About us
The Valley Forge Audubon Society (VFAS) is a chapter of the National Audubon Society serving those residing in Southeastern Pennsylvania, including Delaware and Chester Counties, and parts of Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties. Our mission is to preserve birds, other wildlife, and their habitats by promoting appreciation and stewardship of the local natural environment through education and active participation. VFAS offers regular bird walks, hikes, events, and educational programs. Valley Forge Audubon Society is committed to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility in the birding community and beyond. We are excited to bring the joys of birding – the fun of seeing or hearing birds, the social benefits of being part of a like-minded community, and the health and wellness benefits humans receive from spending time in nature – to “everyone and every body”, regardless of someone’s physical, mental, emotional, or societal challenges. Long-time birders, ‘fledgling’ birders, able-bodied birders, and those with disabilities and health concerns are all welcome at VFAS’s programs.
We offer a number of outings that are accessible for those with various access challenges and/or health concerns.
Upcoming events
19
Bird Safe Windows: An Information Session for the Conshohocken Library Project
Conshohocken Free Library, 301 Fayette Street, Conshohocken, PA, USBird collisions with glass are one of the leading human-related causes of bird loss today. It is estimated that around a billion birds are killed annually in the US when they fly into windows that they cannot see. To be part of the solution, Valley Forge Audubon Society and Bird Safe Philly are partnering with the Conshohocken Free Library to help protect birds by applying bird-safe glass treatments to the library's windows.
Join us in the Conshohocken Free Library's Community Room to learn more about the issue of bird/glass collisions and the solution that will be implemented at the library on Saturday, March 21, when Feather Friendly Bird Collision Deterrent materials will be installed on the windows there. We will discuss preventative measures that you can utilize at home as well. Pizza will be provided while supplies last. Registration is required so we know how much pizza to have on hand. Registration will close two days before the event, but you can call the library to be added if there is space.
Registration is required to attend this program. Please register here: Calendar - Conshohocken Free Library
If you'd like to volunteer to help with the window treatment installation on March 21, please mark that day on your calendar and stay tuned for more details.
8 attendees
"Skydancers": Meet the American Woodcock
Great Marsh Institute, 28 Moores Rd, Elverson, PA, USSpace is limited and advance registration is required. Please sign up by emailing lori@greatmarshinstitute.org.
Witnessing the elaborate courtship ritual of the male American Woodcock is one of the most memorable natural experiences of late winter in southeastern Pennsylvania. But this remarkable bird offers far more than its famous “skydance.” Join us to explore more deeply into the story of this unusual upland shorebird—its behaviors, extraordinary adaptations, conservation needs, and its many nicknames.
Our program begins indoors with a 15–20 minute presentation covering the woodcock’s unique physical traits, life cycle, behavior, and more. Afterward we’ll head outside to settle in and (hopefully) hear and see displaying males in the dusk twilight on their nearby courting grounds. While sightings can never be guaranteed, the only way to witness this spectacle is to be there when it happens.
Please dress more warmly than you expect to need, as we’ll be sitting still and temperatures drop as night falls. You’re welcome to bring a lawn chair or something comfortable to sit on during the outdoor portion of the program. A flashlight can also be helpful for safely returning to your car once the program concludes. Children are welcome but please keep in mind that when trying to observe the woodcocks during their displays we will need to be still and very quiet.
This event is presented jointly by Valley Forge Audubon Society and the Great Marsh Institute. Space is limited and advance registration is required: please sign up by emailing lori@greatmarshinstitute.org.
NOTE: This program is free, but donations (via cash, Paypal, or Venmo) are gratefully accepted to support the work of the Great Marsh Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to scientific studies and educational opportunities (such as this one) centered at the Great Marsh.
Photo credit: Brad Imhoff
23 attendees
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