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