Conococheague Audubon Society

PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222

ConAudubon@outlook.com

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Conococheague Audubon

Monthly Message

Usually written by the president, a note about the season, upcoming activities, …

September 2021 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted 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 Posted in Birds, Monthly Message, OutreachTagged ,

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

July 2021 from the President

By casbirdsPosted on Posted in Birds, Monthly Message, Outreach

Hello Fellow Nature Lovers,

As we approach our most important national holiday in three more days on July 4, I want to encourage each of us to be thankful for the wonderful freedoms that we have in this country.  I continue to believe that this is the greatest nation in the world.  That is why we have so many clamoring and dying to come here.  For 245 years we have been offering our inhabitants freedom of speech, freedom to worship, freedom to bear arms, freedom to travel, and freedom to work hard to provide for our individual families.  We are a nation of high ideals and opportunities.   We must remember that this is not so in many other nations of the world. I know.  I have traveled to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Mexico, and Central America.  I have seen the oppression and poverty conditions. Trust me, there is NO other nation like the USA.  It’s no wonder that the news of our good fortune travels extensively around the world?  I passionately believe that our nation has been blessed because of its godly foundation, i.e., our beloved believing founding Fathers.  So, please take a moment and thank our Creator for the fact that we “get to” call this nation our home.  I didn’t say the USA is perfect.  Of course not, we are a nation comprised of flawed human beings.  Be that as it may, I’m grateful that I live here and am proud to call this my home.

Speaking of home, CAS is again in search of a Vice President.  Please keep Jessica, her husband Garry, and family in your prayers for improved health for Garry. 

Thus, I am in need of a Vice President to serve through April 30, 2022 and then presiding as President from May 1, 2022 -April 30, 2024.  If interested, please contact Terri through ConAudubon@outlook.com.

I do have some news about the Breeding Bird Blitz to share with you.  Bob Keener, the Captain of Blue Mountain Avian Seekers team from the CAS area, reported that his team saw a total of 90 different species in one day.  He says his team recorded nine target special interest Wood Thrushes in their travels around Franklin County.  Vern Gauthier, director of this year’s first annual four-day Breeding Bird Blitz for Conservation (B4C), reported that there were 22 different Blitz teams comprised of 89 people who covered 30 counties in Pennsylvania. You can see the contest highlights/winning teams by pasting the following link into your browser. https://www.breedingbirdblitz.org/post/results

There were two targeted special interest species: the Wood Thrush and the Northern Harrier.  As Bob Keener confirmed above, Wood Thrush were seen, but Vern says not one Northern Harrier was spotted during the four-day Blitz.   Vern reported, too, that B4C doubled their anticipated goal of $5,000!  So, that is $10,000 that will be evenly distributed to Hawk Mountain, Manada Conservancy, and Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.  Thank you all who supported our team and contributed to these wonderful conservancies, which are doing much to preserve our feathered friends and other wildlife.

Local bird sightings have slowed down considerably.  The Kentucky Warbler is still being heard and seen in the same Buchanan State Forest where it was originally found in May (as of June 22).  There was a Least Flycatcher on the Penn State Mont Alto Campus, and a Eurasian Collared Dove in Greencastle.  On June 30th Bill Oyler saw and heard a female Summer Tanager along Red Rock Road!  Bob and I have a persevering House Wren who finally attracted a mate to our backyard wren box.  We can’t wait to see the fledglings. We do so enjoy our Jenny Wren’s beautiful song. 

Please continue to report your bird sightings on eBird.org.  It is your way of contributing to Citizen Science, helping keep track of where the birds are on any given day of the year.  eBird.org is a world-wide “bank” of bird information.  Please feel free to check it out.  

On Saturday, June 26, 2021, a few volunteers from CAS had a display table set up at the North Square Farmers Market in Chambersburg.  It was thrilling to once again be out and among people, sharing our love of birds and nature with the public, giving them helpful brochures promoting native plant gardens to attract birds and pollinators. We engaged a total of 37 visitors including 19 children.  The children were excited to color bird pictures and receive a brightly colored bird sticker. We will be there again on July 24, August 28, September 25, and October 23, 2021.  Please come help out, visit, and/or send your family our way on those days.  

Again, please do not forget to sign up for our new fall field trip to Cape May, NJ, September 22-24, 2021.  Mark your calendars now for the three-day outing.  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.

For your viewing pleasure, please consider watching the live cam of an Atlantic Puffin on the nest in Maine.  You may have to copy and paste the following link into your browser to view. https://explore.org/livecams/puffins/puffin-burrow-cam?emci=588e7d5a-b7d2-eb11-a7ad-501ac57b8fa7&emdi=ed823fe8-c2d2-eb11-a7ad-501ac57b8fa7&ceid=4271689

For some information on backyard birds and their sounds, watch the following 42-minute video below. You may have to copy the link and paste it into your browser to view.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEXX6Oyuj4k

Happy Fourth of July!  Good birding to all!

Terri Kochert  

June 2021 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted 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

May 2021 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Birds, Monthly Message, Zoom

Dear Fellow Nature Lovers,

Because our events start immediately on Saturday, May 1, 2021, I decided to send out my monthly letter a little earlier than usual. That will give you the opportunity to contact the trip leaders in advance of the event.  

This is the exciting time of the year when we get to see many migrants passing through. Keep me apprised as to what you see this spring, please. Here are a few migrants/birds already seen. We Kocherts had a Ruby-throated Hummingbird visit our nectar feeder on April 23, 2021. There have been sightings of a Baltimore Oriole along Creekside Trail, Menno Haven, by Bill Oyler and Ruby-throats at Heisey Road Orchard by Bob Keener. Bob also has seen Black-throated Blue Warblers, Black-throated Green Warblers, Scarlet Tanagers, and Black-and-White Warblers at Heisey Road. Yellow-rumped, Palm, and Pine Warblers have also been spotted. There was a Barred Owl family camped out at Falling Spring Church parking lot.  There was a Scott’s Oriole (western bird) in Kirkwood, PA starting in January 2021. There’s been a pair of Trumpeter Swans on Burnt Mill Rd. pond, seen by Bob Koontz, Bill Oyler and Bob Kiley. Jefferson Shank had a Grasshopper Sparrow on their farm and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers at Heisey Road Orchard.

Here is a list of upcoming CAS activities:

Since this is spring gardening time, I thought I should again include the link to National Audubon’s Native Plants information. That way you can attract birds and butterflies to your own garden. All you have to do is to click on the link, put in your zip code and up pops a list of native trees, shrubs, plants and flowers.

Also, for anyone interested, there will be a Zoom session, Thursday, May 13, 2021 on planting a Bird-Friendly Design, presented by Patterson Park Audubon Center for Wildlife Gardening Workshops. “This virtual session explores how our gardens can benefit birds and butterflies, including recommended plant species and garden management for Mid-Atlantic gardens. No matter how small your space, you can grow habitat for birds (even in containers)! There is a limit to the number of participants per session, so Patterson Park asks you to register only if you plan to attend.”

Many of us are heart-broken that our favorite birding festival, Biggest Bird Week Festival, at Magee Marsh, OH is canceled due to Covid-19. CAS had a planned field trip to attend May 3-5, 2021. It is open to residential Ohioans via a lottery system only. If you would like to read about the devastating economic effects of Covid-19 in Clinton, OH area, click on the following link: https://www.audubon.org/news/canceled-birding-festivals-deal-host-towns-major-economic-blow 

In addition, Cornell Lab of Ornithology wants you to be aware of the Global Big Day and World Migratory Bird Day, May 8.  Please go birding, keep track of where you are and what you see, and report your findings in eBird.

I hope you all have an enjoyable Spring! Enjoy the fresh air, the beautiful flowers, and the phenomenal birds!

Terri Kochert

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