Hello Fellow Nature Lovers,

As I write this letter many of us are celebrating a holiday surrounded by family, food and fun.  I hope you all took the time this chilly weekend to remember those brave Americans who “gave it all” that we might enjoy the freedoms we have today.  My heart goes out to those of you who lost a Grandfather, Uncle, Dad, brother, or Mother, sister, Aunt, etc. protecting our freedoms.  Freedom does not come without cost.   May we always remember their sacrifice and remain eternally grateful to them.

On a lighter note, May is now behind us.  Many of us saw some terrific birds this past month.  I believe all would recognize the fact that though we may have seen many different species, there seem to be fewer birds.  We have expressed many times before the reasons for our seeing fewer birds. The main one is loss of habitat.  We need to keep our beloved felines inside, as they are natural predators.  Windows kill thousands of birds each year.  The ramifications of climate change are diminishing the world-bird populations.  Other ways to help the birds:  plant more native gardens, use less pesticides, reduce your dependence on plastic, and report your bird sightings to ebird.org.  

Among the Spring migrant warbler species sighted in our locale were the Pine, Palm, Black and White, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Magnolia, Yellow-rumped, Kentucky, Chestnut-sided, Cape May, Bay-breasted, Canada, Blue-winged, Golden-winged, Mourning, and Cerulean Warblers.  Also sighted were Louisiana Waterthrush, American Redstarts, and Yellow-breasted Chats. That’s quite a list! In Texas, Bob and I saw a MacGillivrays’s, Nashville, and Yellow-throated warblers.  There may have been other warblers seen in our area, but those are the ones I am aware of.  

Our May Field Trips were quite successful, Donna Hocker reported data for two recent field trips: In Horse Valley, nine participants saw 71 species (164 species are the overall trip total); and in Path Valley, 15 participants in nine cars saw 88 species (145 species for that trip). Four new species seen were Hooded Merganser, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Rusty Blackbirds and Wild Turkey.

Josh Donaldson reported a total of 37 species seen on the Friday, May 7 trip to Larry Lehman’s pond and field. When he and Dave Ebbitt returned on Saturday, they saw warblers – among them Black-throated Green, Black-throated Blue, Chestnut-sided and Cape May warblers, as well as Redstarts.

During the May 22 field trip Bobolinks were sighted along the Burkett Road. They also saw the Whip-poor-wills and the allusive Barn Owl, plus many other species.  

Of course, the beloved Indigo Bunting, Eastern Towhee, Wood Thrush, Baltimore and Orchard Orioles have returned and are nesting.  Of course, our chatty House Wrens are delighting us with their happy little song.  

Here are the events for this June.

• Any time you feel like doing some weeding in the Norlo Garden, it would be greatly appreciated.  Just let Terri Kochert know how many hours you put into weeding at ConAudubon@outlook.com  
• June 5, Beginning Birders Workshop CANCELED
• June 12, Saturday. FIELD TRIP 7:00 AM South Mountain/Caledonia/Michaux IBA for SPRING MIGRANTS.  Leave from second parking lot beyond Visitor’s Center in Caledonia State Park.  Bring scopes, binoculars, and CBs.  Contact Eric and Rhetta Martin, 717-597-8675. 
• June 18-21, Breeding Bird Blitz for Conservation.  Please support our Blue Mountain Avian Seekers team:  Bob Keener, Jefferson Shank, Dan Keener and son Sammy.  Do so at https://www.breedingbirdblitz.org/teams1 I see that there are 15 registered teams.  One team has $685 pledged.  Our team has $211 pledged.  All proceeds go to three PA Conservancies:  Western PA, Hawk Mountain, and Manada Conservancies contributing to bird habitat improvements. The goal is to raise $5,000 to be divided equally among the three conservancies. Currently they have reached 77% of their goal.  Won’t you contribute something today?
• June 19, Saturday. FIELD TRIP 7:30 AM Walk on Chambersburg section of Cumberland Valley Rail Trail.  Meet at Big Lots, 184 Southgate Mall, Chambersburg, in Washington Street parking lot near the rail-trail. Bring binoculars and field guide.  Contact Debby Hook, 717-372-0228

CAS is also pleased to announce that this coming 2021-2022 season we have some exciting new programs AND some new Field Trips.  We are resurrecting a trip to Cape May this September.  Mark your calendars now for this three-day outing on Wednesday, Sept. 22-Friday, Sept. 24, 2021.  Call Sue Greer for the hotel information, as you will have to make your own reservations.  It’s not too early to reserve your spot on this outing.  

Sept. 22-24, Wed.-Fri.  FIELD TRIP: Trip to Cape May, NJ, for FALL MIGRANTS: WARBLERS, RAPTORS, and SEABIRDS. Bring scopes and binoculars.  For information, call Sue Greer at 443-255-9559 or email her at sgreer412@gmail.com.  Sign-up deadline is Sept. 15.

Keep your eyes open and on the look-out for birds in your backyard.  Let me know what you find!

Keep looking up!  Happy birding!

Terri Kochert