April 2007 Outings
Sundays April 1, 22 / May 20 / June 3, 2007 — Lower Buffalo Creek Watershed (Washington County)
Outings to this area continue to produce an impressive list of species. Larry Helgerman (412-531-9273) and Mary Grey will be our leaders. From Pittsburgh, take I-79 south to I-70. Take I-70 west to the Taylorstown exit. At the stop sign, take a left. At the next stop sign, take a right. After about one mile, you will come to a blinking red light. Proceed straight through this light and meet the leaders in the parking area about 200 yards on the left. In case you get lost, ask for directions to the S-bridge, which is a well-known local landmark at this intersection. For the April 1 and 22 outings, we will meet at 8:00 AM, and for the May 20 and June 3 outings we will meet at 7:30 AM. Be prepared for muddy trails and pack a lunch to stay into the afternoon.
Saturday April 7, 2007 — Yellow Creek State Park
This outing will be a joint outing of the 3RBC and the Todd Bird Club. Meet Margaret Higbee (724-354-3493) at the park office at 8:00 AM. The park office is located on Route 259 just off Route 422 east of Indiana. Allow an hour and 15 minutes to drive from Pittsburgh. Yellow Creek State Park has been the prime outing location for the Todd Bird Club since the club was created. The park contains a wide variety of habitats and a large lake that attracts a wide variety of species. Some of the waterfowl numbers have been spectacular in the past with real rarities showing up on a fairly regular basis.
Wednesdays, April 11, May 9, 2007 - Woodcock Walk
Meet leader Tom Byrnes (412-828-4539) at the Ladbrokes (now The Meadows) parking lot behind the Primanti Brothers restaurant off the Harmar exit of Route 28. We will carpool and drive a short distance to a field in Harmar Township that has produced lots of American Woodcock in the past several years. Be prepared for a muddy walk and bring a flashlight. Tom will lead two mor walks to this location this spring. Meeting times will be for April 11, 7:00 PM and May 9, 7:30 PM.
Fridays April 13, 27/ May 11 — Sewickley Heights Borough Park
Continuing in April and May, bird walks will be lead by Bob VanNewkirk (412-366-1694 or email at van126@comcast.net) on designated Friday mornings at Sewickley Heights Borough Park. Walks begin at 7:30 AM starting from the upper parking lot. Some trails may be muddy. Bring water and pack a lunch to stay into the afternoon.
Saturday April 21, 2007 — Frick Park Earth Day Bird Outing
Meet leaders Jack and Sue Solomon, 412-521-3365, at 7:30 AM at the Frick Environmental Center parking lot, 2005 Beechwood Boulevard, Squirrel Hill, near Forbes Ave., for this joint outing with the FEC. Early neotropical migrants will be our targets. At 10:00 AM all, or some of us, will stop back at the center to pick up participants after their Earth day event, and bird a bit more. Brunch at Kazansky's is a given for Solomon-led outings at Frick.
Follow this link to a poster describing additional Earth Day activities at Frick.
Sunday April 22, 2007 — Boyce-Mayview Park
Join Patti Kaminski (412-831-8041) for this new outing to Boyce-Mayview Park. In addition to a beautiful wetland area, there are woods and open fields, with recently developed trails throughout. We'll begin our walk at 7:30am in a small parking area off of Boyce Road; travel South 19 past South Hills Village (on your left). Continue on 19 a few miles past Upper St. Clair High School (on right) until you reach Boyce Road; turn right onto Boyce, past Boyce Middle School and then about 1 mile downhill, going past Friendship Village (on your left). At the bottom of the hill on your right is the entrance to the parking area, adjacent to a small pizza shop.
Sunday April 29, 2007 — Frick Park
Chuck Tague, Jack Solomon (412-521-3365) and Marijke Hecht lead this joint outing with Nine Mile Run Watershed Association and Wissahickon Nature Club. Meet at 7:30 AM at the Frick lower parking lot, at the end of Lancaster Street. Coming south (toward the Parkway) turn right (west) at W. Hutchinson Ave., and follow it to the sign at Lancaster; turn right and go down to the last lot. We will bird the 9 Mile Run valley, and learn about the ecological restoration efforts going on in the southern end of the park. Neotropical migrants should be showing up. Join us for brunch at Kazanky's whenever we tire or the birding slows.
Sunday April 29, 2007 — Enlow Fork
The Enlow Fork Total Ecology Extravaganza, starting at 7:30 am will be a multi-organizational event. Birding, Botany, Butterflies, Fish, Stream study and Watershed conservation. Multiple leaders. Picnicking is encouraged. Watch for more details. All who came last year know not to miss this outing.
