Mengel Natural History Society 2025-2026 Berks County, Pennsylvania .Updated April 18, 2026. Return to Berks County Nature home page.

The Mengel Natural History Society originated as the Natural History Hikers in the 1930's, was renamed the Mengel Natural History Society in 1941, and incorporated as a non profit organization in 1956.

The By-Laws state: "The purposes of the Society are the stimulation of interest and study in natural history in all its branches, the promotion and diffusion of scientific knowledge, and the creation of the scientific spirit."

If you are interested in joining the Society, you may pay dues at any meeting or mail them in. 
Dues year is September to September,  Download dues form (2025-2026) as PDF
New form uploaded 14Nov2025.

   September 26, 2025    Friday 7:30 PM
"Insects Rule (The Entire World Rides on the Backs of Bugs)" by Keith Williams, Vice President of Engagement and Education, Lancaster Conservancy. Insects play critically important roles in nature that directly impact us. Things like food pollination, decomposition and soil fertility are all roles insects play. The world could not survive without insects. Unfortunately, insects are declining in abundance and diversity, and we risk losing the critically important functions they perform. This presentation will explore the amazing beauty and diversity in the insect world, will discuss the ecological roles they play, and will present solutions, including the importance of native habitats in our landscaping, that will stop their decline. Program followed by our Fall Native Plant Exchange and Giveaway.
All welcome. Children Friendly Free.

  October 24, 2025       Friday 7:30 PM     
"Odonata of Berks County Part 2: Damselflies" by member Todd Underwood. His presentation will provide an update on the species of Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) recorded in Berks County.  He will discuss the original county-wide survey by local naturalists and explore the 60 species of damselflies by sharing recent photographs and observations. Program followed by the Fall Seed Exchange and Give-away.

  November 11, 2025        Tuesday 7:30 PM     
This program will be held at the Reading Public Museum
"The Beginning of the Reading Public Museum, Levi Mengel, Sam Gundy, and More".   Presented by Dr. Ivan Bub. The Mengel Natural History Society was named for Levi Mengel, who founded the Reading Museum, and met at the Museum for over a half century. Sam Gundy was a member of the Mengel Natural History Society and served one year as president. The Reading Museum celebrated it's 100th anniversary on May 1, 2025. Joint meeting with the Berks Mineralogical Society at their meeting location and day of the week. Enter at the back of the Museum on South Parkside Drive.

  December 12, 2025       Friday 7:30 PM.
"Avian Conservation in an Urbanized Fragmented Landscape" by Dan Ardia, Ph.D., Professor of Biology at Franklin & Marshall College. Dan will lead a conversation about his research studying how birds and mammals respond to rapid environmental change in a man-made landscape. Joint meeting with the Baird Ornithological Club on their meeting night.

   January 23, 2026    Friday 7:30 PM         
"Members' Night" Members' opportunity to present. Program will consist of three or four short programs by members. See an officer if you have a program to share.

   February 27, 2026  Friday 7:30 PM         
"Local Science Students Symposium" Sponsored by Nolde Forest EE Center and Mengel Natural History Society." Programs by local students showing how their research investigations have added to our knowledge of nature.

"The Influence of a Periodical Cicada Emergence on Body Condition of Veeries" by Kutztown University student Abbee Fries. Periodical Cicadas (Magicicada species) spend 13 or 17 years as nymphs underground where they feed on the roots of trees. Millions of adult cicadas emerge synchronously in forested areas in spring to saturate predators and breed. In this study, we compared body condition (mass/wing length) and fat levels of Veeries (Catharus fuscescens), a forest songbird, in a periodical cicada emergence year to the adjacent years without this food source. For both males and females, body condition and fat levels were not significantly different in the cicada emergence year compared to adjacent years. Surprisingly, there was no evidence that cicada availability led to improved body condition or fat stores.

"Searching for Zoonotic Pathogens in Amazonian Mineral Licks" by Alvernia University student Isaac Peterson. Mineral Licks are animal activity hotspots, where mineral-rich soil is consumed through a process called geophagy to meet herbivorous dietary needs. Elevated prey densities result in increased predation activity at these locations. In this study, we explored the possibility that mineral licks in the Amazonian Rainforest of Peru may serve as vectors for the transfer of zoonotic pathogens. We employed novel techniques to sequence environmental DNA in the Amazon, comparing samples taken from sites within mineral licks to nearby controls. Preliminary results indicate that potential pathogens are enriched in mineral licks, and have uncovered interesting patterns between licks that warrant further investigation.

   Some time in late February or March.
Herp Helper Night for Spotted Salamanders at French Creek State Park.
Contact Lori Soraparu () to get on e-mail contact list. See a few or dozens of spotted and four-toed salamanders, wood frogs and other herps. This event happens every year. You and your children should see it at least once in your lifetime. Volunteers must check in at the French Creek State Park Headquarter lobby (located on Park Road, 843 Park Rd, Elverson, PA 19520) to sign in, pick up a reflective safety vest and a data collection sheet. You are welcome to participate even if it is for just a portion of the evening. Emergence is weather dependent. Often a windy or foggy night, always rainy. More information.

  March 27, 2026               Friday 7:30 PM     
"Wildlife of South Africa" by Jim Scheirer. An exciting 80 day self-driving safari in Kruger Park and Kgalagadi Park led to many encounters with lions, leopards, cheetah, elephants, hippos, rhinos, buffalo as well as many species of antelope and birds. Images culled from nearly 10,000 shot on the trip will be presented. All welcome. Free.
<-- Photograph by Jim Scheirer.

  April 24, 2026    Friday 7:30 PM   AND an event listed below at 6:30-7:30 pm.
"Cradle of Conservation: An Environmental History of Pennsylvania" by Dr. Allen Dieterich-Ward, Director of The Graduate School and Professor of History at Shippensburg University.
From the origins of "Penn's Woods" to the controversial practice of fracking, this event will provide an engaging overview of Pennsylvania's environmental history.  The speaker will explore the state's "working landscapes" and the people, places, and policies that connect the problems of the past to today's pressing issues.  The talk will especially highlight the development of Nolde Forest and its connection to the state's conservation and environmental movements.
Allen is the author of Beyond Rust: Metropolitan Pittsburgh and the Fate of Industrial America, winner of the Arline Custer Memorial Award for Best Book on the MidAtlantic Region.  Allen is co-chair of the Pennsylvania Conservation Heritage Project, a board member of PA Humanities, and past president of the Pennsylvania Historical Association.  His most recent book, Cradle of Conservation: An Environmental History of Pennsylvania is now available from Temple University Press.
Program followed by our annual Spring Wildflower Exchange and Giveaway.
All welcome. Free.
Also, we are welcome to attend a City Nature Challenge event this evening at 6:30 to 7:30 pm at Painted Turtle Pond: where attendees will view the nature to be found at the pond.

   May 2, 2026    Saturday 10 AM    FIELD TRIP
"Butterfly, Bird, and Botany Walk" on Neversink Mountain. Butterflies, birds and plants. We will view at a distance and for a good look we will capture some butterflies and put them in viewing jars so you can get a close look before releasing them. A checklist of the 59 species of butterflies known from the mountain will be provided. Meet at S. 10th and South Street Reading. Park on South Street. Joint walk with  Baird Ornithological Club . Leaders: Karl Gardner, 610-987-3281, and Ryan Woolwine 484-883-6461. All welcome. Children friendly. Free.
Photograph is of a Brown Elfin, a scarce spring flying butterfly found in only a few Berks Co. locations.

May (?), 2026                 
Annual Dinner. "To be announced." More details later. Joint meeting with the Baird Ornithological Club.

   June 6, 2026    Saturday 10 AM - noon    FIELD TRIP
"Butterfly Identification Walk" at Green Hills Preserve We will view at a distance and for a good look we will capture some butterflies and put them in viewing jars so you can get a close look before releasing them. A checklist of the 40 species of butterflies known from the park will be provided. Take PA-10 south to PA-568. Turn right (west) for 1/2 mile to Gunhart Rd. Turn right. Park on right in about 1/4 mile. (553 Gunhart Rd., Mohnton, PA 19540) Joint walk with Baird Ornithological Club. Leaders: Karl Gardner 610-987-3281 and Ryan Woolwine 484-883-6461. Bad weather will cancel (or reschedule). All welcome. Children friendly. Free.

   June 13, 2026        Saturday 10 AM - noon FIELD TRIP
"Dragonflies & Damselflies at Hay Creek-Birdsboro Reservoir"  Joint walk with Baird Ornithological Club. 
An opportunity to visit this interesting habitat with others who can identify the dragonflies, damselflies, and other insects, animals, and plants found here. Meet at Old 82 & Parking Area, 2000 Hay Creek Rd, Birdsboro, PA. From traffic light at Rtes. 568 and 724 in Gibraltar, take 568 west approximately 1.5 miles and turn left on White Bear Rd. Drive 4 miles through 2 stop signs and turn left on Hay Creek Rd. Drive to the dead end and park on the shoulder. Coordinators: Mike Slater (paplantings@gmail.com), Todd Underwood (underwoo@kutztown.edu) & Karl Gardner (610-987-3281). Binoculars and a camera will be helpful. For a good look we will capture some insects and put them in viewing jars so you can get a close look before releasing them. All are welcome. Children Friendly. Free.

  
July 11, 2026           Saturday 8:30 PM  to  ?  FIELD TRIP 
"Moth Night at Nolde Environmental Edu Center."  A joint event with the Baird Ornithological Club.   Jim Eckert will present an introductory program in McConnell Hall at 8:30 pm. Enjoy the moths, katydids and other nighttime invertebrate as leaders bait trees and hang sheets to bring in the night insects.
A camera would be helpful. Who knows what will turn up?  Meet at picnic area behind main parking lot. Use main entrance from PA-625 and turn left at "T". Leaders are Jim Eckert (610-373-1064) and Ryan Woolwine (484-883-6461). All are welcome. Children Friendly. Free.
Here are photographs of 29 of the many species seen on this walk in July 2021.

   July 18, 2026    Saturday 10 AM - Noon     FIELD TRIP
"Wildflowers and Pollinators: Union Meadows West" A meandering path through this former ball field converted to a pollinator meadow provides good access for observing and netting a variety of species. Route 724 (East Main St., Birdsboro) (turn opposite St. Michael's Cemetery) parking in the ball field lot. Leader: Mike Slater. Coordinator: Linda Ingram (610-621-7473). Joint walk with Baird Ornithological Club. All are welcome. Children Friendly. Free. Bad weather will cancel (or reschedule).

   August 1, 2026        Saturday 10 AM - noon FIELD TRIP
"Butterfly Identification Walk" at Blue Marsh. We will view at a distance and for a good look we will capture some butterflies and put them in viewing jars so you can get a close look before releasing them. A checklist of the 48 species of butterflies known from the park will be provided. Meet at the Blue Marsh Visitor's Center off of Palisades Drive. Joint walk with Baird Ornithological Club. Leaders: Karl Gardner 610-987-3281 and Ryan Woolwine 484-883-6461. All welcome. Free. Photograph is of a Tawny Emperor, a species sometimes seen at this location in August.

   August 15, 2026    Saturday 10 AM - noon    FIELD TRIP
"Butterfly Identification Walk" at Angelica Park. We will view at a distance and for a good look we will capture some butterflies and put them in viewing jars so you can get a close look before releasing them. A checklist of the 37 species of butterflies known from the park will be provided. Take PA-10 south from Lancaster Avenue 1-1/4 miles. The park entrance road is on the right at the big masonry sign for Alvernia University. Turn right and park at the first parking area on the right. (575 St. Bernardine Street) Joint walk with Baird Ornithological Club. Leaders: Karl Gardner 610-987-3281 and Ryan Woolwine 484-883-6461. Bad weather will cancel (or reschedule). All welcome. Free.
Here is a list of the 38 species seen on 7 walks from 2017 to 2025 at Angelica Park.

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