Panhandle Trail: Grassland Birds

Date & Time:  Saturday, May 23, 8:30 am 

Leader: Alex Busato, busatoalex67@gmail.com, 724-963-6612

Directions: This location is likely to be a further drive for most. From rt 70 west, follow to Washington and exit onto rt 79 north. Go past Cannonsburg and exit onto rt 576 west (toll road). Follow to Midway / McDonald exit and head toward Midway on Fort Cherry Road. At the first intersection, turn right onto Noblestown Rd. and follow to the town of Midway. At BP Gas station, turn right onto St. Johns St. then make first left onto Washington Ave. Finally, turn left on Prospect St. then left into the parking lot before the underpass.  From rt 376 W, follow 376 through downtown, through Fort Pitt Bridge, and to Robinson Mall. Here, exit onto rt 30 / 22 W and follow until the juncture with rt. 980 south / Quicksilver Rd. Follow south to Midway and directly to the parking lot (40.3693939, -80.2924888)

Description:  While this section of the Panhandle Trail is perhaps most well known for its Short-eared Owls and Harriers in wintertime, it also hosts one of the most consistent and diverse assemblages of grassland birds in the region through the summer. Highlights of this easy walk include abundant Henslow’s Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, and American Kestrel, as well as the possibility for other open country species like Yellow-breasted Chat, Savannah Sparrow, and other raptors. This is a flat walk on a paved section of trail for easy walking, and there are porta-potties at the trailhead. Bring sun protection as the grassland part of this trail has no shade.