Conococheague Audubon Society

PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222

ConAudubon@outlook.com

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Conococheague Audubon

Year: 2026

July 2026 from the President

By Ron GeorgePosted on Posted in Birds, Get Involved, Monthly Message, OutreachTagged , ,

As July arrives along with the wonderful heat and humidity of summer, it’s hard to believe that by the end of the month fall migration will be underway for some species. So, it’s time to slow down and enjoy the birds that nest in our area while you can. Pay close attention, and you might get to see a Brown Thrasher carrying a mouthful of berries to a fledgling standing in the tall grass–its gaping mouth in permanent “feed me” mode. That was a never-saw-that-before moment for me, the kind of thing that keeps birding new and interesting no matter how long you’ve been doing it! Whether you’re coding those breeding behaviors in the PA Bird Atlas portal on eBird or just appreciating those hard-working bird parents, take it slow and stay hydrated! 

While the summer is the off-season for CAS, our volunteers have been working hard, getting ready for the upcoming year. Thanks everyone (you know who you are)! I hope you’ll join us for some of the great programs, films, and activities we are planning, and remember, it all happens because our volunteers make it happen. 

Get Involved with CAS

If you’re interested in helping us do what we do, I’m sure we can find a way for you to get involved that suits your interests and availability. We are currently seeking volunteers to pitch in with the following.

Vice President: Urgent Currently the position acts as an assistant to the President and will not be required to become President at the end of their term. Without that assistance, we won’t be able to do everything that we want to do. If you’re interested in possibly volunteering, we can discuss how you would like to contribute to the leadership team of CAS. Contact me at writinron@comcast.net.

Trip Leaders: We are close to finalizing the activities list for the coming season. We have previously offered a trip to Letort Springs in May and a trip for beginners along the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail, June 19. If you want to lead one of these, contact Lisa Coombs ASAP. Once the Activities List is completed in the next week or so, it will be printed and sent to all members. We can still add trips later in the season, but they won’t appear in our handy-dandy Activities List! If you have an idea for a new trip that you would like to lead, email conaudubon@outlook.com . 

Financial Support: Thanks to all who have made a donation. If you would like to donate, please send your check to Conococheague Audubon Society, PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222.

Everything: Email conaudubon@outlook.com if you would like to get involved in any of our activities: 

  • monitoring Bluebird trails
  • maintaining birdfeeders at Caledonia State Park
  • caring for the native plant garden at Norlo Park
  • providing outreach to the public
  • clearing trash for our Adopt a Highway project
  • counting birds for the annual Christmas Bird Count (feeder watching or in the field)
  • presenting free nature films to the public
  • leading bird trips
  • contributing photos and articles to our newsletter Naturally
  • offering our yearly Beginning Birder Workshop
  • stuffing envelopes for our annual fundraising mailer!!!

Upcoming Events

SOAR Bird Walks Year-round, first and third Saturday of every month, 8:00 am. Various locations. Check the website for locations: SOAR Bird Walks are Year-Round – Buttonwood Nature Center Trip leaders: Larry and Sharon Williams

Next Meetings

Tuesday July 21, 2026, 6:30 pm: joint meeting of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors on July 21, 2026, at St. Lukes. Committee chairs are also invited.

Monday Sep. 14, 2026: first regular meeting of the new season.  

June 2026 from the President

By Ron GeorgePosted on Posted in Birds, Get Involved, Monthly MessageTagged ,

Well, we’re past the peak of spring migration, yet there are still some stragglers and long-distance travelers passing through. The rainy weather created some opportunities to see some cool shorebirds including, Dunlin, Hudsonian Whimbrel (maybe Eurasian as well!), White-Rumped Sandpiper, and Pectoral Sandpiper. Songbird-wise, I was hearing Blackpoll Warblers last week on their way to the upper reaches of Maine and northern(!) Canada. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the Blackpolls that nest in Western Canada actually have extra-long wings to help them along their epic migration route. While Blackpoll Warblers are still heading north, other birds are raising young. Already, I’ve seen several fledglings: Downy Woodpecker, Fish Crow, Northern Cardinal, Killdeer, American Robin, Eastern Towhee, Carolina Wren, and Northern Mockingbird. Time’s a-wasting, Blackpolls!

Get Involved with CAS

Your support for Conococheague Audubon makes everything we do possible. We are currently seeking volunteers to pitch in with the following.

Technical Know-how: Urgent Our website could probably use some security upgrades, but our current web maintainers lack the knowledge to decide. Please contact Val Barnes (717-352-4397) ASAP to share your expertise.

Vice President: Currently the position acts as an assistant to the President and will not be required to become President at the end of their term. There is plenty of flexibility here, so if you’re interested in possibly maybe volunteering, we can discuss how you would like to contribute to the leadership team of CAS. Contact me at writinron@comcast.com

Trip Leaders: We are looking for some new field trip leaders for 2027: May Horse Valley field trip, the May Letort Spring Garden field trip (previous leader John Greer) and the June Chambersburg Rail Trail field trip (previous leader Debby Hook). If you’d like more information about what’s involved please contact the previous trip leaders. If you want to lead one of these or if you have an idea for a new trip that you would like to lead, email conaudubon@outlook.com

Programs for Monthly Meetings: We’re working on next season’s activities list and are in need of ideas for the programs for our monthly meetings. We’re currently in need of programs for Sep 14, Dec 14, and Feb 8. We always look to the members of the board to arrange these, but everyone is invited to share their suggestions. We welcome topics related to birds, nature, and conservation. Email conaudubon@outlook.com

Financial Support: Thanks to all who have made a donation. If you would like to donate, please send your check to Conococheague Audubon Society, PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222.

Everything: Email conaudubon@outlook.com if you would like to get involved in any of our activities:  monitoring Bluebird trails, maintaining birdfeeders at Caledonia State Park, caring for the native plant garden at Norlo Park, providing outreach to the public, clearing trash for our Adopt a Highway project, counting birds for the annual Christmas bird count (feeder watching or in the field), presenting free nature films to the public, leading bird trips, contributing photos and articles to our newsletter Naturally, offering our yearly Beginning Birder Workshop . . . Whew, we do a lot! Thanks, volunteers!

Next Meetings

Our next regular meeting is not until Monday Sep. 14. There will be a joint meeting of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors on July 21, 2026, at St. Lukes. Committee chairs are also invited.

May 2026 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Birds, Get Involved, Monthly MessageTagged

A first-ever for Franklin County Swainson’s Warbler was observed at the Fort Loudon historic site in early May. Many local birders enjoyed seeing / hearing the very active bird first reported by John Carter. If you haven’t already, you might want to sign up for alerts from eBird so you are aware of rarities.

We are looking for some new field trip leaders for 2027: May Horse Valley field trip (previous leaders Valerie Barnes and Donna Hocker), the May Letort Spring Garden field trip (previous leader John Greer) and possibly the June Chambersburg Rail Trail field trip (previous leader Debby Hook). If you’d like more information about what’s involved please contact the previous trip leaders.

We are also looking for a new Vice President. Currently the position acts as an assistant to the President, and will not be required to become President at the end of their term. If you’re interested in the duties of the Vice President, let our new President, Ron George know, and he’ll send you the pertinent paragraphs from our chapter guidelines.

We are also seeking ideas for programs for next season; please contact Lisa Coombs.

If you are interested in any of the above, you may also send an email to ConAudubon@outlook.com.

Happy spring birding!

Elections – April 2026

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Get InvolvedTagged

Elections: If you haven’t already, you may vote in person at the April 13 meeting, in advance by responding to the 23 March or 1 April email message, or by printing and mailing your completed ballot (in time for it to arrive by the meeting date) to CAS at PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222. If none of those methods works for you, you may call Valerie Barnes at 717-352-4397 to cast your ballot verbally. We need enough votes to make the election valid, so please participate!

UPDATE: We received a quorum of ballots and the election is valid. Thanks to everyone who voted to elect the slate outlined below! Congratulations to the newly-elected officers and directors. They will assume their new responsibilities effective at our next regular meeting on May 11. One exception: The new treasurer will start at the beginning of our next fiscal year on June 1.

Conococheague Audubon Society Ballot 2026

____   I vote yes for all candidates listed below.

OR vote individually.

To vote individually, put an X to the left of the name.

Officers:

President:  ___ Ron George  

Vice President: _______________________

Recording Secretary:  ___ Debby Hook

Corresponding Secretary:  ___ Valerie Barnes

Treasurer:  ___ Cinda Liggon

Directors: (vote for two directors) 

___Vanessa Miller

___ Doug Powless

April 2026 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Get Involved, Monthly Message, OutreachTagged

Forsythia and daffodils proclaim spring is here. Yay! Birds are starting to move through, too. Yay again! I imagine you are as happy as I am to put the cold behind us. Let’s hope we have a real spring and that we don’t jump immediately to summer.

Our April 13 regular meeting will include elections, brief reports, and a program titled  Conservation of the Eastern Bluebird by members Lynn and Dorian Runt. The meeting starts at 7 PM 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. The next planning session for the Beginning Birders’ Workshop (June 6) will occur before this meeting, so come at 6:15 to participate in that.

We continue to seek a volunteer to become Vice President. Please contact me to offer your services. There are always new opportunities to represent CAS at community events, so if you are interested, please contact our Outreach chair, Terri Kochert. Many thanks to Leslie Cerf for agreeing to lead the nature film crew.

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!

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