WASHINGTON TWP., Pa. — Lehigh Gap Nature Center’s annual feeder watch is over, with more than 2,000 birds recorded.
“Thank you to the 40+ families who made the 2025 Lehigh Gap Area Feeder Watch a big success,” officials said in a Sunday news release.
"We encourage everyone to keep an eye out for new spring visitors in your backyard. Spring migration is underway!”
The center, 8844 Paint Mill Road, from Feb. 14-16 held its annual Lehigh Gap Area Feeder Watch.
The long-term research project, open to residents within 15 miles of the center, focuses on monitoring winter bird populations.
Through the project, conservationists can track the quality of the environment over time while engaging community members in citizen science.
During this year’s count, 2,070 birds were recorded across 35 different species, according to the release.
That total included 608 dark-eyed juncos, 191 mourning doves, 159 house sparrows and 128 northern cardinals, among others.
‘Indicators of environmental quality’
Last year’s feeder watch saw 2,859 birds across 50 species. The weather during this year’s count affected final tallies, officials said.
“This year’s feeder watch numbers were impacted by the weekend’s snowy and icy conditions,” according to the release.
A strong storm system moved through the Valley that weekend, bringing widespread and, in some areas, heavy precipitation.
“Since birds are excellent indicators of environmental quality, a long-term study like the Feeder Watch may provide valuable data about environmental quality in the study area."Lehigh Gap Nature Center officials
The center has been leading the feeder watch since 1998. There are only three requirements to participate: living within 15 miles of the center, having one or more bird feeders, and some bird identification knowledge.
“Since birds are excellent indicators of environmental quality, a longterm study like the Feeder Watch may provide valuable data about environmental quality in the study area,” officials said previously.
The feeder watch is one of two counts completed each year as part of the center’s conservation research efforts. The other is the center’s annual autumn Bake Oven Knob Hawk Watch.
Last year, staff and volunteers counted more than 9,000 migrating raptors during the watch.
