WHAT: The Haverford Ornithological Club offers students an opportunity to connect with nature and fellow bird enthusiasts. While birdwatching is the club’s core activity, with weekly walks around campus, members also delve into bird biology, photography, ethics, conservation, and more. The club also occasionally partners with other campus groups like the Haverford Outdoors Club and has hosted guest speakers, including birder and Professor of Environmental Studies Jonathan Wilson.
WHERE: Meetings typically start near the Whitehead Campus Center and follow a path through the Nature Trail, a roughly hour-long loop. “Haverford’s campus is perfect for nature and bird lovers,” says Ashrith Kandula ’26, the club’s incoming co-president with Nadav Gilad-Muth ’27, a prospective environmental studies major. “We see around 20 different species each meeting, with the meadow by the Duck Pond being particularly productive.” Next year, the club plans trips off-campus to prime birding locations like John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, Hawk Mountain, or even nearby Bryn Mawr College.
WHY: The pandemic reignited people’s appreciation for the outdoors and birdwatching, says Kandula, a birder for more than a decade. Pennsylvania’s unique location on the migratory path of many birds is ideal for spotting diverse species. The club has seen bald eagles, belted kingfishers, broad-winged hawks, pileated woodpeckers, and a variety of warblers, a club favorite. Roughly 30 different species of these small, colorful birds migrate through the area, and on a series of spring walks Kandula dubbed “Warbler Bonanzas,” the group spotted half that number. “It’s a fun way to take a break from studying and get some exercise,” says Kandula, a neuroscience major with a chemistry minor.
WHO: More than 60 members receive the club’s emails, which recap hikes and include bird photos and facts. The number of attendees at weekly meetings fluctuates. New members are welcome.
WHEN: The club is active throughout the year. “Every month offers something unique in birding,” says Kandula. “Spring migration, from late April to early May, is simply incredible. You just want to be outside all the time.” He continues, “But winter birding is more enjoyable than you might think. We see some really cool ducks that breed in Canada and migrate south for the winter, like buffleheads. There’s always something interesting to see.”