ABA Community Weekend, Philly
Spend the weekend birding with the American Birding Association in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania!
Join the American Birding Association for a fun weekend of birding, community, and celebration in and around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 23–24, 2026!
All bird walks and talks are free and open to the public, but registration is required HERE
Program
Sat., May 23, 2026
Sat., May 23, begins in the field with multiple guided bird walks at some of the region’s top migration hotspots. Early risers can join the 8:30am walk at FDR Park, followed by 9:30am walks at Houston Meadow and Woodlands Cemetery (The Woodlands).
From noon to 4pm on Sat., we’ll gather at the Discovery Center for an afternoon of community engagement and learning. Local bird clubs, including Delaware Valley Ornithological Club, In Color Birding Club, Bird Philadelphia, Bird Safe Philadelphia, Philadelphia Queer Birders, and the Feminist Bird Club (Philadelphia chapter) will host booths alongside Hillstar Nature. Rolling bird walks will depart every half hour from noon to 2pm. At 2:30pm, Jason Hall will give a talk entitled “So You Wanna Bird Philly? What to Know about the BEST Birding City in the United States.”
Sat., May 23, 2026, 8:30am EDT: FDR Park Bird Walk
Event type: Bird walk
Meeting Point: The Boathouse
Accessibility: FDR Park features a mix of paved paths, gravel trails, and grassy areas. Most walks are relatively flat, though some routes may include uneven surfaces and areas that can be muddy depending on weather conditions.
Boathouse at FDR Park, FDR Park, Philadelphia, PA 19145
Sat., May 23, 2026, 9:30am EDT: Houston Meadow Bird Walk
Event type: Bird walk
Meeting Point: 900 Sequoia Rd., Philadelphia, PA 19128
Accessibility: Houston Meadow features natural meadow paths with grass and uneven ground. These walks are best suited for participants comfortable walking on natural terrain.
900 Sequoia Rd Philadelphia, PA 19128
Sat., May 23, 2026, 9:30am EDT: Woodlands Cemetery (The Woodlands) Bird Walk
Event type: Bird walk
Meeting Point: 4000 Woodland Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Accessibility: The Woodlands features mostly flat gravel roads and wide paths. Wheelchair users can access much of the site, though some surfaces are loose gravel.
WQWX+Q8, 4000 Woodland Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Sat., May 23, 2026, 12–4pm EDT: Discovery Center Bird Walks and Presentations
Event type: Bird walk and speakers
Meeting Point: The Discovery Center, located at 3401 Reservoir Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19121
Accessibility: The Discovery Center is fully ADA accessible, including elevators and accessible restrooms. The reservoir boardwalk is wheelchair accessible.
From noon to 4pm on Saturday, we’ll gather at the Discovery Center for an afternoon of community engagement and learning. Local bird clubs, including Delaware Valley Ornithological Club, In Color Birding Club, Bird Philadelphia, Bird Safe Philadelphia, Philadelphia Queer Birders, and the Feminist Bird Club (Philadelphia chapter) will host booths alongside Hillstar Nature. Rolling bird walks will depart every half hour from noon to 2pm. At 2:30pm, Jason Hall will give a talk entitled “So You Wanna Bird Philly? What to Know about the BEST Birding City in the United States.”
3401 Reservoir Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19121
Sun., May 24, 2026, 7am–12:30pm EDT: John Heinz NWR Bird Walks, Exhibits, and Presentations
We’ll wrap up the weekend on Sun., May 24, at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, also known as Tinicum. Rolling bird walks will depart every half hour from 7–10am. Bird club and sponsor booths open at 9am, and a featured presentation in the Heinz auditorium will begin at 11am. The event concludes at 12:30pm.
Event type: Bird walk, exhibits, and presentation
Meeting Point: The visitor center
Accessibility: The visitor center and boardwalk trails at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge are wheelchair accessible. Some additional trails are gravel.
8601 Lindbergh Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19153
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