Conococheague Audubon Society

PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222

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October 2021 from the President

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

Hello Fellow Nature Lovers,  

Can you feel the nights getting cooler? Fall is definitely upon us.  

A few good birds are still being seen in the local area. Bill Oyler saw a Baird’s Sandpiper at a newer location, along the Woods Road Warehouse retentions ponds near Mainsville, PA. A Stilt Sandpiper was seen at the Greencastle Reservoir by Carl Garner and Dave Ebbitt on 28 September. Bill Oyler also saw the elusive Connecticut Warbler in the Heisey Orchard on Monday. October 1 Tom Dougherty had a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Philadelphia Vireo in the Hunter’s Chase subdivision, Chambersburg. 

A group of us from Conococheague Audubon journeyed to Cape May, NJ on Wednesday, September 22 – Friday, September 24, 2021. Our new directors, John and Sue Greer, led the trip. They were very prepared! They ventured to Cape May on Monday and had a day and a half to explore the birding areas. With colorful maps in hand, they greeted us at a new place for us, the Garrett Family Preserve, established by The Nature Conservancy. Though we didn’t see much there this time, it’s wonderful to add a new birding site.  

Over the course of the remaining two days, we visited the Cape May Point Hawk Watch and the trails behind the Hawk Watch at the Cap May Point State Park. We were able to see a Eurasian Widgeon, both Green- wing and Blue-wing Teal and Black Duck in the nearby ponds. We also got good looks at various fall-plumaged warblers by the cedar trees before entering the trail. We saw numerous Northern Parulas. That was such a treat! We arose early Thursday intending to catch the “Morning Flight” as described by our September 13, 2021 meeting speakers, Chris and Rebecca Payne. Alas, at Higbee Beach Management Wildlife Area we saw little bird life either on the platform or in the open meadows. We were able to see Stilt Sandpipers, both Yellowlegs, Teals, Shovelers, both Snowy and Great Egrets, Royal and Forster’s Terns, and a Peregrine Falcon by the Nature Conservancy South Cape May Meadows. Some of us visited Nummy’s Island late Thursday afternoon where we saw American Oystercatchers, a Black-bellied Plover, Boat-tailed Grackles, one Sora, and one Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow. On Friday we visited the Wetlands Institute, seeing a group of Willets, two Wilson’s Snipe, a Little Blue Heron and Tri-colored Heron. We had a group of White Ibises fly over. We also had one juvenile Black-crowned Night-heron. By the Stone Harbor Point we saw many Sanderlings, Ruddy Turnstones, Semipalmated Sandpipers and Semipalmated Plovers, and both Great and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Though we didn’t see many birds at the Avalon Sea Watch, it was great to visit with the lone recorder of passing species. Overall, it was a terrific outing! Even the weather cooperated. Though much rain and stormy weather had been forecasted, we avoided most of it.  

Again, a reminder that our October 11, 2021 general meeting will be held at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2695 Luther Drive, Chambersburg, PA (off Route 997, near Scotland exit of I-81). Our speaker will be Eric Zawatski, a Penn State graduate presenting via Zoom about the Wood Thrush Nesting Success here in Central PA Contiguous Forests at 7 PM. I will send out the Zoom invitation on Sunday, Oct. 10 for those desiring to watch it from the comfort of their own homes. ***That same evening, Oct. 11, 2021, ALL Youth Contest participants should arrive by 6:45 PM to hand in both their Longest Bird Species List and their Best Bird Photos.  

Note:  There is a change in our fall birding Field Trip schedule. There will now be a Hawk Migration Watch Field Trip on Oct. 16, 2021. Meeting place is still at Sunnyway Foods parking lot, 49 Warm Spring Road, Chambersburg at 11 AM to head out to the “Pulpit” searching the skies for a few hours for passing hawks and other raptors with Bob and Marion Carmack. Beginning bird watchers are welcome. Bring binoculars. Call 717-597-8631.  

For your viewing pleasure, please check out Audubon’s 2021 Top Ten Videos.  

I hope to see you at St. Luke on Oct. 11, 2021 (with your mask) at 7 PM for the meeting and/or 6:45 PM for the Youth Contest participants.  

Happy Fall to each of you,  

Terri Kochert  

September 2021 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Birds, Monthly Message, Zoom

Hello Fellow Nature Lovers, 

How can it possibly be that we have zipped through two-thirds of the year 2021 already?  Children have returned to school, returning to routine and learning new things.  So too, we at CAS are beginning our regular 2021-2022 season.  I am looking forward to seeing all your smiling faces once again.  Remember that we have a new meeting venue.  We will meet in person at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church fellowship hall (off 997, near the Scotland exit off I-81), 2695 Luther Drive on September 13, 2021.  Our speakers for the evening will be Chris and Rebecca Payne.  Chris is a recent Shippensburg University graduate and Rebecca used to work at the Nature Center of Cape May, Cape May, NJ.  They will be presenting “Fall Migrants”—warblers, raptors and shore birds.  We will be conducting this meeting in-person and zooming the meeting to those who choose to view it from home.  I will send out the zoom meeting address on Sept. 12 if you prefer to view the meeting at home via Zoom. 

Again, to clarify, there still is no definitive answer to the cause of the mysterious bird disease that caused ocular issues, including blindness, and other neurological issues.  Regardless, the PA Game Commission (and endorsed by Audubon) is giving their approval for reinstating your bird feeding stations.

There have been very few reports of local migrants other than several flycatchers:  Yellow-bellied, Least, and Olive-sided.  There have been some juvenile Little Blue Herons found off Mountain Road in the ponds, though they are difficult to see without a scope. There are many shorebirds, including Baird’s Sandpipers, at Woods Road Warehouse retention ponds near Mainsville, PA.

Upcoming field trips and or meetings: 

  • Sept. 4, 2021, Saturday         FIELD TRIP 
    7:15 AM for FALL MIGRANTS. Meet at 7:15 AM at the Park and Ride, Scotland Exit 20, I-81 northbound. One mile walk in wet grass at Heisey Orchard. Then by car on Michaux SF roads with additional walk(s) of up to half mile, with trip ending between 12 and 1 PM.Bring binoculars and snack. Bill Oyler, oylerbill@gmail.com or 717-360-5191. 
  • Sept. 13, Monday       ZOOM or HYBRID MEETING 
    7:00 PM Cape May Fall Migrants by Chris & Rebecca Payne. Meeting at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2695 Luther Drive, Chambersburg, PA. Preparation for the Cape May trip this month. Arranged by John and Sue Greer.
  • Sept. 18, Saturday     FIELD TRIP 
    9:00 AM Chambersburg section of Cumberland Valley Rail Trail. Meet at Big Lots, 184 Southgate Mall, parking lot next to Washington Street. Bring binoculars. Terri Kochert, 717-263-3692.
  • Sept. 22-24, Wed-Fri    FIELD TRIP 
    Trip to Cape May NJ, for FALL MIGRANTS, WARBLERS, RAPTORS and SEABIRDS. Bring scopes and binoculars. Signup Deadline is Sept. 15. Sue Greer, 443-255-9559 or sgreer412@gmail.com.
  • Sept. 25, Saturday     FIELD TRIP 
    11:00 AM for HAWK MIGRATION. Leave from Sunnyway Foods parking lot, 49 Warm Spring Road, Chambersburg, to “The Pulpit.”  Beginning hawk watchers are welcome. Bring binoculars. Leader To Be Announced.  

I found two very interesting articles for your edification.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.   

What Do Birds and Beef Have in Common?

What Is a Songbird, Exactly?

Here’s a group of funny, yet amazing “courting” dances birds do to attract their mates. I hope you enjoy these short videos! 10 Outrageous Ways Birds Dance to Impress their Mates.

Looking forward to seeing you in person on Sept. 13!  

Good birding to you all! 

Terri Kochert 

May 2021 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Birds, Monthly Message, Zoom

Dear Fellow Nature Lovers,

Because our events start immediately on Saturday, May 1, 2021, I decided to send out my monthly letter a little earlier than usual. That will give you the opportunity to contact the trip leaders in advance of the event.  

This is the exciting time of the year when we get to see many migrants passing through. Keep me apprised as to what you see this spring, please. Here are a few migrants/birds already seen. We Kocherts had a Ruby-throated Hummingbird visit our nectar feeder on April 23, 2021. There have been sightings of a Baltimore Oriole along Creekside Trail, Menno Haven, by Bill Oyler and Ruby-throats at Heisey Road Orchard by Bob Keener. Bob also has seen Black-throated Blue Warblers, Black-throated Green Warblers, Scarlet Tanagers, and Black-and-White Warblers at Heisey Road. Yellow-rumped, Palm, and Pine Warblers have also been spotted. There was a Barred Owl family camped out at Falling Spring Church parking lot.  There was a Scott’s Oriole (western bird) in Kirkwood, PA starting in January 2021. There’s been a pair of Trumpeter Swans on Burnt Mill Rd. pond, seen by Bob Koontz, Bill Oyler and Bob Kiley. Jefferson Shank had a Grasshopper Sparrow on their farm and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers at Heisey Road Orchard.

Here is a list of upcoming CAS activities:

Since this is spring gardening time, I thought I should again include the link to National Audubon’s Native Plants information. That way you can attract birds and butterflies to your own garden. All you have to do is to click on the link, put in your zip code and up pops a list of native trees, shrubs, plants and flowers.

Also, for anyone interested, there will be a Zoom session, Thursday, May 13, 2021 on planting a Bird-Friendly Design, presented by Patterson Park Audubon Center for Wildlife Gardening Workshops. “This virtual session explores how our gardens can benefit birds and butterflies, including recommended plant species and garden management for Mid-Atlantic gardens. No matter how small your space, you can grow habitat for birds (even in containers)! There is a limit to the number of participants per session, so Patterson Park asks you to register only if you plan to attend.”

Many of us are heart-broken that our favorite birding festival, Biggest Bird Week Festival, at Magee Marsh, OH is canceled due to Covid-19. CAS had a planned field trip to attend May 3-5, 2021. It is open to residential Ohioans via a lottery system only. If you would like to read about the devastating economic effects of Covid-19 in Clinton, OH area, click on the following link: https://www.audubon.org/news/canceled-birding-festivals-deal-host-towns-major-economic-blow 

In addition, Cornell Lab of Ornithology wants you to be aware of the Global Big Day and World Migratory Bird Day, May 8.  Please go birding, keep track of where you are and what you see, and report your findings in eBird.

I hope you all have an enjoyable Spring! Enjoy the fresh air, the beautiful flowers, and the phenomenal birds!

Terri Kochert

April 2021 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Monthly Message, Zoom

Dear Fellow nature lovers, 

Spring is definitely here!  We now have light till after 7:30 PM.  Crocuses and forsythias are in bloom too.  My daffodils and hyacinth are in bloom.  My tulips are pushing through the ground.  Some trees are budding, getting ready to push through the first leaves of the season. The birds are chasing after each other in earnest, searching to mate and produce a brood of chicks.  I believe each of us is ready for this season of rebirth of the earth and of the soul.  

Things are already in swing too at CAS.  We are now close to having our 2021-2022 budget set.  We’re looking forward to our remaining two season’s meetings and especially to the new meetings this next September.  We’re looking forward to an exciting new season with new topics and introducing some new field trips too.  (We’re hoping to be able to present our nature films to you too!) 

Again, all our scheduled nature films for this 2020-2021 season have been canceled due to CASD 2020-2021 Covid -19 rental restrictions.  We were to have one on April 8, but alas, perhaps next season… 

Here is our April schedule and early May events. 

  • April 12, 2021, Monday, general meeting at 7 PM.  This will again be a Zoom only meeting.  See the link below.  The topic is: Open Forum: Field Guide and App Comparison, moderated by Val Barnes.  Included during this meeting we will conduct our annual business meeting and elections. 

In order to do this in a proper and timely fashion, please see the ballot.  Please respond ASAP as to your approval of our two candidates, John and Sue Greer, to serve as our new three-year term directors.  Fill out your ballot today and return it ASAP.  We need your approval.  We thank and honor Conway Bushey and Marguerite Fries for their three years of service as directors.   

Topic: CAS April 12 Business & Field Guides & Apps Meeting

Time: Apr 12, 2021 06:55 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) 

Join Zoom Meeting 

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

Meeting ID: 721 120 3928 

Passcode: cardinal20 

  • April 17, 2021, Saturday at 9:30 AM.   Anyone who would like to work in the native garden at Norlo Park, bring your garden tools, and gloves.  Any questions: please call Josh Donaldson, 717-264-6920. 
  • May 1, Saturday at 6:30 AM. Horse Valley for SPRING MIGRANTS.  Meet at North Point Center, US 11 north of Chambersburg.  Bring scopes, binoculars, CB’s and lunch.  Valerie Barnes, 717-352-4397; or Donna Hocker, 717-401-0604. 
  • May 1, Saturday at 9:30 AM.  Workday at Norlo Park native garden. Bring garden tools and gloves.  Josh Donaldson, 717-264-6920. 
  • May 6, Thursday at 6:30 AM. Path Valley for SPRING MIGRANTS. Leave from Keeners home, 5707 Heisey Road.  Bring scopes, binoculars, CB’s and lunch.  Bob Keener, 717-532-9723 or 717-658-8765. 
  • May 7, Friday at 6 PM. Meet at Lehman property for SPRING MIGRANTS.  Meet at 750 Tallow Hill Road, Chambersburg, PA, to walk around a pond, meadows, and woods.  Larry Lehman, 717-263-7203. 

I want to include two more items of interest.  First, the Pennsylvania Society of Ornithology (PSO) is conducting a Breeding Bird Blitz contest (B4C), with competing teams, vying for contributions towards three important conservancies:  Hawk Mountain, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, and Manada Conservancy.  I am proud to announce that CAS has a competing team!  The name of the team is Blue Mountain Avian Seekers.  The team members are Bob Keener, Dan Keener and son, Sammy (14), and Jefferson Shank (15).  So, if you would like to contribute towards their team (ultimately towards the work of the three named conservancies), please contact Donate/Teams | Breedingbirdblitz and donate on behalf of Blue Mountain Avian Seekers.  I think this could be a fun thing to do!  Plus, the conservancies and birds are the winners! 

Secondly, our Conservation chair, Jim Hardy, has read an interesting article that he requested that I pass on to you.  Therefore, please find the Penn State article from Feb. 18, 2021 concerning research done on the effects of the noise of gas pipeline compressors on nesting songbirds.  I think you will enjoy it. 

On Monday, March 29, Scott Weidensaul was interviewed on WITF.  Listen to this fascinating interview. 

Also, for your viewing pleasure I found a short (6:39 minutes) video produced by Cornell Lab of Ornithology in 2012.  It’s called Birding Warblers.  This should whet your appetite for the coming spring warbler migration.  They show a lot of the colorful warblers and you’ll hear many of their songs/calls.   Birding Warblers – YouTube 

I wish you all a Happy Easter and a productive birding time this spring! 

Terri Kochert 

February 2021 From the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Birds, Monthly Message, Zoom

Hello fellow nature lovers, 

I hope you are warm and cozy, enjoying this beautiful snow.  With the second month of 2021 upon us I do have some good news to share with you. The Short-eared Owls did indeed make their long-awaited appearance along Bigham Road, just off Pumping Station Road in the Gettysburg area.  Bob and I took eight different people to see them.  Bob and I were there three times seeing the owls.  While we saw only two at dusk the first time, the second time we were rewarded with quite a show of six SEOs early, around 4:15 PM.  The third visit we saw four of them also around 4:20 PM.  That was quite a chilly visit!  Our visits were January 14, 16, and 18. 

I also want to introduce you to our own CAS Feb. 8, 2021 meeting at 7 PM via Zoom.  Our speaker for the evening is John Greer, presenting his Birds of the Far North: an Icelandic Adventure.  Again, to participate in our Zoom presentation, you need to download “Zoom” onto your computer, tablet, or cell phone. You do not have to establish a Zoom account to watch our programs. Once you have Zoom installed, save the monthly email or access this post on Feb. 8, 2021.  If you save the email you might want to set a reminder on it so that your email program reminds you.  On that date, at about 6:50, open the email, press the link, and you will be admitted by our tech guru, Val Barnes close to 7 PM.  You may choose to be connected via “video” where we will see your face, or you can connect via “audio only”.  If you choose audio, you/we will see your name, but not your face.  You will be able to see and hear the presentation without being seen.  Once you have been invited, I ask you to kindly “mute” yourself until the end when John will entertain questions.  At that time, you will need to “unmute” yourself before speaking.  Too many unmuted voices at the same time create echoes and sound distortion.  So, please, mute yourselves until you have a question to ask.  I thank you in advance. For your information, there will be NO interruption this time in the presentation as we had last month.  

Here is information for our Zoom link: Topic: CAS Feb. 8, 2021 Birds of the North by John Greer. Time: Feb 8, 2021; connect a little before 7 PM. Join Zoom Meeting:

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

Meeting ID: 721 120 3928; Passcode: cardinal20. Note: you won’t need this information if you click on the link.

Speaking of owls, I would like to share with you that Gettysburg College through Professor Ryan Kerney will be zooming a presentation by Jonathan Slaght, PHD about fish owls from Russia on Wednesday on February 10, 2021 at 5 PM.  Jon spent four years studying these birds from 2006-2010.  He has written a book about his experience called Owls of the Eastern Ice.  The complete title of his presentation on Feb. 10 is Owls of the Eastern Ice: Negotiating Blizzards and Eccentrics in Pursuit of a Conservation Degree.  Since you already have Zoom downloaded onto your computer now, press the following Zoom link at 5 PM:

  https://gettysburg.zoom.us/j/98422749544  The meeting ID is 9842274+544.  

Get ready and excited for the Great Backyard Bird Count on Feb. 12-15, 2021!  You have four days to record how many birds of each species you see within 15-minute intervals.  You can report as often as you’d like during the four days.  Then, you should report your responses using e-bird.  There’s a lot of information about this great birding event on this link:   Great Backyard Bird Count  Once you get onto that site, there is a short video about this event on the first page, plus other kinds of information. 

Thus, here are all the February events: 

  • Feb. 8, 2021 at 7 PM.  Zoom meeting with John Greer presenting his Birds of the Far North: an Icelandic Adventure 
  • Feb. 10, 2021 at 5 PM.  Jon Slaght, PhD presents his Owls of the Eastern Ice: Negotiating Blizzards and Eccentrics in Pursuit of a Conservation Degree 
  • Feb. 19, 20, 21, 2021.  CANCELLED overnight auto trip to Blackwater NWR, Maryland for waterfowl has been cancelled.  
  • March 6 field trip to Middle Creek WMA, led by Eric & Rhetta Martin.  We meet at 6:30 AM at the Park & Ride, Scotland, Exit 20, I-81 northbound.  Bring scopes, CBs, and lunch.  Contact Eric and Rhetta if you intend to go (717-597-8675).   

Birds that have been seen in the vicinity:  Ruddy Duck at Greencastle Reservoir; Common Redpoll, Short-eared Owls in Gettysburg; Snow Bunting, Horned Larks, and Lapland Longspur along Church Road near Pleasant Hall; and a Wilson’s Snipe along Rowe Run by Bill Oyler.   

If interested in helping out with the 2021 PICK UP PENNSYLVANIA campaign March 1- May 31, 2021, please see the flyer with registration information/links.     

Stay safe and healthy!

Terri

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