Three Rivers Birding Club: March 2002 Outings

March 2002

Meet leader Chuck Tague (412-488-8760) of the Nature Observer News at the Pymatuming Visitors Center (Waterfowl Museum) at 8:00 AM for this outing. Depending on ice cover, plenty of waterfowl and other winter specialties should be around for this trip. Bald Eagles are almost guaranteed. Rough-legged Hawks are likely, along with the famous albino Red-tailed Hawk that has been there for several years now. Other possibilities include Snow Buntings and Horned Larks.

Sunday, March 17 — Moraine State Park

Join leader Jack Solomon (412-521-3365) for this outing to one of western Pennsylvania's best birding spots. Meet at the first parking lot on the south shore day use area (off Route 422) at 8:30 AM. Assuming that the lake is ice-free at this time, the diving ducks should be in substantial numbers on the lake. Common Loons and Horned Grebes should also be easy to find. Some of the first returning songbirds should also be back including Red-winged and Rusty Blackbirds.

(Non-3RBC) Sunday, March 17 — Quemahoning Reservoir, Somerset Lake

Meet Dick Byers (724-593-3543) of the Westmoreland Bird and Nature Club at the Jenners Crossing Burger King on Route 30 at 8:30 AM. We'll lunch at the Oakhurst Tearoom and hit Laurel Hill State Park and Donegal Lake on the return if the morning birding is good.

Monday, March 18 — Monongahela River

Here is one of the weekday outings Scott Kinzey (412-766-8813) will lead this outing starting at Riverfront Park on the South Side at 9:00 AM. This is a driving outing up and down the Mon with possible stops at Duck Hollow, McKeesport, Glassport, Elizabeth, and other locations, so be prepared to carpool. This outing is timed to coincide with the usual peak of migrating waterfowl and is perfect for those who don't like to drive long distances to some of the northern hot spots. Scott will show you the best vantage points for watching waterfowl along the Monongahela River.

(Non-3RBC) Friday, March 29 — Woodcock Stalk

Meet Karen Jackson (724-668-7421) of the Westmoreland Bird and Nature Club at the causeway parking lot in Keystone State Park at 6:00 PM to watch and hear the bizarre courtship flight of the "timberdoodle."