News – Conococheague Audubon

February 2026 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on February 9, 2026February 9, 2026Posted in Birds, Conservation, Get Involved, Monthly Message, News

Winter is COLD. Birds are flocking to our feeders. This week I’ve had four special visitors: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Eastern Bluebird, and Hermit Thrush. In spite of careful looking, I haven’t seen any Pine Siskins (yet!). May you enjoy many good birds in your yards, too.

SOAR Bird Walks will take place on the first and third Saturdays (7 and 21 February).

Our next regular meeting takes place on February 9, Monday, at 7:00 PM. Our own Doug Powless will present Notes from PA Atlas Observing. Our regular meetings occur at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church (off Route 997, near Scotland exit off I-81) 2695 Luther Dr, Chambersburg, PA 17202. Please join us in person or via Zoom. We welcome everyone.

Join us on a winter field trip February 20 – 22, Friday – Sunday to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge for WATERFOWL. Leave from the leaders’ home at 9:00 AM Friday. Bring scopes, binoculars, and lunch. Make your own motel arrangements. Leaders are Eric and Rhetta Martin, 717-597-8675, home or 223-205-7910, Rhetta.

We’re already starting to plan for our next season. Please submit budget requests covering June 1, 2026 – May 31, 2027 to Donna Hocker no later than March 15, 2026.

We continue to seek volunteers for these positions: Film Chair and Vice President. Please contact me to offer your services. Thanks to Jim Hook for volunteering to be Conservation Chair and Donna Hocker for being willing to serve as Hospitality Chair, as long as we find a new Treasurer.

Thanks to all who have made a donation. If you would like to, please send your check to Conococheague Audubon Society, PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222. Good birding!

November 2024 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on November 6, 2024November 6, 2024Posted in Birds, Monthly Message, News, ZoomTagged birds, contests, donate, films, Zoom

We certainly had a gloriously sunny October! November is here and, hopefully, we’ll get some rain. Keep your eyes peeled for waterfowl, late migrants, and winter visitors. A Hermit Thrush has been popping by my yard, drinking from the birdbath and eating berries from the Burning Bush.

At our next regular meeting at 7 PM on Monday, November 11, we’ll announce the winners of this year’s youth contests. Then, member Becky Loncosky will present a program on “Breeding Bird Surveys in our National Parks: Catoctin’s Top Ten”. As usual, the meeting will be held at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church, (off Route 997, near Scotland exit off I-81) 2695 Luther Dr, Chambersburg, PA 17202. You may also participate via Zoom.

We didn’t have space in the recent Naturally for Terri’s article about the first free nature film of the season, so you can find it here. Please come join us at CAMS South, 1151 East McKinley St, Chambersburg, on Thursday, November 14 at 7 PM for ”Islands of Wonder – Madagascar.” It sounds like a fascinating place!

From our friends at the Conococheague Institute, we bring you this announcement: Saturday, November 9th, 12:00pm to 8:00pm, 30th Anniversary: Bonfire Night. 12995 Bain Rd, Mercersburg, PA 17236.

Learn about the history of the event with Guy Fawkes, engage in Tavern song and dance, games and festivities, archery, wildlife, food and drink, all culminating in an evening Bonfire program at 7pm. There will be craft vendors and food trucks available throughout the day, a special children’s entertainment performance by Ray Owens, a birds of prey presentation by Miller’s Wildlife and much more! Matthew Wedd at Conococheague Institute shares that the falconer will be doing his presentation at 4 pm, and he’ll have a great horned owl with him.

Check this website for updates and maps to all locations.

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!

Valerie Barnes, President

News from the Region, March 26, 2024

By Valerie BarnesPosted on March 26, 2024March 26, 2024Posted in News, Outreach

The Institute (formerly called Renfrew Institute for Cultural & Environmental Studies) is planning many events this spring. Visit their website to view the Event Calendar.

Appalachian Audubon is sponsoring a PA Young Birders group to offer youth in the area more opportunities for birding and learning about birds. Visit their website to learn more about scheduled events.

Outreach Events not on CAS Activities List

We could use volunteers to help at these events. Please contact Terri Kochert if you are interested and available. At most of these, we will set up a table and display information, brochures, and activities for children.

April 13, Saturday Outreach Event – Volunteer!

10 AM – 4 PM. Conococheague Institute Get to Know Nature event. Prepare for Earth Day 2024 and learn how to love and understand the natural world, Many activities. Visit www.cimlg.org to learn more about the CI event.

May 16, Thursday Outreach Event- Volunteer!

9 AM – 1:15 PM. PA Trout in the Classroom event for seventh grade students at Greencastle-Antrim Middle School. Caledonia State Park. Seventh grade students at Greencastle-Antrim Middle School will be releasing fingerlings Along with releasing fish into the stream, the coordinator would like to have science-related presentations for the students to participate in throughout the day. Students would be in 10 groups (about 25 students per group) and would rotate to different stations every 20 minutes. Terri Kochert is planning what we will do.

May 18, Saturday Outreach Event – Volunteer!

9 AM – 1 PM. Master Gardener’s Plant Sale. CAS will have a display table.

New/Returning Members Nov 2023-Jan 2024

By Valerie BarnesPosted on March 10, 2024March 10, 2024Posted in News

We welcome these new or returning members:

Dorothy I. Beaston; Charles Bender; Rae M. Craig;

Clare Hayes; Willa Kaal; Rhonda Kolleogy;

Barry L Punt; Michael L Williams; F Smith;

Leah & Tom Neveil; Robert Caspar; C David Ardinger;

Thomas L. Austin; Georgene Carmany; Betty J Creager;

Susan Ebersole; Joyce M. Gartside; Derwin and Marcia Kim;

Robert Nace; Ethel Nelson; Eileen Rockwell;

Heidi Thomason; Autumn Wampler.

News from the Region, February 6, 2024

By Valerie BarnesPosted on February 6, 2024February 6, 2024Posted in Conservation, News

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful

Registration is open for 2024 Pick Up Pennsylvania, an annual community improvement program. Pick Up Pennsylvania is a year-long initiative, however, events scheduled from March 1 through May 31 receive free trash bags, gloves, and safety vests provided by support from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, PennDOT and Keep America Beautiful, as supplies last. Events can include litter cleanups, illegal dump cleanups, community greening and beautification, special collections and education events. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association are sponsoring trash disposal, free of charge or at a reduced rate for registered program participants, at participating landfills from April 1 through April 30, with prior approval. Events must be registered at keeppabeautiful.org to receive free cleanup supplies and a reduced rate for trash disposal.