Join volunteers on a guided tour of the
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge and you may see dozens of different birds. On multiple Saturdays and Sundays through March, the Refuge will host free tours open to all birding experience levels and all ages.
The Refuge, located in Tinicum, is host to diverse habitats -- woodlands, creeks, open water, fields -- so plenty of birds call it home each season. Even more birds use the Refuge as a migratory rest stop, meaning visitors have the chance to see species from all over.
Winter bird walks at the Refuge keep an eye out for ducks, woodpeckers, geese, herons, blackbirds, sparrows and raptors. Closer to springtime hawks, vultures and bald eagles will appear, too.
Each bird walk focuses on a different theme and the volunteers guiding each walk will rotate. With the variety of tours the Refuge provides and the nature of, well, nature, you could have a completely different experience each week.
The guided bird walks usually run from about 9 a.m. to noon on weekend mornings. Attendees should dress to accommodate the weather, as they will of course be outside for the duration of the tour. Walks may be cancelled due to inclement weather, so be sure to call the Visitors Center before heading out.
The Heinz Refuge was established in 1972 as America's First Urban Refuge. It preserves Tinicum Marsh and educates those in the Greater Philadelphia area about local wildlife.
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge/Facebook
