Conococheague Audubon Society

PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222

ConAudubon@outlook.com

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Conservation

Issue or accomplishment related to conservation

April 2022 From the President

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

Hello Fellow Nature Lovers, 

Spring has sprung! My daffodils are in bloom. Crocuses and forsythia are blooming too! Hyacinthe are peeking through. There’s been much more ant and bug activity. And bird activity too! The American Kestrels are searching for nesting spots and also the Eastern Bluebirds. 

I trust you all received my unique email on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 recounting to you about the tremendous opportunity to participate in the Community Cloud Forest Conservation (CCFC) capital campaign to purchase and set aside land in Guatemala for reforestation purposes preserving our wintering birds and the area’s 15 endemic species. You may donate until July 1, 2022. Let’s make it a challenge to see how many acres we can set aside for our feathered friends and other wildlife there. You may wish to entertain an RMD contribution too

Announcements:     

  • April 11, Monday MEETING, 7:00 PM. Importance of Healthy Wetlands by Eileen Shader, Penn State. Arranged by Terri Kochert. Annual business meeting and elections. All chapter members welcome. 
  • April 14, Thursday FILM, 7:30 PM. In Search of the Jaguar. (National Geographic)  Narrated by Glenn Close, an amazing story of a boy with a speech impediment that led him to a life-long passion for jaguars and their preservation. Door prizes.  
  • April 16, Saturday WORK DAY, 9:30 AM Work at NORLO PARK native garden. Bring garden tools and gloves. Josh Donaldson, 717-264-6920. 
  • April 23, Saturday FIELD TRIP, 8:00 AM. C&O Canal. BIRDING and HISTORY. Walk along the canal. Bring binoculars and lunch. Meet at Big Slackwater Boat Ramp parking lot, Sharpsburg, MD. Jim Hardy, 717-404-8989. 
  • April 30, Saturday WORK DAY, 9:30 AM. Work at NORLO PARK native garden. Bring garden tools and gloves. Josh Donaldson, 717-264-6920. 
  • May 16 – May 18, Monday – Wednesday, FIELD TRIP. Magee Marsh, Ohio Field Trip. Please note the date change from the current Activities List. It is now scheduled for Monday May 16 through Wednesday May 18, 2022. Since you are responsible for your own hotel expenses, please contact Bob and Terri Kochert for the hotel name and location. Please email us at bobterri81@comcast.net or call 717-263-3692 before April 4 if interested in attending.  

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful reminds us to remove litter from any public shared place, including the state’s 80 Important Bird Areas that encompass more than 2 million acres of public and private lands. Though you could have registered in January, now you may begin April 1-April 30. Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful partners with the PA Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) and Penn DOT to supply free trash bags, gloves and safety vests to registered participants as supplies last. Join thousands of Pennsylvanians for Pick UP Pennsylvania and help “make a difference” to keep Pennsylvania’s Important Bird Areas clean for our feathered friends. 

If any of you are interested in volunteering for the Penn National Bluebird Trail, please contact Lynn and Dorian Runt at therunts@centurylink.net or call (717-352-4995).  

We are busy planning an events outreach at the Conococheague Institute on May 28, 2022. We need an E-Z up, or mobile/portable awning. Does anyone own one that we could borrow for the event? Does anyone have one they would like to donate to CAS for other such Educational Outreaches? Let me know by responding to ConAudubon@outlook.com with the subject:  Awning. Thank you in advance.  

I wish you all a wonderful Spring and blessed Easter. I hope to see many of you either in person or via Zoom on April 11, 2022 at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church. 

Terri Kochert 

Guatemala Community Cloud Forest Conservation (CCFC) Capital Campaign

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Birds, Conservation, How to Get Involved

Dear Fellow Nature Lovers,

Community Cloud Forest Conservation (CCFC) in central Guatemala has launched a capital campaign to purchase 390 acres on which the center is built.  They intend to establish a wildlife sanctuary with Guatemala’s National Council for Protected Areas and restore the habitat for species of special conservation concern. We have an opportunity to contribute to the capital campaign and invite you to make a donation. We will bundle the donations and forward them to CCFC. If our total contribution reaches $1,000, that will enable CCFC to purchase and reforest one acre. A couple who are members of the Conococheague Audubon Society has offered to match up to $1,000 of your contributions. So, if we collectively donate $1,000, it will become $2,000, thanks to these generous donors.

Through education, reforestation, sustainable development, leadership scholarships, and ecological improvements to agriculture, CCFC focuses on alleviating poverty and protecting forests in the highlands of Guatemala. As stated on their website, “CCFC believes that holistic human / community development through education and capacity building is the key to conservation and development in Guatemala’s central highlands. Education, especially for young women, is key to building peace in this region.”

In 2018, seven CAS members, including my husband Bob and myself, joined a group from Virginia Society of Ornithology on a bird watching trip to CCFC. Rob and Tara Cahill, managers of CCFC, helped us to see 200 different bird species. We stayed at the CCFC facility and witnessed the impact it has on the local culture and economy. We birded with many of the center’s young students who are learning about birds and conservation. We also interacted with a group of 40 teachers participating in an in-service session.

CAS has remained connected with CCFC by annually donating money for one young woman to continue her education beyond sixth grade. Public education in Guatemala is provided for students through sixth grade, but older students must pay for their education, uniforms, and books.

The sanctuary CCFC plans to establish will protect not only 15 endemic bird species but also “our” wintering birds as well, such as Wood Thrush, Olive-sided Flycatcher (near threatened status), Golden-winged Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Worm-eating Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Cerulean Warbler (near threatened status), Blackburnian Warbler, Canada Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Dickcissel.

CCFC plans to reforest the land and manage the sanctuary in perpetuity. Reforested areas will provide habitat and food for the area’s unique wildlife, including 33 bat species that have been seen on CCFC land.

Community Cloud Forest Conservation is a non-governmental, not-for-profit, conservation and human development organization, incorporated in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and registered with the Internal Revenue Service of the United States as a 501(c)3 tax exempt entity. CCFC is governed by a volunteer board of directors.

The Conococheague Audubon Society Board of Directors endorses the CCFC efforts and authorized me to ask you to consider making a special donation to this project. You may write out a check to “Conococheague Audubon Society” and send it to:  Conococheague Audubon, PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222. Please indicate “CCFC donation” in the memo area of your check. We will accept donations until July 1, 2022.

Thank you for caring for birds and conservation matters, both here in the U.S. and where our birds winter.

Terri Kochert

March 2022 From the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Birds, Conservation, How to Get Involved, Monthly Message, Outreach, Zoom

Hello Fellow Nature Lovers,

There are many Conococheague Audubon events coming up in the near future. So, let’s get right to it.

March 5, Saturday  FIELD TRIP. 6:30 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. Contact Eric and Rhetta Martin, 717–597-8675.

March 8, Tuesday  FIELD TRIP NEW DATE. This is a deviation from the Activities List. It’s supposed to rain Monday, March 7, in the afternoon, evening. On Tuesday, March 8, it’s to rain in the AM, but be cloudy in the afternoon. 5:45 PM Tentative outing for WOODCOCKS at Heisey Road orchard. Meet at the Park & Ride, Scotland, Exit 20, I-81 northbound. Bring flashlights. Contact Bob Kochert, 717-263-3692. 

March 14, Monday  MEETING/HYBRID. 7:00 PM Forest-Bird Restoration by Ron Rohrbaugh, Director, Conservation Science and Forest Programs, Audubon Mid-Atlantic . Arranged by Terri Kochert. The speaker will give the presentation from a remote location via Zoom. Come to St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church or view from home.

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

Meeting ID: 721 120 3928  Passcode: cardinal20

I am excited to report that we are resuming the showing of our FREE nature films, beginning 7:30 PM, Thursday, March 24, 2022 at Living Faith Chapel, 8770 Possum Hollow Road, Shippensburg, PA. Film is: Last Stand of the Great Bear. (National Geographic) Great Bear rainforest of British Columbia. Brown, black, “spirit” bears, wolves, and salmon fishing. Doors will open at 7:00 PM. There will be free door prizes too.

Election News: The April election of CAS officers and directors will take place between March 14 and our April 11, 2022 meeting. I will be sending you the ballot via an extra email this month for the express purpose of voting for the listed nominees. Though voting will take place at the Annual Business meeting, April 11, 2022, CAS will also accept voting by proxy, by email, or other electronic means if you are not able to physically attend our meeting. Thus, you may vote early via email or by phone. We’ll appreciate receiving your vote as early as possible. There is a quota of votes needed to validate the election. Please vote immediately when you receive the ballot

Magee Marsh May Field Trip Date Change: Although May seems to be distant from today’s date, I need to bring another schedule change to your attention. In our CAS Activities List we have advertised a trip to Magee Marsh May 2-4. This will need to be changed. Though the Biggest Week in Birding WILL take place this year (after two years of cancellations due to Covid), it is scheduled for May 6-15, 2022. CAS has its final 2021-2022 season meeting on May 9, 2022. So, the CAS Magee Marsh trip will be scheduled for Monday, May 16-Wednesday May 18, 2022. More information about this trip will follow next month.

Calling All Photographers: If you enjoy taking photographs, please send your best bird photos to National Audubon for be selected for their best bird photos.

CAS needs your help: I am putting out a plea for anyone interested in helping for an Earth Day Outreach on Saturday, April 23, 2022 from 10 AM to 2 PM in downtown Chambersburg. Contact me as soon as you can to offer your assistance.

Everglades Info: With Dave Graff’s excellent Florida exposé of the beauty and fragility of the Everglades, I thought I would include a few articles from Audubon Florida about some of the Florida projects to revive the Everglades and the species found there.

“Wandering Spoonbills Tell Us What We Need to Protect the Everglades,” by Chad Witko. Jerry Lorenz of Audubon Florida tracked this species to shed light on how the iconic “River of Grass” is changing, for better or worse.

“12,000-acre Everglades Restoration Project Complete,” by Kelly Cox. The C-44 canal was first dredged in 1923 to divert flood water from Lake Okeechobee to the St. Lucie estuary. It has taken decades and millions of dollars of funds to restore the C-44 area.

Good birding to you all as the weather breaks and Spring arrives!

Terri Kochert

June 2021 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Birds, Conservation, How to Get Involved, 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

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