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, …

May 2026 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Birds, Get Involved, Monthly MessageTagged

A first-ever for Franklin County Swainson’s Warbler was observed at the Fort Loudon historic site in early May. Many local birders enjoyed seeing / hearing the very active bird first reported by John Carter. If you haven’t already, you might want to sign up for alerts from eBird so you are aware of rarities.

We are looking for some new field trip leaders for 2027: May Horse Valley field trip (previous leaders Valerie Barnes and Donna Hocker), the May Letort Spring Garden field trip (previous leader John Greer) and possibly the June Chambersburg Rail Trail field trip (previous leader Debby Hook). If you’d like more information about what’s involved please contact the previous trip leaders.

We are also looking for a new Vice President. Currently the position acts as an assistant to the President, and will not be required to become President at the end of their term. If you’re interested in the duties of the Vice President, let our new President, Ron George know, and he’ll send you the pertinent paragraphs from our chapter guidelines.

We are also seeking ideas for programs for next season; please contact Lisa Coombs.

If you are interested in any of the above, you may also send an email to ConAudubon@outlook.com.

Happy spring birding!

April 2026 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Get Involved, Monthly Message, OutreachTagged

Forsythia and daffodils proclaim spring is here. Yay! Birds are starting to move through, too. Yay again! I imagine you are as happy as I am to put the cold behind us. Let’s hope we have a real spring and that we don’t jump immediately to summer.

Our April 13 regular meeting will include elections, brief reports, and a program titled  Conservation of the Eastern Bluebird by members Lynn and Dorian Runt. The meeting starts at 7 PM 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 next planning session for the Beginning Birders’ Workshop (June 6) will occur before this meeting, so come at 6:15 to participate in that.

We continue to seek a volunteer to become Vice President. Please contact me to offer your services. There are always new opportunities to represent CAS at community events, so if you are interested, please contact our Outreach chair, Terri Kochert. Many thanks to Leslie Cerf for agreeing to lead the nature film crew.

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!

March 2026 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Birds, Get Involved, Monthly MessageTagged , ,

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. 
  • NEW DATE ADDED: March 11, Wednesday, 6:45 AM and March 19, Thursday. 7:15 PM. 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!

February 2026 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Birds, Conservation, Get Involved, Monthly Message, News

Winter is COLD. Birds are flocking to our feeders. This week I’ve had four special visitors: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Eastern Bluebird, and Hermit Thrush. In spite of careful looking, I haven’t seen any Pine Siskins (yet!). May you enjoy many good birds in your yards, too.

SOAR Bird Walks will take place on the first and third Saturdays (7 and 21 February).

Our next regular meeting takes place on February 9, Monday, at 7:00 PM. Our own Doug Powless will present Notes from PA Atlas Observing.  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.

Join us on a winter field trip February 20 – 22, Friday – Sunday to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge for WATERFOWL.  Leave from the leaders’ home at 9:00 AM Friday. Bring scopes, binoculars, and lunch.  Make your own motel arrangements.  Leaders are Eric and Rhetta Martin, 717-597-8675, home or 223-205-7910, Rhetta.

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.

We continue to seek volunteers for these positions: Film Chair and Vice President. Please contact me to offer your services. Thanks to Jim Hook for volunteering to be Conservation Chair and Donna Hocker for being willing to serve as Hospitality Chair, as long as we find a new Treasurer.

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!

January 2026 From the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Get Involved, Monthly Message

2025 is fading fast. 2026 steps in with promise: authors and recipes to discover, old friends and family with whom to share time, the possibilities of new birds to see. Check out Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s bird cams. May you have a joyous new year!

We continue to seek volunteers for several positions: Conservation Chair, Hospitality Chair, Film Chair, Vice President, and Treasurer. Please contact me to offer your services. We need you!

Our annual covered dish dinner and members’ photo show is at 6:00 PM on Monday, January 12, 2026 at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church (off Route 997, near Scotland exit off I-81), 2695 Luther Dr, Chambersburg, PA 17202. Please plan to join us for good food and fellowship. Members typically contribute one dinner item and/or a dessert. Coffee, tea, and pots/jugs of water will be provided. Bring your own table setting, including a napkin, flatware, plate, bowl, and mug/cup. Let’s try to avoid plastic and disposable items! If you have a few photos you wish to share, please bring them on a USB thumb drive. Bring a friend; all are welcome!

Our next free nature film, Islands of Wonder: Borneo, will be shown at Chambersburg Area Middle School South on Thursday January 29 at 7 PM. The address is 1151 E. McKinley St., Chambersburg. Door prizes will be awarded at the end of the program, including one pair of binoculars for a  youth. Donations are welcome.

One Christmas Bird Count remains: Saturday, January 3, 2026 in the Newville area. To volunteer, contact Vern Gauthier, 717-385-9526,  verngauthier14@gmail.com.

SOAR Bird Walks will take place on the first and third Saturdays (3 and 17 January).

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!

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