Migratory Bird Walk

Co-sponsored by Bird Town PA, Newtown Township EAC, and CRC Watersheds, accomplished birder Mike McGraw will guide us through the beautiful 240-acre Garrett Williamson property during the peak of fall bird migration. We anticipate seeing flocks of warblers, vireos, and thrushes streaming through the woods and fields on their way back to their winter homes in Central and South America and the Caribbean islands.

The Garrett Williamson property has trails meandering through open fields and meadows, riparian areas featuring a tributary to Crum Creek, and primarily beech tree dominant forest. There are many diverse habitats and edges because the property is farmed, and they have an educational garden which is visited regularly by birds. The property is private and generally closed to the public so this would be a unique opportunity to visit this large piece of mostly undeveloped land in Newtown Square.

Help make our community more bird-friendly by:

• Reducing light pollution – Turning off unnecessary lights at night, especially those that shine upwards especially during spring migration season (April through May) and fall migration season (August through November), as many birds migrate at night.
• Consuming responsibly – Choosing sustainable products such as Bird Friendly Shade Grown Coffee. Our migrating birds return to Central and South America for much of the year where much coffee is grown. Birds need a diverse habitat to live in, where coffee is produced under native trees and bushes and referred to as shade grown coffee.
• Using native plants in your gardens that support pollinators

Event is not recommended for younger children. Register now! Birding events at Garrett Williamson tend to fill up early: https://crcwatersheds.networkforgood.com/events/90961-fall-bird-walk-on-world-migratory-bird-day

The Bird Walk is rain or shine, with the exception of extreme weather. Please keep an eye on your email for updates.

Our Guide:

Michael McGraw is a Wildlife Biologist and Ecologist. Since 2002, Michael has performed an extensive variety of reptile, amphibian, and avifaunal surveys in the Eastern and Midwestern U.S. with a strong emphasis on endangered, threatened, and species of concern. Beyond survey and research, his work as a consulting scientist includes project design, permitting, project management, and client relations, as well as writing technical reports and proposals. Michael is currently managing numerous projects and functioning as a lead biologist on a variety of Princeton Hydro projects, including wildlife surveys, ecological assessments, threatened and endangered species surveys, population biology research, wetland mitigation, sensitive habitat restoration, FAA-mandated wildlife hazard management plans for airports, land management and site master planning, and energy development projects.