If you’d like to organize a field trip, please contact Field Trip chairperson, Linda Widdop.
Upcoming Trips:
Free to all members and non-members
UPDATE: NEW DATE DUE TO COVID-19 (different assortment of species expected from those in description)
This is a joint trip with the Philadelphia Botanical Club
Nescopeck is a large state park with swathes of white pine and hemlock bordering Nescopeck Creek, some natural ponds and wetlands as well as a man-made lake, and sections of oak-hickory forest. It has excellent diversity of both birds and plants.
Birds: Many of Philadelphia’s migrants breed here in good numbers, including hermit thrush, alder and least flycatcher, blue-headed vireo, rose-breasted grosbeak, and purple finch; as well as magnolia, chestnut-sided, blackburnian, hooded, worm-eating, black-throated green and Canada warblers. We may even catch some straggling migrants on their way further north. Barred owls are a good possibility, and we have encountered ruffed grouse along the aptly-named Grouse Trail, as well as other spots. (We will also hold out hope for a hog-nosed snake.
Plants: We’ve timed this trip to make a convenient stop on the way to Ontario for those driving to the botanical Joint Field Meeting. This is a good place to see plants of northern woods, such as Trillium undulatum (painted trillium), Rubus dalibarda (syn. Dalibarda repens; dewdrop), Gymnocarpium dryopteris (oak fern), and long beech fern (Phegopteris connectilis). We will see a large and thriving population of Lygodium palmatum (climbing fern). Other plants we might see include Amianthium muscitoxicum (fly poison), Liparis liliifolia (large twayblade), Polygala paucifolia (gay wings), Tiarella cordifolia (foamflower), Waldsteinia fragarioides (barren strawberry), Lonicera hirsuta (hairy honeysuckle), Viburnum lantanoides (hobblebush), Castanea dentata (American chestnut), and a nice assortment of clubmosses.
Practicalities: Our walk is potentially an easy 6 miles or so, with pacing and distance dependent on what we find. There are options to shorten this walk, as well as to stop and explore two other park sections afterwards if there’s time/interest. A map of Nescopeck is available at http://www.docs.dcnr.pa.gov/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_003600.pdf. Meeting place will be provided after registration.
Bring water, bug spray, and lunch. For virus safety, the number of participants is limited to 18. Pre-registration is required; contact Anne at anne.sarah.bekker@gmail.com
Our walk is an easy six miles or so, with options to shorten, as well as to stop and explore two other park sections afterwards if there’s time/interest.
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2019 Trips:
http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspot/L161004
Free to all members and non-members
Barnegat Inlet SP lies at the northern tip of Long Beach Island, NJ. We will meet birders at the State Park lot behind the famous lighthouse at 10am. After scanning Barnegat Bay, we will walk alongside the jetty bordering the Inlet, birding there and along the Atlantic Ocean beach, returning to the lighthouse by 12:30 pm through the dunes. Target birds include Harlequin and Long-tailed Ducks, Common Eider, Purple Sandpiper and Great Cormorant. Birders should anticipate cold and windy conditions, and dress accordingly. Water and sunblock recommended.
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Meet at Westville Borough park, River Rd, Westville, NJ. 9 am –
We’ll explore various spots along the NJ – Delaware River coast working our way south. Possible stops, depending on the birds, are: Big Timber Creek, Soupy Island, Red Bank Battlefield, Riverwinds, Mantua Creek Ponds, Ft. Billings Park, and Floodgates.
For those that would like to grab lunch afterwards we’ll end at Riverside Inn where we can view the river from inside.
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Join Navin Sasikumar at East Laurel Hill Cemetery to look for wintering birds on the property and along the Schuylkill river. Meet at the Visitor Center (main gate may be closed, we will wait there until they open). Last year’s highlights include Peregrine Falcon and Eastern Phoebe.
If WEST is more your style, join Gregg Gorton on the other side of the river for Laurel Hill Cemetery – WEST field trip (see posting for details)
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Join Gregg Gorton to bird the cemetery property to count birds for the Great Backyard Bird Count. Meet at the Conservatory Office parking lot. Enter West Laurel Hill Cemetery at 225 Belmont Avenue in Bala Cynwyd. Once in the cemetery, follow signs for the Office.
If EAST is more your style, join Navin Sasikumar on the other side of the river for Laurel Hill Cemetery – EAST field trip (see posting for details)
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Join us on a bird walk with a local birding expert as we hike around a site noted for over 150 species of bird visitor every year. With deep water, limited access, and a lake full of fish, the Strawberry Mansion Reservoir is home to some of the most unique bird species in the area. No experience necessary. This is a joint trip with PA Audubon.
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Each year in the late winter, the American Woodcock move northward at the beginning of their breeding season. One of their migration stops is the Rancocas meadow– a reliable spot to catch the male of the species perform a fascinating aerial display to impress the female Woodcocks. Join Rancocas naturalist Patty Rehn at dusk for an informational session and unique viewing opportunity. Bring binoculars and dress for the weather. This is a joint program with DVOC. As Woodcocks can be hard to pin down, an alternate date of Sunday, February 24 is scheduled. We will notify participants when it gets closer, if the program will switch to the earlier date. Register online, call to register or email us at info@rancocasnaturecenter.org.
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https://www.discoveryphila.org/audubon-programs/
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http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspot/L1027761
Free to all members and non-members
We will look and listen for American woodcocks displaying in the meadow. We will also look for owls, foxes, flying squirrels and other
nocturnal wildlife.
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Join us on a bird walk with a local birding expert as we hike around a site noted for over 150 species of bird visitor every year. With deep water, limited access, and a lake full of fish, the Strawberry Mansion Reservoir is home to some of the most unique bird species in the area. No experience necessary. This is a joint trip with PA Audubon.
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Joint DVOC/Wyncote Audubon field trip
Meet: 8am at Concrete Ship
Birding til ~130pm. Bring food, or we can make a quick stop at Wawa.
Plan: Birding in the main spots at Cape May and perhaps up the Bayshore, looking for returning Piping Plovers, migrating Bonaparte’s Gull and (fingers crossed!) hopefully for a Little Gull, or Sandhill Cranes somewhere along the way. Good time of year for migrating loons and grebes too. We will adapt our day to where the area’s birds are.
Note: Monitor BirdPhilly Chatter group on WhatsApp and DVOC Facebook page for updates prior to trip, and for live updates during the day of April 6th.
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TreePhilly will be giving away yard trees from 12 to 2pm. BirdPhilly will lead bird walk at 10:00am. There will be a row-house native plant gardening workshop at 11:00am. To get a free tree to be planted in the ground in your yard contact 215-685-1900 or CCCEC@phila.gov
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Free to all members and non-members
Join us on a bird walk with a local birding expert as we hike around a site noted for over 150 species of bird visitor every year. With deep water, limited access, and a lake full of fish, the Strawberry Mansion Reservoir is home to some of the most unique bird species in the area. No experience necessary. This is a joint trip with PA Audubon.
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Free to all members and non-members
Jason Weckstein, Associate Professor BEES/Associate Curator of Ornithology Academy of Natural Sciences and Matthew Halley, Ph.D. Candidate BEES will lead a bird/nature walk at Bartram’s Garden. Join them for a few hours in the field to photograph and identify as many species as possible. While the walk will focus on birds, we will also photograph other wildlife and will upload images to iNaturalist. The walk will start at 8 am at the Bartram’s Garden parking lot.
This walk is part of the City Nature Challenge. See https://cncphilly.org/events/ for more CNC events
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Join Billy Brown, nature writer for Grid Magazine and co-host of the Urban Wildlife Podcast along with DVOC President and birder George Armistead on a lunchtime birding walk in Independence National Historical Park. Eighty-six species of birds have been recorded in the park, and we hope to see some of Center City’s resident birds, as well as migrants, passing through. Meet at the Commodore John Barry statue just south of Independence Hall at noon.
This walk is part of the City Nature Challenge. See https://cncphilly.org/events/ for more CNC events
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7.30 am – 10.30 am – Expert birder, Gregg Gorton, will lead participants on a bird walk through the beautiful grounds of West Laurel Hill so we can watch and listen for migrants returning north to breed. Attendees will meet at the Conservatory on the grounds (215 Belmont Avenue, Bala Cynwyd, PA) and are encouraged to reconvene after the walk at the Conservatory for coffee and doughnuts. This is free event but RSVP is required. Donations will be accepted to support the Lower Merion Conservancy. RSVP Link – https://conta.cc/2MUBEWI
This walk is part of the City Nature Challenge. See https://cncphilly.org/events/ for more CNC events
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7.30 am – Meet at the Carpenter Rd. parking area off of Rt. 47. Map coordinates: 39.6814451,-75.080186, This place is all walking.
This walk is part of the City Nature Challenge. See https://cncphilly.org/events/ for more CNC events
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https://ebird.org/hotspot/L504403
Free to all members and non-members
8.00 am – 10.00 am – Meet at the Visitor Center. Quick intro to using iNaturalist and then we can spread out and observe wildlife.
10.30 am – 12.30 pm – John Heinz walk Part 2. We’ll start at the visitor center and explore a different section of the refuge from the earlier walk.
This walk is part of the City Nature Challenge. See https://cncphilly.org/events/ for more CNC events
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https://www.discoveryphila.org/audubon-programs/
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12.15 pm – Audubon will be having nature walks at the Discovery Center on Saturday April 27 at 12:15 and 1:45 PM. The walks will be led by Keith Russell. The Discovery Center is located in the Strawberry Mansion section of Philadelphia at 3401 Reservoir Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19121.
This walk is part of the City Nature Challenge. See https://cncphilly.org/events/ for more CNC events
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This walk is part of the Philadelphia City Nature Challenge. We will focus on birds, particularly breeding warblers, but will be looking at plants, insects, fungi etc too. The preserve is in the NJ Pine Barrens however it has a bit more diversity in the plant community, fostering an impressive bird list. This location has prairie, pine, hooded, blue-winged, prothonatary, worm-eating, and many more breeding warblers. This is also a good spot for summer tanager.
Afterwards, we will visit nearby Franklin Parker Preserve for a more plant-focused trip.
This walk is part of the City Nature Challenge. See https://cncphilly.org/events/ for more CNC events
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Take a stroll around this historic estate situated on the Delaware River. We will look for spring migrants, lingering ducks and gulls, and of course keep our eyes open for resident Bald Eagles.
This trip is scheduled for a weekday. Might be nice to ditch work for a few hours. . .
Co-sponsored with Glen Foerd on the Delaware. This is a FREE event but we ask that you register through Eventbrite so that we know how many birders to expect.
Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/myevent?eid=59596318192
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https://ebird.org/hotspot/L504403
Free to all members and non-members
Join Gregg Gorton to listen for migrating and resident birds at John Heinz NWR in Philadelphia. Bird song is at a high level in May. We will identify birds by sound AND sight. Meet at the Environmental Education Center off of 88th and Lindbergh Blvds.
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Let’s look for warblers (and other migrants) at Ridley Creek State Park! Join Win Shafer and Alan Crawford to explore this hotspot in search of warbles and other migrants. Meet at the Bridle Trail on Gradyville Rd. in Newtown Square.
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https://www.discoveryphila.org/audubon-programs/
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Please join us for a bird walk at one of Philly’s most underrated birding locations. It is peak spring migration and we are bound to see some warblers, thrushes and vireos! Check out that list from May last year: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S45355757 Meet at the parking area on Verree Rd 40.0857998, -75.0605229 If the gate is not open yet, it is safe to park along the road or in the parking lot for Environmental Center which is just north and will be open.
The trip will be a mix of walking along the creek on the paved trail and on rugged hiking trail. Depending on the weather and group we could walk up to 3 miles. But most likely it will be shorter.
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Please join us for a bird walk at Philly’s 3rd best birding location. It is peak spring migration and we are bound to see some warblers, thrushes and vireos! Check out that list from May last year: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S45424981 Let’s meet at the parking lot east of the gazebo (39.9034994, -75.1787725). Due to consistent flooding in the park please be prepared for muddy and wet areas. Water-proof shoes or mud boots are recommended.
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Please join urban birder legend Keith Russell for one of his awesome field trips at Fisher Park. It is going to be peak spring migration! Twenty-one different warbler species have been seen in this overlooked gem in North Philly! Everyone is welcome at this free event.
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Join us on a bird walk with a local birding expert as we hike around a site noted for over 150 species of bird visitor every year. With deep water, limited access, and a lake full of fish, the Strawberry Mansion Reservoir is home to some of the most unique bird species in the area. No experience necessary. This is a joint trip with PA Audubon.
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Free to all members and non-members
Where: Meet at the steps to the Upper Roxborough Reservoir at Port Royal Avenue and Lare Streets.
Description: Though well-known for the large numbers of toads that migrate to the reservoir each spring to mate, the Preserve also hosts a wide variety of migratory and breeding birds. We will walk the perimeter of the reservoir and meadow, and possibly explore the dike that crosses between them, to seek out warblers, cuckoos, orioles, vireos and more.
Free to all, but please RSVP to anne.sarah.bekker[AT]gmail[dot]com.
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Join Bob Horton for the annual DVOC trip to Lakehurst Naval Air Station. The grasslands here are the best annual site in NJ for seeing the breeding displays of Upland Sandpipers. We also expect Grasshopper and Field Sparrows, Horned Lark, Eastern Meadowlark and in the pine forests, Pine Warbler. The site is also host to the hangar for the Hindenburg zeppelin which famously crashed and burned at the site in 1937.
Important: Participants MUST sign up by Wednesday, May 17. Please provide Bob Horton with your full name, drivers license number and state, and date of birth. To grant access to the base, the military needs this information two full weeks before the trip.
Each participant must be a US CITIZEN and will need a valid driver’s license or picture ID. Our stay in the Jump Zone grasslands will be 3 hours.
You must register with Bob Horton for this trip in advance. Email Bob at: horton633@verizon.net. This trip is limited to 20 people.
Meeting time: 7AM at the Cathedral of the Air parking lot in Lakehurst
Directions: Take Rte 70 to the center of Lakehurst. At the McDonalds and gas station, turn onto Rte 547. In about a mile, on the left there is a gray chapel named the Cathedral of the Air. We will car pool from this parking area under the supervision of John Joyce, the base Conservation Officer. Each car entering the base will need a vehicle registration card and proof of insurance.
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https://www.discoveryphila.org/audubon-programs/
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Please join us for a bird walk at one of Philly’s lesser known or maybe even better – unknown – birding locations. West Fairmount Park is huge but we will only focus on the middle section along the more or less newly established Trolley Trail and its side trails. June is the prime month for breeding birds, which include birds like Common Yellowthroats and Yellow Warbler, vireos, orioles, Wood Thrushes, oodles of Catbirds and if we are lucky Scarlet Tanagers.
The main goal of this trip will be to show birders the beauty of the park and hopefully encourage them to come back. If people are interested we can also show folks how to properly utilize breeding codes on the ebird mobile app because we are bound to see some fledglings and other evidence of breeding. Birding by ear is important this time of the year so if you want to learn more please do join.
Check out that list from June last year: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46594274 No worries, we won’t walk for 6 miles. Let’s meet at the parking lot next to the Car Barn building (39.989201, -75.209724). The walk will include some up- and downhills. No ticks! After the walk I would like to check on a Green Heron nest at Concourse Lake. Everyone is welcome to join.
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Join us on a bird walk with a local birding expert as we hike around a site noted for over 150 species of bird visitor every year. With deep water, limited access, and a lake full of fish, the Strawberry Mansion Reservoir is home to some of the most unique bird species in the area. No experience necessary. This is a joint trip with PA Audubon.
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Please join us for a bird walk at this underappreciated gem in NE Philly. June is the prime month for breeding birds, and we are bound to see some cute fledglings. Last summer the area held a breeding pair of American Redstarts and a male Northern Parula was singing its heart out. In addition, Wood Thrushes, Catbirds, Warbling Vireos and Gnatcatchers are common. If we are lucky we will see Yellow-billed Cuckoos. Check out that list from June last year: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46800511
Let’s meet at the Rhawn Street parking lot (40.050221, -75.032959). The walk will be mostly on flat ground. No ticks!
The event is free and open to everyone.
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http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspot/L109135
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It might not seem like “Fall” but the birds don’t have a calendar. They are on the move in small numbers but diverse species in late Aug/ early Sept. Let’s scout the fields to see what’s moving south. We’ll also check the jetty and beach for shorebirds.
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Explore the East Park Reservoir with Keith Russell.
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Join Katrina Rakowski for a walk around John Heinz refuge. This is mid-week, late day walk to see whatever is interesting. Meet in the parking area at the Visitor Center.
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Join Katrina Rakowski for a walk around John Heinz refuge. This is mid-week, late day walk to see whatever is interesting. Meet in the parking area at the Visitor Center.
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Join Gregg Gorton to explore the grounds of this “natural” botanical garden seeking warblers, raptors & other birds. Up to 40 sps. possible.
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Please join us for a bird walk around Concourse and Centennial Lakes in West Fairmount Park. We can expect woodpeckers, vireos, thrushes and of course warblers. Maybe the Green Heron family is still around.
We will meet at the Concourse Lake parking lot at the corner of Belmont Ave and S Concourse Dr.
The event is free and open to everyone.
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Bring a chair to the Dobson School in Manayunk to watch Chimney Swifts enter the old chimney to roost for the evening. These amazing birds swarm just before sunset and enter the chimney by the hundreds. This has been the hot spot in the last few years with over 3000 swifts roosting in the chimney. Parking is available at the Ivy Ridge Train Station, 4910 Umbria Street. Rain date: Tues. Sept. 24.
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Explore the East Park Reservoir with Keith Russell.
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Please join us for a bird walk at one of Philly’s most underrated birding locations. It is peak fall migration and we are bound to see some warblers, thrushes and vireos!
The gate to the parking lot on Verree Rd might not be open yet, but it is safe to park along the road. Please use these coordinates for guidance: 40.0857998, -75.0605229.
The trip will be a mix of walking along the creek on the paved trail and on rugged hiking trail. Depending on the weather and group we could walk up to 3 miles. But most likely it will be shorter.
The event is free and open to everyone.
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Free to all members and non-members
Explore the East Park Reservoir with Keith Russell.
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Free to all members and non-members
Please join us for a bird walk at Philly’s 3rd best birding location. The focus will be on late season migrants and waterfowl.
Let’s meet at the parking lot east of the gazebo (39.9034994, -75.1787725).
Due to consistent flooding in the park please be prepared for muddy and wet areas. Water-proof shoes or mud boots are recommended.
The event is free and open to everyone.
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This trip is timed for the return on wintering waterfowl and gulls. This trip will be at low tide to observe the gulls that roost on a silt bar at the mouth of the Poquessing Creek. We hope to see lesser black-backed and white-winged gulls, common goldeneye, canvasback, great cormorant and bald eagle.
This is a free event co-sponsored by Glen Foerd on the Delaware.
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Explore the East Park Reservoir with Keith Russell.
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Join Cliff Hence at Conowingo Dam to search for Bald Eagles and other birds that use the dam’s outflow for easy food source.
Meet 9AM at the info display area just past the entrance to the second Parking area.
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https://ebird.org/hotspot/L504403
Free to all members and non-members
Meet Cliff Hence at the Visitor Center parking lot for a bird walk. Water fowl should be in by now.
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Explore the East Park Reservoir with Keith Russell.
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Please join us for a bird walk at this underappreciated park in NE Philly! We should see woodpeckers, finches, sparrows and maybe a hawk or two.
UPDATE: Since there is still soccer being played on the ball fields lets meet at the end of McNulty Road (14400 McNulty Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19154). There is a dead end. Cars can be parked along the road. GPS for Google Maps: 40.107337, -74.972503.
Sturdy footwear is recommended as the ground can be wet and muddy.
We will walk for 2-3 miles.
The event is free and open to everyone.
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Free to all members and non-members
Join Cliff Hence at Conowingo Dam to search for Bald Eagles and other birds that use the dam’s outflow for easy food source.
Meet 9AM at the info display area just past the entrance to the second Parking area.
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