Conococheague Audubon Society

PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222

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Conococheague Audubon

Month: April 2021

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 

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