Free Event Saturday at Heinz Refuge

The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum will be hosting its annual FREE “Cradle of Birding” Wildlife and Conservation Festival, 7 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, Sept.18, sponsored by the Friends of the Heinz Refuge and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.


This year’s featured speaker will be Adrian Binns, past president and long time field trip leader for the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club. Adrian, along with Kevin Laughlin, have founded the Pennsylvania Young Birders Club to help introduce a new generation to the avian world. He will share fun stories and photos of his birding adventures.

Organizations showcasing their animals will be the Philadelphia Zoo, the Bailey Foundation Exotic Bird Rescue, Delco Bird Club, Inc., Academy of Natural Sciences, the Pinelands Retriever Club of NJ, and the high flying raptors of “Talons: A Bird of Prey Experience”.

The day kicks off with a “Bird-A-Thon” (early morning bird identification walks starting at 7 a.m., 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.). Starting between 7 and 10 a.m. workshops for “Advanced Birding”, “Intro to Nature Photography”, “Beginner Birding”, and “Birding by Ear” will take place.

Throughout the day numerous workshops and demonstrations will be going on including birding, fly tying, fishing, woodcarving, archery and retriever dog training. Exhibitors from local, state and federal resource agencies will be on hand along with many nonprofit environmental organizations.

Special interpretive trolley tours of the refuge run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.and there will be free lunch of hot dogs and soft drinks for all in attendance.

The Friends of the Heinz Wildlife Refuge Photo Group will be recognizing the winners of this year’s Photo Contest and unveiling their new exhibit of the natural wonders of the refuge.

The “Tinicum Treasures” Gift Shop will be also be open.

For more information visit, www.fws.gov/heinz or call 215-365-3118.