PA Breeding Bird Blitz for Conservation #1

Come join me counting birds throughout South Middleton Townships Parks. 

There is no set time limit you must participate. 

Come join me for an hour, all-day, at a specific park, or just for lunch.

I will start the day at South Middleton Park at 7am and continue until 7pmish. 

If you have time during the day, give me a call and we can count at a park near you.

Tell your friends and family to donate here; Reely Kid-Icking Good Birders | Breedingbirdblitz.

South Middleton Township is committed to growth in our community while maintaining, improving, and expanding our natural environment. Prior to our PA Breeding Bird Blitz for Conservation submission, South Middleton Township had committed to re-establishing several acres of wetlands with native Pennsylvania reeds and grasses.

In the Spring of 2022, local photographer Wes Peterson, photographed a pair of Virginia Rails mating inside South Middleton Township Park wetland area next to the Yellow Breeches Creek. This area has always been an annual stopover for Wilson’s Snipes and several other marshland species, but this is the first time breeding Virginia Rails have established a foothold in the park. In early 2023, the Township identified three target areas within the park to restore and plant common cattail (Typha latifolia), narrow-leaved cattail (Typha angustifolia), and possibly Northeastern bulrush (Scirpus ancistrochaetus) for 2023.

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The South Middleton Township Wetland and Grassland Expansion Plan is seeking funding to help remove the target land area of manicured grass and restore the area to its natural wetlands in order to plant target species, thin out larger plant growth in three already established wetland areas to maintain the ecosystem for the already established Rails, and provide educational signs explaining the importance of the Virginia Rail and other target species within our parks. South Middleton Township is excited to partner with the Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology and its members to increase awareness within the community and expand the populations of target species, like the Virginia Rail.

Thank you,

Andrew Dapkins

Guide and Owner