Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Wings Over Wyncote: 

The Story of the Wyncote Bird Club and the Work to Protect Birds

Join us in March as Leigh Altadonna presents on the the Wyncote Audubon Society. Founded in April 1914, the Wyncote Bird Club pursued a mission to protect birds and their habitats. The “Club” has continued to thrive due to the incredible work of many important individuals who founded and led the “Club” from its founding and through to its transition in 1967 as a chapter of the National Audubon Society. Dr. Altadonna’s program will profile several of the individuals involved with the “Club” over the years. He will share images and anecdotes that profile some of these leaders and the contributions they made to stimulate broader interest in birds and their protection. Ernest Harold Baines, Ester Heacock, Florence Griscom, Edward Hicks Parry, and others are among the personalities Leigh will profile. Some selected activities of the Wyncote Bird Club will be shared. He will also spotlight some of the ways the “Club” influenced a cadre of individuals who have influenced the national and international conservation movement.

Lectures are at 7:30PM EST and FREE and open to the public.

In-person and on Zoom. Please click here to log-in.

Abington Friends Meeting, The John Barnes Room

520 Meetinghouse Road, Jenkintown

Masks are recommended but not required to attend the lecture.

The lecture series is sponsored by a grant from the Jenkinstown Lyceum. For more information, please call the Old York Road Historical Society at 215-886-8590.

If you are interested in learning about more of our future programs and are not on our email reminder list but would like to be, please send your email address to OldYorkRoadHistory@gmail.com. Information for upcoming programs and events can also be found on our Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Leigh Altadonna is the current President of the Wyncote Audubon Society that serves Audubon members in major portions of Philadelphia and Montgomery Counties in Pennsylvania.  He grew up in Glenside and developed a passion for birds and birding from his early association as a child with the Wyncote Bird Club and Briar Bush Nature Center.  Leigh continued his pursuit of birds and their conservation through service with many organizations. Leigh had served four terms on the Board of the National Audubon Society and two terms on the National Audubon Society Action Fund Board. He currently serves on the Board of Bird Town Pennsylvania and as President of the Pennsylvania Audubon Council. Leigh is a retired from the Abington School District after 44 years of service.  He worked as a teacher and became a principal after earning his doctorate at Teachers College, Colombia University. He went on to serve as Director of Curriculum and Assistant Superintendent before he retired.