Adoption Programs
Adopt a Bird
May–August
Every summer, Wissahickon Trails participates in the Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) Program, an international bird banding effort that helps researchers track bird populations across North America.
At sunrise during banding season, trained staff and volunteers carefully capture birds in mist nets, record measurements and health data, place a lightweight identification band on the bird’s leg, and release it safely back into the forest.
Those tiny bands help scientists understand migration patterns, lifespan, breeding success, and how species are responding to habitat and climate pressures over time.
When you adopt a bird for $50, you directly support this work and receive:
- A Certificate of Adoption
- Species information
- A 4x6 photo
- Your bird’s band number, age, weight, and banding date
- Updates if your bird is recaptured during future monitoring seasons
*Only a limited number of birds are available for adoption each year, based on actual birds safely banded during the season.
Adopt a Monarch
August-October
Each fall, monarch butterflies travel through the Wissahickon watershed during their incredible migration to Mexico.
By tagging monarchs before release, Wissahickon Trails contributes to larger research efforts tracking migration routes and population health, while supporting local pollinator conservation.
When you adopt a monarch for $25, you’ll receive:
- Certificate of Adoption with tagging details
- 4x6 monarch photo
- Monarch bookmark
- Notification if your monarch’s tag is recovered
Your adoption helps protect the habitats monarchs rely on here and along their migration journey.
Adopt a Salamander
September-November
Hidden beneath leaves and logs, salamanders help tell us how healthy our forests and streams really are.
During fall monitoring season, Wissahickon Trails surveys salamanders in protected preserves to better understand local ecosystem health and long-term environmental change.
When you adopt a salamander for $25, you’ll receive:
Certificate of Adoption
Species information
Preserve location and cover board number
Length, weight, and monitoring date
4x6 species photo
Your adoption supports hands-on local wildlife monitoring and conservation science in the Wissahickon watershed.
Adopt a Nestbox
April–September
Follow a full season of life, from the first twigs of a nest to the moment young birds leave the box for the first time.
Throughout the spring and summer, Wissahickon Trails monitors nest boxes across our preserves to better understand nesting success, breeding activity, and habitat health for local bird species.
When you adopt a nest box, you’re supporting an entire nesting cycle and getting a closer look at the story unfolding inside.
This premium adoption experience includes:
- Seasonal email updates with photos
- Species information
- 4x6 nest box photo
- End-of-season nesting summary report
- Milestone updates, including egg laying, hatch dates, nestling growth, and fledging activity
*Limited to just 12 nest boxes each season based on active monitoring capacity.
Your adoption supports local bird conservation while contributing valuable monitoring data that helps us better understand how birds are using protected habitat in the Wissahickon watershed.