All Meetings Cancelled Until Further Notice because of Coronavirus

Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic has forced us to cancel all activities in April, May, and June, including our spring bird walks at Hills Creek State Park. It  may be possible to resume some activities later in the summer; however that is not certain. We will keep you informed if anything changes.

February 19, 2020 Meeting -- Landscape-Scale Bird Conservation

Please Join us in the Large Group Presentation Classroom at Wellsboro High School on February 19 for a program on "landscape scale" bird consevation by Dr Jeffery Larkin. We will post signs with directions to the room; same place as for the puffin talk last year. Business meeting starts at 6:00 and the program at 7:00.

Title: "Importance of landscape-scale bird conservation across private and public forest lands in Pennsylvania" by Dr. Jeffrey Larkin.

Description: Several studies have recently examined nesting and post-fledging habitat selection of many at-risk, forest-dependent songbirds. Collectively, this research provides a substantial body of evidence that suggests forest bird conservation is intimately tied to landscape context and configuration and within-stand structural complexity, regardless of nesting guild. As such, strategically increasing forest age class diversity has become an important focus of many forest-bird conservation efforts. This presentation will provide examples of successes and insight as to how a well-funded and well-organized partnership can overcome the many constraints that can often inhibit large-scale conservation implementation. The talk will be geared toward a diverse audience from private landowners, birders, and conservation organizations.

Wellsboro Becomes First Pennsylvania Bird Town Outside of Southeast Pennsylvania

What is a Bird Town? Bird Town is a working partnership of Audubon and municipalities in Pennsylvania to promote conservation and community-based actions to create a healthy, more sustainable environment for birds and people.

Audubon provides the tools for the municipality to engage their residents, schools and businesses in making more ecologically-friendly decisions, conserving energy and in the process, saving money. A Bird Town makes efforts to restore valuable ecosystem services to create a culture of conservation where everyone is a potential steward of nature in their backyard and beyond.

What does it mean for Wellsboro? A concerted effort by Wellsboro and its partners to promote efforts in working towards a more sustainable natural environment with healthier yards, schools and parks.
Initial Goals!!
• Promote the Borough of Wellsboro Bird Town designation
• Install Bird Town Signs
• Expand the Bird Town Partnerships
• Encourage residents to register their properties in the Bird Habitat Recognition Program
• Conduct activities and events that support stewardship and develop a sustainable environment.

What Can You Do?
• Get involved by volunteering with Wellsboro’s local partners
• Sign up for the Bird Habitat Recognition Program
• Most of all: encourage our youth of today to help make a difference in their environment in the future!!!!!!!

April 17 Meeting -- Conservation of Tioga County Orchids

We have all seen the beautiful tropical orchids, but how many of you have seen any of the exceptionally beautiful native orchids growing right here in the wilds of Tioga County?  How many native orchids are there in Tioga County?  Do they need conservation?  If you would like answers to these and any other questions you may have regarding native orchids, come to a free presentation entitled “Conservation of Tioga County Orchids” at the Old Music Room, Wellsboro School Admin Building, on Wednesday, April 17, 2019 at 7:00 pm.  Presenters will be Mark Simonis Tioga County Botanist and Chris Firestone, Botanist with the PA DCNR Bureau of Forestry.

Directions - drive past the main entrance of the Admin building, turn left and follow the building all the way around to the back.  You will pass a maintenance shed/building.  Go in the back entrance and follow the signs to the meeting room. The program will start at 7:00 pm. 

HIlls Creek SP Spring Bird Walks to Resume

Our annual spring bird walks at Hills Creek State Park will start up again this year on Saturday, April 6. The lake is open, and ducks, tundra swans and grebes have been showing up every day.  Walks will start at 8:00 AM at the park office. The April bird walks are frequently cold and blustery, so please dress warmly. Waterfowl are the main attraction right now, and we can expect to see a variety of diving ducks, grebes, and loons. Spotting scopes will be available if the birds are too far out in the lake. Bald eagles are almost always present, and we might see an osprey; some have already been reported in the area. A few migratory land birds may be present, but their numbers will be small until May. The walks will take place every Saturday through the rest of April and through all of May. There are no fees, and birders of all levels or anyone just interested in birds are welcome to attend. Trails may be a bit wet, but are flat and easily walked. No prior notification is required. Just show up at the park office.

Ring-necked Duck (c) Gary Tyson