News

November 2024 from the President

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

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

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

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful

Register for Pick Up Pennsylvania and Fight Dirty in Your Neighborhood
Cleanup training webinar offered Feb 26

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. 

Scott Weidensaul for 11 December meeting!

The originally-planned presenter (Steve Huy) for our December 11 meeting is unavailable, but a colleague has volunteered to make the presentation. Instead of Steve, we will hear from SCOTT WEIDENSAUL about Project SNOWstorm. Scott Weidensaul is the author of more than two dozen books on natural history, including the Pulitzer Prize finalist “Living on the Wind” and his latest, the New York Times bestseller “A World on the Wing.” Weidensaul is a contributing editor for Audubon and writes for a variety of other publications, including BWD and Living Bird. He is a Fellow of the American Ornithological Society and an active field researcher, studying saw-whet owl migration for more than 25 years, as well as winter hummingbirds in the East, bird migration in Alaska, and the winter movements of snowy owls through Project SNOWstorm, which he co-founded. Scott will be presenting via Zoom. This is a rare treat!

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