The students were members of the Junior Birders of Patterson, a Nature of Learning Program sponsored by the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum. The youngsters regularly visit the refuge to explore and learn about its various habitats and the many bird species that live there. The Rose Tree trip was made through an invitation by the Birding Club of Delaware County. The birding club conducts both spring and autumn hawk watches at the park during the height of raptor migration.

The students, using binoculars provided by the refuge, met with their birding club hosts and almost immediately saw a broad-winged hawk soar directly overhead. Club members Holly Merker and Jim Lockyer, with assistance from Charles Smith, presented a program of basic hawk identification and watch techniques including how to successfully view a bird with binoculars and how to note identifying field marks.

Erika Scarborough, refuge environmental education specialist, was instrumental in coordinating the Heinz Refuge presentation of the innovative program.

Friends of the Heinz Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum covered the added cost for bus transportation for the students from Philadelphia to Rose Tree Park in neighboring Delaware County.