2025-26 Field Trips

PRIVATE OUTINGS FOR NEW BIRDERS

Longtime AAS member Jon Dale is available for individual and family local outings for the purpose of teaching birding fundamentals to those new to this informative and entertaining pass time. Contact Jon Dale at jwdale4@gmail.com to schedule.  Jon will provide instruction, tips and a field experience at central Pennsylvania locales to individuals, families, or very small groups.

NOTE: Additional field trips may be announced at meetings and the monthly newsletter as the year progresses. 

SEPTEMBER 2025

Saturday 9/27/25

BIRD WALK ON CELEBRATION OF WILDWOOD DAY

Join GLENN MITZEL at Wildwood Lake Park for a morning bird walk.

Glenn will be doing a bird walk on September 27th, 2025 at Wildwood Lake Park at 8AM.

This is part of the Celebration of Wildwood Day which officially starts at 10AM.  We will meet out front of the Olewine Nature Center that morning.  People who attend can then participate in other events that day at the park.

No registration required.

Hope to see you there!

Please contact Wildwood Park at 717 221 0292 for more information.

Sunday 9/28/25

FIELD TRIP TO JOSEPH IBBERSON CONSERVATION AREA

Start the year right with fall migration at the Ibberson Conservation Area led by former AAS President Zach Richard. Expect to see fall migrants such as southbound warblers, vireos, fly-catchers, Broad-winged and Sharp-shinned Hawks, Ospreys, falcons, and eagles. Resident year round birds should become more visible as leaves begin to turn colors and drop.

Also expect to look for look for possible fall blooms. Contact Zach Richard at zachrichard021@gmail.com to register.

OCTOBER 2025

Saturday 10/18/25

FIELD TRIP TO SECOND MOUNTAIN HAWK WATCH   

Second Mountain Hawk Watch is located on a mountain ridge at Ft. Indiantown Gap and sometimes surpasses renowned Hawk Mountain on its daily fall migration counts. Former AAS Board member and veteran hawk watcher Mary Brenner will be the trip leader for this outing. Bring a drink, snack, binoculars, jacket, and a folding chair for this activity. Plan to stay from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. A porta-potty is available on site. Insect repellent is a good idea. Expect to see Sharp-shinned Hawks, Bald Eagles, and Ospreys as well as migrating passerines. Straggler Broad-winged Hawks and early Golden Eagles are also possibilities as well as several species of falcons.

Contact Mary Brenner at mbrenner822@comcast.net  to registerer for this trip.   

NOVEMBER 2025

Sunday 11/30/25

FIELD TRIP TO JOHN HEINZ NWR   REVIVED FROM THE ARCHIVES!

The John Heinz NWR is an often overlooked NWR right here in PA outside of Philadelphia in Delaware County. Late November should provide an opportunity to see late migrants and early winter arrivals. Expect to see Pie-billed Grebes, Black Ducks, Green-winged Teal, N. Pintails, N. Shovelers, American Wigeon, Gadwall,

Ruddy, and Ring-necked Ducks. Sparrows can include Fox, Tree, and Swamp

Sparrows and perhaps a winter rarity. Raptors include Bald Eagles, N. Harriers, Red-tailed Hawks and possible Peregrine Falcons. This venue has even provided a resident wild turkey in past years. Happy Thanksgiving!

Be sure to bring binoculars, a bagged lunch, drink, sun screen, rain gear, and warm layered clothing.

Contact Rick Price at richarprice210@yahoo.com to register.

DECEMBER 2025

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS

Please see the following dates and leader contacts to participate in the century plus Audubon tradition of Christmas Bird Counts (CBCs.)

The Buchanan Trail CBC (PABT) will be held on Tuesday December 16, 2025. Contact Vern Gauthier at verngauthier14@gmail.com to register.

  The Harrisburg CBC will be held on Saturday December 20, 2025. Contact Annette Mathes at 19@verizon.net to register.

  The York Springs CBC will be held Monday December 22, 2025. Contact Tim Johnson at tj359@sbcglobal.net to register.

   The New Bloomfield CBC will be held on Saturday December 27, 2025.   Contact Tiffany Willow at weepingwillow73@yahoo.com to register.

  The Newville CBC (PANV) will be on Saturday January 3, 2026. Contact Vern Gauthier a  verngauthier14@gmail.com to register.

Please note that Christmas Bird Counts are not considered AAS field trips. The CBCs are a long standing Audubon tradition that pre-dates our chapter. They are generally considered full day activities, working in teams, and may even extend from pre-dawn till dusk. Please be sure to ask your leader if you have any questions.

JANUARY 2026

SATURDAY 1/10/26

WINTER BIRDING AT WILDWOOD PARK

Join leaders Rick and Peggy Price for a new year of birding beginning at local

Wildwood Park in Dauphin County. We will meet outside of the Olewine Nature Center at 8:00 am to search for year round resident birds and visiting waterfowl and winter songbirds from the north. At 10:00 am those who wish may stay for “Birds and Brew” co-hosted by Wildwood Park and AAS, which consists of watching feeder birds from the comfort of warm chairs with a sampling of hot coffee or tea. AAS volunteers will be available to assist new birders.

  Contact Rick Price at rprice210@comcast.net to register for the bird walk.

FEBRUARY 2026

SATURDAY 2/21/26

BIRDING AT BOILING SPRINGS

  Recently Jonathan and Gigi Gere improved our annual walk around Children’s Lake with the addition of a hike through the adjacent Wittlinger Nature Preserve. We will look for waterfowl around the lake as well as raptors, kinglets, wrens, woodpeckers, gulls, and Yellow-rumped Warblers. Spotting trout, mink, and early blooming plants offer other opportunities for the curious naturalist. Contact Jonathan Gere at jonathangere@yahoo.com to register.

THE ANNUAL SNOW GOOSE SPECTACLE AT MIDDLE CREEK

This year’s trip to Middle Creek is again scheduled for a weekday to avoid the thousands more visitors that arrive on the weekends during peak viewing season. AAS member and Wildwood volunteer Glenn Mitzel is scheduled to lead this outing, which promises to offer thousands of Snow Geese as well as Tundra Swans, migrating ducks, White-crowned Sparrows, and an array of raptor possibilities. Dress in layers and bring drinks and snacks as well as your binoculars. Additional spotting scopes are welcome if you’re willing to carry them out to Willow Point.(approximately .5 miles each way on a paved path.)

  We will convene at 1:00 pm in front of the Visitors Center to allow participants the option of staying at dusk to search for Woodcock, N. Harriers, and/or Shorteared Owls, the latter depending on current reports.

Please contact Glenn Mitzel at gljjzel@gmail.com to register in advance for this event.   

APRIL 2026

FRIDAY 4/10/26

WILDFLOWER AND NATURE WALK AT SHENK’S FERRY

Join naturalist Dan Welte as he returns to Shenk’s Ferry Preserve in Lancaster County. Expect to see an assortment of blooms, as well as budding trees, and whatever critters seem to pop up on Dan’s excursions, including birds, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals.

Participants may contact Dan at dcmawelte@comcast.net to register.

TBA:   Possible field trip to the PA Game Commission’s Haldeman Island in the

Susquehanna River to be led by Scott Bills, retiree from the PGC.

MAY 2026

SATURDAY 5/2/26

WARBLER WALK AT STONY CREEK CLASSIC!

Join former AAS president Zach Richard in Stony Valley to look and listen for warblers and other song birds in full breeding plumage. As usual there should also be some spring blooms to view on this walk.

Contact Zach at zachrichard021@gmail.com to register.

SATURDAY 5/9/26

WORLD MIGRATORY BIRD DAY

  AAS member and PA Bird Atlas co-cordinator for Dauphin County, Kevin

Shannon, will return to lead this annual bird count at Memorial Lake State Park in Lebanon County. This world-wide migratory count occurs during the peak of spring migration. Expect to see an array of birds at this time including waterfowl, passerines, and raptors. Bring binoculars, a drink, and a rain jacket. Insect repellent is recommended as ticks are a possibility. Additional spotting scopes are welcome for the sector where we scan the lake for water birds.

Contact Kevin Shannon at kbsathome@comcast.net to register.

SUNDAY 5/10/26

WARBLER WALK AT STATE GAME LAND 230

Pete Lusardi will lead a walk along the base of Blue Mountain near Carlisle Springs to look for migrating and summer resident warblers and other song birds.

This walk has a history of uncommon birds showing up including Golden-winged Warbler, Mourning Warbler, Summer Tanager, and Bobolinks. Registration is not required. Meet at the parking lot on the south side of Rt. 944 at 7:30 AM.

Participants may contact Pete Lusardi at peter.lusardi@ghd.com if needed.

SUNDAY 5/17/26

A GUIDED TRIP TO THE SERPENTINE BARRENS

  Former AAS President and geologist Zach Richards will lead another outing to the Serpentine Barrens in southern Chester County. Prior trips proved to be a well balanced mix of geological history, some less common plant life, and a good number of bird species including Yellow-breasted Chats and an elusive singing Kentucky Warbler. Be prepared to hike on some hilly terrain and bring binoculars, sunscreen, a packed lunch, drink, and a rain jacket.

Contact Zach at  zachrichard021@gmail.com to register.

MAY-JUNE 2026

HARRISBURG FALCON WATCH - Dates to be announced after eggs hatch.

Volunteers will have the opportunity to observe and help young Peregrine Falcons at the Rachel Carson Building in downtown Harrisburg. As the young fledglings attempt their first flight, the Falcon Watch team will be on the lookout for mishaps or injuries. Contact Sue Hannon at hbgfalconwatch@gmail.com for more information