Valerie Barnes – Page 14 – Conococheague Audubon

November 2021 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on November 1, 2021November 1, 2021Posted in Birds, Monthly Message, Zoom

Dear Fellow Nature Lovers,

With the cooler weather and the recent dreary, gray, quiet days I trust you are doing well. There are fewer birds in our midst, thus the pervasive silence. It’s time to get your bird feeders up for the winter. Perhaps you never took them down.

Some of our active birders have located some lingering migrants in recent days: a Snow Goose on Mountain Road, a Cattle Egret, a Tree Swallow, a Gray Catbird, a Stilt Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Yellowlegs, a Peregrine Falcon, and of course, the Eurasian Collared-Dove in the Greencastle area. Please report other migrants and errant species as you see them.

Because our next CAS general meeting will be a hybrid—in person meeting plus our Zoomed speaker (and any others who wish to view the presentation from home via Zoom), I thought it best to give you a bit of a preview. First of all, few of us are artists. Some of us have used our creativity to produce what we consider “amazing” works of art, though considered “amateur” by others. Many more of us appreciate and value the trained, detailed, and artistic abilities of those when we view their professionally-finished products. On Monday, November 8, 2021 we all are in for a treat. Thanks to Valerie Barnes and Anne St. John, we shall be introduced to the intricacies and rigors of working as a bona fide Certified Science Illustrator, through our guest speaker, Liz Wahid. She will explain the inherent as well as learned techniques of drawing birds. Much of it requires researching the subject matter, studying the subject with a keen eye for detail, and the application of refined drawing techniques to make the subject appear lifelike. The title of her presentation is Research and Techniques in Ornithological Illustrations. You do not want to miss this one.

In addition to this exciting bird illustration presentation, we will also be introducing the winners of our Annual CAS Youth Contests and granting them their awards. We’ll announce and show the winning photos of the Best Bird Photo Contest. We’ll also announce the winner of this year’s Longest Bird List Contest. Winners will be announced prior to hearing from Liz Wahid, Certified Science Illustrator.

Though many of us have finished with the harvesting of fruits and vegetables from our gardens and have laid our gardens to rest over the coming winter months, there are those who are already planning for Spring’s arrival. One aspect of Spring planting may be to expand your native plants garden areas. If so, you may want to participate in the online free webinar offered on November 16, 2021 at 7 PM EST (6 PM CST) through a landscaping group called Wild Ones. It will be presented by Larry Weaner, FALPD, the president and founder of Larry Weaner Landscape Associates and developer of New Directions in the American Landscape (NDAL). His topic is “The Self-Perpetuating Landscape: Setting a Process in Motion.” You will learn principles and protocols for creating dynamic, ecologically rich landscapes where nature does much of the “planting.” Once you register at the following link, you will be sent the webinar link via email. A recording will also be available to the public on our YouTube channel in the days following the event. The registration link to the webinar is:

https://wildones.org/self-perpetuating-landscape-registration/ (If it doesn’t direct you immediately to the registration page, please copy and paste this address into your browser.)

Though it is November 1, 2021, it is time to plan to participate in our Chambersburg Conococheague Audubon Christmas Bird Count on Saturday, December 18, 2021. If you’ve never participated before, that’s an excellent reason to get involved in citizen science and do your part in counting our local birds. You can do so from the comfort of your own home if you live inside the circle area, or you can venture out into one of the five different zones. Please contact Valerie Barnes for the most current information. Call her at 717-352-4397.

Again, here are the items of importance for this month.

Nov. 8, Monday ZOOM or HYBRID REGULAR MEETING

7:00 PM Research and Techniques in Ornithological Illustration by Liz Wahid, Certified Science Illustrator. Arranged by Valerie Barnes and Anne St. John. Youth Contest Winners announced tonight.

Nov. 16, Tuesday Online Webinar through Wild Ones

7 PM. “The Self-Perpetuating Landscape: Setting a Process in Motion.” By Larry Weaner, FALPD, founder of Larry Weaner Landscape Associates. Pre-register online.

Dec. 18, Saturday CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT

All day, Chambersburg area. Call Valerie Barnes, 717-352-4397 if interested in participating.

I hope to see you Monday, Nov. 8, 2021 at 7 PM at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2695 Luther Drive, Chambersburg, PA 17202 (off route 997, near the Scotland exit of I-81). For those preferring to Zoom, here’s the link information:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7211203928?pwd=RXNwMjZpQVNvSHJGRld3cWZFQjJiZz09

Time: November 8, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Meeting ID: 721 120 3928

Passcode: cardinal20

Prepare to be astounded!

Give thanks every day and keep looking up!

Terri Kochert

October 2021 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on October 4, 2021October 4, 2021Posted in Birds, Monthly Message, ZoomTagged birds, Zoom

Hello Fellow Nature Lovers,

Can you feel the nights getting cooler? Fall is definitely upon us.

A few good birds are still being seen in the local area. Bill Oyler saw a Baird’s Sandpiper at a newer location, along the Woods Road Warehouse retentions ponds near Mainsville, PA. A Stilt Sandpiper was seen at the Greencastle Reservoir by Carl Garner and Dave Ebbitt on 28 September. Bill Oyler also saw the elusive Connecticut Warbler in the Heisey Orchard on Monday. October 1 Tom Dougherty had a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Philadelphia Vireo in the Hunter’s Chase subdivision, Chambersburg.

A group of us from Conococheague Audubon journeyed to Cape May, NJ on Wednesday, September 22 – Friday, September 24, 2021. Our new directors, John and Sue Greer, led the trip. They were very prepared! They ventured to Cape May on Monday and had a day and a half to explore the birding areas. With colorful maps in hand, they greeted us at a new place for us, the Garrett Family Preserve, established by The Nature Conservancy. Though we didn’t see much there this time, it’s wonderful to add a new birding site.

Over the course of the remaining two days, we visited the Cape May Point Hawk Watch and the trails behind the Hawk Watch at the Cap May Point State Park. We were able to see a Eurasian Widgeon, both Green- wing and Blue-wing Teal and Black Duck in the nearby ponds. We also got good looks at various fall-plumaged warblers by the cedar trees before entering the trail. We saw numerous Northern Parulas. That was such a treat! We arose early Thursday intending to catch the “Morning Flight” as described by our September 13, 2021 meeting speakers, Chris and Rebecca Payne. Alas, at Higbee Beach Management Wildlife Area we saw little bird life either on the platform or in the open meadows. We were able to see Stilt Sandpipers, both Yellowlegs, Teals, Shovelers, both Snowy and Great Egrets, Royal and Forster’s Terns, and a Peregrine Falcon by the Nature Conservancy South Cape May Meadows. Some of us visited Nummy’s Island late Thursday afternoon where we saw American Oystercatchers, a Black-bellied Plover, Boat-tailed Grackles, one Sora, and one Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow. On Friday we visited the Wetlands Institute, seeing a group of Willets, two Wilson’s Snipe, a Little Blue Heron and Tri-colored Heron. We had a group of White Ibises fly over. We also had one juvenile Black-crowned Night-heron. By the Stone Harbor Point we saw many Sanderlings, Ruddy Turnstones, Semipalmated Sandpipers and Semipalmated Plovers, and both Great and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Though we didn’t see many birds at the Avalon Sea Watch, it was great to visit with the lone recorder of passing species. Overall, it was a terrific outing! Even the weather cooperated. Though much rain and stormy weather had been forecasted, we avoided most of it.

Again, a reminder that our October 11, 2021 general meeting will be held at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2695 Luther Drive, Chambersburg, PA (off Route 997, near Scotland exit of I-81). Our speaker will be Eric Zawatski, a Penn State graduate presenting via Zoom about the Wood Thrush Nesting Success here in Central PA Contiguous Forests at 7 PM. I will send out the Zoom invitation on Sunday, Oct. 10 for those desiring to watch it from the comfort of their own homes. ***That same evening, Oct. 11, 2021, ALL Youth Contest participants should arrive by 6:45 PM to hand in both their Longest Bird Species List and their Best Bird Photos.

Note: There is a change in our fall birding Field Trip schedule. There will now be a Hawk Migration Watch Field Trip on Oct. 16, 2021. Meeting place is still at Sunnyway Foods parking lot, 49 Warm Spring Road, Chambersburg at 11 AM to head out to the “Pulpit” searching the skies for a few hours for passing hawks and other raptors with Bob and Marion Carmack. Beginning bird watchers are welcome. Bring binoculars. Call 717-597-8631.

For your viewing pleasure, please check out Audubon’s 2021 Top Ten Videos.

I hope to see you at St. Luke on Oct. 11, 2021 (with your mask) at 7 PM for the meeting and/or 6:45 PM for the Youth Contest participants.

Happy Fall to each of you,

Terri Kochert

September 2021 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on September 2, 2021September 2, 2021Posted in Birds, Monthly Message, Zoom

Hello Fellow Nature Lovers,

How can it possibly be that we have zipped through two-thirds of the year 2021 already? Children have returned to school, returning to routine and learning new things. So too, we at CAS are beginning our regular 2021-2022 season. I am looking forward to seeing all your smiling faces once again. Remember that we have a new meeting venue. We will meet in person at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church fellowship hall (off 997, near the Scotland exit off I-81), 2695 Luther Drive on September 13, 2021. Our speakers for the evening will be Chris and Rebecca Payne. Chris is a recent Shippensburg University graduate and Rebecca used to work at the Nature Center of Cape May, Cape May, NJ. They will be presenting “Fall Migrants”—warblers, raptors and shore birds. We will be conducting this meeting in-person and zooming the meeting to those who choose to view it from home. I will send out the zoom meeting address on Sept. 12 if you prefer to view the meeting at home via Zoom.

Again, to clarify, there still is no definitive answer to the cause of the mysterious bird disease that caused ocular issues, including blindness, and other neurological issues. Regardless, the PA Game Commission (and endorsed by Audubon) is giving their approval for reinstating your bird feeding stations.

There have been very few reports of local migrants other than several flycatchers: Yellow-bellied, Least, and Olive-sided. There have been some juvenile Little Blue Herons found off Mountain Road in the ponds, though they are difficult to see without a scope. There are many shorebirds, including Baird’s Sandpipers, at Woods Road Warehouse retention ponds near Mainsville, PA.

Upcoming field trips and or meetings:

Sept. 4, 2021, Saturday FIELD TRIP
7:15 AM for FALL MIGRANTS. Meet at 7:15 AM at the Park and Ride, Scotland Exit 20, I-81 northbound. One mile walk in wet grass at Heisey Orchard. Then by car on Michaux SF roads with additional walk(s) of up to half mile, with trip ending between 12 and 1 PM.Bring binoculars and snack. Bill Oyler, oylerbill@gmail.com or 717-360-5191.

Sept. 13, Monday ZOOM or HYBRID MEETING
7:00 PM Cape May Fall Migrants by Chris & Rebecca Payne. Meeting at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2695 Luther Drive, Chambersburg, PA. Preparation for the Cape May trip this month. Arranged by John and Sue Greer.
Sept. 18, Saturday FIELD TRIP
9:00 AM Chambersburg section of Cumberland Valley Rail Trail. Meet at Big Lots, 184 Southgate Mall, parking lot next to Washington Street. Bring binoculars. Terri Kochert, 717-263-3692.

Sept. 22-24, Wed-Fri FIELD TRIP
Trip to Cape May NJ, for FALL MIGRANTS, WARBLERS, RAPTORS and SEABIRDS. Bring scopes and binoculars. Signup Deadline is Sept. 15. Sue Greer, 443-255-9559 or sgreer412@gmail.com.

Sept. 25, Saturday FIELD TRIP
11:00 AM for HAWK MIGRATION. Leave from Sunnyway Foods parking lot, 49 Warm Spring Road, Chambersburg, to “The Pulpit.” Beginning hawk watchers are welcome. Bring binoculars. Leader To Be Announced.

I found two very interesting articles for your edification. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

What Do Birds and Beef Have in Common?

What Is a Songbird, Exactly?

Here’s a group of funny, yet amazing “courting” dances birds do to attract their mates. I hope you enjoy these short videos! 10 Outrageous Ways Birds Dance to Impress their Mates.

Looking forward to seeing you in person on Sept. 13!

Good birding to you all!

Terri Kochert

August 2021 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on August 5, 2021August 19, 2021Posted in Birds, Monthly Message, OutreachTagged birds, flowers

Hello Fellow Nature Lovers,

As of today, we have 6 short weeks until we assume our new 2021-2022 season of general meetings and other events. I have some very IMPORTANT news for you today. Please read this carefully. Soon you will receive our new Activities List. With that, you will notice a BIG CHANGE! We will be conducting our general meetings, September – May at a new venue. We will now be meeting at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall. The church is located adjacent to Luther Ridge in Scotland, PA. The full address is 2695 Luther Drive, Chambersburg, PA 17202. We will place signs at the entrance and in the building directing you to the correct room. When September rolls around, please make sure you come to St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church and NOT to Norlo Park Community Center. The room is good sized with plenty of tables and chairs. There is a kitchenette attached too for our January Covered Dish dinner. The church is located off I-81 Scotland Exit #20. Bear east towards Fayetteville on the Black Gap Road. Turn right onto Luther Drive. The church is immediately to the right. There’s ample parking. We hope to see you there!

Due to an emergency family health issue, our CAS Vice President had to step down. Thus, I need a new VP to replace Jessica. Please keep Jessica and her family in your prayers. If interested, please call me at 717-263-3692.

You’ll recall that I sent out a notice to take down your bird feeders July 2, 2021 due to a mysterious eye and neurological disease affecting common grackles, blue jays, European starlings, American robins, cardinals, finches and other birds. To date no one knows anything about the cause of this disease. There’s some speculation that it has to do with the arrival of the 17-year cicadas. Tests are being done, but no firm findings have been determined. Lest you think this is only a local phenomenon, there have been cases of many songbirds dying in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Washington DC, Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland. To date I have seen nothing about returning to feed the birds at this time. It is hoped that by refraining from feeding the birds, it will cause birds to “social distance” and lessen the chance of infection. For more on this, please read the following article from the National Audubon Society: scientists-still-searching-pathogen-behind-easts-songbird-epidemic

UPDATE AS OF 13 August: The PA Game Commission has lifted the restriction on feeding birds. See the PGC announcement.

As you know this is the migration season for shore birds. Our local area has seen its share of rarities. The new birding “hotspot” seems to be the Greencastle Antrim Ponds west of the Sheetz store. Birds seen in July are American Avocets, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Least Sandpipers, Black Duck, Osprey, Little Blue Heron, White-winged Dove, Kentucky Warbler, and Dickcissel. In the Newville area two Roseate Spoonbills have been seen.

Another reminder to you that for your fall perennial planting you may want to plant Native Plants, which help birds and other pollinators. Also, remember too that as you continue to modify your yards to create a more bird-friendly habitat, Mid-Atlantic Audubon (now merged from PA Audubon and Maryland-DC Audubon) has an application on line to answer questions about your garden. If you pay $25, you will receive a beautiful metal sign to display in your yard. To get a sign for yourself, you will need to go online to pa.audubon.org to find the application. The application is straight forward and not complicated. You will need to print off the application, fill it out, and send in your $25 to pa.audubon.org

I hope to see you all in September at our new location, St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church, or perhaps I’ll see you at the North Square Farmers Market on August 28, 2021 between 8 AM and 12 PM. For your viewing pleasure I’ve provided a link below to see some comical birds moving to music in a seven-and-a-half-minute long video.

Try Not To Laugh | 19 Funny Birds Videos Of The Week | The Pet Collective – Bing video

Enjoy!

Terri Kochert

June 2021 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on June 8, 2021June 8, 2021Posted in Birds, Conservation, Monthly Message

Hello Fellow Nature Lovers,

As I write this letter many of us are celebrating a holiday surrounded by family, food and fun. I hope you all took the time this chilly weekend to remember those brave Americans who “gave it all” that we might enjoy the freedoms we have today. My heart goes out to those of you who lost a Grandfather, Uncle, Dad, brother, or Mother, sister, Aunt, etc. protecting our freedoms. Freedom does not come without cost. May we always remember their sacrifice and remain eternally grateful to them.

On a lighter note, May is now behind us. Many of us saw some terrific birds this past month. I believe all would recognize the fact that though we may have seen many different species, there seem to be fewer birds. We have expressed many times before the reasons for our seeing fewer birds. The main one is loss of habitat. We need to keep our beloved felines inside, as they are natural predators. Windows kill thousands of birds each year. The ramifications of climate change are diminishing the world-bird populations. Other ways to help the birds: plant more native gardens, use less pesticides, reduce your dependence on plastic, and report your bird sightings to ebird.org.

Among the Spring migrant warbler species sighted in our locale were the Pine, Palm, Black and White, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Magnolia, Yellow-rumped, Kentucky, Chestnut-sided, Cape May, Bay-breasted, Canada, Blue-winged, Golden-winged, Mourning, and Cerulean Warblers. Also sighted were Louisiana Waterthrush, American Redstarts, and Yellow-breasted Chats. That’s quite a list! In Texas, Bob and I saw a MacGillivrays’s, Nashville, and Yellow-throated warblers. There may have been other warblers seen in our area, but those are the ones I am aware of.

Our May Field Trips were quite successful, Donna Hocker reported data for two recent field trips: In Horse Valley, nine participants saw 71 species (164 species are the overall trip total); and in Path Valley, 15 participants in nine cars saw 88 species (145 species for that trip). Four new species seen were Hooded Merganser, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Rusty Blackbirds and Wild Turkey.

Josh Donaldson reported a total of 37 species seen on the Friday, May 7 trip to Larry Lehman’s pond and field. When he and Dave Ebbitt returned on Saturday, they saw warblers – among them Black-throated Green, Black-throated Blue, Chestnut-sided and Cape May warblers, as well as Redstarts.

During the May 22 field trip Bobolinks were sighted along the Burkett Road. They also saw the Whip-poor-wills and the allusive Barn Owl, plus many other species.

Of course, the beloved Indigo Bunting, Eastern Towhee, Wood Thrush, Baltimore and Orchard Orioles have returned and are nesting. Of course, our chatty House Wrens are delighting us with their happy little song.

Here are the events for this June.

Any time you feel like doing some weeding in the Norlo Garden, it would be greatly appreciated. Just let Terri Kochert know how many hours you put into weeding at ConAudubon@outlook.com
June 5, Beginning Birders Workshop CANCELED
June 12, Saturday. FIELD TRIP 7:00 AM South Mountain/Caledonia/Michaux IBA for SPRING MIGRANTS. Leave from second parking lot beyond Visitor’s Center in Caledonia State Park. Bring scopes, binoculars, and CBs. Contact Eric and Rhetta Martin, 717-597-8675.
June 18-21, Breeding Bird Blitz for Conservation. Please support our Blue Mountain Avian Seekers team: Bob Keener, Jefferson Shank, Dan Keener and son Sammy. Do so at https://www.breedingbirdblitz.org/teams1 I see that there are 15 registered teams. One team has $685 pledged. Our team has $211 pledged. All proceeds go to three PA Conservancies: Western PA, Hawk Mountain, and Manada Conservancies contributing to bird habitat improvements. The goal is to raise $5,000 to be divided equally among the three conservancies. Currently they have reached 77% of their goal. Won’t you contribute something today?
June 19, Saturday. FIELD TRIP 7:30 AM Walk on Chambersburg section of Cumberland Valley Rail Trail. Meet at Big Lots, 184 Southgate Mall, Chambersburg, in Washington Street parking lot near the rail-trail. Bring binoculars and field guide. Contact Debby Hook, 717-372-0228

CAS is also pleased to announce that this coming 2021-2022 season we have some exciting new programs AND some new Field Trips. We are resurrecting a trip to Cape May this September. Mark your calendars now for this three-day outing on Wednesday, Sept. 22-Friday, Sept. 24, 2021. Call Sue Greer for the hotel information, as you will have to make your own reservations. It’s not too early to reserve your spot on this outing.

Sept. 22-24, Wed.-Fri. FIELD TRIP: Trip to Cape May, NJ, for FALL MIGRANTS: WARBLERS, RAPTORS, and SEABIRDS. Bring scopes and binoculars. For information, call Sue Greer at 443-255-9559 or email her at sgreer412@gmail.com. Sign-up deadline is Sept. 15.

Keep your eyes open and on the look-out for birds in your backyard. Let me know what you find!

Keep looking up! Happy birding!

Terri Kochert