This new park was known for years as the AT&T Overseas Transmission Station, or more familiarly as "The Pole Farm." It is adjacent to Rosedale Park, which is now part of the new Northwest Park. Come with us as we walk the paths and compare the flora and fauna to that of Rosedale.

Directions: From the traffic light at Manors Corner shopping center on Pennington-Lawrenceville Road take Keefe Road toward Princeton for 1.1 miles to the bend where it meets Cold Soil Road. At that bend, the entrance is on the left through a chain link gate. There is a white barn on the left inside the gate. Go straight on the macadam road to the parking area. If starting in Princeton, take Cold Soil Road, go 1.1 miles past Blackwell Road to the bend, and look for the entrance on the right.

We'll walk the trails in this Bucks County Park looking for waterfowl, raptors, and early migrating warblers.

Directions: Route 202 South toward Doylestown. Right onto route 313, proceed west for 4 miles. Left on New Galena Road, then first left onto Chapman Road. Go to parking lot across from Nature Center.

Roebling Park is a Mercer County park adjacent to the Hamilton/Trenton marsh. We plan to follow trails in this rejuvenated park and look for migrating warblers and marsh birds. If you have not been in this area recently, we think you will be surprised by the improvements in the park. This trip is co-sponsored by Friends for the Hamilton-Trenton-Bordentown Marsh and D&R Greenway Land Trust. Contact Mary Leck (609) 895-5420 for additional information if needed.

Directions: Coming from Trenton on South Broad St., turn right into Sewell Avenue shortly after the Lalor St. intersection. Proceed to the end of Sewell Ave. (watch out for stop signs) and follow the dirt road to the left down the hill to parking area.

Please see the Friends for the Marsh website (www.marsh-friends.org) for listings of additional outings and canoe trips that complement those of WCAS.

Meet at Bordentown Township’s Northern Community Park on Groveville Road, located between Routes 206 and 130 in Bordentown Township. Contact Mary Leck (609) 895-5420 for additional information if needed.

This trip is co-sponsored by Friends for the Marsh and D&R Greenway Land Trust.

Join us for a trip to a popular recreational park in Hamilton Township. Veteran's Park has a nice diversity of habitat including a lake, streams, open fields, and woods; these support a diversity of bird life. In the past few years, wood ducks, tree and barn swallows, red-tailed hawks, cedar waxwings, orchard and Baltimore orioles, red-eyed vireos, scarlet tanagers, and indigo buntings are just some of the birds that have been spring and summer residents of the park. While we won't see all these birds, we should see many, along with some unexpected migrants, as spring migration season will be in full swing. Call Mark Witmer (609) 730-0826 if you have any questions.

Directions: we will meet at the north entrance to the park, which is along Klockner Road, just east of Hamilton Square-White Horse Road, across the street from Steinert High School. As you enter the park drive to the back of the parking area; we will gather there.

Garret Mountain Reservation, a Passaic County Park, located just south of Paterson, NJ, can be an excellent spot in the spring for the songbird migration.

Directions: Take I-287 to I-80. Go east to exit 56A (Squirrelwood Road). Go to the stop sign and turn right on Rifle Camp Road. Go up the hill about 0.5 miles to Mountain Ave., which comes in from the left. Turn left on Mountain Ave. (look for an army tank and the reservoir on the left) and go 0.3 miles to the entrance to Garret Mountain Reservation. Go right up the hill for a short distance to a large parking area.

The distance from Somerville on I-287 and I-80 to exit 56A is about 40 miles. Bring a lunch. We may also visit Rifle Camp Park, which is adjacent to Garret Mountain. If additional information is needed, call Lou Beck at (609) 737 0070.

We will walk on a few of the many trails in the park looking for spring migrants and resident birds in wooded areas and adjacent fields.

Directions: Washington Crossing State Park is located off of Washington Crossing - Pennington Road, Titusville, NJ. Enter park and follow signs to Nature Center. Park at Nature Center parking lot. If additional information is needed, call Lou Beck at (609) 737-0070.

It may seem that winter will be here forever. But soon spring will come, the birds will start migrating and it will be time for the WCAS 2008 Birdathon. Our Birdathon is the bird watching equivalent of a walkathon. People who love birding and the environment convince birders and non-birders alike to pledge money for every species of bird seen by Birdathoners on Birdathon day.

It is easy to participate as a bird finder and/or as a sponsor. More information will be posted soon.

This is the only fund raiser for WCAS. The money collected goes for several of our educational and environmental programs such as:

• Audubon Adventures for 60 inner-city fourth-grade classrooms
• Workshops and field trips for families
• Monthly program meeting with informative speakers
• Hannah Suthers’ bird banding on Featherbed Lane, Hopewell
• and much more.

Our goal for 2008 is to raise $10,000.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 10th and come join the fun as a participant or as a sponsor. Pledge forms will come in the next Newsletter.

You could also win a prize. On April 21th there will be a random drawing for a birdhouse among those who have pledged to date.

On May 19st or soon after, Grand Prizes will be awarded to:

• Individual giving the highest dollar amount
• Solicitor who brought in the highest dollar amount
• Individual (or team) who observed the most species of birds.

The Institute Woods near the Institute for Advanced Study is an excellent place to observe the spring migration of warblers and other songbirds. Two dates are offered so that you can pick the most convenient for you.

Directions: From Princeton take Alexander Street toward Route 1. At the bend before the canal turn right on West Drive. Go a short distance on West Drive and park near the entrance to the Rogers Wildlife Refuge. Contact Lou Beck (609) 737-0070 if additional information is needed.

There are always interesting birds, especially warblers, nesting in the trees along the Delaware River and cliff swallows under the bridge. Join us and see what's there this year.

Directions: North on Route 29 through Stockton to park entrance on left 3.5 miles north of town. Turn left at sign for park and cross over bridge to parking lot straight ahead. There is a shaded picnic grove here, so bring a lunch for after our walk. Contact Lou Beck (609) 737-0070 if additional information is needed.

We plan to visit this Mercer County Park located north of the New Jersey Washington Crossing State Park. We plan to have the gate open so that you can drive to the top of the mountain and have time to explore this interesting area.

Directions: Washington Crossing Road (Route 546) go past Washington Crossing State Park to the intersection with Route 29. Turn right and go two miles to Fiddler's Creek Road. Turn right and go 0.2 miles to a black gate on the left. Take the road through the gate to the top of the mountain. You can also take Church Road from Bear Tavern Road (Route 579). Follow Church Road and make your first right onto Fiddler's Creek Road. Follow Fiddler's Creek Road 1.4 miles and watch for the black gate on your right hand side. Go through the open gate and up the hill. Contact Pat Sziber (609) 737-1189 for more information.

This trip involves driving to numerous stops after we reach the Stokes State Forest area, so we would like to car pool to minimize the number of cars. The trip route is straight up Route 206 from Princeton about 60 miles to a meeting place/rest stop at Stokes Forest Office about one mile north of Culvers Lake. Please register with Lou Beck (609) 737-0070 prior to the trip.

Join us for this gentle walk on Kate’s Trail to the Stony Brook. Located on a 60-acre conservation easement held by the D & R Greenway Land Trust in Hopewell Township, this trail wanders through varied woodland hosting a rich variety of plant and animals. Enjoy the onset of spring along the Stony Brook. This program is co-sponsored by the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association. Please pre-register for this free program by calling (609) 737-7592 – directions will be provided.

This new park was known for years as the AT&T Overseas Transmission Station, or more familiarly as "The Pole Farm." It is adjacent to Rosedale Park, which is now part of the new Northwest Park. Come with us as we walk the paths and compare the flora and fauna to that of Rosedale.

Directions: From the traffic light at Manors Corner shopping center on Pennington-Lawrenceville Road take Keefe Road toward Princeton for 1.1 miles to the bend where it meets Cold Soil Road. At that bend, the entrance is on the left through a chain link gate. There is a white barn on the left inside the gate. Go straight on the macadam road to the parking area. If starting in Princeton, take Cold Soil Road, go 1.1 miles past Blackwell Road to the bend, and look for the entrance on the right. We plan to have someone at the gate to direct you to parking.

Roebling Park is a Mercer County park adjacent to the Hamilton/Trenton marsh. We plan to follow trails in this rejuvenated park and look for dragonflies and damselflies. This trip is cosponsored by Friends of the Marsh

Directions: Coming from Trenton on South Broad St., turn right into Sewell Avenue shortly after the Lalor St. intersection. Proceed to the end of Sewell Ave. (watch out for stop signs) and follow the dirt road to the left down the hill to parking area.

This is the time to start looking for migrating waterfowl and other northern-bound birds in this productive local wildlife management area.

Directions: East on I-195 to exit 11, Imlaystown. North on Imlaystown Road 2.6 miles to parking area at Lake Assunpink. Contact Lou Beck (609) 737-0070 if additional information is needed.