Flowers are blooming everywhere and trees will soon leaf out. Don’t miss your chance to get outdoors while the weather’s fine.
Join me for a bird and nature walk in Schenley Park this Sunday, April 24, 8:30am – 10:30am. Meet at the Schenley Park Visitors Center. Click here for information and updates.
Or join one of these many outings — April 23 through May 1.
Everyone is welcome to participate. Click on the links for directions, meeting places, what to bring, and phone numbers for the leaders.
| 2016: Date/Time | Focus | Location | Leader & Link to more info |
| Sat. Apr 23, 9:30am | Birds & Potluck lunch | Raccoon Creek State Park, Beaver County | Ryan Tomazin, 3RBC / Brooks Bird Club |
| Sat. Apr 23, 10:00am | Flowers | Boyce-Mayview, Upper St. Clair, Allegheny County | Judy Stark, BotSocWPA |
| Sat. Apr 23, 2:00pm | Flowers | Brady’s Run Park, Beaver County | Peggy Gorrell & Loree Speedy, BotSocWPA |
| Sun. Apr 24, 7:30am | Birds | Buffalo Creek IBA-80, Washington County | Larry Helgerman, 3RBC |
| Sun. Apr 24, 8:30am | Birds & Flowers | Schenley Park, Pittsburgh | Kate St. John, Outside My Window |
| Sun. Apr 24, 8:30am | Birds | Frick Park, Pittsburgh | Jack & Sue Solomon, 3RBC |
| Fri. Apr 29, 7:30am | Birds | Sewickley Park, Allegheny County | Bob Van Newkirk, 3RBC / Fern Hollow Nature Center |
| Sat. Apr 30, 10:00am | Flowers | Powdermill Nature Reserve, Westmoreland County | Martha Oliver, BotSocWPA |
| Sun. May 1, 8:00am All Day! | Birds & Flowers | Enlow Fork Extravaganza, Washington/Greene Counties | Wheeling Creek Watershed Conservancy / BotSocWPA / Ralph Bell Bird Club |
Don’t miss April flowers. Let’s get outdoors!
p.s. The flower shown above is a member of the Pink family called star chickweed or great chickweed (Stellaria pubera). It looks unremarkable until you get close. 
(photo by Kate St. John)
We were at Wolf Creek in Slippery Rock this past weekend. Loads of trout lilies and Caroliba beauties. Trillium not blooming yet.
Chickweed is a tasty treat for my quail. I snatch a bunch for them on my doggie walk every morning. They love it.
Kate,
I have been a long time reader of your blog since my freshman year at the University of Pittsburgh in August 2008. I always enjoyed the narratives about the peregrines I saw on my daily walks to class and the crows that made a mess of campus each autumn. Since moving across the state to Philadelphia I’ve still never missed a post but I do miss having updates on the wildlife that is now “outside my window” so to speak. The building I work in has peregrines nesting on its facade but they are woefully under-documented by comparison. Thank you for being a constant source of knowledge and pleasant distraction.
PS. Since it’s the season, an interesting article on migration to share with you and your comment-readers:
http://www.thenaturalistsnotebook.com/our-blog/migrating-bird-fallout-on-machias-seal-island
Thank you, Matt.