April 2002
Starting on April 16 through the end of May (every Tuesday) Jack and Sue Solomon (412-521-3365) will lead outings at Frick Park. Meet at the Frick Environmental Center at 7:00 AM. (Actually, there's a good chance you'll find some leader from the Three Rivers Birding Club just about every morning at Frick Park from mid-April to late May!). Don't forget to download a copy of the Checklist of Birds for Frick Park!
Saturday, April 6 — Moraine State Park
Join leaders Fred and Carol McCullough (412-921-6873) for this second outing to one of western Pennsylvania's best birding spots. It's a little later now. Diving ducks should still be present, but a variety of dabbling ducks should now be in. Ospreys should also have returned by this time along with more migrating songbirds. Meet at the first parking lot on the south shore day use area (off Route 422) at 8:30 AM.
(Non-3RBC) Saturday, April 6 — Dunnings Creek & Shawnee Lake
Join Jim Pemberton (412-751-1929) of the Westmoreland Bird and Nature Club at the Jenners Crossroads Burger King on Route 30 at 8:30 for shorebirds, early passerines and waterfowl in Bedford County.
Monday, April 7 — Woodcock Walk, Imperial Area
Chuck Tague (412-488-8760) will lead this evening outing in search of American Woodcock and possibly owls. The Imperial area includes grasslands on recovered strip mines and pine plantations, which make for an interesting mix of habitats that attract a variety of species. Meet Chuck at 6:00 PM at the game commission parking lot near Bavington. From Pittsburgh, take Route 22/30 west. Take the Bavington exit and turn right, then immediately left (west) on Steubenville Pike. Go exactly 3.4 miles to an intersection at Haul Road. Turn left into the game commission parking lot.
Sunday, April 14 — Presque Isle
Join leader Mike Fialkovich for this trip to one of Pennsylvania's greatest birding locations. Meet at 9:00 AM at the first parking lot on the right after entering the park. From Pittsburgh, take I-79 North until it ends. Take the exit for Route 5 West (also called West 12th Street) and continue for about one mile. Turn right onto RT. 832 which leads directly into the park. Allow 2 and 3 hours driving time. Lots of waterfowl and early migrant songbirds are expected, but you never know what to expect here. Presque Isle has produced some of Pennsylvania's best (and only) records of some rarities. Bring a lunch with you or join the group at one of the local restaurants just outside the park.
Friday, April 26 — Evening Walk, Imperial Area
Chuck Tague (412-488-8760) will lead this evening outing in search of American Woodcock, Wood Thrush, Whip-poor-will, and possibly owls. The Imperial area includes grasslands on recovered strip mines and pine plantations, which make for an interesting mix of habitats that attract a variety of species. Meet Chuck at 6:00 PM at the game commission parking lot near Bavington. From Pittsburgh, take Route 22/30 west. Take the Bavington exit and turn right, then immediately left (west) on Steubenville Pike. Go exactly 3.4 miles to an intersection at Haul Road. Turn left into the game commission parking lot.
Sunday, April 28 — Pennsy Swamp and Grove City Grasslands
Bob Machesney will lead this outing in search of waterfowl and migrants. Some lingering waterfowl migrants will likely remain besides the breeding species. But the focus of the outing will be migrant songbirds, such as warblers, vireos, Indigo Bunting, Orchard and Baltimore Orioles, and others. A short distance away are the grasslands where all the breeding sparrows, including Grasshopper, Vesper, Savannah, and Henslow's should be back. In some years, Dickcissel has bred in this area. This is also the general area where Pennsylvania's only known breeding pair of Sandhill Cranes nest. Meet at the Game Lands parking lot on #2 Mine Road at 7:30 AM. From I-79, take the Grove City exit, west on Rt. 208 to Veterans Road (first left past the light at MacDonald’s), left on Brent-North Liberty Road (3-4 miles), right on #2 Mine Road (1/4 mile).
