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2026 PSO Birding Festival Blair County Convention Center Altoona, PA
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Return to the Birding Festival Home Page
Friday Trips
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Lower Trail - Mt. Etna Station Blair County Friday, June 19 |
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Leader (s): Jeff Kenney and Angela Romanczuk |
Meet at: Meet at the Field Trip site at 1:00 PM |
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Trip Location: Lower Trail - Mt. Etna Station |
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| Trip Map | ||
Participant Limit 15 Available Slots: 15 |
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Fee: No |
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Driving time to site: 25 Minutes Riverside Forest trail near farmland. Home to a variety of flycatchers, woodpeckers, other wood warblers and vireos, and Bald Eagles. This is one of the best places in the state for nesting warbler diversity. |
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Plummers Hollow Blair County Friday, June 19 |
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Leader (s): Mark Bonta |
Meet at: Meet at the Field Trip site at 1:00 PM |
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Trip Location: Plummers Hollow entrance |
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| Trip Map | ||
Participant Limit 20 Available Slots: 20 |
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Fee: 0 |
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Driving time to site: 22 Minutes Easy, a gentle ascent along the road through the hollow. The return is along the same road, so you can go as little or as long as you want--half a mile, up to five miles. Access to the parking area will be open, so visitors can arrive later and walk the Hollow road on their own. The main guided hike will go up to the view at the top of the field, and then return via a loop back into the Hollow. No steep ascents. People are free to hang out in Plummers Hollow as long as they wish. |
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Saturday Trips
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Canoe Creek State Park - East Shore Day Use Area Blair County Saturday June 20 |
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Leader (s): Mark Nale |
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Meet at: Meet at the Field Trip site at 7:00 AM |
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Trip Location: Canoe Creek State Park - Pavilion #3 |
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| Trip Map | ||
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Participant Limit: 10 |
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Fee: No |
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Driving time to site: 17 Minutes Lakeside, as well as following Beaver Pond Trail along a stream, through mixed habitat, including thick brush. Birds: waterfowl & wading birds, warblers, Osprey, Bald Eagle, other woodland species. Out & back - Less than 1 mile each way, mostly level, some areas might be muddy. |
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Fort Roberdeau Historic Site - Intro to Nature Journaling Blair County Saturday June 20 |
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Leader (s): Denice Rodaniche |
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Meet at: Meet at the Field Trip site at 9:00 AM |
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Trip Location: Fort Roberdeau Historic Site |
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| Trip Map | ||
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Participant Limit: 15 |
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Fee: No |
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Driving time to site: 28 Minutes Fort Roberdeau is a historic fort dating back to 1778. The unique and natural landscape surrounding the fort hosts a diverse array of wildlife and is the perfect place to learn about nature journaling.Nature journaling is using words, pictures, and numbers to collect and record your nature observations, questions, connections, and explanations in a notebook. This practice helps you slow down, pay attention, notice more, and get curious about the beauty around you. The workshop is led by experienced local nature journal extraordinaire Denice Rodaniche. This will take place outdoors under a pavilion with seating and there will be short walks around a flat area looking for woodpeckers and other species. |
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Lower Trail - Mt. Etna Station Blair County Saturday June 20 |
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Leader (s): Justin Merry |
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Meet at: Meet at the Field Trip site at 8:00 AM |
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Trip Location: Lower Trail - Mt. Etna Station trailhead |
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| Trip Map | ||
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Participant Limit: 15 |
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Fee: No |
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Driving time to site: 25 Minutes Riverside Forest trail near farmland. Home to a variety of flycatchers, woodpeckers, other wood warblers and vireos, and Bald Eagles. This is one of the best places in the state for nesting warbler diversity. |
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Lower Trail - Williamsburg Blair County Saturday June 20 |
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Leader (s): Joe Gyekis |
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Meet at: Meet at the Field Trip site at 8:00 AM |
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Trip Location: Trailhead parking lot |
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| Trip Map | ||
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Participant Limit: 15 |
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Fee: No |
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Driving time to site: 24 Minutes Riparian forest beside a small river, another section of the famous Cerulean Warbler trail. Other expected nesting warblers/vireos/orioles should entertain us. ~1 mile of walking on a flat gravel trail |
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NatureWorks Park Blair County Saturday June 20 |
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Leader (s): Doug Wentzel |
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Meet at: Meet at the Field Trip site at 8:00 AM |
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Trip Location: NatureWorks Park parking lot |
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| Trip Map | ||
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Participant Limit: 15 |
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Fee: No |
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Driving time to site: 8 Minutes Blair County Conservation District first environmental specific outdoor education and recreation area. This 15 acre park includes open space, forest edge, small stream, wetland and walking trails. Walk is ideal for beginning birders and target species include both orioles, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, and Warbling Vireo. |
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Plummers Hollow Blair County Saturday June 20 |
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Leader (s): Mark Bonta |
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Meet at: Meet at the Field Trip site at 4:30 AM |
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Trip Location: Entrance to Plummers Hollow |
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| Trip Map | ||
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Participant Limit: 8 |
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Fee: No |
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Driving time to site: 22 Minutes The habitat is deep mixed hardwoods and diverse understory on the slopes of the hollow and along the stream. Four miles. Strenuous at the beginning, must be in good shape for climb. Must bring drinking water. |
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Shawnee State Park - Colvin Access Bedford County Saturday June 20 |
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Leader (s): Tracy Mosebey |
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Meet at: Meet at the Field Trip site at 8:00 AM |
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Trip Location: Shawnee State Park - Colvin parking area |
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| Trip Map | ||
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Participant Limit: 15 |
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Fee: No |
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Driving time to site: 44 Minutes The diverse habitats of Shawnee State Park provide great opportunities for viewing wildlife. The park sits near the base of the Allegheny Front. The 451-acre lake and its surrounding fields and woods are home to many species of fish, birds, and other wildlife. Hike will be 1-2 miles, a few hills but not steep, mowed grassy trail. Optional car birding for waterfowl after the hike. |
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State Game Lands 166 Blair County Saturday June 20 |
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Leader (s): Connor Schmitt |
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Meet at: Meet at the Field Trip site at 7:30 AM |
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Trip Location: State Game Lands 166 lot off Beaver Dam Road |
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| Trip Map | ||
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Participant Limit: 15 |
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Fee: No |
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Driving time to site: 35 Minutes This part of SGL 166 features a diverse habitat. The main feature is a wetland area along the power line cut. This area is great for warbler diversity, including species like Blackburnian Warblers, Cerulean Warblers, and Hooded Warblers.Most of the walking (1-2 miles) will be on the flat gravel road by the wetland. |
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State Game Lands 73 - Tussey Mountain Blair County Saturday June 20 |
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Leader (s): Greg and Deb Grove |
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Meet at: Meet at the Field Trip site at 8:00 AM |
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Trip Location: SGL parking area off Route 164 |
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| Trip Map | ||
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Participant Limit: 12 |
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Fee: No |
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Driving time to site: 33 Minutes Mature forest, with areas of early successional habitat. Fairly easy walking on gated SGL road (Mid-State Trail), slightly uphill. One-two miles, maybe more for those interested. There is a possibility of rattlesnakes. |
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Yellow Creek State Park - North Shore Indiana County Saturday June 20 |
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Leader (s): Higbees |
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Meet at: Meet at the Field Trip site at 7:00 AM |
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Trip Location: North Shore gazebo |
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| Trip Map | ||
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Participant Limit: 15 |
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Fee: No |
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Driving time to site: 54 Minutes We will check the lake for water birds, Bald Eagles, and passerines along the edge, including Eastern Warbling Vireos, Orchard and Baltimore orioles, and Eastern Yellow Warblers then continue our hike through the wooded area above Stake Church for Golden-crowned Kinglets, Ovenbirds and Kentucky, Black-throated Green, Hooded, and Black-and-white warblers.Walking easy to moderate with a few hills; distance roughly 1.5 miles. |
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Sunday Trips
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Canoe Creek State Park - East Shore Day Use Area Blair County Sunday June 21 |
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Leader (s): Mark Nale |
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Meet at: Meet at the Field Trip site at 7:00 AM |
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Trip Location: Canoe Creek State Park - Pavilion #3 |
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| Trip Map | ||
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Participant Limit: 10 |
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Fee: No |
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Driving time to site: 17 Minutes Lakeside, as well as following Beaver Pond Trail along a stream, through mixed habitat, including thick brush. Birds: waterfowl & wading birds, warblers, Osprey, Bald Eagle, other woodland species. Out & back - Less than 1 mile each way, mostly level, some areas might be muddy. |
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Lower Trail - Mt. Etna Station Blair County Sunday June 21 |
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Leader (s): Jon Kauffman |
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Meet at: Meet at the Field Trip site at 8:00 AM |
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Trip Location: Lower Trail - Mt. Etna Station trailhead |
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| Trip Map | ||
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Participant Limit: 15 |
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Fee: 0 |
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Driving time to site: 25 Minutes Riverside Forest trail near farmland. Home to a variety of flycatchers, woodpeckers, other wood warblers and vireos, and Bald Eagles. This is one of the best places in the state for nesting warbler diversity. |
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NatureWorks Park Blair County Sunday June 21 |
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Leader (s): Doug Wentzel |
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Meet at: Meet at the Field Trip site at 8:00 AM |
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Trip Location: NatureWorks Park parking lot |
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| Trip Map | ||
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Participant Limit: 15 |
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Fee: No |
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Driving time to site: 8 Minutes Blair County Conservation District first environmental specific outdoor education and recreation area. This 15 acre park includes open space, forest edge, small stream, wetland and walking trails. Walk is ideal for beginning birders and target species include both orioles, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, and Warbling Vireo. |
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Plummers Hollow Blair County Sunday June 21 |
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Leader (s): Mark Bonta |
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Meet at: Meet at the Field Trip site at 5:30 AM |
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Trip Location: Plummers Hollow entrance |
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| Trip Map | ||
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Participant Limit: 25 |
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Fee: No |
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Driving time to site: 22 Minutes Easy, a gentle ascent along the road through the hollow. The return is along the same road, so you can go as little or as long as you want--half a mile, up to five miles. Access to the parking area will be open, so visitors can arrive later and walk the Hollow road on their own. The main guided hike will go up to the view at the top of the field, and then return via a loop back into the Hollow. No steep ascents. People are free to hang out in Plummers Hollow as long as they wish. |
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Prince Gallitzin State Park - Muskrat Beach area Cambria County Sunday June 21 |
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Leader (s): Eric Oliver and Angie Spagnoli |
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Meet at: Meet at the Field Trip site at 9:00 AM |
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Trip Location: Prince Gallitzin State Park - Muskrat Beach parking area |
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| Trip Map | ||
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Participant Limit: 20 |
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Fee: No |
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Driving time to site: 40 Minutes Diverse forested habitat as well as the 1,635-acre Glendale Lake, with its 26 miles of shoreline, is home to many species of fish, birds, and animals. |
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Quehanna Wild Area Cameron & Elk County Sunday June 21 |
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Leader (s): Jeff Kenney & Angela Romanczuk |
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Meet at: Meet at the Field Trip site at 7:30 AM |
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Trip Location: Hoover Farm Wildlife Viewing Area |
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| Trip Map | ||
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Participant Limit: 10 |
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Fee: No |
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Driving time to site: 82 Minutes Quehanna Wild Area is almost 50,000 acres in Moshannon and Elk State Forests on the Allegheny Plateau where Cameron, Elk, and Clearfield counties meet. Protected from any additional development, Quehanna has been designated as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by the Pennsylvania Audubon Society. Home to a wide array of nesting birds, some of the birds we will target are warblers, Broad-winged Hawks, Ruffed Grouse, Red Crossbills, and Scarlet Tanagers. The Wild Area is also home to mammals such as elk, bear and porcupine. |
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Shawnee State Park - Colvin Access Bedford County Sunday June 21 |
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Leader (s): Tracy Mosebey |
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Meet at: Meet at the Field Trip site at 8:00 AM |
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Trip Location: Shawnee State Park - Colvin parking area |
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| Trip Map | ||
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Participant Limit: 15 |
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Fee: No |
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Driving time to site: 44 Minutes The diverse habitats of Shawnee State Park provide great opportunities for viewing wildlife. The park sits near the base of the Allegheny Front. The 451 acre lake and its surrounding fields and woods are home to many species of fish, birds, and other wildlife. Hike will be 1-2 miles, a few hills but not steep, mowed grassy trail. Optional car birding for waterfowl after the hike. |
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State Game Lands 108 - Blandburg area Cambria County Sunday June 21 |
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Leader (s): Connor Schmitt |
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Meet at: Meet at the Field Trip site at 7:30 AM |
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Trip Location: State Game Lands 108 lot |
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| Trip Map | ||
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Participant Limit: 15 |
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Fee: No |
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Driving time to site: 30 Minutes This area of SGL 108 features a grassland on a reclaimed mine, providing perfect habitat for Henslow’s Sparrows, which breed here in summer. Bobolinks, Grasshopper Sparrows, Prairie Warblers and the occasional Yellow-breasted Chat can be found here as well.This walk may cover a good amount of ground depending on how the birds are behaving. The main roads we’ll be walking are mostly flat and gravel. |
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State Game Lands 73 - Tussey Mountain Blair County Sunday June 21 |
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Leader (s): Greg and Deb Grove |
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Meet at: Meet at the Field Trip site at 8:00 AM |
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Trip Location: SGL parking area off Route 164 |
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| Trip Map | ||
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Participant Limit: 12 |
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Fee: No |
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Driving time to site: 33 Minutes Mature forest, with areas of early successional habitat. Fairly easy walking on gated SGL road (Mid-State Trail), slightly uphill. One-two miles, maybe more for those interested. There is a possibility of rattlesnakes. |
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Yellow Creek State Park - North Shore Indiana County Sunday June 21 |
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Leader (s): Higbees |
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Meet at: Meet at the Field Trip site at 7:00 AM |
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Trip Location: North Shore Gazebo |
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| Trip Map | ||
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Participant Limit: 15 |
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Fee: 0 |
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Driving time to site: 54 Minutes We will check the lake for water birds, Bald Eagles, and passerines along the edge, including Eastern Warbling Vireos, Orchard and Baltimore orioles, and Eastern Yellow Warblers then continue our hike through the wooded area above Stake Church for Golden-crowned Kinglets, Ovenbirds and Kentucky, Black-throated Green, Hooded, and Black-and-white warblers.Walking easy to moderate with a few hills; distance roughly 1.5 miles. |
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