North on Daugherty’s Run Road for 6.7 mi. (note: Bottle Run Rd at 3 mi., at 6 mi, Kiess Hill Rd.) continuing right 0.7 mi., on Daugherty’s Run Rd. just pass State Road Church. 2. From old Rte. 15/Lycoming Creek Rd. Cogan Station, Left/West on Rte. 973 for 3.9 mi. At that point look for “Linden” directional sign, then Left on Daugherty’s Run Rd. 1.5 mi. to Mill Hill Rd. Leader: LARRY WALTZ (LNRWaltz@aol.com).
2. WOODCOCK, Old Lycoming Township (12Mar-Sun-5p): a spontaneous,
impromptu outing: Dave Ferry, a past Audubon president of LAS, and now
our representative to Mid-Atlantic Audubon, has graciously invited
birders to gather in his neighborhood with nearby fields and a wetland.
Come and listen, experience the spring treat of woodcock mating
behavior. You won’t believe your ears! LAS ListServ will announce date
and time a few days prior to our gathering --- if you are not on
ListServ, request it. So, pick up a mate and join us. Directions: at
Weis Market (Lycoming Creek Rd.), west on Mill Lane (.7mi) to top of
hill, left on Princeton Ave. (.6mi) to 50 Marvin Circle (on left), look
for LAS “event signs”. Email/phone LARRY WALTZ for assistance LNRWaltz@aol.com, (570-323-2385h, 447-8894c).
APRIL
4. SUSQUEHANNA RIVER WALK, S. Wmspt Side (1Apr-Sat-8a): This is an easy walking event. Meet your leader and other birders at S. Wmspt Recycling Center at the top of dike on the river walk. You will view waterfowl and enjoy species of raptors like Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, and Red-tailed Hawks. We will check out birdlife that frequent the brush and trees along the path. Directions: go west from Market Street on W. Southern Ave in S. Wmspt. to the 700 block, past CVS. Look for “Cross Fit Promise” Co. at Poke Alley, turning right and travel two blocks to recycling center. Leader: JEAN DALTON (jklotz6@gmail.com).
5. ROSE VALLEY LAKE SOJOURN (8Apr-Sat-8a): Meet LAS birders at the south boat launch of the lake. We will be looking for a wide variety of waterfowl. If you have a spotting scope, bring it. We will also take time to ID land birds. The group will slowly drive counterclockwise around the lake using lay byes for additional viewing, and then, finishing at the north boat launch. This is an easy-walk-and-ride event. Directions: take Rose Valley Rd. north out of Balls Mills for six miles. Leader: BOBBY BROWN (bobbybrown1011@gmail.com).
6. COUNTY CONSERVATION LEARNING TRAIL (15Apr-Sat-8a): Enjoy a birdwatching walk in the country, but close to town. The one-mile County Conservation Learning Trail begins at the eastern end of the Master Gardener's Sensory Garden. We will scan the farm pastures and fence rows before descending into a wet forested area paralleling a small creek. The trail ascends to a deer exclosure with fields to the sides and an overlook above Loyalsock Creek. The return trip follows the edge of a farm field where Lycoming Audubon has placed bluebird boxes. Parts of the trail may be wet. Enjoy a variety of bird habitats and learn about the Lycoming Audubon Bluebird Project. Directions: from I-180 follow Warrensville Rd approx. 1.5 mi. Turn right on County Farm Rd (at Valley View Nursing Center). Turn left at the barn and follow the road to the front of the County Farm building. Meet at the far end of the parking area. Leaders: BRUCE BUCKLE (bcbuckle60@gmail.com), FRED STINER and DAN BRAUNING.
7. WAYS GARDEN 845 West Fourth St., Wmspt (15Apr-Sat-1p): Join us this third Saturday to plant the 2023 Birdy Dozen native plants and set our educational signposts. Bring a shovel or watering can to help or, stroll around the pathways, enjoying the gardens in early spring chatting with friends. Directions: Way's Garden is on the corner of 4th and Maynard Streets. Parking is available mid-Maynard and W. 3 rd Sts. (note LAS signs on east/ Gap Church side). Drive down the alley to the SE corner of the park near the pavilion. Coordinators: DOROTHY HOLLOWAY (hollowayok@gmail.com) and CARL BOWER of Penn College, a Ways Garden Committee supervisor.
8. RICKETTS GLEN ASSESSMENT (19Apr-Wed-10a): Beautiful mountain streams, waterfalls, extant old growth trees, wetlands, and open fields, just begin to describe this state park. An exploratory group will visit this “near distant” setting and will assess potential field trip sites in Ricketts for the future. We will be hosted by Rhiannon Summers, the Glen’s Environmental Education Specialist. If interested in being a part of this scope out group, contact LARRY WALTZ for details by 31March (570-323-2385, LNRWaltz@aol.com).
9. EARTH DAY EVE over the BRIDGE (21Apr-Fri-6p): Fifty-three years ago, Earth Day was initiated as a national expression of appreciation for our planet. Directions: Join the Lycoming Audubon Society on the River Walk gathering on the north/Wegman’s side, near the river dam. Ample parking available. Look for Audubon signs. With signs and flags, we’ll walk clockwise, cross Market Street bridge, walk west a short way, stop and chat, then turn around and come back across the bridge. You may want to continue walking, or head home. Thanks for adding your presence in this simple statement of celebrating our beautiful earth. Leaders: DOROTHY HOLLOWAY (hollowayok@gmail.com), LARRY WALTZ (LNRWaltz@aol.com).
10. EARTH DAY continues AT RIDER PARK (22Apr-Sat-8a, 10a, 2p) with a focus on “Invest in Our Planet”, three offerings:
- 8–9:30a: begin Earth Day with a bird walk led by Lycoming Audubon with FRED STINER and BRUCE BUCKLE (bcbuckle60@gmail.com). Meet in parking lot at 8a.
- 10a-12: Planting Trees, beneficial to birds near the woods, a demonstration.
- 2-4:00p: Tree ID and forest health hike. Meet in the parking lot at 2p.
Please register for one or all three activities, contacting SARA STREET (570-321-1500, SaraS@fcfpartnership.org) Directions: at Warrensville, north on Pleasant Valley Rd. one mile to Caleb Run Road (on right), taking it all the way to its end, the Rider Park entrance.
11. ROBERT PORTER ALLEN NATURAL AREA (29Apr-Sat-8a): Lycoming Audubon Society (LAS), cooperating with other public and private entities, has assisted in preserving 227 acres of grasslands, a beautiful wetland, and the riparian forest of an historic farm, all strategically placed between Bald Eagle mountain and the Susquehanna. This site, known by many as “Sylvan Dell”, is just east of Little League Stadium. As resources, time and effort come together, it will become a beautiful natural area for the public, close to the people-center of Lycoming County. We will be given a development update, bird the easy trail and learn this time about RPANA’s geology with Ted Loy, LAS’s president. Directions: from Rte. 15 (south Market Street) follow E. Central Ave to its intersection with E. Mountain Ave. (Little League stadium). Turn left and follow E. Mountain Ave to the parking area at the end of the road. Look for Lycoming Audubon signs. Leaders: TED LOY (meltel79@hotmail.com), President of LAS and LARRY WALTZ (LNRWaltz@aol.com).
MAY
12. WILLIAMSPORT WATER AUTHORITY, MOSQUITO VALLEY (6May-Sat-8a): Come, enjoy forested trails, brushy habitat as the warbler migration at its heights. This location is a prime spot for Hooded and Blackburnian warblers, as well as hosting a variety of other species. Directions: Take Valley St. south from Duboistown for a half mile then turn left onto Mosquito Valley Road, taking it all the way to the end, meeting birders at the Water Authority’s visitor parking lot. Leader: ERIC HARTSHAW (hartshaw4@gmail.com).
13. MILL STREET (13May-Sat-8a): This site, this time of year, with open fields, wetland, forest edge, mature trees, and the Susquehanna River, including an easy walkable surface, makes for an inviting birding spot. Directions: Travelling east on I-180, take the Montoursville exit, cross the bridge, and Mill Street in on your immediate right. Travel approx. 1mi, to the western end of the airport runway and park on the right at the generous pull off. (note LAS signage, “Audubon Event”). Leader: DAN BRAUNING (dan@thebraunings.com).
14. SKYLINE DRIVE (20May-Sat-8a): Directions: Take Rte. 15 out of South Williamsport, pass Little League and climb ‘Montgomery Pike’ to top of the mountain and park at the rest stop (no comfort facilities). The Skyline Drive is the closed to vehicular traffic, but the paved road is quite walkable, gently ascending the NE slope of Bald Eagle Mountain. We expect to see and hear resident birds of a typical mixed PA forest, including late spring warblers. Towards the mountain top, tree species change, and the vistas of the west branch valley are a treat. Leader: MADDI DUNLAP (madwoman951@gmail.com).
15. (OPEN DATE – 27May) to be used as cancellation or impromptu trip.
JUNE
16. BIRDING for FAMILIES at canfield Island (3Jun-Sat-9a): Kids, moms and dads, grandparents, will take a leisurely easy Saturday morning stroll around Canfield Island where we will enjoy birds settling in for the season, appreciate the diversified landscape, walk through a quiet woodland, and of course view the Susquehanna River for waterfowl. We will stop and chat not only about birds, butterflies, wildflowers but some local history. Directions: Travel east on I-180/USRt.220 taking exit #23 (“Warrensville”), turning right at traffic light, taking the road behind the motel and then, less than a mile park at Riverfront Park pavilion on the left. Leaders: NANCY HORNBERGER (nahornberger@gmail.com) (butterfly and wildflower specialist), LARRY WALTZ (LNRWaltz@aol.com).
17. SUGAR VALLEY for Purple Martins (7Jun-Wed-5:30 or 6:30p): Meet at 6:30pm in the parking lot of Santino’s Restaurant, Jersey Shore, to organize a car pool (those interested in sharing a pizza, gather at our reserved table in the restaurant at 5:30pm. Meal reservations to be made with LARRY WALTZ: LNRWaltz@aol.com) We will travel to an Amish farm, joining this family which has had unusual success in having Martins return each to their four ‘condominiums’ (12 individual nest spaces in each!). Leader: MIKE KURIGA (michaelkuriga@comcast.net).
18. JUNETEENTH Brandon Park (17Jun-Sat-11a): As we did last year, Lycoming Audubon will have an informational table at the annual Juneteenth Celebration in Brandon Park. Volunteers are welcome to help us connect with the public and answer questions about birds and LAS. This event is a chance for LAS to engage with folks in-town than our other tabling events in rural parks. Birds are everywhere! Come out and join us at this very enjoyable event celebrating African American heritage and culture. Or simply stop by and say HI.