In the weeks ahead, sights and sounds of such returning species as the eastern phoebe, chipping sparrow, eastern towhee and blue-gray gnatcatcher should be available in various corners of the campus. Depending on their preferences for food and shelter, different birds are attracted to the extensive plantings of trees and shrubs on central campus; the manicured stretches of the golf courses; scattered young wood lots, grass parking areas and ponds; and the thicker woods and agricultural fields near the Deer Research Center, the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel and the future Penn State Arboretum.

“Migrating warblers, vireos, thrushes, kinglets and sometimes orioles and flycatchers are most frequently found on campus from late April through mid-May,” says Greg Grove, a lecturer in biochemistry and molecular biology and president of the State College Bird Club. “I usually see warblers right out my Frear Building office window in a crab apple tree. Over the years there, I’ve seen Nashville, magnolia and yellow-rumped warblers, and American redstarts and common yellowthroats. Plus I’ve seen hermit thrushes, brown creepers and other warblers and sparrows nearby.”

Grove mentions the small Hort Woods lot along Park Avenue near North Halls as another likely venue for migrating warblers; and notes that a retention pond near the Bryce Jordan Center attracts waterfowl. The pond also has briefly hosted some real rarities for central Pennsylvania in the marsh and shorebird categories—such as a glossy ibis, a Wilson’s phalarope and various sandpiper species. Even Beaver Stadium got into the act, he says, when a pair of ravens nested there some years ago.

Predatory birds have also been known to take up residence on and near campus. For instance, Cooper’s hawks frequent the area of Old Main, perhaps to snack on slow pigeons and squirrels; Grove spotted a sharp-shinned hawk along Curtin Road in late February; and several species of owl haunt the woods near the deer pens, off Fox Hollow Road on the way to University Park airport.

Before the rush of spring, the winter months often bring species like the slate-colored junco, cedar waxwing, white-throated sparrow, downy woodpecker and tufted titmouse closer to “civilization” on campus than they tend to be at other times of the year. Furthermore, throughout most of the year, it is not difficult to find such common “backyard” birds as American robins, gold finches, house finches, black-capped chickadees, blue jays, house sparrows, northern cardinals, white-breasted nuthatches and American crows on many parts of campus.

Some of these latter birds are the most likely to be attracted when nature-loving, but office- or lab-bound employees hang bird feeders near their windows in order to get some quality viewing without binoculars.

For more information on local birding opportunities, the State College Bird Club has a website at http://www.padirectory.com/scbirdcl/.

**gwc**

Contact:  Gary W. Cramer, Penn State Department of Public Information, at (814) 865-7517 or gwc104@psu.edu