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:
- May 1, Saturday. FIELD TRIP 6:30 AM Horse Valley for SPRING MIGRANTS. Meet at North Pointe Center, US 11, north of Chambersburg. Bring scopes, binoculars, CBs (if you have one) and lunch. Contact Valerie Barnes, 717-352-4397 or Donna Hocker, 717-401-0604.
- May 1, Saturday. 9:30 AM WORK-DAY at Norlo Park native garden. Bring garden tools and gloves. Contact Josh Donaldson, 717-264-6920.
- May 6, Thursday. FIELD TRIP 6:30 AM Path Valley for SPRING MIGRANTS. Leave from Bob Keener’s home, 5207 Heisey Road. Bring scopes, binoculars, CB, and lunch. Bob Keener, 717-532-9723 or 717-658-8765.
- May 7, Friday. FIELD TRIP 6:00 PM Lehman property for SPRING MIGRANTS. Meet at 750 Tallow Hill Road, Chambersburg, to walk around a pond, meadows, and woods. Larry Lehman, 717-263-7203.
- May 10, Monday. 7:00 PM ZOOM MEETING: Invasive Plants: Not for the Birds by Kimberly Bohn, Penn State Mont Alto. Arranged by Ron George.
- May 15, Saturday. WORK-DAY at Norlo Park native garden. Bring garden tools and gloves. Contact Josh Donaldson, 717-264-6920.
- May 22, Saturday. FIELD TRIP 5:30 PM Edenville area for WHIP-POOR-WILLS and BOBOLINKS. Leave from Sunnyway Foods parking lot, 49 Warm Spring Road, Chambersburg. Bring scopes, binoculars, and CBs. Eric and Rhetta Martin, 717-597-8675.
- June 5, Saturday. Beginning Birders Workshop. CANCELLED.
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