How to Get Involved – Conococheague Audubon

October 2024 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on October 2, 2024October 2, 2024Posted in Birds, How to Get Involved, Monthly Message, OutreachTagged birds, contests, donate

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!

September 2024 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on September 2, 2024September 2, 2024Posted in Conservation, How to Get Involved, Monthly Message, OutreachTagged donate

Summer is winding down and kids are already back in school. Can cool fall nights be far behind? We’re keeping our eyes peeled for those confusing fall warblers. My favorite is the Chestnut-sided Warbler, with its lime green back. What’s yours?

Let’s collect our thoughts about why we joined Audubon. Send an email to ConAudubon@outlook.com and we’ll publish them in the next Naturally. Maybe we can inspire each other to dedicate more time to our feathered friends and the environment.

Conservation Chair John Greer sends this message: Please Join Us! Come out on Sept. 28, 2024, to help clean up our section of Rt 997. We have adopted a two-mile section under PennDOT’s Adopt-A-Highway program that runs from I-81 to Main Street in Scotland. Volunteers are needed to pick up trash on all or part of this section. Training and safety gear will be provided. Meet at the Park and Ride at the intersection of I-81 and Rt 997 at 9:00 a.m. For details, call John Greer at 443 255-8871 or email him at jngreer@aol.com. See you there!

If you would like to volunteer to help at one of our outreach events, please contact Terri Kochert at terri.kochert81@gmail.com or 717-264-3692.

If you haven’t already sent your donation to help CAS, it’s not too late. Please mail your check to CAS, PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222. Good birding!

August 2024 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on August 11, 2024August 11, 2024Posted in Birds, How to Get Involved, Monthly Message, OutreachTagged birds, donate

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 July 9, 2024July 9, 2024Posted in Birds, Conservation, How to Get Involved, Monthly MessageTagged birds, flowers

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.

May 2024 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on May 14, 2024May 14, 2024Posted in Conservation, How to Get Involved, Monthly Message, Outreach

Spring has sprung, the trees and many flowers have bloomed, the hummers and many other residents are back. Migration is underway; we’re happy!

Pennsylvania’s Third Bird Atlas (PBA3), a project of the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, is a community science project documenting the distribution and abundance of the birds of Pennsylvania. The project launched on January 1, 2024 and will run through early 2029. Be sure to come to our May 13 meeting to hear all about this project and how you can participate, from Vern Gauthier.

Thanks to all who voted in our elections in April. All candidates were elected and amendments to our By-Laws were approved. Many thanks to outgoing directors John Greer, Sue Greer, and Linda Kaiser. Welcome to new directors John Carter, Larry Williams, and Sharon Williams. All officers were re-elected for another term, and committee chairs agreed to serve for another season. THANK YOU so much!

Budget planning for June 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025 is complete. Thanks to all who contributed to the effort.

Conservation Chair John Greer reports that on April 24, 2024, President Biden signed into law the Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Enhancements Act. This bill reauthorizes the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act, which the American Bird Conservancy reports is a successful federal grants program funding migratory bird research and habitat restoration throughout the Western Hemisphere supporting a remarkable 717 projects in 43 countries, with 400 migratory bird species benefiting from the funding.

Volunteer opportunities: . Unless stated otherwise, please contact Terri Kochert (717-263-3692 or terri.kochert81@gmail.com ) to sign up as a volunteer.

Monitor Bluebird Trail boxes. Contact Dorian/Lynn Runt, adamsmail@centurylink.net or 717-352-4995. Volunteers needed. For more info: Lynn & Dorian Runt (717-352-4995) or Ruth Barton (301-367-6968).
Clean up and help maintain the native plants garden at Norlo Park. Contact Josh Donaldson, jd425@embarqmail.com or 717-264-6920. Needed starting in spring.
Seventh grade students at Greencastle-Antrim Middle School participate in Pa’s Trout in the Classroom program and will be releasing fingerlings at Caledonia State Park on Thursday, May 16, 2024. Students will be in 10 groups (about 25 students per group) and will rotate to different stations every 20 minutes; 9 – 1:15 pm.
Master Gardener’s Plant Sale. Saturday, May 18 from 9-1. We will have a display table regarding native plants.
Appalachian Trail Festival at Red Run Park, Waynesboro, PA, Saturday, June 8. We will have a display table.
Farmers’ Market in downtown Chambersburg. Dates are June 29; July 27; August 31; and September 28. We will have a display table.

With spring, our activities kick into full gear. Please note the date change for Bill Oyler’s trip. Please contact the trip leader in advance to let him/her know you plan to attend. Note the Beginning Birders’ Workshop is on June 1; bring your friends, family, and neighbors!