The second in a series of occasional profiles of birdwatchers who are from or spend a lot of time in northwestern Pennsylvania.

Bonnie Ginader

Bonnie Ginader/Contributed photo

Family: daughter, Aimee Gevirtz, and son, Geoff Ginader. Four grandchildren, one great-granddaughter.

Lives in: Millcreek Township

College: B.S., mathematics, Grove City College

Profession: Realtor^R, Pennington Lines Real Estate.

Originally from: Erie

Favorite bird: Woodcock

Favorite places to bird in northwestern Pennsylvania: Presque Isle State Park, Erie Bluffs State Park, Siegel Marsh, Pymatuning State Park.

Rarest bird I’ve seen: Piping Plover

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This week’s snow doesn’t do much for our ability (or desire) to get around in northwestern Pennsylvania, but it has created lots of reasons you should consider getting out when it’s safe to do so.

Peek’n Peak has 27 trails and five lifts open as of this morning.

Mount Pleasant of Edinboro has a 6-inch to 16-inch base and is getting snow and making snow.

Wilderness Lodge is gearing up for a great weekend of cross country skiing.

Snowshoe hikes are on for Saturday at Erie Bluffs State Park and Pymatuning State Park and weekdays and snowy Saturdays at Jennings Environmental Education Center in Slippery Rock.

Snowmobile club members from the the McKean Snowriders and Presque Isle Snowmobile Club among others will be looking to get out on the trails.

Ice isn’t safe enough yet for ice fishing, but it won’t be long at this temperature. Here’s a look at some essential ice-fishing gear for the season ahead:

On Jan. 26 from 10 a.m. to noon, join Presque Isle State Park staff member Ray Bierbower for a free, all-ages interpretive snowshoe hike at Erie Bluffs State Park.

A limited number of snowshoes will be available for loan. Registration is not required. Meet at the Bluffs parking lot off Route 5.

Presque Isle State Park, Erie Bluffs State Park, Little Elk Creek forest and Roderick Wildlife Reserve will get protection from invasive species and restoration and enhancement of wetlands and upland habitat through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Ducks Unlimited and other partners will work on 392 acres at the four locations within the Lake Erie watershed.

“This project is representative of the tremendous opportunity to restore wildlife habitat, water quality, and quality of life in the Lake Erie watershed,” said Kurt Anderson, DU regional biologist. “Specifically, this project will engage a variety of partnerships to restore and enhance diverse areas of shoreline, emergent wetlands, sand barrens and sand plains, forested habitats, and will reduce the threat from aquatic and terrestrial invasive species.”

Sustain Our Great Lakes provided $632,603 in funding, and the Atlantic Coast Joint Venture awarded $101,858.

“This area is a real gem,” said U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-3rd Dist. “Controlling invasive species improves habitat for wildlife, and it benefits the community by maintaining local game fish such as walleye and yellow perch. It’s a major recreational hub and generates a lot of economic activity.”

Work on the project is expected to begin this summer.

Little-visited Erie Bluffs State Park in Lake City is a perfect destination Friday and Saturday for hikers and skiers.

A naturalist from Presque Isle State Park will lead a 2-mile Bluffs After Dark hike from 6-7:30 p.m. Friday. It’s for hikers age 10 and older. There’s no registration fee.

For information, call Ray Bierbower at 833-0793 or e-mail him at edbierbowe@state.pa.us.

On Saturday, strap on the skis for a guided cross country ski tour of the park from 10 a.m. to noon. Registration is required; call Emily Borcz at 838-2454 or e-mail her at eborcz@state.pa.us.

Meet at the Bluffs parking lot off Route 5 for each event.