Hello fellow nature lovers!
It seems like déjà vu all over again! Here we are in “lockdown” mode again. I hope that you are all healthy. If you did get Covid-19, I hope you weathered it well.
I do have some sad news to share with you. On Oct. 16, 2020, we learned of the passing of long-time member Martha “Marty” Buckey, wife of George Buckey. We are saddened with her loss.
Marguerite Fries, CAS board director, informed me that Norlo Garden now has a cement plaque dedicated to Corinne Anderson next to the Hackberry tree planted in her honor by Josh Donaldson, CAS Garden chair. Corinne was one of the Master Gardner’s who helped plan and plant the Norlo Garden. Please see the attached photo of her plaque.
On a lighter note, there has been a bonanza of vagrants seen in our local area lately. In early Nov. Donna Hocker saw Evening Grosbeaks at her feeders. Gavin Anderson and Dave Ebbitt had a Golden Eagle up at the Mountain Look out off Tower Road. Kathy Lauver still has a Rufous Hummingbird outside her home. A Townsend’s Solitaire and a flock of Evening Grosbeaks (12-15) have been seen on a regular basis behind the headquarters at Caledonia State Park since about Nov. 17th. Val Barnes has one Common Redpoll and 100+ Pine Siskins at her feeders since Nov. 20th. Bill Oyler discovered a Lapland Longspur and a Snow bunting along Church Road near Pleasant Hall in mid-November. Many of us have been busy “flocking” to these sightings and taking photos of these “gems”. Truthfully, they have been “lifers” for many people in our area. These birds are mainly from Canada, the northern USA, or west of the Mississippi River.
Speaking of seeing birds, if you are interested in seeing Short-eared Owls, please sign up for our SEO field trip by Dec. 14 with Bob Kochert. Either sign up by sending Bob an email (bobterri81@comcast.net) or call 717-263-3692 with your contact information: name, email, phone number. He will get back to you about the afternoon he will lead the field trip to Gettysburg to see them. You will be required to travel in your own vehicle, wearing a mask upon exiting the vehicle.
We hope you plan to participate with the Christmas Bird Count on December 19. This year there will be changes due to the Covid-19 restrictions. We are encouraging you to go out either alone or with a family member. Record and report your findings directly to your Zone Captain, who will make a report to Val Barnes, our Christmas Bird Count chair. Please abide by the NAS guidelines of wearing a mask and social distancing. If you feel uncomfortable participating in the field, don’t. No shame, no complaints from any of us. Also, if watching and reporting the birds at your bird feeders, please contact Marguerite Fries (717-263-2934) with your report instead of contacting Joan Bowen. Please note that there will NOT be a CBC tally dinner this year, due to Covid-19 restrictions.
You are also invited to participate in the Newville area Christmas Bird Count on January 2, 2021 with Vern Gauthier as the chairperson. Call him at 717-385-9526 or email him of your interest in participating (verngauthier14@gmail.com ).
Regrettably, our excellent Nature Film series scheduled for January, March and April of 2021 are ALL canceled. CASD is not renting out their school district buildings until perhaps the fall of 2021.
Other news of interest: the January Covered Dish Dinner has been canceled due to Covid-19. Awards typically made at the January Dinner will be made during the December Zoom meeting. Yes, this December we will NOT have an in-person meeting at Norlo Park Community Center for our December 14 meeting. Instead, you can “tune in” via our Zoom link from the comfort of your own home. Also, our speaker for December will be Bob Keener with his Birds of Ecuador presentation (originally scheduled for October). (Dave Graff will be rescheduled for next season).
We ask you to please have your computers, smart phones, and tablets turned on and ready to go by 6:59 PM with the following information displayed on your “page”. You can click on the first Link, wait to be accepted, and then you should be able to see the screen. Since we are using the free Zoom for “40 minutes”, there will be a need to have a second meeting at 7:35. We will pause and switch over to the second link. This should give us plenty of time to finish our meeting by 8:10 or so. We hope you take advantage of this opportunity.
Please take note: I will send out a second notice with this same Zoom information on Saturday, Dec. 12, for your convenience. You won’t have to go back in your email history to locate it.
Conococheague Audubon December Mtg – Part 1
Time: Dec 14, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/7211203928?pwd=RXNwMjZpQVNvSHJGRld3cWZFQjJiZz09
Meeting ID: 721 120 3928
Passcode: cardinal20
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Conococheague Audubon Mtg Part 2
Time: Dec 14, 2020 07:35 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/71862617448?pwd=SW9aLzI3MlRYTWYydkRNanhOK2cydz09
Meeting ID: 718 6261 7448
Passcode: K7zEjK
Though it seems as though I have written of many negative events, please read our next Naturally newsletter for information about our 2019-2020 passionate and gifted Youth Contests winners. Also, please go on-line to the Franklin County Visitors Bureau Visit Franklin County PA|Great Moments Along the Way (explorefranklincountypa.com) and check out the Festival of Trees. You may place your bid on the available trees and wreaths until Dec. 4 at 7 PM. All proceeds support the Cancer Society. CAS has a beautiful white wreath decorated by Val Barnes, Marguerite Fries, and Debby Hook. Check it out in-person or on-line by clicking on the above link and the Festival of Trees “button”. You must either email or call the bureau directly to place your bids. See their website for more information.
May you all have a Merry Christmas!
Terri Kochert