Celebrating over 25 YEARS of LOCAL wildlife education and rehabilitation. You play a vital role in Wildbird Recovery’s mission and your support will ensure our fundraiser is a successful one. Please help by supporting Wildbird Recovery’s biggest fundraising event of the year!
Wildbird Recovery’s 14th Annual Fall Migration Festival will be held at Stormy Oaks Nature Conservancy (120 Forsythe Road, Valencia, PA 16059) on Sunday, September 21, 2025 from noon to 4 PM. The Fall Migration Festival Fundraiser is our annual fundraiser where our supporters of ALL AGES spend time outdoors, enjoy delicious food, and learn about different aspects of our local wildlife. Guests can learn about native plants and birds from our keynote speaker, Nick Liadis. Mr. Liadis is an avian conservation biologist, architect, and founder of Bird Lab, a non-profit creating and implementing bird-focused conservation practices through the integration of research, education, and community science that together create healthy ecosystems. We will also have educational booths about bats, native plants, reptiles, and more! We welcome you to experience our unique fundraising event.
Tickets for the event are able to be purchased (in-person) the day of the event. There is the option to purchase admission tickets in advance under the section “admission tickets” below until Friday, September 19, 2025.
Wildbird Recovery is a 501(c)(3) organization so your charitable donation is tax deductible.
If you are not able to make our event and would like to make a donation to our fundraiser, please visit our Ways to Donate website page. Thank you for wanting to make a positive impact! Your presence will be greatly missed.
Continue to check back for frequent updates! Most recent update made on September 17, 2025.
Visit our Supporting Our Work website page for a listing of individuals and businesses who are helping to make our 2025 event possible.
There is an important navigation update when leaving our event. If you plan to make a Left turn onto State Route 228 W to connect with Route 8, please plan to make a Left out of our driveway to connect with Harbison Road. If you make a Right out of our driveway to connect to Davis Road, PennDot has put up NO LEFT TURN signage from Davis Road to State Route 228 W.
Where to park? Please plan to use our second driveway located across from 119 Forsythe Road, Valencia, PA 16059 to enter the event. This driveway will take you to our field for parking. There will be volunteers to assist with parking. Handicap and accessibility parking is available. If needed, please let our volunteers know and they will direct you on where to park.
What to wear? This event takes place on a mowed lawn surface. Please dress based on the weather forecast for the day. It is helpful for children to wear closed-toed shoes for exploring Stormy Oaks Nature Conservancy. Also, there is a 40×60 (white) tent for the keynote speaker presentation, basket raffle, silent auction, and light refreshments.
Methods of payment? Cash, check, credit card, and Venmo are all forms of payment accepted at the event. Cash and check do not have fees associated with payment. Also, please be mindful of the slight wait time for payments processed by credit card or Venmo. We will do our best to quickly get you checked-in to the event!
Tentative Festival Schedule
You are encouraged to stop by any time over the course of the Fall Migration Festival event!
12:00 PM – Check-in, Light Refreshments, Silent Auction and Basket Raffle opens
12:00 PM – 12:15 PM – Visit with an Animal Ambassador near the Medicine Wheel
12:15 PM – Property Tour (Meet us next to “V6” to start the tour.)
1:00 PM – Keynote Presentation (The food table will be closed during the presentation.)
2:10 PM – 2:30 PM – Visit with an Animal Ambassador near the classroom
2:30 PM – Wildbird Recovery Special Update
3:00 PM – Last bids on Silent Auction and tickets for the Basket Raffle
3:15 PM – Silent Auction and Basket Raffle winners will be announced (The winner does not need to be present to win.)
3:45 PM – Visit with an Animal Ambassador near the woodshed
4:00 PM – Cash Out for Silent Auction, Goodbyes
Please note that Face Painting with Patty Ewing will take place from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
Education Ambassadors (birds and reptiles) will be out visiting throughout the event. Please be respectful of Mr. Shango, our Sulcata Tortoise, who will be mingling for the duration of the event!
The StoryWalk brought to you by the Mars Area Public Library and Stormy Oaks Nature Conservancy will be available starting at 1:00 PM. The start of the StoryWalk is by the woodshed (where you check-in for the event after parking). Also, your children are encouraged to explore our replica Bald Eagle nest in our Octagon play area (near the barn).
Be sure to tag us in your photo taken by our mural! The mural is on the exterior wall of our classroom. Samantha Ridgeway is a senior art educator at Carlow University and she graciously shared her skills to add a special touch to our classroom in 2023.
Admission Tickets
Email Melissa at mbrown@wildbirdrecovery.org with any questions on purchasing tickets for the 14th Annual Fall Migration Festival event. The tickets are non-refundable – this event will be held rain or shine. Children 4 and under do not require a ticket to attend the event. To become a current member of Wildbird Recovery, please visit our MEMBERSHIP page on our website prior to purchasing your admission tickets. If you do not currently have a membership with Wildbird Recovery, please do not select the “WBR Members Only” option when purchasing admission tickets. Tickets will need to be purchased for participants age 5 years and older.
You can change the number of adult or child tickets within your shopping cart by clicking the “View Cart” button. Tip: If you click “Continue Shopping >” within your shopping cart and it redirects you to the Home Page of our website, please navigate to the Fall Migration Festival Page to continue your purchase of admission tickets for the event. Any questions can be emailed to Melissa at mbrown@wildbirdrecovery.org. Thank you!
Limited Edition Festival Shirt
We’re so excited to show you our 2025 Fall Migration Festival T-Shirt. The design for this year showcases the Hermit Thrush. This small bird, with its lovely, flute-like song, is a favorite of this year’s Keynote Speaker, Nick Liadis of Bird Lab.
A special thank you to Lorren Kezmoh for designing and illustrating the 2025 Fall Migration Festival T-Shirt!
Please email hello@wildbirdrecovery.org with any questions regarding T-shirts. Pre-ordered T-shirts will be available at the check-in table for anyone choosing to pick up your shirt the day of the event.
There is no guarantee that a 2025 Fall Migration Festival T-shirt will be available for purchase at the event.
Sponsors, Vendors, and Donations
A non-profit organization that relies solely on donations, Wildbird Recovery is the only wildlife rehabilitation center in Butler County, Pennsylvania. We help hundreds of injured Songbirds, Swifts, Swallows, and Birds of Prey every year from all over Western Pennsylvania, with treatments costing an average of $50 to $150 depending on the species, medical needs, and length of care for each bird that is admitted. Your generous donation will allow us to provide continued assistance to the patients in our care.
To make it happen, we need your help! Wildbird Recovery needs event sponsors, business gift certificates, and/or raffle basket donations. Every donation makes a direct impact on our efforts to provide wildlife rehabilitation services and educational programming.
We value your partnership, and to show our appreciation, individuals and businesses will be listed in our newsletter, on our website WILDBIRDRECOVERY.org for one year, on our Facebook page, and recognition on event day signage.
To support Wildbird Recovery’s – Fall Migration Festival Fundraiser, please complete the Wildbird Recovery’s – Fall Migration Festival Fundraiser Google Form. Deadline is September 1, 2025 for sponsorships, vendors, and donations to be included in signage the day of the festival. Please be sure to check your spam email folder to avoid any missed communications. Email hello@wildbirdrecovery.org with any questions or even additional ways to support us throughout the year!
We are incredibly grateful for choosing to support us. Our supporters play a vital role in our ability to continue our mission. Thank you so very much!
Keynote speaker
Nick Liadis
Nick Liadis is an avian conservation biologist and architect based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His work takes him across the human landscape gradient into urban, suburban, and rural areas to better understand how birds coexist with humans. Trained as an architect, he became involved with bird conservation by studying bird-window collisions. He founded a non-profit called Bird Lab, dedicated to studying and implementing solutions to human-related sources of avian mortality, particularly within cities.
Mr. Liadis will present on Bird Lab’s ongoing work with migratory songbird banding across multiple sites in southwestern Pennsylvania, as well as its breeding bird monitoring efforts in the Laurel Highlands. He will highlight how this research not only advances our understanding of avian movement and ecology, but also informs conservation practices, drives educational initiatives, and shapes innovative programs that redefine what conservation can look like today.
Educational booths and Vendors
Learn about Bats
Join Terry Lobdell to learn all about bats! Come and learn all about the bats of Pennsylvania and how to build and mount successful bat houses on your property. He will talk about his participation in Citizen Science with the PA Game Commission, touch base on white nose syndrome and its affect on our bats and the difference between little browns and big browns. They are as different as white tail deer are to elk!
LEARN ABOUT BEES
Join Claire Catt who has more than a decade of experience taking care of bee hives. She will be sharing her knowledge of bees and native plants with us. Be sure to stop by her educational booth to get your honey and chat with her!
Bird lab
Nick Liadis of Bird Lab will be joining us at the Fall Migration Festival. We are excited to add his expertise!
Common Ground Botanicals
From tinctures and teas to medicinal plants and wellness support, everything is thoughtfully created to restore our connection to nature and promote holistic health. Check out Common Ground Botanicals to explore botanical remedies that nourish the body, mind, and spirit, native and medicinal plants, and to learn how sustainable practices can support personal and community well-being. Check out their website here – https://commongroundbotanicals.com
Darner & Daisies
Darner and Daisies’ founder and CEO, Megan, is an avid and passionate gardener who sought to preserve her flowers throughout the year, especially during Pittsburgh, PA’s colorless winter months. Check out Darner and Daisies nature-themed gifts for sale at our Fall Migration Festival this year! Check out Darner and Daisies on social media.
Donna Caroline Contemporary Mosaic and Glass Art
Donna Caroline Lesondak is a Contemporary Mosaic Artist primarily working in Stained Glass Mosaic, but also in Smalti and other materials. Fused Glass is another art form she enjoys. Her favorite subjects are nature, birds and animals. Check out Donna Caroline Contemporary Mosaic and Glass Art items for sale at our Fall Migration Festival this year! Check out her artwork on social media.
Face Painting
We are excited to share that Mrs. Ewing will be sharing her artistic skills to bring your child(ren) face painting at our Fall Migration Festival. It’s a great way to connect and show off their designs and see the creative faces that others have come up with!
Grow pittsburgh
Grow Pittsburgh develops and supports food-growing initiatives and programs across the region as a key way to improve the social, economic, environmental, health, and educational realities of people in our community. In partnership with Nick Liadis of Bird Lab, there will be a variety of native plants! Be prepared to browse the 20-30 species of native plants available for purchase to plant in your backyard! Here is a glimpse of the native plant species available at the Fall Migration Festival!
- Biennial Beeblossom
- Blue Stemmed Goldenrod
- Boneset
- Calico Aster
- Cardinal Flower
- Cutleaf Coneflower
- Flat Topped White Aster
- Helen’s Flower
- Lyreleaf Sage
- New York Ironweed
- Ox Eye Sunflower
- Showy Tick Trefoil
- Sideoats Grama
- Spotted St. John’s Wort
- Virginia Mountain Mint
- Wild Senna
- Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod
- Yellow Giant Hyssop
Hemp Infused Crafts
Hi Hemp-Infused Crafts strives to produce the finest products they can with their hands. Once they figure out how to make the best stuff, they look at how Hemp can improve it. They then make everything in small batches to maintain diversity within their inventory and make sure they put all of their love and care into every product. All of the products are free of THC or CBD.
Be sure to check out their unique candles, melts, soaps, bath bombs and salves that are allergy, family and pet-friendly. Hi Hemp-Infused Crafts passionately showcase hemp’s diverse uses while only using sustainable ingredients & packaging. Be sure to check out their website here – https://www.hihempinfusedcrafts.com
HEXED TATTOO
Christiane Bryan is the owner and tattooer of Hexed Tattoo – a private tattoo studio in the Bloomfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She started tattooing in Berlin, Germany in 2010 before moving to Pittsburgh to study art at CCAC and dive deeper into painting and art history. Christiane specializes in realistic tattooing and surrealism. During the Fall Migration Festival, Christiane will be offering tattoos that can be chosen from options on the Tattoo Flash Sheet. Tattoos are $50 each (cash only). If you are interested in reserving a time for a tattoo at the Fall Migration Festival – email hello@wildbirdrecovery.org. Be sure to check out her website here – https://www.hexedtattoo.com
Pennsylvania game commission
The Pennsylvania Game Commission is the state agency responsible for wildlife conservation and management in Pennsylvania in the United States. We are excited to have a State Game Warden (SGW) with the Pennsylvania Game Commission at our Fall Migration Festival. Be sure to check out their educational booth!
Plant it Further
Plant It Further is a non-profit with a mission to raise awareness about pollinator conservation. They work with both individuals and organizations to support building habitat for pollinators and healthy environments.
Don’t miss chatting with Tamara O’Brien to learn about how you can help pollinators survive and thrive. Be sure to ask her about Ecotone Renewable Soil Sauce!
rustbelt mayberry photography
“I’m here to show you what’s special about yourself, your relationships, and your community.” – Erin Ninehouser
We are thrilled to welcome back Erin Ninehouser to our Fall Migration Festival. Thank you for sharing your gift of photography with all of us!
Stormy Oaks Nature Conservancy Gift SHop
Donations through our gifting center go directly to the care of the wildlife patients and non-releasable educational ambassadors in Wildbird Recovery, Inc.’s licensed care. There are many items in the gift shop that range from handmade to vintage that will make great gifts for family and friends. We carry the beautiful Jabebo earrings that are made from cereal box paperboard! There will be native plants available for purchase. Be sure to check out our gift shop at our Fall Migration Festival to help us save the lives of wild birds.
The BirdWatchers store
The Birdwatchers Store is a favorite destination of wild bird enthusiasts of all ages. They carry feeders, seed, houses, poles, gifts, and more! Items for feathered friends and yourself will be available for sale at our Fall Migration Festival! Be sure to check out their website here – https://thebirdwatchersstore.com
Wild Ones Western Pennsylvania Area
Wild Ones educates people on the importance of native plants for the health of the environment and everything living in it.
The goal of Wild Ones is to get more native plants in the ground in all landscapes–homes, businesses, schools, and along roadways. Wild Ones promotes environmentally sound landscaping practices to preserve biodiversity through the preservation, restoration, and establishment of native plant communities.