The Quittapahilla Audubon Society has announced a series of programs and field trips this month and into 2024.

Field trips are free and open to the public. Interested parties should contact the field trip leader with questions.

Upcoming field trips include:

  • Saturday, Dec. 16 – QAS 44th annual Christmas Bird Count, includes walking and driving to count birds within a prescribed area. Contact Fritz Heilman (717-273-0487).
  • Monday, Jan. 1 – winter bird walk on the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail (LVRT) starting at 9 a.m. at the Lebanon Valley Expo Center parking lot next to the LVRT. Contact Jim Fiorentino (717-269-0675).
  • Tuesday, Jan. 2 – another winter bird walk, this time at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area (MCWMA). Meet at the visitor’s center at 9 a.m. Contact Jim Fiorentino (717-269-0675).
  • Saturday, Jan. 27 – Barnegat Lighthouse & Brigantine National Wildlife Refuge. This is an all-day, weather-permitting trip. Limit 8 participants. Contact Jim Fiorentino (717-269-0675).
  • Sunday, Feb. 18 – observation of flora and fauna (including data collecting for the 27th annual “Great Backyard Bird Count”) at Union Canal Tunnel Park. Meet at 2 p.m. at the park’s 25th Street parking lot. Contact Fritz Heilman (717-273-0487).
  • Monday, Feb. 26 – observation of snow geese and other migrating birds from Willow Point. Meet 10 a.m. at the Middle Creek visitor’s center parking lot. Contact Jim Fiorentino (717-269-0675).
  • Saturday, March 16 – observation of migrating and resident birds along the tour road at Middle Creek. Meet 9 a.m. at the visitor’s center parking lot. Contact Fritz Heilman (717-273-0487).
  • Sunday, March 17 – Timberdoodle at Swatara State Park, the first of two trips to observe the “sky dance” of the woodcock. Meet 7:15 p.m. at the Trout Run Trailhead parking lot. Bring a flashlight. Contact Gary Kinkley (717-503-4027).
  • Sunday, March 24 – Timberdoodle at Memorial Lake State Park, the second of two trips to observe the “sky dance” of the woodcock. Meet 7:15 p.m. at the upper parking lot. Bring a flashlight. Contact Gary Kinkley (717-503-4027).
  • Saturday, April 13 – Ferncliff Wildlife and Wildflower Preserve, observation of spring wildflowers in scenic lower Susquehanna River ravine and birding at Safe Harbor high railroad rail-trail bridge. Bring lunch for a stop at scenic Susquehannock State Park. Meet 8:30 a.m. at the southeast section of the Route 72 Target parking lot. Contact Jim M. Logan (717-273-8438) and Jim C. Logan (717-865-5522).
  • Monday, April 29 – warbler walk by Obie and Michter’s roads. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Old Rexmont Dam parking lot near horse corrals. Contact Jim Fiorentino (717-269-0675).
  • Wednesday, May 1 – warbler walk at SGL 156 by Cornwall Fire Tower area. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the SGL parking lot along Route 322 south of Fire Tower Road. Contact Jim Fiorentino (717-269-0675).
  • Thursday, May 2 – observation of migrating song birds. Meet at 8 a.m. at SGL 145 parking lot near the white barn off Epler Road. Contact Bob Peda (954-551-9055).
  • Friday, May 3 – warbler walk at SGL 211 Cold Springs and Stony Valley. Meet at upper parking lot at Memorial Lake at 7:30 a.m. Contact Jim Fiorentino (717-269-0675).
  • Tuesday, May 14 – LVRT at Jonestown for observation of flora and fauna. Meet at 9 a.m. at the Jonestown trailhead. Contact Fritz Heilman (717-273-0487).
  • Thursday, May 23 – search for Appalachian Azure and other early butterflies. Meet at 10 a.m. in the church parking lot at the northwest corner of routes 419 and 72 by Quentin. Contact Jim Fiorentino (717-269-0675).
  • June (date to be determined) – 4th annual PSO Birding Blitz with Team Quittie. Sites and times TBD. Contact Jim Fiorentino (717-269-0675).
  • Sunday, June 30 – “Birds, Blooms and Butterflies” at the Gov Dick Recreation Area. Meet at 10 a.m. at the nature center off Pinch Road. Contact Jim Fiorentino (717-269-0675).
  • Sunday, July 28 – “Butterflies, Dragonflies and Their Habitat” at Middle Creek. Observation via binoculars of butterflies and dragonflies in the ample meadows. Meet at 2:30 p.m. at the visitor’s center parking lot. Contact Fritz Heilman (717-273-0487).
  • Monday, Aug. 19 – QAS 5th annual Lebanon Butterfly Count. Meet at Quittie Wetlands Preserve near Home Depot at 10 a.m. Contact: Jim Fiorentino (717-269-0675).

The Quittapahilla Audubon Society has also scheduled a series of programs in upcoming months.

Programs are held at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (unless otherwise indicated) at 723 Lehman St., Lebanon, north of Lebanon Middle School and east of Monument Park. The church has a well-lit parking lot with ample parking off Spruce Street. Enter the church from the parking lot entrance.

The programs start at 7 p.m. and are free and open to the public. Programs are designed for a general audience and children are welcome when accompanied by an adult.

Upcoming field trips include:

  • Dec. 13 – Christmas Social. Social gathering starts at 6:30 p.m. and program starts at 7. Join us as members share their favorite slides and digital photos with the group. This is their holiday social, so bring a plate of holiday treats to share before the program.
  • Jan 24 – “Hummingbirds: Jewels of the Air.” Sandy Lockerman, a licensed bird bander, will discuss the intriguing world of hummingbirds, including some of their unique adaptations and migration mysteries. In addition to her ongoing ruby-throat project, she will give an update on the documentation efforts being made of western hummingbirds in Pennsylvania.
  • April 24 – Creating sustainable livelihoods and promoting forest conservation in the Peruvian Amazon with fair-trade bird handicrafts. Dr. Campbell Plowden founded the nonprofit group Amazon Ecology in 2006 to help forest peoples create sustainable livelihoods, strengthen traditional communities and promote forest conservation in the Amazon rainforest. Amazon Ecology now helps artisans from 18 native and campesino communities in the northern Peruvian Amazon to make and market innovative fair-trade handicrafts that feature hand-made bird ornaments and accessories. Plowden will discuss the evolution and challenges of these efforts and share some of the photos of birds he has taken during his 35 years of working in the Amazon. The presentation will be followed by a sale of the diverse crafts made by Amazon Ecology’s partner artisans. Proceeds help support traditional artisans, Amazon Ecology programs and health, education and conservation needs in their partner communities. For more information, visit www.AmazonEcology.org.
  • May 21 – annual banquet (reservations required), along with “The Life Cycle of a Marbled Salamander” by David Hand, a nature photographer and naturalist from western Schuylkill County. His main interest is studying the lives of salamanders, and he will give a presentation on the marbled salamander (Ambystoma opacum) with pictures, video, and stories of his field observations.

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