Birds – Page 2 – Conococheague Audubon

September 2023 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on September 3, 2023September 10, 2023Posted in Birds, How to Get Involved, Monthly MessageTagged birds, donate

Fall migration is underway, and interesting shorebirds, waterfowl, and songbirds have been seen. A Stilt Sandpiper has been hanging out on White Church Road. Earlier in the month an Eared Grebe was at the Greencastle Reservoir. Folks have reported Yellow-Bellied and Olive-sided Flycatchers. eBird alerts can inform you about rarities in the area.

The owners of the pond on Keefer Road west of Chambersburg have posted No Trespassing signs to keep unwanted visitors off the property. But they still welcome birders. Be sure to respect all landowners.

The Big Sit® is scheduled for October 7-8, 2023. Select your 17-foot diameter circle and sign up to participate. Report your results via eBird. It’s a great excuse to sit outside on a beautiful fall day and watch birds!

Audubon Mid-Atlantic is holding Philly Birding Weekend October 13-15. Planned excursions include walks in local watersheds and parks, a paddle on the Strawberry Mansion Reservoir, Saturday night celebratory Tally Rally. Register now if you are interested. Last year, participants observed 93 species.

Conservation Corner Tip to Fight Plastic Pollution: At check-out, refuse the store-supplied plastic bag. Reuse your own shopping bag you bring with you. This will reduce the number of plastic bags that end up in the landfill.

Upcoming CAS Activities. Check this website for calendar updates and maps to all locations.

Year-round, BIRD WALKS. SOAR (Studying Ornithology Around the Region) walks, 8:00 AM first and third Saturdays; various locations in Franklin County. Larry and Sharon Williams, 717-655-7414; or The Institute, 717-762-0373, https://natureandcultureinstitute.org/events/.

Sept. 9, Saturday, FIELD TRIP. 7:30 AM, for FALL MIGRANTS. Walk along part of Cumberland Valley Rail Trail in Chambersburg. Meet at Big Lots, 184 Southgate Mall, parking lot next to Washington Street. Bring binoculars. Debby Hook, 717-372-0228, debbyk@pa.net.

Sept. 11, Monday, MEETING. 7:00 PM Birding Belize, by Chris & Rebecca Payne. Arranged by John Greer.

Oct. 9, Monday, MEETING. 6:45 PM Youth Contest Bird Photos & Lists due. Program starts at 7:00 PM: Birding Antarctica, by Mike & Cheryl Saylor. Arranged by Dave Ebbitt.

Oct. 28, Saturday, FIELD TRIP. 8:00 AM Secrets of the Forest, Avian and Human. Join us at Pine Grove Furnace State Park as we look for fall migrants and learn about the secret history of the area. Meet in the parking lot of the Park office at the intersection of Rt. 233 and Pine Grove Rd. We will bird the area and then drive a short distance to Camp Michaux, site of a Civilian Conservation Corps camp, a World War II Prisoner of War camp, and a church camp. We will also check out the nearby bird blinds newly installed by the Bureau of Forestry. Wear sturdy shoes. Contact in advance John Greer at 443-255-8871 or jngreer@aol.com. Update: The leader of the Camp Michaux Recognition and Development project for the Cumberland County Historical Society has volunteered to lead us on a historical tour, which will follow our birding outing at Pine Grove Furnace State Park. Please join us for this unique opportunity to learn about the natural and human history of the area.

You might want to check this National Audubon article about how to tell a raven from a crow: https://www.audubon.org/news/how-tell-raven-crow

Thanks for your support for Conococheague Audubon and the birds! If you haven’t mailed in a donation yet, it’s not too late. Please make out your check to Conococheague Audubon and mail to CAS, PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222.

Good birding!

August 2023 From the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on August 5, 2023August 5, 2023Posted in Birds, How to Get Involved, Monthly Message, Outreach

We’ve been so lucky that summer in our area has been remarkably mild compared with much of the rest of the country and world. Fingers crossed that our good fortune continues!

Film Chair Terri Kochert has selected three PBS titles for showing at CAMS South in November, January, and March. Our August annual fundraising appeal will provide the details. We’re nearly ready to print the Activities List for the 2023-2024 season; it will be included with the fundraising letter. We’ll also be updating this website to reflect the schedule of events.

Terri and other volunteers set up a display table at the Chambersburg Farmers’ Market on the last Saturdays of June and July, with plans for doing the same in August and September. Contact Terri to volunteer and help attract new members.

The garden tour event was so successful that Josh Donaldson and the Garden Gang are already planning for next summer. Stop by to admire the garden anytime.

Migration is starting. You can subscribe to alerts in eBird to learn about unusual sightings. Bill Oyler will lead our first Fall Migration field trip on September 2.

May you have a wonderful end of summer. Thanks for your support for Conococheague Audubon and the birds!

July 2023 From the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on July 1, 2023July 1, 2023Posted in Birds, How to Get Involved, Monthly Message, OutreachTagged birds, flowers

Conococheague Audubon is the proud owner of a new laptop computer. This one doesn’t have a row or two of dead pixels, which is nice. It’s also much faster than the old one. You’ll get to see it in action at our first meeting of the 2023-2024 season on Monday, September 11. Chris and Rebecca Payne will tell us all about their birding trip to Belize. We’re finalizing the activities for the season; you’ll get an Activities List in the mail in August.

The garden team is planning an educational and conversational tour of our chapter’s Native Plants Garden at Norlo Park (3050 Lincoln Way E, Fayetteville, PA 17222) on Monday July 17th at 9 AM. We’ll begin with a short Master Gardener class on native plants by MG and garden volunteer Anne St. John, followed by a tour of the garden focused on the plants as well as the butterflies, bees, and birds which depend so much on native plants. It will conclude well before noon. Our walk will be on lawn grass which may not be dry. Rain date is Wednesday July 19th, 9 AM. This will be the first of what we plan to be an annual event, open to the public. We hope to see you there! Please wear your CAS t-shirt and hat, if you have them. Please contact tour host Josh Donaldson with any questions at 717-264-6920.

Terri Kochert is arranging volunteers to represent CAS at our display table at the Chambersburg Farmers’ Market on 4th Saturdays, 9 AM – noon, July – September. Contact Terri Kochert, bobterri81@comcast.net or 717-263-3692. Stop by and see all the material Terri and others have gathered for the public.

National Audubon has collected some good photos of some awfully cute baby birds. Check them out!

Thank you for your continued support and interest, and good birding!

May 2023 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on May 2, 2023May 2, 2023Posted in Birds, Conservation, How to Get Involved, Monthly Message, Outreach

Spring has certainly sprung! Early blooms abound, birds are coming through, and some are staking out territory claims. It’s a great time to get out and appreciate all that nature offers.

Thursday, May 4 is “Bird Day” and we are celebrating! Sponsored by the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center, come to 15 South Main Street Chambersburg, PA 17201 for a noontime Lunch & Learn. The Bird Day Lunch & Learn begins at noon and is offered at no charge. Lunch menu: Variety of wraps, soup, fruit, and cookie with lemonade, iced tea, and water. Please Reserve a Spot at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lunch-learn-may-4-is-bird-day-tickets-624012296577 Activities will continue Friday, May 5 from 5 PM-8PM (no registration required).

If you participate in any of our activities, please sign and submit a waiver form, available on this site under Activities. Please mail the completed form to Conococheague Audubon Society, PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222 or bring it to a meeting or field trip.

We held annual elections at our April meeting. Incoming Board of Director members are Jim Hook, Linda Kaiser, and Cindy Thrasher (intern). They assume their new roles at the May meeting. Debby Hook will be our new Recording Secretary and John Greer will take on Conservation Chair responsibilities. Other officers, directors, and committee chairs remain the same. We thank outgoing leaders Ron George, Jim Hardy, Eric Martin, and Rhetta Martin and look forward to their continuing support in different areas.

We also passed a few changes to our By-Laws related to when local-only members renew their memberships, all officers may be re-elected for multiple two-year terms, and language clarifying that officers and directors are immune from personal liability for actions taken on behalf of CAS.

Conococheague Audubon is a presence in the community at many events, with most volunteers at special events organized by Education – Outreach Chair, Terri Kochert. Your help would be most appreciated. Here are upcoming opportunities:

Monitor Bluebird Trail boxes. Contact Dorian/Lynn Runt, adamsmail@centurylink.net or 717-352-4995.
Clean up and help maintain the native plants garden at Norlo Park. Contact Josh Donaldson, jd425@embarqmail.com or 717-264-6920.
Bird Day events being planned by the Franklin County Visitors Bureau for 4 and 5 May. See above for details about 4 May event. The May 5 activities will happen as part of Chambersburg’s monthly First Friday, 5 PM – 8 PM. Contact Terri Kochert, bobterri81@comcast.net or 717-263-3692.
Monitor birds on Michaux State Forest, Contact John or Sue Greer, jngreer@aol.com or 443-255-8871
Beginning Birders’ Workshop is scheduled for Saturday, June 3 at Caledonia. Volunteers needed! Final planning session will occur at 6:15 PM prior to our May 8 regular meeting at St Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church. Contact Dave Cooney Jr. at (717) 264-2116 or slant1cm@yahoo.com, or Janet Tice at (717) 372-0379 or jwtice1@comcast.net.
Appalachian Trail Festival on Saturday, June 10 from 10 AM- 4 PM at Red Run Park in Waynesboro (12143 Buchanan Trail East). Contact Debby Hook at 717-372-0228 or debbyk@pa.net.
Coming on some Saturdays (probably 4^th Saturday, June – September) this summer: display table at Chambersburg Farmers’ Market. Details TBD. Contact Terri Kochert, bobterri81@comcast.net or 717-263-3692.

May is full of CAS activities. Please call the field trip leader in advance and be at the meeting place a few minutes early. It’s a good idea to double-check the details about a trip on our website’s calendar.

May 4, Thursday, FIELD TRIP. 6:30 AM Fort McCord area for SPRING ARRIVALS/MIGRANTS. Meet at North Pointe Center, US 11 north of Chambersburg. Some walking. Bring lunch and binoculars. Bill Oyler,717-360-5191.

May 5, Friday, FIELD TRIP. 6:00 PM Lehman property for Spring Migrants. Meet at 750 Tallow Hill Road, Chambersburg, to walk around a pond, meadows and woods. Larry Lehman, 717-263-7203.

May 6, Saturday, FIELD TRIP. 7:00 AM Horse Valley for SPRING MIGRANTS. Meet at North Pointe Center, US 11 north of Chambersburg. Bring lunch and binoculars. Valerie Barnes, 717-352-4397or Donna Hocker, 717-491-2171.

May 8, Monday, MEETING. 7:00 PM Bird Banding by Paul Engman. Program focus: Cape May Raptor Banding Project generally and the changes seen in the fall migration over 5 decades of banding. Available to view in-person at St. Luke Evangelical Church. Mr. Engman will present using film slides, so no Zoom.

May 13, Saturday, FIELD TRIP, NEW DATE. 6:30 AM Stillhouse Hollow, Heisey Road Orchard, and some local farms for SPRING MIGRANTS. Leave from Keener’s home, 5207 Heisey Road. Bring scopes, binoculars, and lunch. Bob Keener, 717-532-9723 or 717-658-8765.

May 13, Saturday, WORK DAY. 9:30 AM Work at NORLO PARK native garden. Bring garden tools and gloves. Josh Donaldson, 717-264-6920.

May 15-17, Mon.-Wed., FIELD TRIP. Trip to Magee Marsh, Ohio, for WARBLER MIGRANTS. Bring scopes, binoculars, and lunch. Make own hotel arrangements. Bob and Terri Kochert, 717-263-3692.

May 20, Saturday, FIELD TRIP. 5:00 PM Edenville area for WHIP-POOR-WILLS and BOBOLINKS. Leave from Sunnyway Foods parking lot, 49 Warm Spring Road, Chambersburg. Bring scopes and binoculars. Eric and Rhetta Martin, 717-597-8675.

June 3, Saturday, WORKSHOP. 7:45 AM Beginning Birders’ Workshop. Meet at Visitors’ Center in Caledonia State Park, Fayetteville; park in first parking lot beyond Visitors’ Center. Bring binoculars; a few pairs available for loan. Pre-register with Dave Cooney, 717-264-2116 or Janet Tice, 717-372-0379, jwtice1@comcast.net.

National Audubon invites us to learn more about the Canada (not Canadian) Goose. For instance, “goslings … can learn to swim within one day of being born.”

Thank you for your continued support and interest, and good birding!

February 2023 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on February 8, 2023February 8, 2023Posted in Birds, Conservation, How to Get Involved, Monthly Message, OutreachTagged donate

Winter is here, but I’m glad we haven’t had much snow to deal with (yet). Not many birds are coming to feeders at my house. Sometimes there’s a Sharp-shinned Hawk hanging around, but I can’t always attribute the paucity of birds to that.

Coming up soon: You can count birds anywhere for the Great Backyard Bird Count! The 26th annual GBBC will be held Friday, February 17, through Monday, February 20, 2023. Please visit the official website at birdcount.org for more information. Anyone can count anywhere for as little as 15 minutes, or as long as you wish. Keep separate lists for each location on each day that you bird. Report results via eBird. The Great Backyard Bird Count is an inter-organizational effort between the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society, and Birds Canada.

Volunteer opportunities:

Monitor Bluebird Trail boxes. Contact Dorian/Lynn Runt, adamsmail@centurylink.net or 717-352-4995.
Clean up and help maintain the native plants garden at Norlo Park. Contact Josh Donaldson, jd425@embarqmail.com or 717-264-6920.
We are looking for help at a new Bird Day event being planned by the Franklin County Visitors Bureau for 4 May. Contact Terri Kochert, bobterri81@comcast.net or 717-263-3692.
We need 2 new Directors to serve a 3-year term starting in May. Contact Ron George, Eric Martin, or Terri Kochert.
Plant trees at the new Furnace Run Park in Southampton Township ~April 14-16.

Thanks to all who have made a donation to keep Conococheague Audubon alive. It’s never too late to mail a check to CAS at PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222.

The Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology (PSO) would be happy to have you as a member. They publish a periodic report about birds seen in the state, sponsor the PA Bird Atlas projects, hold meetings, and conduct field trips. To learn more about PSO, visit pabirds.org. To join, visit this link: Join PSO.