Join Us for Our Annual Banquet - April 11th!

Join us Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the East Berlin Area Community Center for York Audubon’s Annual Banquet! Doors open at 4:00 PM for the silent auction, 50/50, and quilt raffle, followed by a family-style dinner and a special presentation by Linette Mansberger, “Winging It Near Water,” featuring birds of south central PA’s wetlands and waterways.

This is our major fundraiser supporting programs throughout the year. Advance tickets are $25 (reserve by April 5) or $35 cash at the door. Don’t miss a wonderful evening of food, friends, and birds — get your tickets today!

Saturday, April 18 - Nixon Park

• Meeting location: Nixon Park (York County Park) - below visitor center next to creek
• Time: 7:30 to 9:30 am
• Notes: We will look for early migrants and listen for Louisiana Waterthrush along the creek

All bird walks are free and open to the public. No registration required.

Plant a Shrub to Feed Baby Birds

If you want to truly help birds this spring, consider planting a native shrub instead of more flowers. While flowers provide nectar, most birds raise their young on insects—especially caterpillars, which are critical for nestling growth. A single brood of chickadees may require thousands of caterpillars, and native shrubs are some of the most productive “food sources” in a backyard.

In Southcentral Pennsylvania, shrubs like viburnums, dogwoods, and native cherries support far more insect life than typical garden plants, making them essential for feeding young birds. They also provide dense cover for nesting and protection, giving birds everything they need in one place. Early spring is an ideal time to plant, and even adding one shrub can significantly boost your yard’s habitat value. If you’re deciding what to plant this year, start with a shrub—it provides more food, more shelter, and more impact than almost anything else you can add.

🌿 Great Native Shrubs for York County

☀️ Sunny to Part Sun

• Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) – Very deer resistant; supports a wide range of insects and provides excellent nesting cover
• New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) – Compact, tough shrub with high pollinator and insect value
• Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) - One of the best all around shrubs, supports many insects and produces fruit

🌤 Part Sun to Light Shade

• Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) – One of the best all-around wildlife shrubs; berries + high caterpillar support
• Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis) – Early-season berries and strong insect support

🌳 Shade / Woodland Edge

• Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) – Host plant for swallowtail butterflies; excellent for woodland habitats
• Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa) – Supports insects and produces berries for birds. It also forms a dense thicket which is great for shelter.

April brings a surge of migration activity across York County, starting with lingering waterfowl like Blue-winged Teal and Pied-billed Grebes at hotspots such as Lake Redman and Pinchot State Park. Early in the month, herons and egrets return to nest at Kiwanis Lake, while shorebirds and waders like sandpipers and yellowlegs begin arriving by mid-month. Songbird migration ramps up as phoebes, wrens, swallows, and early warblers appear (Pine and Palm), with activity peaking in late April as most others begin to arrive. With trees still leafing out, this is one of the easiest times of year to spot birds—especially along edge habitats in local parks. Meanwhile, winter visitors like juncos and White-throated Sparrows make their final departures north.

Magee Marsh & Lake Erie Birding Adventure​
May 14–17, 2026

Join York Audubon for an unforgettable spring migration experience along Ohio’s Lake Erie shore! Magee Marsh is world-famous for its incredible warbler fallout — with dazzling close-up views and birds everywhere you look. Whether you’re a seasoned birder or just learning, this is the perfect place to witness migration at its peak.

Spots fill quickly — don’t miss this spectacular trip!

Saturday, April 11th from 1pm to 4pm

Get Involved with a Neighboring Volunteer Workday!

Looking for a hands‐on way to give back to nature? Our friends at Lancaster Conservancy are hosting a Volunteer Workday at the Graham Nature Preserve in York County — part of their emerging Ingrid Graham Historic Hellam Nature Preserve restoration efforts. Join fellow conservationists as you help remove invasive shrubs and weeds with hand tools, directly contributing to restoring native habitat and protecting biodiversity. All tools and gloves are provided, and the event is suitable for ages 12 and up (with adult accompaniment for minors). It’s a great way to support land stewardship, meet new people, and get outside this season!

• Note - this is on the same day as our Banquet!