|
Reserve your spot now.
MAY 10, 11 and 12, 2019 |
Field Trips:Field Trips to Presque Isle's Hottest Birding Spots.
12 - 15 people per trip.
Be kind to the environment: remember to bring your own mug. Trips leaving simultaneously from 6:30 am - 10:30 am at the Rotary Pavilion. Each trip will visit multiple locations throughout the park. 
|
Field Trip Leaders and Workshop Presenters:Katie Andersen has been interested in birds since birth. She holds a B.S. in Biology and studied neo-tropical ornithology as well as other research projects in Pennsylvania. Katie is the Store Naturalist at Wild Birds Unlimited-Erie
Diane Baillargeon is a Certified Pharmacy Technician and has been an avid birder for more than 20 years. Attending the Presque Isle Birding Festival for the past years has introduced her to the challenge of warblers and that sharing the love of birding with others is very rewarding. Mary Birdsong is co-founder and Assistant Director at the Erie Bird Observatory. She serves as and a seasonal shorebird monitor at the park April through August. She is also a freelance writer and artist. She serves as Program Chair for PIAS. Shawn Collins is a frequent trip leader for the Three River's Birding Club in Pittsburgh. He is an avid photographer, is known for being able spot hard-to-find warblers and identifying most of the birds in Western PA by song. Julie Dell has been a birder for 35 years. She is currently serving as Treasurer for Presque Isle Audubon. She has been Purple Martin Landlord for 5 years, and is a longtime volunteer member of the Piping Plover Conversation Team. Roger Donn has been a casual birder for many years then becoming an active birder in the past decade. He is part of the International Shorebird Survey team monitoring shorebirds at Gull Point. He also assists at the Presque Isle Hawk Watch in spring, and the Waterbird count in the fall when he is not working. One of his passions is finding Northern Saw-whet Owls and Long-eared Owls in the pines at Presque Isle State Park. He is employed by DCNR at Presque Isle State Park. Georgia Feild is a Docent at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History teaching the evolution of dinosaurs to birds and migration patterns of wildlife. She is also compiling a book based on avian science and her remarkable relationship with a Raven, and completing an art exhibition concerning plastic debris and its effect on shore and sea birds. Michele Franz is a speech language pathologist. She is an active birder and accomplished bird photographer. She has served as president and education chair of PIA. Barbara Gillis is an RN and started birding as a child in Lockport NY. She has worked to make her yard birder friendly and has introduced others to birding and continues to widen her knowledge of birds and seeks out the thrill of seeing a new bird for the first time. Bonnie Ginader has been birding for more than 40 years and she has spoken to many garden clubs about birds. She did two displays at the Stull Center when it opened and funds bird seed for the feeders at the ranger station on the park. James R. Hill, III, (aka “Jamie)” is the founder and Executive Director Emeritus of the Purple Martin Conservation Association. He has also worked for both the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Auburn University in Ivory-billed Woodpecker searches. In the Galapagos Islands he dug for fossil Darwin Finch bones in underground lava tubes and in Brazil to study the winter roosting habits of Purple Martins, and has birded all over the New World. Laura-Marie Koitsch is co-founder and Assistant Director, Research of the Erie Bird Observatory. She has more than 10 years experience working with birds on several continents and this year marks her fourth spring migration as the Bander-in-Charge here in the park. Prior to becoming an avian researcher, she worked in wildlife rehabilitation. She holds an international law degree. Mark Lethaby is collections manager of the Natural History Museum at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center and works as a biologist aide for the PA Fish and Boat Commission. His primary interests are in reptiles and amphibians, and he is a long-time member of Presque Isle Audubon. Jason Lymangrover is a mechanical engineer and a long-time outdoor enthusiast. He found his interest in birding through hunting and photography and now spends most of his free time outdoors birding. Liz McQuaid has been birding the Cleveland area most of her life, but got serious in 1992. She is part of the team to prove the Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve an Important Bird Area, is co-advisor for the NE Chapter of the Ohio Young Birder's Club, volunteers with the Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society, the Biggest Week, the Kirtland Bird Club and Lights Out Cleveland. Jerry McWilliams is senior author of the book, The Birds of Pennsylvania and co-author of the book, Birds of Erie County, Pennsylvania. He is also regional editor for the journal, Pennsylvania Birds and sub-regional editor for the journal, North American Birds. Mike Plyler has been a lifelong camping and hiking enthusiast and has been birding for the past 15 years. He is a former PIAS trustee and a regular volunteer. Sarah Sargent is a co-founder and Executive Director of the Erie Bird Observatory. She has more than thirty years experience working with birds and for the past 10 years, she has overseen avian research projects throughout Northwestern Pennsylvania. Susan A. Smith’s interest in birds ignited with her first Field Guide of the Birds of North America. It took her awhile to learn that she shouldn't look for a Vermillion Flycatcher in Erie! She does birding programs, field trips and writes articles about birding. Donald Snyder is a Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Biology at Edinboro University of Pa., where he taught for 27 years. He has been a birder all of his life, a member of PIAS for more than forty years and has served as Christmas Count Compiler, Bird Records Committee Chair and Vice President. Sam Stull’s interest in birds began as a child, and he has spent many happy hours watching and studying birds at Presque Isle and elsewhere. He also enjoys photography. Joao Tavares is a semi-retired orthopedic surgeon and an active member of PIAS. He was introduced to bird watching by Jerry McWilliams more than 14 years ago and enjoys Presque Isle Park and all its birds year-round. Shannon Thompson has been a lifelong outdoor enthusiast but became highly distracted by birds in 2007. She now devotes most of her free time to birding around Pennsylvania. Presque Isle is her most favorite place to go birdwatching. |
|
What to Bring:
Be sure to bring comfortable shoes or boots for walking and any birding gear you desire. The average high temperature in Erie in May is 56 and temperatures at Presque Isle are often lower than on the mainland. Be prepared for cold & rainy weather. Presque Isle is home to deer ticks so you may want to bring insect repellent and plan to tuck your pants into your socks when using the trails on the park. |
Map, Guide, Lodging:
For lodging information check out www.visiteriepa.com
|