Zoom – Page 2 – Conococheague Audubon

May 2022 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on May 23, 2022May 23, 2022Posted in Birds, Conservation, How to Get Involved, Monthly Message, ZoomTagged birds, Zoom

Hello Fellow Nature Lovers,

Migration is upon us! There have been sightings of a few warblers already. Bob Keener had a Black and White Warbler, John Greer had a Yellow Warbler. We saw Wilson’s Snipe and Purple Martins off Wenger Road. We had our first Hummingbird on April 25. At Larry Lehman’s we saw a Yellow and Palm Warblers, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole, Gray Catbird, and Green Heron on April 26. Larry also has nesting House Wrens. On April 29 we had a Black-throated Green Warbler on Stillhouse Hollow Road and an Indigo Bunting at our feeder! It’s so wonderful all these signs of new life!

Announcement from our PA urban centers:

“The first season of the annual Lights Out Harrisburg program began April 1 at the start of peak spring migration and runs through May 31 when most winged migrants will have passed through Harrisburg. In the fall, Lights Out Harrisburg and peak migration will occur between Aug. 15 and Nov. 15 as birds travel south. Although the request is for lights out during these peak migration periods, light pollution is something to consider all year for Pennsylvania’s resident birds.

Harrisburg joins Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and more than 30 other cities nationwide, with Lights Out programs. The National Audubon Society, along with partners, established the first Lights Out program in 1999 in Chicago.”

By Christina Novak ra-dcnrpress@pa.gov <ra-dcnrpress@pa.gov

Interested in serving as a wildlife mentor?

The Wildlife Leadership Academy is seeking interested adults to be volunteer mentors wildlife/fisheries focused summer field schools. Adult mentors learn alongside Academy students, serving as the primary mentors for the participating youth throughout the 5-day residential summer field schools. Positions are available at each of the 2022 field schools, which will focus on white-tailed deer, bass, brook trout, turkey, and bear. (Five different weeks volunteer mentors are needed. June 13-Aug 6, 2022.)

Interested in becoming a mentor for Wildlife Leadership Academy? Apply online today at www.wildlifeleadershipacademy.org/adult-mentor-application

Upcoming and ongoing events here at Conococheague Audubon:

Our newly revised Bluebird Trail at Penn National under the direction of Lynn and Dorian Runt, plus many volunteers, have seen plenty of action. They have recorded thus far five bluebird nests with 4-5 bluebird eggs each. If you want to help, please call 717-352-3995.

Please consider participating in one of our many activities. You will be glad you did!

May 5, Thursday FIELD TRIP

6:30 AM Path Valley 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 6, 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 9, Monday MEETING

7:00 PM Is Sustainability Impossible or Inevitable? by James P. Hamilton. Arranged by Ron George.

May 14, Saturday FIELD TRIP

7:00 AM Little Cove for SPRING MIGRANTS. Meet at the entrance of Buchanan’s Birthplace State Park. Bring lunch and binoculars. Valerie Barnes, 717-352-4397or Donna Hocker, 717-491-2171.

May 14, Saturday WORK DAY

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

May 16-18, Mon.-Wed. FIELD TRIP

Trip to Magee Marsh, Ohio, for WARBLER MIGRANTS. Bring scopes, binoculars, and lunch. Make own hotel arrangements. Sign up by Feb. 27. Bob and Terri Kochert, 717-263-3692.

May 21, Saturday FIELD TRIP

5:30 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 4, Saturday, 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 jwtice1@comcast.net, 717-372-0379. (This is such a great bonding and learning opportunity for parents and children and/or grandparents and grandkids. It will be great fun for all! Why not check it out?)

As I step in to my new role as Immediate Past President (IPP) of CAS, I want to say a huge “Thank You” to the MANY people who helped me along the way. The list goes beyond the following list, but I especially want to thank Debby Hook (my IPP)for her tremendous guidance and assistance. I thank Val Barnes for her computer skills getting the Zoom meetings up and running during these past two years of Covid and her gracious patience through it all. I also want to thank Donna Hocker, Treasurer, and Rhetta Martin, Recording Secretary, for their patience and wise advice along the way. I was surrounded by a kind and helpful team of board of directors. Thank you all for all your help!

As I step down as president, CAS will continue running smoothly with Val Barnes as your next CAS President. I wish Val, Lisa and the rest of the team another two fabulous years of continued success!

Continue looking up and keep birding!

Terri Kochert

March 2022 From the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on March 2, 2022March 4, 2022Posted in Birds, Conservation, How to Get Involved, Monthly Message, Outreach, Zoom

Hello Fellow Nature Lovers,

There are many Conococheague Audubon events coming up in the near future. So, let’s get right to it.

March 5, Saturday FIELD TRIP. 6:30 AM Middle Creek WMA, Lancaster County auto tour for WATERFOWL. Meet at the Park & Ride, Scotland, Exit 20, I-81 northbound. Bring scopes, binoculars, and lunch. Contact Eric and Rhetta Martin, 717–597-8675.

March 8, Tuesday FIELD TRIP NEW DATE. This is a deviation from the Activities List. It’s supposed to rain Monday, March 7, in the afternoon, evening. On Tuesday, March 8, it’s to rain in the AM, but be cloudy in the afternoon. 5:45 PM Tentative outing for WOODCOCKS at Heisey Road orchard. Meet at the Park & Ride, Scotland, Exit 20, I-81 northbound. Bring flashlights. Contact Bob Kochert, 717-263-3692.

March 14, Monday MEETING/HYBRID. 7:00 PM Forest-Bird Restoration by Ron Rohrbaugh, Director, Conservation Science and Forest Programs, Audubon Mid-Atlantic . Arranged by Terri Kochert. The speaker will give the presentation from a remote location via Zoom. Come to St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church or view from home.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7211203928?pwd=RXNwMjZpQVNvSHJGRld3cWZFQjJiZz09

Meeting ID: 721 120 3928 Passcode: cardinal20

I am excited to report that we are resuming the showing of our FREE nature films, beginning 7:30 PM, Thursday, March 24, 2022 at Living Faith Chapel, 8770 Possum Hollow Road, Shippensburg, PA. Film is: Last Stand of the Great Bear. (National Geographic) Great Bear rainforest of British Columbia. Brown, black, “spirit” bears, wolves, and salmon fishing. Doors will open at 7:00 PM. There will be free door prizes too.

Election News: The April election of CAS officers and directors will take place between March 14 and our April 11, 2022 meeting. I will be sending you the ballot via an extra email this month for the express purpose of voting for the listed nominees. Though voting will take place at the Annual Business meeting, April 11, 2022, CAS will also accept voting by proxy, by email, or other electronic means if you are not able to physically attend our meeting. Thus, you may vote early via email or by phone. We’ll appreciate receiving your vote as early as possible. There is a quota of votes needed to validate the election. Please vote immediately when you receive the ballot

Magee Marsh May Field Trip Date Change: Although May seems to be distant from today’s date, I need to bring another schedule change to your attention. In our CAS Activities List we have advertised a trip to Magee Marsh May 2-4. This will need to be changed. Though the Biggest Week in Birding WILL take place this year (after two years of cancellations due to Covid), it is scheduled for May 6-15, 2022. CAS has its final 2021-2022 season meeting on May 9, 2022. So, the CAS Magee Marsh trip will be scheduled for Monday, May 16-Wednesday May 18, 2022. More information about this trip will follow next month.

Calling All Photographers: If you enjoy taking photographs, please send your best bird photos to National Audubon for be selected for their best bird photos.

CAS needs your help: I am putting out a plea for anyone interested in helping for an Earth Day Outreach on Saturday, April 23, 2022 from 10 AM to 2 PM in downtown Chambersburg. Contact me as soon as you can to offer your assistance.

Everglades Info: With Dave Graff’s excellent Florida exposé of the beauty and fragility of the Everglades, I thought I would include a few articles from Audubon Florida about some of the Florida projects to revive the Everglades and the species found there.

“Wandering Spoonbills Tell Us What We Need to Protect the Everglades,” by Chad Witko. Jerry Lorenz of Audubon Florida tracked this species to shed light on how the iconic “River of Grass” is changing, for better or worse.

“12,000-acre Everglades Restoration Project Complete,” by Kelly Cox. The C-44 canal was first dredged in 1923 to divert flood water from Lake Okeechobee to the St. Lucie estuary. It has taken decades and millions of dollars of funds to restore the C-44 area.

Good birding to you all as the weather breaks and Spring arrives!

Terri Kochert

February 2022 From the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on January 31, 2022January 31, 2022Posted in How to Get Involved, Monthly Message, ZoomTagged Zoom

Dear Fellow Nature Lovers,

Though this is still late January, 2022, please receive this as my February letter. I hope you are all staying warm during these frigid temperatures.

I have many events to bring to your attention today. Here they are in order of importance.

I am still in need of a Vice President. I may also add that May 1, 2022 is just around the corner. That’s the date CAS is to install a new president. Please submit your request to serve in this capacity to Terri Kochert at conaudubon@outlook.com.
Debby Hook has served as our chairperson for the Education: Outreach committee for many years now. Besides making presentations to the Master Gardeners, Kiwanis Club, Tuscarora Wildlife Education Project (TWEP), NETwork Ministries, and the North Square Farmers Market, Debby has made other presentations, too, in her past tenure as Education: Outreach Chair. Debby is stepping down as of May 1, 2022. She has personal obligations that no longer allow her the flexibility to serve in this capacity. Hence, CAS needs an Education: Outreach Chair. Please submit your request to serve in this capacity to Terri Kochert at conaudubon@outlook.com.
From Swans to Songbirds: Winter is for Birding webinar sponsored by Audubon on Feb. 3, 2022. You’ll receive a confirmation and Zoom details within a few days of registration. Upon arrival at the Audubon Pennsylvania website, click the blue Details button to register for this event.

Upcoming CAS events:

Feb. 14, Monday ZOOM or HYBRID MEETING 7:00 PM Snowy Owl: A Visual Natural History

Presented by award-winning author and wildlife photographer, Paul Bannick of Seattle, WA. Arranged by Jessica Ferguson. [Terri will send out the Zoom invitation on Feb. 13, 2022. Or you may visit the calendar event on our this website for the Zoom invitation.] Mr. Bannick will not be present at St. Luke. Mr. Bannick will be Zooming his presentation from Seattle, WA. Those who wish to view the Zoom presentation at St. Luke are welcome to come to St. Luke.

Feb. 18-20, Fri.-Sun. FIELD TRIP Blackwater NWR, Maryland, auto tour for WATERFOWL.

Leave from Martins’ home at 6:00 PM Friday. Bring scopes, binoculars, and lunch. Make your own motel arrangements. Eric and Rhetta Martin, 717-597-8675.

Great Backyard Bird Count: The 25th annual GBBC will be held Friday, Feb. 18-Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. As most of you know, the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is a free, fun, and easy event that engages bird watchers of all ages and experience in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of bird populations. Participants are asked to count birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the four-day event and report their sightings online at birdcount.org.

Scientists at Audubon, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and Birds Canada/Oiseaux Canada use the data gleaned from these annual counts to better understand population trends and highlight important locations for future conservation efforts. Every checklist you submit is appreciated greatly.

I hope to see many of you on our Zoom meeting from St. Luke on Feb. 14, 2022 to see the Snowy Owl presentation. Don’t miss it!

Terri Kochert

January 2022 From the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on January 19, 2022January 19, 2022Posted in How to Get Involved, Monthly Message, ZoomTagged films, Zoom

Dear Fellow Nature Lovers,

I hope you had a lovely Christmas time spent with family and friends. Now it’s time to ring in the New Year. Realizing that 2021 is behind us, it’s important to look back at our accomplishments, in spite of COVID restrictions. Later in my letter I will present links to the successes of National Audubon and some Zoom events through Mid-Atlantic Audubon.

Here are some of our own Conococheague Audubon highlights for 2021.

Captivating, informative, and stellar meetings (if I do say so myself):
- Feb. Birds of the Far North: An Icelandic Adventure
- Mar. Homeland Security: Native Trees Are a Bird’s Refuge
- Apr. Field Guide & App Comparison
- May Invasive Plants: Not For the Birds
- Sept. Cape May Fall Migrants
- Oct. Wood Thrush Nest Success and Productivity in Central Pennsylvania Contiguous Forests
- Nov. Research and Techniques in Ornithological Illustration
- Dec. The Beauty and Fragility of the Everglades

Outreaches:
- CAS Volunteers engaged 337 individuals at the local Farmers Market with brochures and enticing poster.
- Outreach to twelve Hispanic and African American youngsters and their five teachers at NETwork Ministries in Chambersburg
- Outreach to twelve 5^th-6^th grade girls at Tuscarora Wildlife Education Project, Mercersburg, PA

Thus, we reached out to 366 individuals this year!

Though we are forced to cancel our two January events because of the recent Omicron Covid outbreak, we are still making plans to move forward in February. Here are the two canceled January events: the Jan. 10, 2022 Covered dish dinner and the Jan. 20, 2022 free nature film.

~~Jan. 10, Monday~~ MEETING CANCELED 6:00 PM Covered dish dinner and members’ photo show. All are welcome.
~~Jan. 20, Thu~~~~rsday~~ FILM CANCELED

Though it’s only January, please make your plans now to be on hand to view our February Zoom meeting with Paul Bannick, nationally renowned and award-winning wildlife photographer from Seattle, WA area. He will share with us his incredible photos of Snowy Owls in his Feb. 14, 2022, 7 PM presentation of Snowy Owl: A Visual Natural History. Again, we thank Mr. Jim Bousum of Bousum’s Trucking, LLC in Chambersburg and Petersburg, PA for sponsoring Mr. Paul Bannick’s Snowy Owl presentation. I know that all will be thrilled to see one of our favorite birds captured on film. You may view this presentation in person at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church or from the comfort of your own home. I will send out the Zoom link for this presentation Sunday evening, Feb. 13, 2022.

Also, I am still looking forward to showing the remaining two free National Geographic films: Last Stand of the Great Bear on March 24, 2022 and In Search of the Jaguar on April 14, 2022 at our new film location: Living Faith Chapel, 8770 Possum Hollow Rd., Shippensburg, PA 17257 at 7:30 PM with door prizes and a free pair of binoculars for one young person.

It is with regret that I inform you of the passing of one of CAS Charter Members, Carl Garner, on December 27, 2021. He was an excellent birder and a meticulous record keeper of the birds he saw throughout the past 60 years of the existence of CAS. It’s possible his list goes back even before the 1961 establishment of Conococheague Naturalists, a.k.a. Conococheague Audubon Society. Dr. Dave Ebbitt has undertaken the extraordinary task of submitting electronically Carl’s lists to ebird.org. Kudos to Dave for working on a dauntless task. Family and friends will greatly miss Carl Garner. May he rest in peace.

NAS Highlights of 2021 short video on Eight Wins for Birds in 2021

Audubon Mid-Atlantic (Audubon MD-DC and Audubon PA have been combined into one now.)

Though there are many things I could bring to your attention, please view the following two announcements:

An hour and a half Zoom webinar on Jan. 6, 2022 Bringing Climate Action Home from 6:30 PM-8PM.

From Swans to Songbirds: Winter is for Birding on Feb 3

Upon arrival at the Audubon Pennsylvania website, click the blue EVENTS button to register for this event. You’ll receive a confirmation and Zoom details within a few days of registration.

Another interesting 16-minute video called American Kestrel Box Program with Tom Sayers

Remember. We are still looking for any interested able volunteers who would be willing to install eight American Kestrel boxes before March 31, 2022.

Also, I found a short 3-minute video on Five Facts about American Kestrels by National Audubon featuring Rita McMahon of the Wild Bird Fund

National Audubon also chose the top ten bird videos, which you will find as you scroll down the page to view each of the ten short videos. Enjoy!

Also, anyone interested in being my Vice-president? Please contact me ASAP at 717-263-3692 or conaudubon@outlook.com .

May you all have a wonderfully healthy and successful New Year!

Terri Kochert

December 2021 From the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on December 5, 2021December 17, 2021Posted in Birds, How to Get Involved, Monthly Message, Zoom

Christmas Greetings to all you Fellow Nature Lovers,

December is here; the end of the year is fast approaching! I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and are now gearing up for the joyous Christmas season.

The Franklin County Visitors Bureau is currently conducting their Festival of Trees with many decorated trees, wreaths, and swags by local businesses and organizations such as our very own Conococheague Audubon Society. Thanks to Val Barnes, Marguerite Fries, and Debby Hook, we have a “bird seed packet” wreath and swag available for bids at the Visitors Bureau. You place your vote for the “best” item by paying $1, which corresponds to four votes. Silent auction bids can be placed in person, via phone at 866-646-8060 or by emailing fcvbfestivaloftrees@gmail.com. Silent auction amounts will be displayed in the Visitors Center and online. Current bid amounts were updated daily at explorefranklincountypa.com. Final votes for favorites and final bids for the silent auction closed at 7 PM on December 3 with winners being announced the same night. All proceeds will benefit the Cumberland Valley Breast Care Alliance.

I need to bring to your attention that we are still in urgent need of a Vice President to serve the remainder of the term, from now until April 30, 2022. Then, the Vice President becomes President on May 1, 2022 and will serve until April 30, 2024. I am willing to train the new recruit. Also, CAS needs someone to serve as the Records Compiler, keeping track of all birds seen during our CAS field trips. Field trip leaders submit the final species list to Donna, and she then inserts the bird species onto an Excel worksheet. Donna Hocker has served in this capacity since 2009. She is willing to train her replacement. Please call Terri Kochert at 717-263-3692 or email me at conaudubon@outlook.com to let me know that you are interested in either available position. Thank you, Donna Hocker, for your many years of service in this role!

I am glad to announce that our two Youth Contests for the Longest Bird Species List and the Best Bird Photo will begin again December 1, 2021 and run through October 10, 2022 when the lists and bird photos will be submitted at our regular general meeting at St. Luke. Remember: there is a monetary prize ($50, $35, and $25) available to the first three winners in each of the two contests. So, get your list started now! Get those winter birds on your list, and then go for the spring migrants. Winter birds make great photos too!

These are the upcoming CAS events.

Dec. 13, Monday MEETING HYBRID: SPEAKER WILL BE PRESENT AT ST. LUKE, BUT CAN ALSO BE VIEWED VIA ZOOM

7:00 PM The Beauty and Fragility of the Everglades by Dave Graff, Floridian naturalist. Arranged by Terri Kochert.

Winter FIELD TRIP: Sign up by Dec. 14, for possible visit to Gettysburg Battlefield for SHORT-EARED OWLS (name, contact information). Bob Kochert, 717-263-3692, will advise as to sightings. Meet at Norlo Park Community Center.

Dec. 14, Tuesday NEW CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT (Buchanan Trail)

All day, Franklin/Fulton Counties. For information, Vern Gauthier, 717-385-9526 or verngauthier14@gmail.com

Dec. 18, Saturday CHAMBERSBURG AREA CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT

All day, Chambersburg area. For information, call Valerie Barnes, 717-352-4397. There will be NO tally dinner this year.

Dec. 29, Wednesday YORK SPRINGS CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT

All day, York Springs area. For information, Tim Johnson, 717-409-4805, tj359@sbcglobal.net

Jan. 1, 2022, Sat. NEWVILLE CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT

All day, Newville area. For information, Vern Gauthier, 717-385 -9526 or verngauthier14@gmail.com

Sadly, with the uptick in COVID-19 cases, CAS has decided to cancel our first nature film, originally scheduled for January 20, 2022. We hope we will be able to resume showing the films later in 2022. We have also decided to cancel the annual covered dish dinner scheduled for January 10, 2022.

Though most migrants have passed through our area, we have some new winter visitors. Here are some of the good birds seen during the month of November: Common Golden-eyes, Red-breasted Merganser, Merlin, Eastern Phoebe (a slow-moving migrant), American Black Duck, Common Merganser, Gadwall, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Golden-crowned Kinglet and Red Crossbills (seen the week before Thanksgiving, a one-day sighting). That’s a nice list of ducks!

For you neophyte/beginning birders, I found an eleven-minute video that may interest you. It’s called Identify Your Common Backyard Birds (Central and Eastern USA).

I also found an interesting article you may enjoy. It’s from National Audubon from five days ago. It’s called, “Ask Kenn: What’s Up With Bird Color Morphs and Phases.”

I hope to see many of you via Zoom or in person on December 13. Perhaps it will feel more like the Florida weather as portrayed in Dave Graff’s presentation instead of the chilly temperatures we currently are experiencing. For those preferring to Zoom, here’s the link information:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7211203928?pwd=RXNwMjZpQVNvSHJGRld3cWZFQjJiZz09

Time: December 13, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Meeting ID: 721 120 3928

Passcode: cardinal20

Continue to feed the birds, count them, report your findings to Marguerite Fries on Dec. 18 if you live inside the Chambersburg CBC circle, and enjoy watching them as they flit about.

Merry Christmas!

Terri Kochert