The Delaware Valley Ornithological Club (DVOC) is one of the oldest ornithology organizations in the United States. Founded in 1890, the club has held regular meetings at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia for over 125 years, and has published the periodical Cassinia since 1901. Membership is open to any dues paying person with an interest in birds. The club organizes birding field trips throughout the Delaware River valley region, including a dedicated year-round trip schedule within the city limits of Philadelphia (BirdPhilly).


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Next Meeting: May 29, 2025 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Dexter Patterson - Birding is for Everyone - Dexter Patterson (in-person)
Next Field Trip: May 21, 2025 @ 7:30 am - 9:00 am: Wednesday Spring Bird Walks at Lorimer Park & Fox Chase Farm - 183 Moredon Rd, Huntingdon Valley, PA

Meetings

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May 29, 2025

May 29, 2025 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia

Speaker: Dexter Patterson (in-person)

This meeting will be held at the auditorium at the Academy of Natural Sciences.

Birding is for Everyone

Speaker: Dexter Patterson (in-person)

Join the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club (DVOC) and the Academy of Natural Sciences in welcoming Dexter Patterson — also known as the Wisco Birder — for a heartfelt and inspiring session on the power of birdwatching to connect, heal, and uplift. With his signature joy and dynamic storytelling, Dexter shares how discovering birds led him on a journey of healing, purpose, and community building. 
You’ll learn how birding promotes mental wellness, environmental stewardship, and meaningful social connection. From beginner tips to inclusive outreach strategies, Dexter offers practical insight and personal stories illustrating how watching birds can open hearts and build bridges. Reflecting on his journey, from reconnecting with nature to co-founding the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, Dexter shares how providing opportunities for others outdoors has ignited a growing movement. Whether you’re an experienced birder or simply curious, this talk will remind you that nature is for everyone — even you. 


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Field Trips

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May 21, 2025
May 21, 2025 @ 7:30 am - 9:00 am

Trip Leader: Linda Widdop

Free to all members and non-members

Meet at Moredon Road Parking lot to take a walk around Lorimer Park trails (Montco) looking for new arrivals. Warblers and passerines will be arriving in numbers depending on winds and weather. We will view the fields at Fox Chase Farm looking for nesting Bluebirds, Cliff and Tree swallows along with other open field birds. Dog friendly for well-behaved pooches. We will wrap up by 9:30 AM so that we can get back to work on time. Cancelled if raining.


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May 22, 2025
May 22, 2025 @ 7:30 am - 10:00 am

Trip Leader: Martin Selzer

Free to all members and non-members

Thursday Mornings meet Martin Selzer to explore the wooded trails, meadows, and farm fields of Harriet Wetherill Park in, Montgomery County. For those unfamiliar with the park, there is series of grass, dirt, and paved walking paths that we will be birding. Besides resident and migrating passerines, we will have ample opportunities to view other migrating species during the walk. The park is nearby both Dixon Meadow and the Wissahickon Waterfowl Preserve, so stops there afterwards can be combined with the walk.

Meet at the west entrance at 2635 Narcissa Rd, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462.


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BirdPhilly is an initiative of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club. Founded in 1890, the DVOC has been based at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia since 1891. The DVOC runs fields trips throughout the tri-state region, however BirdPhilly focuses on trips within in Philadelphia city limits in collaboration with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and the Fairmount Park Conservancy.

Through BirdPhilly our goal is to increase interest and awareness of Philadelphia’s birds by providing quality birding experiences on expertly guided field trips. All field trips are free unless the site charges an admission fee. These trips are open to children, adults, and well behaved pets. BirdPhilly also participates in DVOC’s Philadelphia Bird Race to raise funds for conservation and research projects.

Visit the BirdPhilly webiste


The club enthusiastically welcomes new members – young people, beginners and anyone else who is genuinely interested in birding. Members benefit from the wealth of information and expertise that this club offers. The bi-annual club journal, Cassinia, is provided to members.

People interested in receiving the club's weekly email newsletter can sign up by using the button below. Note that new club members start to receive the newsletter automatically after joining the club.

Birding

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© Bert Filemyr

The Delaware Valley is the name given to the region that lays on either side of the Delaware River, centered on Philadelphia. This consists of southeastern Pennsylvania, central and southern New Jersey and the state of Delaware. Tell me more...


The following counties fall within our boundaries.

In Pennsylvania;
Berks County, Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, Lancaster County, Lebanon County, Lehigh County, Montgomery County, Northampton County and Philadelphia County.

In New Jersey;
Atlantic County, Burlington County, Camden County, Cape May County, Cumberland County, Gloucester County, Hunterdon County, Mercer County, Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Ocean County, Salem County, Somerset County and Warren County.

In Delaware;
New Castle County, Kent County and Sussex County

DVOC Flickr Page

Want to see and share photos of Delaware Valley birds? Check out our Flickr page.

DVOC Initiatives

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BirdPhilly is an initiative of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club. Founded in 1890, the DVOC has been based at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia since 1891. The DVOC runs fields trips throughout the tri-state region, however BirdPhilly focuses on trips within in Philadelphia city limits in collaboration with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and the Fairmount Park Conservancy.

Through BirdPhilly our goal is to increase interest and awareness of Philadelphia’s birds by providing quality birding experiences on expertly guided field trips. All field trips are free unless the site charges an admission fee. These trips are open to children, adults, and well behaved pets. BirdPhilly also participates in DVOC’s Philadelphia Bird Race to raise funds for conservation and research projects.

Visit the BirdPhilly webiste

New Bins for New Birders (NB4NB)

Partnering with DVOC's World Series of Birding Team's corporate sponsor, Nikon Sport Optics, NB4NB is committed to supplying new, serviceable binoculars to organizations that expose young people to birding and the outdoors. We focus on those organizations that are local to the Delaware Valley Region: southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, and Delaware.

Donate to Us!

You can quickly and easily make a donation to various DVOC initiatives using PayPal. Click the "Donate" button above to do see a list of initiatives. If you have a Paypal Account please log in. If you do not, use the "Don't have a PayPal account?" section in the lower left-hand corner of the page that appears after you click one of the "Donate" buttons on the next page.

The DVOC is a 501(c)(3) organization.
Contributions to DVOC are tax-deductible.