Three Rivers Birding Club Outings
Throughout the year, we have many outings to locations in Western Pennsylvania and beyond. For a more comprehensive calendar of birding and other Western Pennsylvania natural history outings and outdoor activities of other groups, see the links at the bottom of this page under the heading of "Events Calendars".
If you are birding one of the areas listed below, download a PDF copy of the birding checklist provided and take it with you:
- Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania — Beechwood Farms Bird Checklist
- Cook Forest — Cook Forest Bird Checklist
- Erie County, Pennsylvania — Erie County PA Bird Checklist
- Frick Park — Checklist of Birds in Frick Park
- Harrison Hills Park — Harrison Hills Park Bird Checklist
- Oil Creek State Park — Oil Creek State Park Bird Checklist
- Shenango Reservoir — Shenango Bird Checklist
- Westmoreland County — Westmoreland County Bird Checklist
- Yellow Creek State Park — Yellow Creek State Park Bird Checklist
Outings are free and open to the public. In the event of inclement weather, contact the leader in advance to confirm whether the outing is on or canceled. Also, contact the leader with any questions about weather, driving directions, or trail conditions.
In the event of a late cancellation of or a change to any of our outings, please check the Three Rivers Birding Club Facebook page or the "What's New?" section of the Home page of this website for the latest information on outings, cancellations, and other events that could not make our newsletter's deadline.
3RBC Current Outings -- March 2020
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Wednesday, March 18, 2020 — Woodcock Walk
The woodcock walks are back again this Spring! Meet leader Tom Byrnes (724-715-7184) at the Ladbrokes (now The Meadows) parking lot behind the Primanti Brothers restaurant off the Harmar exit 11 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.
Before going to the field, we will check the Great Blue Heron nest, which in previous years was an exciting find on this trip. Be prepared for a muddy walk and bring a flashlight. Meeting time will be 7:00 PM.
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Sunday, March 29, 2020 — Pymatuning State Park
Meet leader Bob Van Newkirk (412-366-1694 or email van126@comcast.net) at 8:30 am for this outing. We will meet in the parking lot of the former site of the Pymatuning Wildlife Learning Center (Waterfowl Museum) which is located at 12590 Hartstown Rd Linesville, PA (41.635779, -80.436634).
Lunch will be at Scooters by the Lake just on the Ohio side of the Causeway for those who wish to attend. Dress appropriately for the weather. This will be an all-day outing.
As this is an early spring outing, please monitor the club's website or Facebook in case there has to be a sudden cancellation due to inclement weather.
3RBC Current Outings -- April 2020
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Saturday April 4 — Yellow Creek State Park
The walk will be led by Roger and Margaret Higbee (724-354-3493). Meet at the park office at 8:00 AM. This is the annual joint spring outing with the Todd Bird Club. The park office is located on Route 259 just off Route 422 east of Indiana. Allow approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes to drive from Pittsburgh. Yellow Creek State Park contains a wide variety of habitats and a large lake that attracts a wide variety of species.
This field trip will culminate with lunch at the Chinese buffet in Indiana.
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Wednesday, April 8, 2020 — Woodcock Walk
Meet leader Tom Byrnes (724-715-7184) at the Ladbrokes (now The Meadows) parking lot behind the Primanti Brothers restaurant off the Harmar exit 11 of Route 28. Meeting time will be 7:00 PM. 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.
Before going to the field, we will check the Great Blue Heron nest, which in previous years was an exciting find on this trip.
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Sunday, April 11, 2020 — Moraine State Park
Join Michael David (michaeltdavid@gmail.com) at the Moraine State Park Day Use area (South Shore) in the first parking lot on the right at 8:30 AM for our first visit of the year to Moraine State Park. The lake in the heart of the state park gets good (sometimes spectacular) numbers and variety of waterfowl in migration. Water fowl and early spring migrants make this outing a highlight of the season. Water fowl and early spring migrants make this outing a highlight of the season.
Directions: From I-79, take route 422 east toward Butler and exit at the Moraine State Park exit. When you reach the end of the ramp, turn left and travel straight into the park until you see the first major parking area and rest room area on your right. Allow one hour driving from Pittsburgh.
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Wednesday, April 15, 2020 — Woodcock Walk
Meet leader Tom Byrnes (724-715-7184) at the Ladbrokes (now The Meadows) parking lot behind the Primanti Brothers restaurant off the Harmar exit 11 of Route 28. Meeting time will be 7:00 PM. 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.
Before going to the field, we will check the Great Blue Heron nest, which in previous years was an exciting find on this trip.
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Saturday, April 18, 2020 — Raccoon Creek State Park
This is combination bird, wildflower walk and picnic with the Brooks Bird Club, which is based in West Virginia. Ryan Tomazin (412-220-9726, wvwarblers@hotmail.com) will be leading the bird walk. We will meet at the Roadside Picnic Area West at 9:30 AM.
We will drive to the beach and around the lake after checking out the picnic parking lot area. Lunch will be between 12:30-1:00 and will be potluck. Please bring a dish to feed 6-10 people (at least), and bring your own plates, cutlery and drinks. There are ample picnic benches there under the giant oaks.
If there is any interest and if the weather holds, we can bird and botanize the Wildflower Reserve. It should be the perfect time for wildflowers.
If you have any questions or would like to RSVP, please feel free to contact Ryan either by phone or by email. Hope to see you there!
Directions: From Pittsburgh take Route 22/30 and exit at Imperial. Take Route 30 west to the Raccoon Creek State Park entrance, and drive through the park to the Roadside West picnic area. In case of inclement weather, we should be able to use the center at the Wildflower Reserve for lunch.
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Friday, April 24, 2020 — Sewickley Heights Borough Park
In collaboration with the Fern Hollow Nature Center, Sheree Daugherty (shereedaugherty@gmail.com ) will lead this bird walk at Sewickley Heights Borough Park. The walk will begin at 8:00 AM starting from the upper parking lot.
Birders should be prepared for muddy trails. Bring water and a lunch or snack. Besides birding in the park we will drive and make stops along Little Sewickley Creek. Louisiana Waterthrush, Yellow-throated Warbler, and Warbling Vireo nest in the area.
Directions to the park can be found on the 3RBC Birding Locations page.
