Wilson's Snipe by Bob Keener
- March 2026 from the President
Greetings Conococheague Auduboners and friends –
I think spring is coming after all. Saturday, February 28 was gorgeous and warm – what a treat! For me, best of all, a Pine Siskin popped in on Friday and was here yesterday as well. I hope you are seeing good birds in your yards, too.
Our last FREE nature film of this season will be shown at 7 PM, Thursday, March 5, at Chambersburg Area Middle School South (1151 E. McKinley St.). Come get tuned up for migration with “Watching Warblers”. Door prizes will be awarded following the film. Admission is free, but we happily accept donations at the door.
SOAR Bird Walks will take place on the first and third Saturdays (7 and 21 March).
Our next regular meeting takes place on March 9, Monday, at 7:00 PM. Gabriel Foley, executive director of the Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership, will present “Results of Recent MD and DC Breeding Bird Atlas”. Our regular meetings occur at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church (off Route 997, near Scotland exit off I-81) 2695 Luther Dr, Chambersburg, PA 17202. Please join us in person or via Zoom. We welcome everyone.
The first planning session for the Beginning Birders’ Workshop (June 6) will occur before this meeting, so come at 6:30 to participate.
We’re already starting to plan for our next season. Please submit budget requests covering June 1, 2026 – May 31, 2027 to Donna Hocker no later than March 15, 2026.
Field trips coming up this month include:
- March 7, Saturday. 8:00 AM Middle Creek WMA, Lancaster County auto tour for WATERFOWL. Meet at the Park & Ride, Scotland Exit 20, I-81 northbound. Bring scopes, binoculars, and lunch. Eric and Rhetta Martin, 717-597-8675.
- March 19, Thursday. 7:15 PM Tentative outing for WOODCOCKS at Heisey Road orchard with Bob Keener. Head to 5207 Heisey Rd, Shippensburg but park 0.10 mile off of Stillhouse Hollow Rd. Bring flashlights. Bob Keener, 717-658-8765.
- March 28, Saturday. CONSERVATION CLEAN-UP. Adopt-A-Highway clean-up on 2 miles of Route 997 (Black Gap Road) west from I-81. Pick up trash on section with wide shoulders, easy walking. Supplies provided. Meet at 9:00 AM at Scotland Park & Ride, I-81 exit 20. Sign up with Joe & Vanessa Miller, 717-377-6507 (Joe), millerhouse@embarqmail.com.
Please contact the leader in advance and check our website for any last-minute updates. We have a change for one trip in May: Bill Oyler’s field trip in the Fort McCord area has been shifted to May 30.
We continue to seek volunteers for these positions: Film Chair and Vice President. Please contact me to offer your services. Elections will take place at our April 13 meeting, so we really need a candidate for Vice President soon!
Thanks to all who have made a donation. If you would like to, please send your check to Conococheague Audubon Society, PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222. Good birding!
During the upcoming seasons of flu, COVID-19, and RSV, we encourage you to be safe. We urge you to check on an event’s status via the Calendar on this site before you attend.
Attention all young people between the ages of 5 and 18: Conococheague Audubon Society is conducting two different contests designed with you in mind. This is your chance to win a cash prize! Both our “Longest Bird List of the Year” and “Best Bird Photo of the Year” contests involve your love of nature and your keen observation skills. The contests will be judged in two different age groups – ages 5 to 15 and ages 16 to 18.
Details about the current contests can be found here.
Winners of the 2022-2023 contests can be found here.
Conococheague Audubon Society is pleased to offer scholarship support for educational activities in keeping with our mission: promoting the conservation of wildlife and the environment by appreciating, studying, and observing nature. Please see the Scholarships page for information about how to apply.
Calendar of Events
Feel free to experiment with different views of the calendar – daily, weekly, monthly, or single event (agenda).
You can filter which kind of events appear by using the Category pull-down. To switch back to viewing all event categories, use the small green x in the Category control to clear the filter. You may also download the entire Activities List (pdf file) for the current season.
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Saturday Bird Walks 8:00 am First Saturday Bird Walks Oct 4 @ 8:00 am – 10:00 am  SOAR (Studying Ornithology Around the Region) walks, 8:00 AM first and third Saturdays; various locations in Franklin County. Larry and Sharon Williams, 717-655-7414; see Buttonwood Nature Center, 717-762-0373 for schedule. | ||||||
| Gen Mtg, Oct: Youth Contests; 5 Years of Birding in our Mobile Home 6:45 pm Gen Mtg, Oct: Youth Contests; 5 Years of Birding in our Mobile Home Oct 13 @ 6:45 pm – 8:15 pm  Topic 1: Youth Contest Bird Photos & Lists due. Submit to Terri Kochert. Topic 2: 5 Years of Birding in our Mobile Home Presented by: Members Jeff and Sue Schmaltz Available in-person or via Zoom[...] | Third Saturday Bird Walks 8:00 am Third Saturday Bird Walks Oct 18 @ 8:00 am – 10:00 am SOAR (Studying Ornithology Around the Region) walks, 8:00 AM first and third Saturdays; various locations in Franklin County. Larry and Sharon Williams, 717-655-7414; see Buttonwood Nature Center, 717-762-0373 for schedule. | |||||
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ABOUT US
Conococheague Audubon Society
The mission of the National Audubon Society is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity.
Conococheague Audubon is a chapter of the National Audubon Society based in Fayetteville in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. The group started in 1961 as the Conococheague Naturalists. Through programs, field trips, nature films, displays, and a newsletter, we promote conservation of wildlife and the natural environment with a focus on appreciating, studying, and observing birds.
We are a family-friendly organization. The membership includes over 400 people residing primarily in Franklin, Cumberland, and Fulton Counties.
Conococheague Audubon meets monthly September through May on the second Monday at 7:00 PM at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2695 Luther Drive, Chambersburg, PA 17202. At a pot luck supper in January, held at 6:00 PM at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church, members share stories, photographs, fellowship, and home-made food.
Please make a difference in our local community by being good stewards of the earth in your daily lives. Share our passion for conservation, birding, and the natural world by coming to our meetings and films, going on field trips, helping with projects, and participating in bird counts. Our experienced birders love to teach beginners. Read Audubon Magazine and our Naturally newsletter to stay abreast of national, international, and local environmental issues. You and your family can enjoy educational opportunities at Audubon’s Nature Centers and Sanctuaries across the country. Take peaceful walks and learn the wonders of nature.
We welcome new members! Anyone who joins the National Audubon Society from our area automatically becomes a member of our chapter. Similarly, anyone who joins the local chapter can also join the national organization. To join, please go online to the National Audubon site or click here to go the Join or Renew page or contact our current membership chair, Lisa Coombs.
In 2016 the CAS leaders updated the chapter’s 10-year plan to help guide our future actions and strengthen the organization. To volunteer, please contact our current president, Valerie Barnes. To make a tax-deductible contribution, please mail your check payable to CAS.
What we do
Conococheague Audubon Society meets the second Monday each month, September through May, at 7 PM at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church
Program topics focus on birds, wildlife and conservation. All are welcome.
Nature films, produced by PBS are shown each year at Chambersburg Area Middle School South.
CAS leads many free field trips throughout the year.
Projects
Norlo Park Native Plants Garden
