Conococheague Audubon Society

PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222

ConAudubon@outlook.com

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Conococheague Audubon

Birds

Information about recent bird sighting, behavior, news

November 2024 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Birds, Monthly Message, News, ZoomTagged , , , ,

We certainly had a gloriously sunny October! November is here and, hopefully, we’ll get some rain. Keep your eyes peeled for waterfowl, late migrants, and winter visitors. A Hermit Thrush has been popping by my yard, drinking from the birdbath and eating berries from the Burning Bush.

At our next regular meeting at 7 PM on Monday, November 11, we’ll announce the winners of this year’s youth contests. Then, member Becky Loncosky will present a program on “Breeding Bird Surveys in our National Parks: Catoctin’s Top Ten”. As usual, the meeting will be held at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church, (off Route 997, near Scotland exit off I-81) 2695 Luther Dr, Chambersburg, PA 17202. You may also participate via Zoom.

We didn’t have space in the recent Naturally for Terri’s article about the first free nature film of the season, so you can find it here. Please come join us at CAMS South, 1151 East McKinley St, Chambersburg, on Thursday, November 14 at 7 PM for ”Islands of Wonder – Madagascar.” It sounds like a fascinating place!

From our friends at the Conococheague Institute, we bring you this announcement: Saturday, November 9th, 12:00pm to 8:00pm, 30th Anniversary: Bonfire Night. 12995 Bain Rd, Mercersburg, PA 17236.

Learn about the history of the event with Guy Fawkes, engage in Tavern song and dance, games and festivities, archery, wildlife, food and drink, all culminating in an evening Bonfire program at 7pm. There will be craft vendors and food trucks available throughout the day, a special children’s entertainment performance by Ray Owens, a birds of prey presentation by Miller’s Wildlife and much more! Matthew Wedd at Conococheague Institute shares that the falconer will be doing his presentation at 4 pm, and he’ll have a great horned owl with him.

Check this website for updates and maps to all locations.

If you haven’t already, please consider donating to Conococheague Audubon to keep things rolling. Mail your donation to CAS at PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222. Good birding!

  Valerie Barnes, President

October 2024 from the President

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

We needed rain, and we got it. We’re ready for a little sunshine now, please. Our thoughts are with those who really got hit by Hurricane Helene; we were lucky. Fall migrants are still passing through. A Swainson’s Thrush stopped by to eat Burning Bush berries in my back yard. I look forward to seeing one or two every fall.

This year the Big Sit is scheduled for the weekend of Saturday, October 12, 2024 starting at 12 a.m. midnight and closing Sunday, October 13, at 11:59 p.m. You may bird anywhere. But, all observations must be made from within a circle no more than 17 feet (5.2 meters) in diameter. To participate, register your circle and report your observations via eBird. Learn more by visiting the Big Sit website: https://www.thebigsit.org/. It’s fun to spend several hours sitting in a birdy place, visiting with your co-birders and noshing on snacks.

We’ve signed up to host a display table at Tayamentasachta Environmental Center’s Apple Festival on Saturday, October 12 from 9 – 3. Please contact Terri Kochert  at terri.kochert81@gmail.com or 717-264-3692 to help.

Entries for our Youth Contests are due at the October 14 general meeting. Entries for the “Best Bird Photo of the Year” and “Longest Bird Species List of the Year” contests will be accepted for two age groups: 5 to 15 and 16 to 18. Winners for the cash prizes will be announced at our November 11 meeting. Please arrive a few minutes early for the October meeting so you can submit your entries to Terri Kochert. At the meeting we’ll hear from Andy Markel about Adrenaline Birding; Big Day/Big Months/Big Years. As usual, the meeting will be held at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church at 7 PM.

Five members led 90 seventh-graders from Greencastle-Antrim Middle School on bird walks September 19 at Tayamentasachta. The highlight of the day was a very cooperative Great Horned Owl. Nine members worked to clean up a stretch of Route 997 on September 28. Thanks to all our volunteers! If you would like to help at some future event, please contact Terri Kochert.

If you haven’t already, please consider donating to Conococheague Audubon to keep things rolling. Mail your donation to CAS at PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222. Good birding!

August 2024 from the President

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

Shorebird migration seems to be underway. Recently folks have seen a Baird’s Sandpiper at the farm pond along White Church Road. Subscribe to eBird alerts to be notified about Franklin (or other) County rarities so you know what’s in the area.

Terri Kochert reports that a woman who sets up at the Chambersburg Farmers’ Market makes tote bags from birdseed bags. What a cool idea! You might want to make your own or give your bags to her to use.

John Greer reminds us to save the date for the PA Adopt-A-Highway clean up scheduled for Saturday, September 28 at 9 AM. Supplies will be provided. Sign up with John: 443-255-8871, jngreer@aol.com

According to an article about “Bird Olympics” in the Washington Post, on a race of birds flying horizontally, the Mallard would win, with a speed of about 103 mph. While we often think of the Peregrine Falcon’s fast dive (at about 242 mph), it’s the Mallard that flies fastest horizontally. Who knew?! In terms of flying quietly, the Barn Owl is hard to beat. And an Ostrich could outrun any human in the 100 m dash – finishing in just 6.04 seconds. Birds are pretty amazing!

If you haven’t already received it, keep an eye out in your snail mail for our annual fundraising letter and the 2024-2025 Activities List. We depend on and appreciate your financial support. Good birding!

July 2024 from the President

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

Summer is officially here and resident birds are breeding. If you see evidence of nesting, please eBird via the PA Atlas Portal so that your records are counted in the 3rd PA Bird Atlas Project.

The Norlo Park Native Plants Garden gang, under the expert guidance of Josh Donaldson, planned an event for Monday, July 15 at 9 AM. Josh invites you to come and learn about the plants, butterflies, bees, and birds that enjoy the garden. (Rain date is July 17 at 9 AM.) Bring a folding chair to use as you listen to the speakers. Josh reports that they saw the first Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillar in the garden this spring!

Terri Kochert plans to set up a display table at the Chambersburg North Square Farmers’ Market the last Saturday in July, August, and September. Contact Terri to volunteer. If you are at the market to shop, please stop by and say hello.

Conservation Chair John Greer sends this reminder; SAVE THE DATE:  Saturday, September 28, 2024. Please spend a couple hours helping us pick up trash along Route 997 as we kick off our participation in PENNDOT’s Adopt-A-Highway program. Training and supplies will be provided. More details to follow. Help beautify our area and clean up the environment.

We’re finalizing the activities for the upcoming season; you’ll get an Activities List in the mail in August. I hope you have a good summer and see lots of good birds. Our next regular meeting will be Monday, September 9 at 7 PM, with Jeanne Verhulst sharing her birding tour of Eastern Australia. As always, please check our website to make sure an event’s plans are unchanged. Thank you for your continued participation and support.

January 2024 From the President

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

As 2023 draws to a close, let us share our wishes for peace around the world and hopes for our planet and its fauna and flora. Let this be a year when we all do what we can to be good stewards for our communities, feathered friends, and our friends and family.

Sometime this winter, Bob and Terri Kochert plan to lead a trip to the Gettysburg area to see Short-eared Owls, if the owls start appearing on a regular basis. Contact the Kocherts to sign up.

Our annual covered dish dinner and members’ photo show will take place on Monday, January 8, 2024, at 6 PM at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church. All are welcome. Members typically contribute one dinner item (casserole, meat, vegetables, salad, pasta, fruit, rolls, etc.) 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.

Our second nature film, Season of the Osprey, will be shown Thursday, January 18, 2024 at 7 PM at Chambersburg Area Middle School South. Admission is free, but donations are welcomed.

The Art Sale to benefit Conococheague Audubon is expected to continue through January at Wallspace Gallery and Framing, 1769 Lincoln Way East, Chambersburg, PA 17202. Members James and Deborah Wheeling are selling 140 fine art bird prints collected over 50 years and will generously donate all proceeds to CAS. Many prints are numbered and signed. 34 artists are represented, including Robert Bateman, Guy Coheleach, Ray Harm, and Roger Tory Peterson. Most prints are unframed, but approximately 16 framed prints are still hanging at Wallspace. Regular gallery hours are Tues-Fri 10-4:30, Sat 10-2; other times by appointment, 717-264-7210. Browse the catalog online at Wallspace.com or in person at the gallery.

Our Treasurer, Donna Hocker, asks that committee chairs, directors, and officers submit budget requests for the June 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025 season by February 1, 2024. If anyone else has ideas about potential expenses or income for the upcoming season, please contact a committee chair, director, or officer as soon as possible.

It’s always a good time to make a donation to Conococheague Audubon Society and mail it to PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222. Anyone interested in joining our leadership team? Please contact conaudubon@outlook.com and tell us what you would like to do.

May 2024 be full of good health, good cheer, and good birds!

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