Uncategorized – Conococheague Audubon

October 2025 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on October 6, 2025October 6, 2025Posted in UncategorizedTagged contests, donate, Zoom

Temperatures are drifting a little lower in the area, and there are good reports of migrating birds.

September 25, 2025 marked a new record night for Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s BirdCast. The migration tool recorded more than 1.2 billion birds. Amazing!

Many thanks to Joe and Vanessa Miller for leading a group of 12 who cleaned up a 2-mile stretch of PA Route 997 on Saturday, September 27. Before our first meeting of the year, Ron George and Tracy Snyder helped 10 participants see and identify 10 species of birds around St. Luke’s. Maybe we should make that an annual event…

We are seeking volunteers for several positions: Conservation Chair, Hospitality Chair, President, Vice President, and Treasurer. Please contact me to offer your services. We need you! If you would like to help take Greencastle-Antrim students on a bird walk at Tayamentasachta on Monday, October 20, please contact Terri Kochert [terri.kochert81@gmail.com or 717-263-3692].

Our only October activities are the regular meeting on Monday, October 13 and SOAR Bird Walks on the first and third Saturdays (4 and 18 October). Youth Contest Bird Photos and Lists are due at 6:45 PM at the regular meeting. Members Jeff and Sue Schmaltz will present 5 Years of Birding in our Mobile Home at 7 PM. At the November 10 meeting, we’ll announce youth contest winners and enjoy Kyle Rambo’s Big Year 2024 program. 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.

Thanks to all who have made a donation. If you haven’t yet, please send your check to Conococheague Audubon Society, PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222. Good birding!

Vote for Directors – 2025

By Valerie BarnesPosted on March 18, 2025March 18, 2025Posted in UncategorizedTagged vote

At the annual business meeting on April 14, 2025, we will also hold our elections.

A. Directors: (vote for two directors)

□ Jeff Schmaltz

□ Mike Fagan

Submit your vote in one of these ways:

1. Attend the April 14 meeting and vote in person.

2. Respond to the March 18 email about the election.

3. Send a separate email to ConAudubon@outlook.com before April 14 and indicate your vote. Put VOTE in the subject line.

4. Fill out and mail this ballot to Conococheague Audubon Society, P.O. Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222. Ballot must be received before April 14.

5. Call Valerie Barnes, 717-352-4397 (landline) before April 14.

We need a quorum of votes for the election to count, so please submit your vote somehow. Thank you!

February 2025 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on February 2, 2025February 2, 2025Posted in UncategorizedTagged birds

We certainly had a bitter cold streak in January. I imagine the birds and all of us hope that is behind us for the year!

From the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: “The annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is February 14–17, 2025, and everyone—regardless of birdwatching experience—is invited to join. GBBC is a fun activity to take part in by yourself or with family and friends. Just grab a warm beverage and watch your feeders, or put on your outdoor gear and visit your favorite spots over the long February weekend. Remember to submit your sightings through eBird or your Merlin Bird ID app. Learn more about how you can participate by visiting the GBBC website.”

Data from the Chambersburg Area Christmas Bird Count (PACH) have been compiled and the details are on this website under the Observation Records page. The next issue of The Naturally will include a summary article.

Conservation Chair John Greer reminds us our highway clean-up day is March 8, 2025. This is part of PENNDOT’s Adopt-A-Highway program. We have “adopted” 2 miles of PA-997 from I-81 west to Main Street, Scotland. It is easy walking on wide shoulders. Supplies are provided. We will meet at 9 a.m. at the Scotland Park & Ride, I-81 exit 20. Even if you are unable to pick up trash, we need a driver to shuttle supplies, and we need a pickup truck to carry filled bags. Please join us to help beautify PA.

Our next regular meeting (at St Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church) will be at 7 PM on Monday, February 10. Members David and Joyce Leaman will present Humming With the Hummingbirds: Small is Beautiful.

You might enjoy this video of birds seen at Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s FeederWatch Cam.

Good birding!

UPDATED March 2021 from the President

By casbirdsPosted on March 3, 2021March 5, 2021Posted in Birds, Monthly Message, Uncategorized

Hello fellow nature lovers,

Today is a “ducky” day in two different ways. First, we are getting drenched with rain. I believe nearly all the snow will be gone soon. We also will be seeing some warmer temperatures this week to come. It appears that spring is on its way!

Secondly, as the Brits use the word “ducky,” they mean that whatever they’re referring to is wonderful. Thus, I have some “ducky news” to share with you. I now have a competent, capable, vibrant Vice President. Her name is Jessica Ferguson. She’s very handy with the computer, knowing where to find information. She’s full of ideas and helpful too. She is a budding photographer and an intense neophyte birder, desiring to learn everything she can about birds. She and her husband have four children and they’ve been in the area for fifteen years. Working for Waste Connections, Scotland, PA, Jessica plans to take college classes this fall, pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science through American Public University in West Virginia. I am so thrilled to have her as my vice president! Welcome, Jessica!

There are several things to bring to your attention concerning near future CAS events.

Don’t forget to sign up if interested in this Saturday’s March 6, 2021 auto tour to Middle Creek WMA, Lancaster County to see Snow Geese and other waterfowl. Contact Eric and Rhetta Martin at 717-597-8675. Meet at the Park & Ride, Scotland, Exit 20, I-81 northbound at 6:30 AM. Bring scopes, binoculars, CBs, and lunch.

March 8, 2021, Monday, at 7 PM a Zoom meeting: Homeland Security: Native Trees Are a Bird’s Refuge with Scott Willard. Please follow the following Zoom instructions. We will not be meeting in person.
To participate in our Zoom presentation, you need to download “Zoom” onto your computer, tablet, or cell phone. Once you have it downloaded, save this email and/or flag it until Mar. 8, 2021. I will also send out a Zoom reminder with the Zoom link on Sunday, March 7, making it more easily accessible. On Monday, March 8, at about 6:50 PM, turn on your computer, open the email, press the link, and you will be invited in by our tech guru, Val Barnes closer to 7 PM. You may choose to be connected via “video” where we will see your face, or you can connect via “audio only”. If you choose audio, you/we will see your name, but not your face. You will be able to see and hear the presentation without being seen. Once you have been invited, I ask you to kindly “mute” yourself until the end when John will entertain questions. At that time, you will need to “unmute” yourself before speaking. Too many unmuted voices at the same time create echoes and sound distortion. So, please, mute yourselves until you have a question to ask. I thank you in advance. For your information, there will be NO interruption this time. Here is our Zoom link:

Conococheague Audubon is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Conococheague Audubon’s Zoom Meeting

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

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

Meeting ID: 721 120 3928

Passcode: cardinal20

March 9, 2021 Tuesday. Join us for our annual field trip to see the Woodcocks at Heisey Orchard Road. Meet at the Park & Ride, Scotland, Exit 20, I-81 northbound at this new new time: 6:00 PM. Bring flashlights and binoculars. Notify Bob Kochert 717-263-3692.
Remember that we will be holding our annual business meeting and elections on Monday, April 12 at 7 PM. Prepare to vote for two new directors nominated to serve a three-year term: John and Sure Greer. You may vote during the meeting or in advance via email by sending a message to our email account.
For your viewing pleasure, check out the following link for live webcams of Bald Eagles and other birds.

Hoping to see some of you on upcoming field trips,

Terri

Notice of elections at the annual business meeting on April 12

By Valerie BarnesPosted on March 2, 2021March 4, 2021Posted in Uncategorized

Sue and John Greer are nominated to serve a three-year term on the Board of Directors. You may vote during the meeting or in advance via email by sending a message to our email account. And some good news: the Executive Committee named Jessica Ferguson to fill the vacant Vice President slot. Welcome, Jessica!