The originally-planned presenter (Steve Huy) for our December 11 meeting is unavailable, but a colleague has volunteered to make the presentation. Instead of Steve, we will hear from SCOTT WEIDENSAUL about Project SNOWstorm. Scott Weidensaul is the author of more than two dozen books on natural history, including the Pulitzer Prize finalist “Living on the Wind” and his latest, the New York Times bestseller “A World on the Wing.” Weidensaul is a contributing editor for Audubon and writes for a variety of other publications, including BWD and Living Bird. He is a Fellow of the American Ornithological Society and an active field researcher, studying saw-whet owl migration for more than 25 years, as well as winter hummingbirds in the East, bird migration in Alaska, and the winter movements of snowy owls through Project SNOWstorm, which he co-founded. Scott will be presenting via Zoom. This is a rare treat!
Information about recent bird sighting, behavior, news
December 2023 From the President
Colder nights have settled in and our winter visitors are here. Juncos flit around under the shrubs and feeders. Brown Creepers hug the tree trunks. Can our first snowfall be far off?
If you haven’t already, do stop by the Festival of Trees at the Franklin County Visitors Center on the square in Chambersburg. Our white birch tree is really lovely, as are many other trees and wreaths. The Festival ends Saturday, December 2, so time is running out!
The opening reception for the sale of Jim and Deb Wheeling’s collection of bird prints went well last Saturday. The collection will be available at Wallspace Gallery and Framing through January. You can view the collection online at Wallspace.com. The catalog is accessible from the homepage or under Exhibits | Current Exhibit. The shop is at 1769 Lincoln Way East, Chambersburg, PA 17202. Regular hours: Tues-Fri 10-4:30, Sat 10-2. Other times by appointment, 717-264-7210. The prices are really reasonable; at least 22 of the 140+ prints have already been sold. When I was there earlier this week, there were still some framed prints on the walls upstairs at the gallery. Remember that the proceeds are all being donated to Conococheague Audubon Society.
Our regular meeting program at 7 PM on December 11 is Project Snowstorm, by Steve Huy. Project SNOWstorm uses innovative science to understand snowy owls. The program will be available in person at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church or via Zoom.
Visit the calendar on this site to see other upcoming activities.Thanks for your support for Conococheague Audubon and the birds! If you haven’t mailed in a donation yet, it’s never too late. Please make out your check to Conococheague Audubon and mail to CAS, PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222.
Take care, stay warm, and good birding!
News from the Region – October 11, 2023
Mid-Atlantic Round-Up
Audubon Mid-Atlantic
(Audubon Mid-Atlantic is the merger of Audubon Pennsylvania and Audubon Maryland-DC.)
Insect conservation: If you missed the September AMA Webinar about insect conservation with guest Nate Reagle, you can watch the recording here: https://youtu.be/HazXyKF_dD4?si=aAGfsgBlLqjbEZEf
Lights Out Harrisburg: Appalachian Audubon Society and National Audubon Society are among the leaders of a collaborative effort to protect night-flying birds spring and fall migration seasons. Businesses, municipalities and residents across the country are invited to participate from August 15 – November 15 and April 1 – May 31 by turning off (and/or dimming) exterior and interior lights during the overnight hours of 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.
Some examples of reduced lighting are: Turning off exterior decorative lighting, pot and flood-lights; substituting strobe lighting wherever possible; Reducing atrium lighting wherever possible; turning off interior lighting especially on higher stories; pulling window coverings while working late; Down-shielding exterior lighting to eliminate horizontal glare and light directed upward; installing automatic motion sensors and controls wherever possible; and avoiding over-lighting with newer, brighter technology
These actions will help reduce nighttime bird collisions and save countless migratory bird lives each year.
October 19 – “Taking Action on Single Use Plastics,” a webinar by Pennsylvania Audubon Council; Heidi Shiver of Bird Town Pennsylvania; Faran Savitz (PennEnvironment’s Zero Waste Advocate); and Richard Metz. This conservation issue was identified as high-priority by the network, and will include a review of the Pennsylvania Audubon Council’s Education and Outreach Statement for “Elimination of Single use Plastics” with Sue Murawski, the lead author for the statement.
Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/taking-action-on-single-use-plastics-tickets-705547299967?aff=oddtdtcreator
Follow bird migrations next fall: This time next year, visitors to both the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove, Audubon, PA and the Discovery Center in Philadelphia will be able to experience migration in new ways. Audubon plans to install a MOTUS tower at Mill Grove, along with interactive kiosks that will link to Audubon’s Migratory Bird Initiative’s on-line tool. A MOTUS tower picks up signals emitted by transmitters that have been placed on birds. A growing network of towers across North and South America allows us to track their hemispheric movements, allowing Audubon to determine where to focus its work on behalf of birds.
The interactive Migratory Bird Explorer kiosks planned for the Discovery Center will use data from University of Pennsylvania’s MOTUS tower to help the public understand how migratory birds are using Philadelphia’s parks and other green spaces. To learn more or to support this project, contact Wendy Christie at wendy.christie@audubon.org .
Virtual Birding
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
October 19 – “Birds of the World” Discovery Webinar Series presents “Searching for Lost Birds: How Targeted Expeditions Aid Bird Conservation.” What is a “lost bird?” What is involved in the re-discovery of a species lost to humans for a long time? And how do other species gain by investing resources in searching for lost birds?
John Mittermeier, Director of the Search for Lost Birds at American Bird Conservancy will share stories from recent expeditions and tell how these searches support worldwide conservation efforts.
Registration is required for real-time attendance at noon EST or to receive video at a later time. To register for this hour-long webinar: https://cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LURUaE9sQg-u3y0iiaMXYg#/registration
October 25 – It’s tough to catch the eye of a potential mate when you’re dressed all in black with no fancy feathers to jiggle around. But a tiny bird called the Blue-black Grassquit has found a way. Learn about this fascinating species of Mexico and Central America during the 2023 Paul C. Mundinger Distinguished Lectureship, presented by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
The free Mundinger lecture will take place at 5:30 p.m. October 25 on the Cornell University campus. This is an in-person and virtual event. To register for the virtual lecture: https://cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6ZtucHc-QaOTCmr2OfA8Fw
October 2023 From the President
It’s officially Fall, and birds are coming through. Enjoy these lovely days and cool nights. Our visiting Flamingos are gone; one flew away and the other died en route to a different rehabilitation place. It was sad to see them go, but what a glorious time it was to have them visit! This winter’s finch forecast is available. See https://finchnetwork.org/winter-finch-forecast-2023-2024?mc_cid=e9ddf5df38&mc_eid=42119ad7ac .
Roy Brubaker, Forest District Manager at the Michaux State Forest informed me about a public meeting Wednesday, October 18 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the South Mountain Fish and Game Meeting room; 11547 Loop Rd, Fayetteville, PA 17222. The session gives the public the opportunity to express ideas about plans to repurpose the South Mountain Golf Course property as the next location for the Michaux Resource Management Center (district headquarters and visitor center). Roy states: “please understand our primary objective at the District, Bureau, and Department level is to ensure the expression of community care interests surrounding the Michaux — both its history and its future – during our public input meeting on 10/18.” If you have opinions about this topic, please attend the public meeting.
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is sponsoring clean-up efforts to keep trash out of our oceans. If you organize and register an event, they will provide some supplies. Visit https://www.keeppabeautiful.org/programs/pick-up-pa/ .
Conservation Chair John Greer reminds us the best way to limit the amount of plastic that ends up in the environment is to reduce our use of plastic in the first place.
TIP: Reduce your plastic consumption by buying products in cans or glass, and then recycling them. Note that recycling glass is increasingly difficult as many centers no longer accept glass. We will continue to search for options.
Youth contest entries are due at the October 9 meeting! Come early (6:45 p.m.) to submit your best bird photos and list of bird species observed this year. Come for the program “Birding Antarctica” presented by Mike and Cheryl Saylor.
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!
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.
September 2023 from the President
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!