Glue Traps Kill Birds! Use Circle Traps to Control Spotted Lanternflies More Effectively.

Goldfinch trapped on a sticky trap wrapped around a tree trunk, under the chicken wire that failed to protect bycatch from the trap intended for Spotted Lanternflies (SLFs) - photo from Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation

Even with wire and mesh coverings, glue traps (sticky bands) intended for Spotted Lanternflies (SLFs) remain dangerous, and unintended bycatch, like the Goldfinch in this photo, still occurs.

Wildlife Rehabilitators receive victims trapped on protected glue tape/ sticky band traps. Insects are still captured and birds will crawl in for a meal. Also, mesh can fall off or be pulled off by a squirrel on the trunk.

Need more convincing? View the Glue Victims Gallery.

Fortunately, scientists have learned that Circle Traps are more effective at trapping SLFs than sticky tape.

And you can buy circle traps or read Penn State Extension’s directions on how to make Spotted Lanternfly Circle Traps.

Spread the word about the dangers of glue traps and the benefits of circle traps using our social media kit.

Engage with Lehigh Valley Audubon Society to Help Preserve Birds and Habitat!
Become a member, volunteer &/or donor.

Engage in 2nd Season of 5 Year PA Bird Atlas 3

The Pennsylvania Bird Atlas needs volunteers and is hiring Seasonal Research Technicians

We hope that some of you helped to gather data for Season 1 of the 3rd Pennsylvania Bird Atlas (PBA3) and that more of you will help with the 2nd Season of this 5-year-long survey that will end February 2029.

Pennsylvania birders of all ages and skill levels began working together in early 2024 to map the breeding and status of bird species in the state. Read An Atlaser’s Guide to Season Two to plan your participation this year.

This project is supported by the PA Game Commission (PGC), headquartered at Hawk Mountain, and facilitated by Cornell Lab’s eBird online tools. The PGC initiated this project to update the information they need to prioritize conservation actions and to protect the birds of Pennsylvania.

Read the PA Bird Atlas 3 Volunteer Handbook to learn more about how to participate.

Findings will guide conservation for years to come.

In addition to volunteers, Pennsylvania Bird Atlas is hiring a team of seasonal point count technicians to conduct surveys throughout Pennsylvania during the summer of 2025.

Read all the job details and how to apply here.

April 18, 2025 is the Deadline to Apply to be a Paid Seasonal Research Technician for Pennsylvania Bird Atlas, but applications will be reviewed upon receipt.

Employment Dates: May 19 – mid July 2025

Preference will be given to applicants with previous point count experience and eBird experience. Prior birding experience need not be through a paid position, but ability to identify birds of Pennsylvania by sight and sound required.

CALL TO ACTION!

As bird lovers, we understand that a healthy environment is essential to the well-being of not just birds, but of all species, including humans. Unfortunately, recent federal actions will have direct negative impacts on birds and the lands we share with them. These include regulatory rollbacks that will be destructive to public lands by allowing more pollution and harmful extractive activities, mass firings of federal employees who have critical roles in maintaining the health of our public lands, withholding of grant funds to clean up or protect the environment, and discontinuation of programs to limit the effects of climate change.

The health of nature transcends politics, affecting every single one of us. And the U.S. has long had a strong bipartisan consensus in support of conservation.

We encourage everyone reading this message to step up now to defend the birds you love and the environment that sustains us.

How?

As a start, call your member of Congress (in the Lehigh Valley, that’s Ryan Mackenzie, (202) 225-6411) and your two Senators (in PA, that’s John Fetterman, (202) 224-4254 and Dave McCormick, 202-224-6324). Ask them (or their voicemail ) to preserve – not cut! – funding for programs that protect the environment, support clean energy, and maintain our National Parks, National Forests, National Wildlife Refuges and other key bird habitats.

THE HOUSE IS EXPECTED TO VOTE ON A BUDGET RESOLUTION THIS WEEK (Feb. 24-28), SO CALLS TO RYAN MACKENZIE SHOULD BE MADE ASAP!

You might also consider:
• Signing up for Audubon’s Action Network, at https://www.audubon.org/takeaction
• Visiting the advocacy page of the League of Conservation Voters, at https://www.lcv.org/get-involved/#take-action-online
• Calling your lawmakers on a regular basis. Other topics might include: asking that personnel fired from agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Park Service be reinstated; opposing the undermining of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Endangered Species Act; and opposing expanded drilling and mining on public lands, including species-rich habitats such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Lastly, Lehigh Valley Audubon Society is considering creating a Rapid-Response team – bird/nature lovers interested in being contacted about time-sensitive environmental and bird-conservation-related issues, with suggested scripts for contacting lawmakers.

If you would be interested in participating – or have any questions or suggestions -- please send an email to conservation@lvaudubon.org.

If you’re not a member of our Community Chapter of Audubon, please join and/or volunteer to help with our ongoing Lehigh Valley preservation, advocacy, and education efforts.

Join this all day LVAS Field Trip to Sandy Hook – Gateway National Recreation Area, NJ

Saturday, MARCH 1, 2025 (RESCHEDULED FROM FEBRUARY DUE TO WEATHER)

MEET AT 7:45 AM at the Park-n-Ride, RT. 33 and William Penn Highway.

Join this all day Lehigh Valley Audubon Society Field Trip to Sandy Hook – Gateway National Recreation Area, NJ.

Dress warm, bring drink, snacks, and lunch. We will stop at a Wawa before entering the park, if you would rather purchase drink and food there.
Possible sightings include cool birds, and harbor seals.
Contact trip leader Mark Boyd with questions 610-657-9401 or use our Meetup or Mobilize to let us know you plan to attend.

Never miss an event!

Become a member of Lehigh Valley Audubon Society to be notified of future guided walks, educational programs, volunteer opportunities, and all of our latest activities.

Photo of Semipalmated Plover - Sandy Hook NRA - Summer 2014 by Scott Burnet

Bluebird Nest Box Tips from LVAS Habitat Committee!

Spring thaw is right around the corner!!

Eastern Bluebird at entrance to nest box - photo provided by Lehigh Gap Nature Center

Provide Clean Nest Boxes for Bluebirds

Now is a great opportunity to finish up some winter projects and get ready for nicer weather and some great birding.

If you are thinking about adding a bluebird box to your property, now is a great time to get it installed. Birds are slowly moving around and starting to inspect locations for nests this season.

If you have nest boxes up already, now is the time to get them cleaned out and ready for the next generation of bluebirds! No need to add material, simply remove any old nesting material or caches that rodents may have left for winter.

Keep an eye out for bi-weekly bird/habitat tips!

If you’re not a member of our Community Chapter of Audubon, please join and/or volunteer to help with our ongoing Lehigh Valley habitat preservation efforts.

You can read summaries of some of our efforts to Preserve habitat in the Lehigh Valley, like our multi-species Nest Box Trail System, or read related, more detailed stories by clicking a tag or category to filter this page.

Additional Bluebird Nest Box Construction and Maintenance Information:

https://nestwatch.org/learn/all-about-birdhouses/birds/eastern-bluebird/

https://www.audubon.org/news/how-build-bluebird-nest-box

Follow Lehigh Valley Audubon Society on Instagram!

We're excited to announce that Lehigh Valley Audubon Society is now on Instagram!

This new platform will help us connect with more individuals who share our passion for bird conservation, community engagement, and exploring the wonders of nature.

Follow us for announcements about upcoming events, as well as fun, informative, and engaging content about birds and nature! Plus, check out our Stories, where we'll highlight posts from fellow Audubon societies and organizations working in avian science.

Join us in making a difference — one post, one bird, and one conservation effort at a time! 

Spring Migration is here!! ☀️ This event is crucial for our local birds, as they are now searching for food, mates, and proper nesting grounds. Keep en eye out for your season favorites, like the Eastern Phoebe pictured above! Comment what your favorite spring bird is!! 🌺 - - #lvas #lehighaudubonsociety #lehighvalley #allentown #allentownpa #pennsylvania #pa #birds #springmigration #easternphoebe

An increasing concern in bird conservation is bird collisions. Advocates for wildlife know that glass can be harmful towards our birds, especially during migration periods. As we move into Spring 🌺, we want to promote bird dotting and ask our supporters to learn more the harm glass can cause. Accounts with more information will be tagged! - graphic by Kyle from Upper Saucon 🦅 Instagram Accounts: @birdsafephilly @birdsafeguelph @birdsafepa @birdsafecampussummit #lvas #lehighvalleyaudubonsociety #lehighvalleypa #pa #pennsylvania #birdsafeglass #birds #birdconservation

The LVAS Youth Committee invites families and beginner birders to celebrate the start of spring with a guided walk at the Whitehall Parkway! Saturday, March 29 (9:00-11:00 a.m.): Whitehall Parkway. Meet at the Parkway’s main parking lot along S. Church St. (see map: https://shorturl.at/gFiSR) and enjoy a two-hour bird walk through mixed habitats along the Ironton Rail Trail and Coplay Creek. We hope to see a variety of bird species, including some early spring migrants. This program is free and open to birders of all experience levels. A limited number of loaner binoculars will be available for those who need them. Contact trip leader, Chad Schwartz, at youth@lvaudubon.org if you have any questions. 📸: Skyler Ewing

Calling all bird lovers! 🦢✨ Join us for a morning of birdwatching at Round Valley Recreation Area, New Jersey’s largest freshwater lake. While we’ll be spotting all kinds of birds, we’re especially excited to see the stunning waterfowl that call this place home. Meet us at the park-n-ride on Rt. 33 & William Penn Hwy at 8:00 AM for a fun carpool adventure! 🚗💨 Gas up your car if you’re driving, and if you’re hopping in, don’t forget to pitch in for gas. Let’s make some birdwatching memories! - - #lvas #lehighvalleyaudubon #lehighvalleypa #pennsylvania #newjersey #birding #birds #waterfowl #audubonsociety

Join us to kick-off Spring 2025 by discovering some of the bee-utiful bees that are in our yards, gardens, and local wild places! Pennsylvania has as many species of bees as birds, but they’re easy to miss until you know what to look for! You’ll learn how and why bees gather pollen yet unwittingly pollinate plants in the process. And discover that some insects you think are bees are imitators. We’ll end with easy ways to support native bees. Karen authors Bugs for Birds for our Osprey newsletter. She’s an award-winning macro photographer, Certified Pollinator Steward, and is completing her qualifications as a Pennsylvania Master Naturalist. Register with the Meetup link in our bio! - - #birds #lehighvalleypa #allentownpa #lvas #lehighvalleyaudubon #audubonsociety #bees #pennsylvania

Celebrating World Wildlife Day with a special shoutout to our feathered friends 🦜✨ Let’s protect and preserve the beautiful birds that grace our skies. Thanks to organizations like the Audubon Society, we’re working together to ensure a future where birds thrive. 🌍💚 #worldwildlifeday #birdsoftheworld #audubonsociety #conservationinaction #lehighvalleypa #allentownpa #pennsylvania #lvas #lehighvalleyaudubonsociety

Enjoy an early spring bird walk at the beautiful Leaser Lake for a variety of waterfowl and passerines. Meet at the parking lot for the north boat launch. We look forward to seeing you there! Leader: Frank Dickman (484-695-3887) - - #lehighvalleypa #allentownpennsylvania #lvas #lehighvalleyaudubonsociety #audubonsociety #leaserlake #birds #birdwatching

Now is a great opportunity to finish up some winter projects and get ready for nicer weather and some great birding. If you are thinking about adding a bluebird box to your property, now is a great time to get it installed. Birds are slowly moving around and starting to inspect locations for nests this season. If you have nest boxes up already, now is the time to get them cleaned out and ready for the next generation of bluebirds! No need to add material, simply remove any old nesting material or caches that rodents may have left for winter. - - #lehighvalleypa #lehighvalley #pa #pennsylvania #allentownpa #lvas #lehighvalleyaudubonsociety #birds #easternbluebirds #spring

Meet at the Park-n-Ride, RT. 33 and William Penn Highway, at 7:45 AM. This is an all day event! Dress warm, bring drink, snacks, and lunch. We will stop at a Wawa before entering the park, if you would rather purchase drink and food there. Possible sightings include cool birds, and harbor seals. Carpooling is required. If you are able and willing to drive please have a tank full of gas. If you would rather ride, then be prepared to chip in for gas and tolls. Contact trip leader Mark Boyd with questions 610-657-9401. - - #lehighvalleypa #lehighvalleyaudubon #birds #newjersey #audubonsociety #lvas #pennsylvania

(Second post) What a successful Great Backyard Bird Count! It was a pleasure to have folks join us and count out local birds, whether on a guided walk or from the window feeders. If you weren’t able to join us this time, please consider joining us next year! Keep an eye out for future events! Shout out to Brandon for bringing the red tail hawk out to say hi! - - #birds #lehighvalley #lvas #lehighvalleyaudubonsociety #audubonsociety #allentownpa #pennsylvania #wildlandsconservancy