Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania (ASWP) incorporated in 1942, with a history dating back to 1916, is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
at Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve
. The society obtained Todd Nature Reserve
in 1942, and in 1977 began operating from Beechwood – a 134 acre (0.54227924 km²) property with over 4 miles (6.4 km) of walking trails.
ASWP’s mission is “to inspire and educate the people of southwestern Pennsylvania to be respectful and responsible stewards of the natural world.” To that end, ASWP has a full-time education staff, a corps of volunteer naturalists who work to educate youth and adults through year-round programming, youth day camps in the summer, and a summer naturalist at Todd Nature Reserve from June to September. The society also runs a series of environmental education
camp programs for local schools in the fall.
In addition to ongoing education, ASWP hosts a number of community events, beginning with Maple Madness in the early spring. In June, Audubon hosts Secret Garden events; in September, a fall festival called AppleJamm; and in October, a non-scary Halloween experience called Creatures of the Night.
The Audubon Nature Store, located at Beechwood, contains nature related and themed items for every occasion. Birdfeeders and birdseed are favorites of many customers, however the inventory includes clothing, optics, jewelry, books and more.
ASWP is dedicated to the stewardship of both Beechwood Farms and Todd Nature Reserves, which together total over 400 acres (1.6 km²) of land. Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve's trails are open dawn to dusk year round, and Todd Nature Reserve trails are available dawn to dusk except during the Pennsylvania Deer Hunting Season.
Valley, Raccoon Creek
, Enlow Fork, and Lower Buffalo Creek Valley Important Bird Areas. The society is also in the midst of a barn owl
research program, to develop a protocol for reintroducing barn owls to areas where their populations may be at risk. The Audubon Center for Native Plants, a nursery developed to propagate native plants is located at Beechwood. Native Plants are made available for purchase from May through September, and the society partners with numerous organizations to promote the use of native plants in Western Pennsylvania
. ASWP has recently completed administration of a Watershed Conservation Plan for the Buffalo Creek Watershed, where Todd Nature Reserve is located. Implementation of the plan began in October 2008 and is ongoing.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
at Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve
Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve
Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve is a protected area for flora, fauna, and wildlife in Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania, a Pittsburgh suburb. The site has served as the headquarters of the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania since 1977....
. The society obtained Todd Nature Reserve
Todd Nature Reserve
Todd Nature Reserve is a nature reserve owned and operated by the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania. It is located in Buffalo Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania; approximately thirty miles northeast of Pittsburgh, and five miles north of Freeport. The original portion of the reserve...
in 1942, and in 1977 began operating from Beechwood – a 134 acre (0.54227924 km²) property with over 4 miles (6.4 km) of walking trails.
ASWP’s mission is “to inspire and educate the people of southwestern Pennsylvania to be respectful and responsible stewards of the natural world.” To that end, ASWP has a full-time education staff, a corps of volunteer naturalists who work to educate youth and adults through year-round programming, youth day camps in the summer, and a summer naturalist at Todd Nature Reserve from June to September. The society also runs a series of environmental education
Environmental education
Environmental education refers to organized efforts to teach about how natural environments function and, particularly, how human beings can manage their behavior and ecosystems in order to live sustainably. The term is often used to imply education within the school system, from primary to...
camp programs for local schools in the fall.
In addition to ongoing education, ASWP hosts a number of community events, beginning with Maple Madness in the early spring. In June, Audubon hosts Secret Garden events; in September, a fall festival called AppleJamm; and in October, a non-scary Halloween experience called Creatures of the Night.
The Audubon Nature Store, located at Beechwood, contains nature related and themed items for every occasion. Birdfeeders and birdseed are favorites of many customers, however the inventory includes clothing, optics, jewelry, books and more.
ASWP is dedicated to the stewardship of both Beechwood Farms and Todd Nature Reserves, which together total over 400 acres (1.6 km²) of land. Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve's trails are open dawn to dusk year round, and Todd Nature Reserve trails are available dawn to dusk except during the Pennsylvania Deer Hunting Season.
Conservation initiatives
ASWP is involved in a number of conservation initiatives. First, the society works to publicize and aid in the stewardship of the Buffalo CreekBuffalo Creek (Allegheny River)
Buffalo Creek is a tributary of the Allegheny River in Armstrong and Butler counties in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.-Course:Buffalo Creek joins the Allegheny River at the borough of Freeport.-Tributaries:...
Valley, Raccoon Creek
Raccoon Creek
Raccoon Creek may refer to:*Raccoon Creek, a tributary of the Coosa River in Alabama*Raccoon Creek , a tributary of the Etowah River*Raccoon Creek, a tributary of the Elm River...
, Enlow Fork, and Lower Buffalo Creek Valley Important Bird Areas. The society is also in the midst of a barn owl
Barn Owl
The Barn Owl is the most widely distributed species of owl, and one of the most widespread of all birds. It is also referred to as Common Barn Owl, to distinguish it from other species in the barn-owl family Tytonidae. These form one of two main lineages of living owls, the other being the typical...
research program, to develop a protocol for reintroducing barn owls to areas where their populations may be at risk. The Audubon Center for Native Plants, a nursery developed to propagate native plants is located at Beechwood. Native Plants are made available for purchase from May through September, and the society partners with numerous organizations to promote the use of native plants in Western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania consists of the western third of the state of Pennsylvania in the United States. Pittsburgh is the largest city in the region, with a metropolitan area population of about 2.4 million people, and serves as its economic and cultural center. Erie, Altoona, and Johnstown are its...
. ASWP has recently completed administration of a Watershed Conservation Plan for the Buffalo Creek Watershed, where Todd Nature Reserve is located. Implementation of the plan began in October 2008 and is ongoing.