NEW SPECIAL EVENT! Art Sale OPENING RECEPTION. November 25, Saturday 10 AM – 2 PM at Wallspace Gallery and Framing,  1769 Lincoln Way East, Chambersburg, PA 17202 

Regular hours: Tues-Fri 10-4:30, Sat 10-2. Other times by appointment, 717-264-7210   

Conococheague Audubon Society members Jim and Deborah Wheeling are selling 140 fine art bird prints collected over 50 years and will generously donate all proceeds to CAS. Many prints are numbered and signed. 34 artists are represented, including Robert Bateman, Guy Coheleach, Ray Harm, and Roger Tory Peterson. More than 20 framed prints will be shown at Wallspace at least through December 2023. You may view details and images for all prints in a catalog at Wallspace. All prints will be available for purchase at Wallspace. Asking prices range from $10 – $475. Even if you don’t have an inch of wall space left, please join us at the opening reception to look at beautiful prints, and enjoy comradery and cheer! Note: a print would make a terrific holiday gift!  

The planned speaker for our regular November 13 meeting has left Audubon Mid-Atlantic (for DCNR). So, we are substituting something completely different:

We will give you a preview of the Wheeling bird print collection via a slide show and by bringing a few examples to the meeting. To give other CAS members a similar opportunity, we invite anyone who has a bird-related item to sell to bring it to the meeting. We ask that if something sells, you consider making a donation of part of the proceeds to CAS. We’re just giving you a venue to dispose of no-longer-needed binoculars, bird books, bird art, feeders, etc. And at some time in the near future, you can donate to a worthy cause – Conococheague Audubon Society! Payment for anything offered should be via cash or check, made out to the seller. No payments should be made to CAS for stuff offered in this way. We don’t want to put our non-profit status at risk. So, come to the meeting and learn about prints, some of the artists, and see some of the prints, and browse what other birders are ready to part with. Maybe you can find a gift or something you’ve been wanting. This is a one-time happening. 

Pumpkins are behind us and holiday decorations lie ahead. Here are tips for “reusing” those pumpkins (from DCNR resource Newsletter — October 25, 2023):  

• Compost Your Pumpkins — If you’ve carved a jack-o-lantern, it may already be decomposing. Because pumpkins are mostly water, they are a great addition to your compost pile. Prevent unwanted pumpkin plants by removing the seeds first.  
• Share Pumpkin Seeds with Wildlife — Collect seeds from your pumpkins before composting them and let the seeds dry. Don’t add salt or seasoning, just scatter the seeds outside or put them in a platform feeder as a special treat.  
• Don’t Dump Your Pumpkins — Don’t leave pumpkins in state parks, forests, or anywhere you don’t have permission.  
• Cut into Pieces for Animals — Cut your pumpkin into pieces and scatter outside as a treat for local critters. Birds will feed on the flesh of the pumpkins in addition to the seeds, as will squirrels, foxes, and deer.  
• Not All Pumpkins Safe for Wildlife— Don’t set out pumpkins or gourds that have been bleached, are painted, or have fake foliage or plastic decorations for wildlife, which can be toxic and harmful.  
• Make a “Snack-o-lantern” — Re-use your pumpkin and turn it into a pumpkin feeder! Cut the pumpkin in half and fill with birdseed. You can use sticks, dowels, and rope to hang them from trees and create a custom feeder. This works best with fresh, firm pumpkins.  

The Conococheague Institute (12995 Bain Road, Mercersburg, PA, 17236) invites the public to their free Bonfire Night. On Saturday November 4, Miller’s Wildlife will be presenting from 4 PM to 5 PM for an up close look at falcons and hawks, and the history of falconry. Activities start at noon and will continue until after the bonfire, which starts at 7 PM. For more information, visit https://cimlg.org/events/.   

Come see our first Free Nature Film of the season on Thursday, November 9 at 7 PM at Chambersburg Area Middle School South, 1151 E. McKinley St., Chambersburg, PA 17201. The film is Nature’s Fear Factor, PBS. A bold experiment to bring rare and fierce African Wild Dogs back to Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique reveals how predators – and the fear they trigger – play a surprising and crucial role in keeping wild ecosystems healthy. Door prizes.