August 2009 Outings

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Mid August Shore Bird outing

We will try for a shore bird outing in mid August. Possible sites for shore birds are Shenango Lake, Independence Marsh, or Conneaut Harbor in Ohio. Since the water level and shore bird activity are variable, the trip date and location will be determined in order to have the best opportunity of viewing shore birds. Call Stephen Thomas 412-782-4696 the first week of August to be placed on the call-back list.

Saturday Aug. 29 - The Big Trek Nature Competition

This is a combined outing with both botanical societies and WBNC. Two teams of birders, botanists, herpetologists, entomologists, etc. will assemble at opposite ends of the Blair Brothers Railroad Trail in Forbes State Forest and proceed to the other end counting all the species along the way in a team competition. Teams will pass each other midway. No victor/ booby prize has been decided on for the teams at this time. Besides a day of fun, it will give us a survey list for this biologically rich area. We will meet at the Forbes State Forest parking lot on the east side of Route 381 at 9:00 a.m. to organize balanced teams of experts. This will be a good learning opportunity for everyone in some area where they feel a weakness. Car shuttles will have to be organized, or keys exchanged at the midway point – to be decided at the meeting place. Both teams, when finished, will reassemble at the meeting place. The meeting place is a parking lot on Camp Run Road that is 0.7 miles from the Route 31/381 intersection in Jones Mills. Coming from Jones Mills, slow down at 0.6 miles and look for the unmarked Camp Run Road. Turn right onto Camp Run Road and you’ll see the parking lot 50 yards up the road on your left. Bring binoculars, field guides and insect repellent.