Learn the Who, How and Why of Winter Birds with LVAS VP, Barbara Malt

Join us on Zoom on Friday, Jan 31, 2025 at 7:00 pm Eastern Time (US and Canada) as LVAS Vice President Barbara Malt introduces the birds that winter with us here in eastern Pennsylvania.

We'll consider which birds migrate and which stay to brave the elements, and we'll discuss the adaptations that allow our wintering birds to get through the cold months. We'll also get to know some wintering species in your backyard and farther afield and how to identify them.

We hope you can join us.

You may register at any time up to the start of the meeting by clicking on the link below.

https://muhlenberg.zoom.us/meeting/register/ILflzkM4TaOx_l6R81vEFg

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT 2023

Originally Published in April - June 2023 Quarterly Newsletter of The Lehigh Valley Audubon Society

Brandon Swayser and Sunny, the Barred Owl

Here at LVAS, we don’t just count birds for the Great Backyard Bird Count – we party! The Great Backyard Bird Count party is a joint project of Lehigh Valley Audubon Society (LVAS) and Wildlands Conservancy. We met at the Trexler Building at the Dorothy Rider Pool Wildlife Sanctuary, where feeders were set-up in front of windows. Adults and children alike watched the feeders, practiced their bird ID, and counted the birds. They were enthralled by the chance to view education birds, Sunny the Barred Owl and Nittany the Red-tailed Hawk, up-close, with lots of good info and background stories on these two birds by Brandon Swayser. With cooperative weather, many participants also enjoyed the option to take a guided walk through the woods and along the creek to see what else could be found. Many cookies and pretzels were consumed, bird puzzles were done, and pine cone snowy owls were made.

Participants at Great Backyard Bird Count - Photo by Ello Soto

Twenty-three species were spotted altogether, with highlights including four Common Mergansers and a Red-tailed Hawk and Turkey Vultures circling overhead. A big thanks to our LVAS volunteers who helped with approximately 42 visitors: Jim Funk, Colette Cragin, Paul Sherrer, Janet Farley, Karen Campbell, Dan Pokras, and Betty Abrams. Special thanks to Wayne Frick for bringing his Chirpsounds technology to pipe bird vocalizations inside for learning sound ID.

Participants at Great Backyard Bird Count - Photo by Ello Soto