Monthly Message – Page 13 – Conococheague Audubon

November 2020 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on November 2, 2020November 2, 2020Posted in Monthly MessageTagged birds, Zoom

Hello fellow nature lovers,

Most of the beautiful fall colors have waned. We all look forward to the culmination of the election on Nov. 3, 2020. Again, I encourage you all to go to the polls to vote (if you have not already mailed in your ballot). Whatever the outcome, life goes on. We have much to be grateful for, living in these United States of America. Prayerfully the rights and privileges we already experience will continue.

Just a reminder to all that we are looking for a new Vice President. Ken Higley, due to extenuating circumstances, has stepped out of that role. So, if you know of anyone wishing to serve CAS in that capacity, please advise me ASAP.

We are about to experience our first ever CAS Zoom meeting. Harry Campbell of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, according to his company’s COVID-19 protocols, will be joining us at Norlo Park Community Center via Zoom instead of in person at our November 9, 2020 general meeting. The title is Chesapeake Baby: Saving a National Treasure. The Zoom meeting will begin at 7:15 PM and will last a total of 40 minutes. Please note: WE WILL STILL BE MEETING at Norlo Park Community Center at 7 PM. Prior to the Zoom meeting, the Youth Contests Winners will be announced and awarded their prizes. Please join us as we acknowledge both the photography merits of the Best Bird Photos and more so, the tenacity of the Longest Bird List winners. I believe you will be greatly surprised with the skill expressed by our winners. We are grateful to all who participated in this year’s Youth Contests. Please come to encourage our young people.

An errant Rufous Hummingbird has created quite a stir in the birding community. All were rushing to get a look and possibly to get a photo or two. I have included a few photos, taken by Bob Keener, in the above attachment. Also, many had the opportunity to see a migrating flock of 90 American Golden Plovers along Mud Level Road in Shippensburg, Oct. 16, 2020. Also seen in October were Least and Solitary Sandpipers, a Wilson’s Phalarope at the Keefer Road pond, a Brant at the Greencastle Antrim Commons, Pine Siskins, a Red-breasted Nuthatch, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and a raft of 30 Buffleheads at the Long Pine Dam on October 31.

CAS is inviting anyone to participate in our general meeting on Nov. 9, 2020 via Zoom or in person. Please find below the actual link to the Nov. 9 Zoom meeting. IF you feel uncomfortable about using Zoom, perhaps you can join one of our three practice sessions THIS COMING WEEK. Use the same link for any of the practice sessions and for the real meeting at 7:15 PM on November 9.

CAS Practice Zoom 1 (2020-11-03 at 11AM)

CAS Practice Zoom 2 (2020-11-04 at 4 PM)

CAS Practice Zoom 3 (2020-11-04 at 7:30 PM)

Regular meeting via Zoom: Nov 9, 2020 07:15 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/7211203928?pwd=RXNwMjZpQVNvSHJGRld3cWZFQjJiZz09

Meeting ID: 721 120 3928

Passcode: cardinal20

I hope to see your smiling face Nov. 9 at the Norlo Community Center at 7 PM.

Until then, please vote. Good birding to you, one and all!

Terri Kochert

October 2020 from the President

By casbirdsPosted on October 5, 2020December 2, 2020Posted in Birds, Monthly Message, Uncategorized

Hello fellow nature lovers,

I trust that you are doing well. The shore birds have largely passed through the area. We have had reports of Stilt Sandpipers at the Greencastle Antrim Ponds, a Merlin, a Northern Harrier and of course, a Eurasian Collared Dove, at the Greencastle Reservoir. There have been sightings of Canada Warblers, Mourning, and even Connecticut, Warblers at the Heisey Orchard in Scotland area and along the Stillhouse Hollow Road. Flocks of various warblers, Chimney Swifts, vireos, and Common Night Hawks were located along the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail by Tom Dougherty. Please let me know if you still have any Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at your feeders. My husband, Bob, and I saw our last “hummer” at our feeders on Sunday. Sadly, they too are migrating on their long journey south to the Amazon region for the winter.

I have two bits of breaking news, though I will confirm in a later message to you all about the hopeful Zooming of our October 12 meeting. In my September letter I announced our breaking news about Conococheague Audubon having its own Facebook page. There are now 21 members. Dave Cooney has recently posted some great photos of a female Blue Grosbeak, a Palm Warbler along Portico Road, and an Eastern Phoebe. https://www.facebook.com/groups/647514482542153 (Copy and paste into your browser for viewing.)

Breaking News: Our intention is to make our Monday, October 12, 2020, 7PM general meeting with Bob Keener presenting his Birds of Ecuador available to those staying home, desiring to see it via Zoom. I will forward the Zoom link as we approach the date. The plan is to still meet at the Community Center as usual. The program will be available via Zoom for those who desire to see it that way. We intend to make the link available too via our website.

Don’t forget! The two coinciding Youth Contests exhibits are due October 12, 2020 at Norlo ParkCommunitycenter at 6:45 PM. We are inviting the young people to stay for our presentation on the Birds of Ecuador. Due on October 12: Best Bird Photos from Dec. 1, 2019 -Oct. 12, 2020 and/or your Longest Bird list from the same dates, Dec. 1, 2019-Oct. 12, 2020. Please visit our website for the details. http://www.ConococheagueAudubon.org (Copy and paste into your browser for viewing.)
Youth Contests Awards: Awards will be presented before our Nov. 9, 2020 general meeting: Chesapeake Bay: Saving a National Treasure.

Other dates of interest to our members:
Announcing: The Big Sit Day, Oct. 10, 11. You, a family member and/or friend, choose an area, a 17’ circle, to observe the birds within that area. Tally the species, numbers, etc. and hours spent on this project. Report this to eBird.org.
Announcing: Get Out and Count on eBird’s October Big Day On October 17, join birders across the globe by participating in October Big Day—a 24-hour opportunity to count and celebrate the birds both near you and around the world during migration. Visit eBird’s October Big Day page to learn more about this event and its role in the inaugural Global Bird Weekend. (To get to this link, you will have to highlight the link, right click on it, and click “Open Hyperlink.”)

For your viewing pleasure watch this short 1:05 video of “Three Hummingbirds Share One Feeder Port in west Texas” on September 3, 2020 during migration https://youtu.be/jUw2QM3qFDg (To get to this link, you will have to highlight the link, right click on it, and click “Open Hyperlink.”)

May you have some good birding days ahead. Look forward to my email about a future Zoom link to view our October 12, 2020 general meeting.

Terri Kochert

September 2020 from the President

By casbirdsPosted on September 3, 2020September 8, 2020Posted in Monthly MessageTagged birds

Hello fellow nature lovers,

It is difficult to believe we are quickly approaching the latter part of 2020, though for some of us, it has not been the kindest of years. Things have the “appearance” of getting “back to normal.” Children are “back to school”. The evenings arrive earlier; the days are shorter. We are also looking forward to the beginning of our 2020-2021 Season at Conococheague.

Breaking news: Conococheague Audubon now has its own Facebook page for those who participate in Facebook. This is for you to post your photos of birds, wildlife, and plants. Ifyou are not a member of CAS, you will have to “request” to join. Once the administrators approve, you may post your photos. This is NOT for advertising any of your events. To connect, go to “Conococheague Audubon” or the following address:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/647514482542153

Please take note of these important September events:

Sept. 5 FIELD TRIP at 7:30 AM to see the Fall Migrants. Meet at the Park and Ride, Scotland Exit 20, I-81 northbound. There will first be a half-mile walk in wet grass at Heisey Orchard. Come prepared with the proper footwear. Bill Oyler requests that participants drive their own vehicles and that they maintain social distancing upon exiting the vehicles. Wearing masks is required when closer than 6 feet. Please call Bill Oyler, 717-360-5191, in advance if you wish to attend. You will also need to sign your name upon arrival at the Park and Ride.
Sept. 14 our First MEETING. At 6:30 PM please stroll through the Norlo Park Garden for a self-tour. Upon entry into the Community Center, please wear a mask and seat yourselves six feet apart from others. Our speaker will be Brittany Clark of the Penn State Extension Office. Her topic is Icky Invasives; insects in our Forests, such as the Spotted Lanternfly.
Sept. 19 FIELD TRIP Meet at 9 AM at Big Lots, 184 Southgate Mall parking lot next to Washington Street for a stroll along the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail. Wearing masks is required, but we will take “mask breaks” during our journey for those who need to. Social distancing is required. Call Terri Kochert in advance of the event, 717-263-3692, of your intentions to participate. You will need to sign your name upon arrival at the trail.
Sept. 26 FIELD TRIP at 11 AM for Hawk Migration. Leave from Sunnyway Foods parking lot, 49 Warm Spring Road, Chambersburg, to go to the “Pulpit.” Beginning hawk watchers are welcome. Bring binoculars. Bring your masks. Please call Bob Carmack, 717-597-8631, in advance of the event of your intentions to participate. You will need to sign your name upon arrival at Sunnyway Foods.

*Please remember that Youth Contests’ entries: 5” X 7” bird photos and longest list of bird species for the year, Dec. 1, 2019-Oct. 12, 2020, are due Oct. 12, 2020 at our regular Monday night meeting.

Here is some good news on the Conservation front:

A federal court has rejected efforts to weaken the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. In the past few years there was pushback from the federal government to undermine the decades old treaty protecting birds. This judge ruled it “illegal” to do so. The treaty stands as written.
Earlier this month, the President signed into law the Great American Outdoors Act, a historic bipartisan conservation law, which will provide parks, and public lands the protection and care they deserve, with permanent, mandatory funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund at no additional cost to taxpayers.
The Delaware River Watershed has recently been named, ”River of the Year.” There are plans to celebrate this recognition with virtual and safely in-person events. I will keep you posted of their planned events.

For those of you with children ‘back to school virtually,” perhaps you are looking for a “field trip.” I suggest you check out the “Pick Up Pennsylvania 2020” campaign from Sept. 1 – Nov. 30. Please see the attached flyer about this.

Friends, I hope to see you at one of our scheduled September events. Until then, please enjoy this eight- minute documentary video on the hatching and eventual fledging of two hummingbirds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU_pJ8PAWwQ&feature=emb_rel_end

Happy Birding!

Terri Kochert

August 2020 From the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on August 3, 2020August 3, 2020Posted in Birds, Monthly MessageTagged birds

Greetings all fellow nature lovers!

We are indeed in the dog days of summer. Can it get any warmer? Any more humid?

Bob and I have enjoyed watching the vigorous courting antics of a house wren couple. They zoomed all over our back yard, past our ears, and onto other neighbors’ yards, only to return much later to a small birdhouse we have attached to the side of our backyard swing. We are still waiting to witness the fledging of the chicks. The time must be near. We have been watching the adult (female) bring food to the little ones and removing the fecal sacks.

Though the CAS Bluebird trail near Upper Strasburg, PA has been officially postponed due to the COVID-19 lockdown, one of our members has taken it upon herself to watch over a total of 22 bluebird boxes in the Penn National area. On July 8, 2020 Ruth Barton wrote:

Two of the boxes had fledged since her last visit and there were no new nests.
She had only one active tree swallow nest with chicks and cleared out all other tree swallow nests.
Four of the 22 boxes were inaccessible due to tall weeds.
As of July 8, there were 16 empty boxes ready for new residents. (We can only hope there will be more bluebird baby chicks hatched before migration season.) Thank you, Ruth, for this report and for your tenacity!

Also, on July 8 Jim Hook decided to check out the CAS Bluebird Trail with its 25 boxes. He noted:

The 12 boxes off Wye Road appeared to be dominated by tree swallows, with only one active bluebird nest containing one egg.
Two of the four new boxes off Pine Road revealed two bluebird nests.
Three of the four boxes on Joel Burkholder’s lane had evidence of bluebirds. Two of the boxes had bluebird eggs.
The Druckenbrod Lane’s five boxes are dominated by house wrens, with evidence of three earlier bluebird nests.
Jim reported that he found a total of five active bluebird nests with eggs that day. Thank you, Jim for your curiosity!

In mid-July, a young female birder, Miriam Weaver, located an anomaly on her family’s farm. She noticed that this new sparrow had a significantly different (“insect sounding”) song and appearance from the other house sparrows around her family’s farm. She had found a clay-colored sparrow.

It breeds in the northern part of the USA west of New York and into western Canada.
It winters in Texas and throughout Mexico.
This is the first time one has been discovered in Franklin County. It is only the second account on record of one in Pennsylvania.
Of course, such good news travels fast. Soon, the Weaver farm in the Orrstown area was inundated with curious birders. Some attempted and did indeed get some great photos. Please see my attachment with these photos. There were reports of still seeing it yet on July 31.

Thursday, July 30, Bill Oyler reported four glossy ibises were seen off Sandy Mount Road, Pleasant Hall area near Bender’s first pond. Many went to see them.

For your amusement, I am including the URL for an interesting story of how a mother cat adopts newly hatched ducklings. You will have to copy and paste this website into your browser. It should appear immediately. https://youtu.be/570khFoaE4s

Currently we plan to meet as usual at the Norlo Park Community Center on September 14, 2020. We are asking that you wear a mask and social distance. Members will disinfect the premises before your arrival.

Just for your information National Audubon is making some new combinations. National Audubon Society announced on July 7 that Pennsylvania, Maryland and Washington, D.C., offices are being merged into the new Audubon Mid-Atlantic office. We will still correspond with Kelly McGinley of the Harrisburg regional office.
Val Barnes and Janet Tice have been working to update and improve our CAS website. The new site will allow us to change or add pictures more easily, identify how to contact CAS leaders via email or phone, let you view maps where we meet, and show all our activities on a calendar. If you see any problems not related to calendar events, please let Val or Janet know.

Stay cool and safe!

Terri Kochert

Clay-colored Sparrow by Jefferson Shank, 2020-07

July 2020 From the President

By casbirdsPosted on July 12, 2020July 14, 2020Posted in Monthly MessageTagged birds, flowers

Greetings fellow nature lovers,
I trust that now that Franklin County has gone “green” that you are getting out more frequently to enjoy all life has to offer. It feels so good to be able to get your hair cut again. I do not think I will ever again take my hairdresser’s “essential services” for granted! Like many of you, I am still waiting to have face to face encounters with my dentist and doctors. Hopefully, this too shall pass despite spikes of the coronavirus in neighboring states. I encourage you all to be careful and be safe.

Unfortunately, our nation has seen its share of upheaval and destruction this past month, scarring our beautiful Spring migration months. As a wildlife conservation group, the Conococheague Audubon Society, affirms that ALL lives matter no matter the color of one’s skin, ethnicity, or any other persuasion. Nature is for ALL to enjoy! I trust that we each acknowledge, greet, and smile at ALL fellow birders we encounter along the way. I personally have found bird watchers to be friendly, kind and most helpful when birding. It is part of our DNA to share our “newest” bird find with others. We want ALL to enjoy and preserve the beauty of this world. That is as it should be.

With June now behind us and the full brunt of hot weather ahead of us, there are less reports of birds being seen. I am grateful for the gloriously happy songs of the Indigo Buntings, Cardinals, and Goldfinches. When in the woods, I still hear the strong admonition of the Oven Bird and the ethereal trill of the Wood Thrush. A visit to the woods would be considered incomplete without hearing the Eastern Towhee reminding me “to drink your tea!”

Locally, there are still warblers being seen. There have been sightings of Magnolia and Kentucky warblers, a Blue Grosbeak, and Willow Flycatchers.
There are still Grasshopper Sparrows and Dickcissels being reported along local farm lanes.
There are still reports of our local population of Eurasian Collared Doves at the Greencastle Reservoir.
The Mountain Laurel is now beginning to fade. I do hope you all took the opportunity to drive through Michaux State forest to see it.

May you have a Happy Fourth of July, celebrating safely the freedom we Americans enjoy living here in the United States of America. Bob and I will be celebrating with our children’s families and our daughter’s mother-in-law, now a widow, who will be celebrating her arrival to the USA from Ukraine 71 years ago as a nine-year old girl on July 4. To her this is one of the most meaningful of the holidays we celebrate.

Good birding to you all!