Wyoming Valley Audubon Society (Back Mountain, Tamaqua: 2009, buying, price)

[ScranBarre]

Are there any members on here who belong to the Wyoming Valley Audubon Society, based out of the Back Mountain? I just purchased a great steel squirrel-proof bird feeder for my father for Christmas from Wild Birds Unlimited in Dallas, and he's taken a keen liking to bird-watching as of late. I see the membership is reasonably-priced at about $20/year, so I was going to look into buying memberships for he and I so we could perhaps "bond" while going on guided bird-watching hikes in 2009; we've never had a "close" relationship, especially after some unpleasantness back in 2005, but given the fact that nearly a half-dozen people I know have passed away in the past six days alone, I don't want to risk having someone else succumb with a strained relationship.

Is bird-watching a fun activity? I have to dig out our old bird species identification book in the basement.

[Rick323]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

Is bird-watching a fun activity? I have to dig out our old bird species identification book in the basement.

I've never stictly gone bird watching but I enjoy watching our feathered friends. I know many calls (to hear) and can identify quite a few and probably have a long list of birds in my life list. When I go on vacation I photograph lots of birds. I know a gal who goes on vacation, strictly to watch birds-all over the world.

If you're planning to go bird watching you will need a good field guide (get one that has photo's not drawings) and a good pair of binoculars. (As a side note-I thought binoculars were made mostly for hunters-but I was wrong-most are made for bird watching-far more popular in the world than hunting). Don't go out and by the best binoculars until you find out if you like bird watching or not. If you do, a very good pair of binoculars will cost several hundred dollars -$200 up (mine cost $950).

I don't know anything about the audobon society-so I can't help ya.
But if you have time in the fall check out Hawk mountain Welcome to Hawk Mountain , its south of Tamaqua. People come from all over the world to watch birds of prey migrate in the fall and less so in the spring. Its really cool there, people (some days lots of people) spotting and identifying hawks and eagles, they have an offical count total.

Good luck (warblers drive me nuts-they all look the same)

[DavidWebb]

Go here for more info, Scran: National Audubon Society