The Spruce Hill Bird Sanctuary is really quite easy to miss. There are no signs, nor is there plaque, marker, or other designator announcing its presence. It’s one of the best-kept secrets of West Philadelphia, and for a good reason.
The Bird Sanctuary is surrounded on all sides by backyards and is, essentially, a backyard. However, it’s designated as a wildlife area. It consists of several paths, birdfeeders, benches, and squirrels, as well as any mixture of local migratory bird species.
It’s home to 16 regularly-observed bird species including mourning doves, starlings, juncos, cardinals, goldfinches, gray catbirds, and purple finches. Other bird species occasionally drop by, as well as the ever-present squirrels, and in warmer seasons, butterflies.
The sanctuary, which is only accessible by two narrow alleys that border residential homes and garages. The area is an amalgamation of several backyards, and the rest of the backyards and access to homes are fenced in. Built on top of a formerly vacant lot, the area is now covered in native plants, benches carved out of fallen trees, well-maintained paths, and a bird bath.
There’s a mister that seasonally sprays water for the resident Hummingbird population, as well as multiple bird feeders. There is also a lending library and bird list in the space, and you may be able to pick up a guide to neighborhood birds (if there are any left, that is) in the library box.
Jordan St Stier
