On a cloudy winter morning, the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership (TTF) led a dozen nature lovers on a free walk through Tacony Creek Park (TCP) to look for birds wintering in our area. This December 8 walk was a “warm up” for the Christmas Bird Count (CBC), the annual bird census overseen by the Audubon Society.
“Birding in Tacony Creek Park” is part of a series presented by TTF in partnership with Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) and Philadelphia Parks and Recreation (PPR) to encourage community engagement in TCP.
TTF VISTA Educator Molly Finch and volunteer Martin Selzer led the walk and pointed out White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Chickadee, Carolina Wren, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Red-tailed Hawk, American Gold Finch, Northern Mockingbird, Blue Jay, Northern Cardinals , White-throated Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco.
By hosting events like the bird walk, TTF seeks to promote Tacony Creek Park as a community resource and foster a sense of stewardship to increase the health and vitality of this urban watershed. TTF is working with PWD and PPR to get the word out about the exciting stream and trail restoration projects being implemented in the Park.
We’d like to thank Greta Brunschwyler and Briar Bush Nature Center for lending us binoculars — the walk would not have been as much fun without them! Thank you to Martin Selzer for instructing us on how to use these binoculars and providing an “intro to birding” with tips for a successful bird walk.
We’d also like to thank GreenTreks Network Inc.’s Clay Hereth for documenting this event.
And thanks to our birders, who told us they want to come back to explore more of the Park’s trails!
For more pictures of the walk, visit TTF’s Flickr here. Interested in programs in Tacony Creek Park? Contact us to share your ideas!
