Tacony Creek Park Birds Count!
Posted on by Doryán De Angel
By Doryán De Angel, Community Watershed Leader
Once again, the birds of Tacony Creek Park were counted in the Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC)! This year marks Audubon’s 121st Anniversary. The CBC is taking place between Monday, December 14, 2020 and January 5, 2021.
Every year, volunteers from the Western Hemisphere observe and count how many birds they see or hear within 15 mile-wide circles, giving us the opportunity to contribute to science by providing valuable information. Tacony Creek Park lies within the Wyncote Audubon Circle, and observations were counted on Saturday, December 19, 2020.
With the help of expert birders Martin Selzer and Robin Irizarry, a total of 34 bird species were observed along the park trail, starting from the I Street & Ramona Avenue Gateway to the Cheltenham Avenue & Crescentville Road Gateway, including surrounding areas off the trail such as the park’s four-acre meadow and the Scattergood Foundation restoration area at Friends Hospital.
Sightings included Red-tailed Hawks, Red-shouldered Hawks, and a Great Horned Owl that flew above us towards the tree line beyond the creek.
By participating in this community science project, we help scientists understand how bird populations are changing, and what solutions need to be adopted to minimize impacts and raise awareness on bird conservation.
Visit the Audubon Society and our local chapter, Wyncote Audubon Society, to learn more about how you can protect birds and their habitats.
Winter provides a unique opportunity to see birds in the trees without them being hidden by leaves. So get out and visit Tacony Creek Park and our watershed’s other natural areas,. Bring along a TTF Bird Guide (versión en español) with a list of what you can find, remember to explore safely — and most of all, have fun!
Need a Bird Guide? Email Doryan@ttfwatershed.org. Please be sure to tag us @TTFWatershed in your posts on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.
