Valley Forge Audubon Society Calendar of Events

Join volunteers from the Valley Forge Audubon Society on the third Saturday of every month, March through October, for a free guided birding tour around the woods and meadows of historic Mill Grove. Our outing leaders will help you learn about the seasonal and month-to-month fluctuations in bird life in a friendly and relaxed setting - perfect for beginning and experienced birders alike.

Please bring binoculars if you have them. Children are always welcome at Valley Forge Audubon Society events, although they must be accompanied by an adult. We will travel along both paved and earthen paths, and some of our route can accommodate wheelchairs and strollers, although please note that there are some slopes to navigate. Each outing will last approximately 2 hours, although you may leave at any time. There is a public restroom available on site.

A National Historic Landmark, the 175-acre Mill Grove estate dates from the 1760s and the grounds are now part of the Montgomery County Parks system's historic sites. The farmhouse was the first American home of artist and naturalist John James Audubon, and Mill Grove is now home to the John James Audubon Center museum.

Address: John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove
1201 Pawlings Road, Audubon, 19403

Photo credit: Wood Thrush, taken by Kayann Cassidy at Mill Grove

Join us for a fascinating visit to Willistown Conservation Trust's bird banding station at Rushton Woods Preserve, where you can watch bird banding research as it happens. Through the tracking of individual birds, documentation is gathered on the seasonal and long-term population patterns of migratory and resident species - and this is where all that begins.

We will meet at the Rushton Farm parking lot at 7:45 am and walk down to the banding station, where we will spend about 30 minutes observing the identification, banding, and data collection (age, sex, weight, etc.) of birds caught in the mist nests. We will also watch as the birds are released back into the wild. After that we will take a bird walk around the property to see what else we can find. You are welcome to return to the banding station again after the walk.

Note that the banding station operates as weather permits. Banding will not occur if it rains or if the temperature falls below 40 degrees. This event will be canceled if either of these conditions is met.

Bring binoculars if you have them. Note that the trails are earthen and may be uneven and muddy. Children are always welcome if accompanied by an adult. There are restrooms available on site.

Leaders: Sarah Boucas-Neto, Pat & Tony Nastase

Wentz Run Park in Blue Bell is an under-birded location in Montgomery County. Although the park has a number of athletic fields, it has some naturalized areas as well as a nature trail that goes through woods and meadows. A number of migratory birds have been noted here during spring migration (Northen Parula (photo), Blue-winged warbler, Chestnut-sided warbler, Prairie warbler, Black and White Warbler). The first part of our walk will be on paved trails along edge habitat. We will then head into the woods and meadows where we will be walking on earthen trails. Please wear sturdy waterproof shoes as it can be wet in some areas. There are large stepping stones to cross the creek that we will have to navigate.

New birders are always welcome as are children accompanied by an adult. Please bring binoculars if you have them. The leaders will have 2 pairs to loan out.

Park in the large lot at the end of Anvil Lane where we will meet. There are restrooms on site.

GPS: 5P68+75 Blue Bell, Pennsylvania

Leaders: Pat and Tony Nastase (patnastase@gmail.com)