Birding Basics:
eBird, Merlin, and the Riverfont Park Hotspot
Sunday, April 19, 2026
10:00 a.m.–Noon
Hilton Ravine (225 River Road)
Want to level up your birding? Join the Newport News Green Foundation on Sunday, April 19 at 10:00 a.m. at the Hilton Ravine (225 River Road) to learn how to use the latest bird apps to improve your birding experience!
Local birders Joe Balay and Andrew Cameron will provide an overview of the eBird and Merlin apps. They will also help you get started birding at the Riverfront Park Hotspot which includes the Hilton Ravine, beach, pier, and elementary school field. Learn more about birds you might see in the area and what to expect with spring migration!
Registration required below.
This Green Drinks event is free and open to the public. Coffee is free for participants!
About Our Presenters:
Dr. Joe Balay is a professor of Philosophy and Environmental Studies at Christopher Newport University. He currently serves as the Vice President on the Green Foundation board. His research interests concern the intersections of Continental Philosophy, Aesthetics, and Environmental Philosophy. He co-leads the CNU Summer Study Abroad Program: Environmental Encounters in Iceland, and the domestic study away program: Environmental Encounters in the National Parks.
Andrew Cameron is a GIS Specialist at Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc., an environmental and cultural resources consulting firm based in Virginia. A resident of Hilton Village, Andrew is a lifelong bird enthusiast and has been an active eBird contributor since 2015.
About the Newport News Green Foundation:
The Green Foundation is a local nonprofit organization whose mission is to transform, preserve, and promote green spaces in the City of Newport News. Visit their website to learn more.
Green Drinks is a speaker series focused on health, wellness, and the environment.