Raptors in winter

MATAMORAS, PA — The Gifford Pinchot Audubon Society’s past president Peter Wulfhorst will lead a field trip to Pine Island and the Liberty Loop Trail of the Wallkill River Wildlife Refuge on Sunday, January 6, 2008. Participants will meet at 2:00 p.m. at the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Welcome Center off Route 209 near Matamoras and car pool to the refuge.

The northern section of the Wallkill River Wildlife Refuge attracts several wintering species of raptors as well as sparrows and other songbirds. The fields and marshes of Pine Island and Liberty Loop Trail provide wintering habitat for short-eared owls, rough-legged hawks, northern harriers, tree sparrows, horned larks, snow buntings, red-tailed hawks and possibly northern shrike.

The group will be birding at several locations near Pine Island and stopping at the Liberty Loop Trail kiosk near dusk in hopes of observing the short-eared owls. Wear warm clothes, as the group will be outside at several locations.

For more information call 570/296-2244 between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m.