Conococheague Audubon Society

PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222

ConAudubon@outlook.com

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Conococheague Audubon

Outreach

Opportunity, often NOT on our published calendar of activities, to connect with the public.

Volunteer Opportunities

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Get Involved, Outreach

Routinely, Conococheague Audubon seeks volunteers to assist with Outreach Activities. We often set up a display table at a local event, and share information  (display board, brochures, etc.) about CAS with the public. Contact Terri Kochert about specific dates and locations, or to simply ask her to contact you when she needs help. Almost all of the Outreach Activities are on Saturday.

Occasionally, we are asked to make a presentation about birds to a local group. In the past, we’ve made presentations about migration, birding in general, and how to get started birding. Some presentations are geared towards adults, some towards children, and some for families. These often involve presenting from the CAS laptop (or your own) using PowerPoint slides. Again, Terri Kochert is the point of contact. We can help you put together a presentation if we don’t already have one that matches what the organization wants. These may occur any day of the week, at any time of day. Please let Terri know about your interest and availability.

Occasionally, someone asks us to lead a bird walk. The walk is usually fairly short and at a local site good for birds. Please let Terri Kochert know if you are interested in helping. Various skill levels welcome.

May 2025 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Monthly Message, Outreach, ZoomTagged

Many folks have enjoyed spring field trips. Warblers abound! Join us when you can; see the calendar section for what’s planned. Please call the leader in advance.

Welcome to Jeff Schmaltz and Mike Fagan, who were elected to 3-year terms as directors at the April General Meeting.

Many thanks to outgoing directors Dave Ebbitt and Anne St. John. We will miss you, but look forward to your continued leadership and participation in new ways.

Join us for our last regular meeting of the season: May 12, Monday at 7:00 PM. PA Third Bird Atlas Update, One Year into the 5 Year Project, presented by member and atlas co-coordinator for Franklin County John Carter. Note that the last planning session for the Beginning Birders’ Workshop will happen just before the regular meeting, at 6:30 PM. These meetings are at our regular meeting place: St Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church, (off Route 997, near Scotland exit off I-81) 2695 Luther Dr, Chambersburg, PA 17202. The meeting will also be available via Zoom.

Volunteer opportunities:

  • Ruth Barton is stepping down as Hospitality Chair. The main duty is setting up a table in the back of our meeting room to welcome newcomers. Feel free to talk to Ruth about what else is involved. Please be hospitable!.
  • John Greer is stepping down as Conservation Chair. The main duties are to stay on top of conservation issues and keep our membership informed. It’s also terrific, but not mandatory, if you write a short article for each Naturally newsletter. Who is willing to be our collective conscience about conservation?
  • Bluebird Trail monitors. Contact Lynn or Dorian Runt.
  • Garden care. Contact Josh Donaldson.
  • Greencastle-Antrim Middle School Fish Release, May 15. Terri Kochert, Val Barnes, Dave Ebbitt. Anyone else?
  • Master Gardeners’ Plant Sale, May 17. Ron George and Dave Ebbitt. 9am – 1 pm at Franklin County Human Services Building. 425 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg.
  • Ride along with Bob Mulvihill, looking for Loggerhead Shrikes in our area. May 13, 14, 15, and TBD in mid-late June / early July. Anyone interested in riding along? Contact Bob directly at 412-522-5729.
  • Beginning Birders’ Workshop on June 7 at Caledonia. Many volunteers. Contact Janet Tice. Last planning session will be at 6:30 before the May general meeting on Monday, May 12 at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church, .
  • Appalachian Trail Festival, Red Run Park, Waynesboro, PA on June 14, 2025 from 9:00 – 3:00. Terri Kochert, Debby and Jim Hook. Anyone else?
  • North Square Farmers Market, Chambersburg, PA on June 28, 2025 from 8:00 – 12:00. Terri Kochert. Anyone else?

Please bring family and friends to our events – we welcome new faces! Everything is open to everyone and is free.

April 2025 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Conservation, Monthly Message, Outreach, ZoomTagged , ,

According to a recent press release from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources,

“Shapiro Administration Launches Statewide Program to Replace Invasive Trees and Shrubs

Pennsylvanians can replace up to five invasive trees and shrubs with native species through the new statewide Pennsylvania Invasive Replace-ive Program— registration now open for May events”.https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/newsroom/shapiro-administration-launches-statewide-program-to-replace-inv.html

“The program aims to replace some of Pennsylvania’s most problematic invasive species, including:

The April 14 annual business meeting will feature elections and reports from the year as well as a program, Radio-tracking Passerines in Early Successional Habitat, by Grace Muench. Plan to participate! We need at least 30 votes for the election to be valid, so if you haven’t voted yet, please do. Jeff Schmaltz and Mike Fagan are running to fill our two director openings. Leaders will be reporting status for the 2024 season, so plan to join us in person or participate via Zoom.

Volunteer needs:

  • Ruth Barton is stepping down as Hospitality Chair. The main duty is setting up a table in the back of our meeting room to welcome newcomers. Feel free to talk to Ruth about what else is involved. Please be hospitable!
  • John Greer is stepping down as Conservation Chair. The main duties are to stay on top of conservation issues and keep our membership informed. It’s also terrific, but not mandatory, if you write a short article for each Naturally newsletter. Who is willing to be our collective conscience about conservation?
  • To honor Rhetta Martin’s son Jason, join us for a work session at the Michaux District Forest Office, 10099 Lincoln Way East, Fayetteville, PA 17222 at 8:30 AM on Wednesday, May 7. We’ll be helping to plant native seeds and plugs around the office. Wear gardening garb and bring a trowel or shovel. You need to submit a volunteer form: DCNR Conservation Volunteers. Action: Contact Josh Donaldson to volunteer.
  • Greencastle-Antrim Middle School Trout Release day, with nature-related activities, at Caledonia State Park on Thursday, May 15. Last year the schedule had us arriving at 8:30 to set up and leaving by 1:30; we assume this year will be similar. Action: Contact Terri Kochert to volunteer.
  • Buttonwood asked CAS to set up a display table on April 26, 2025 to celebrate Earth Day at Pine Hill Recreation Area, 12684 Mentzer Gap Rd, Waynesboro, PA. Volunteers will be needed from 11 AM – 4 PM. Action: Contact Larry and Sharon Williams to volunteer.
  • June 14, 2025 Appalachian Trail Festival, Red Run Park, Waynesboro, PA from 9:00 – 3:00. Action: Contact Terri Kochert to volunteer.
  • June 28, 2025 North Square Farmers Market, Chambersburg, PA from 8:00 – 12:00. (Just one time this summer.) Action: Contact Terri Kochert to volunteer.
  • Beginning Birders’ Workshop on June 7 at Caledonia. Planning meeting at 6 PM before the April General Meetings. Action: Contact Janet Tice to volunteer.

Please bring family and friends to our events – we welcome new faces! Everything is open to everyone and is free.

October 2024 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Birds, 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!

September 2024 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Conservation, Monthly Message, OutreachTagged

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!

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