Conococheague Audubon Society

PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222

ConAudubon@outlook.com

Facebook

Conococheague Audubon

birds

October 2022 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Birds, How to Get Involved, Monthly Message, ZoomTagged , ,

Dear Conococheague Auduboners and friends –  

It certainly feels like fall, with cooler days and nights. Some of our fall/winter visitors are checking in, with Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pine Siskin, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak each making an appearance at my house in the past few weeks.  

This month we are focused on a project with Michaux State Forest. The foresters are working to restore habitat at a few locations where a patch of forest was cleared several years ago. Come listen to PA Department of Forestry’s Mike Wright describe the project at our 7 PM October 10 general meeting at St. Luke Evangelical Church. Then join John and Sue Greer on a couple of field trips to visit the sites and learn how you can help monitor birds there. 

Our 2021-2022 Youth Contests end on October 10. Participants, please submit your bird photos and lists of birds observed to Terri Kochert just before our general meeting starts. 

If you are interested in recording the birds you observe on a Christmas Bird Count, please contact Valerie Barnes (BarnesVa4@comcast.net or 717-352-4397) for the December 17 Chambersburg area count and/or Vern Gauthier (verngauthier14@gmail.com or 717-385-9526) for the December 14 Buchanan Trail CBC in Franklin/Fulton Counties.  

The Big Sit, originated by the New Haven Bird Club, kicks off Saturday, October 8, 2022 at 12 a.m. midnight and closes Sunday, October 9, at 11:59 p.m. Designate a 17-foot circle and observe everything you can from inside that area. Report your results via eBird. Visit www.thebigsit.org to learn more. 

We continue to look for someone to handle Publicity for our activities. Please contact Valerie Barnes to volunteer. 

The winter finch forecast is available at https://finchnetwork.org/winter-finch-forecast-2022. There’s nothing too exciting forecast, but we should watch for Redpolls, Red and White-winged Crossbills, Pine and Evening Grosbeaks, Pine Siskins, and Purple Finch. 

Upcoming activities include: 

  • Oct. 10, Monday   MEETING. 6:45 PM Youth Contest Bird Photos & Lists due.  7:00 PM Bird Monitoring Project in Michaux State Forest,  Mike Wright, Bureau of Forestry. The presenter will come to us from a remote location via Zoom. Arranged by Sue and John Greer. 
  • Oct. 22, Saturday   FIELD TRIP. 8:00 AM “Introduction to Bird Monitoring Project in the Michaux, Part 1.”  Meet at Mont Alto State Park parking lot on Rt 233 (across from pavilion).  Bring binoculars, snack, and sturdy walking shoes.  Expect an easy approx. 3-mile walk.  John Greer, 443-255-8871, jngreer@aol.com. 
  • Oct. 29, Saturday   FIELD TRIP. 8:00 AM “Introduction to Bird Monitoring Project in the Michaux, Part 2.”  Meet at Mont Alto State Park parking lot on Rt 233 (across from pavilion).  Bring binoculars, snack, and sturdy walking shoes.  Expect an easy approx. 4-mile walk.  John Greer, 443-255-8871, jngreer@aol.com. 
  • Nov. 5, Saturday   FIELD TRIP. 8:00 AM for FALL MIGRATION at The Conococheague Institute.  Meet at the Visitor Center, 12995 Bain Rd, Mercersburg.  Bring Binoculars.  Larry and Sharon Williams, 717-655-7414. 

Check the calendar event on our website for updates. 

Thanks to all who have made a donation to keep Conococheague Audubon alive. It’s never too late to mail a check to CAS at PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222. May you enjoy fall and see lots of good birds, 

  Valerie Barnes, President 

September 2022 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Birds, How to Get Involved, Monthly Message, OutreachTagged ,

Dear Conococheague Auduboners and friends –

The days are still hot, but some nights are cooler. Fall must be coming! In my backyard I’ve recently seen a very young Northern Cardinal and several young Blue Jays. It seems late for both species to be fledging. More typical are the young American Goldfinch, one of the latest breeding birds in our area.

Member donations are our main means of support. So, if you haven’t already, please make whatever contribution you can and mail it to Conococheague Audubon Society, P.O. Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222. If you are a local-only member, this is also the standard time to renew your membership. Local-only membership costs $15 for the year; please consider making a donation as well.

We continue to hope one of you will volunteer to contact local media outlets as Publicity Chair. Please contact me (Valerie Barnes). If you are interested in joining Terri Kochert at our display table at the Chambersburg Farmers Market on September 24, please contact Terri.

Our activities begin this month:

  • Year-round , BIRD WALKS. SOAR (Studying Ornithology Around the Region) walks, 8:00 AM first and third Saturdays; various locations in Franklin County.  Larry and Sharon Williams, 717-655-7414; or The Institute, 717-762-0373, https://natureandcultureinstitute.org/events/. 
  • Sept. 10, 2022, Saturday, FIELD TRIP. 7:15 AM for FALL MIGRANTS.  Meet at 7:15 AM at the Park and Ride, Scotland Exit 20, I-81 northbound.  One mile walk in wet grass at Heisey Orchard.  Then by car on Michaux SF roads with additional walk(s) of up to half mile, with trip ending between 12 and 1 PM.  Bring binoculars and snack.  Bill Oyler, 717-360-5191, oylerbill@gmail.com.
  • Sept. 12, Monday, MEETING. 7:00 PM Weird and Wonderful Birds, Jeanne Verhulst.  A fun look at unusual birds.  Speaker via Zoom.  Arranged by Janet Tice.
  • Sept 20-22, Tues.-Thurs., FIELD TRIP. Trip to Cape May NJ for WARBLERS.  Options for migrating raptors and seabirds.  Bring scopes and binoculars.  Find and make your own motel and meal arrangements. Signup deadline is Sept. 16.  Sue Greer, 443-255-9559, sgreer412@gmail.com.

Check the calendar event on our website for updates.

The American Ornithological Society establishes the official common English names for bird species. AOS is trying to change harmful and exclusionary English bird names in a thoughtful and proactive way to address racial and cultural issues associated with some species’ names. Just for fun, the National Audubon Society is asking for suggestions about renaming several species currently tagged with someone’s last name. You can submit your ideas online. According to a recent email, NAS established a Board Task Force to “examine the name and the legacy of John James Audubon. This initiative is integral to the organization’s mission to root itself in equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging and the need to interrogate our present decisions through the prism of the Audubon that we would like to become in the future.”

If you would like to order a Conococheague Audubon T-shirt, please check out your options on the Chapter T-Shirt page of our website. Contact Donna Hocker, Treasurer, to place your order. We must order at least 12 at a time, any mix of sizes.

Enjoy the end of summer and early fall. Good birding!

  Valerie Barnes, President

August 2022 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Birds, How to Get Involved, Monthly Message, OutreachTagged

Dear Conococheague Auduboners and Friends,

Shorebirds are starting to come through. If you are interested, some good places to visit are Antrim Commons, the Greencastle Reservoir, and local farm ponds. Songbirds won’t be far behind.

Our leaders have settled the upcoming season’s activities and will be mailing it to you soon. In the meantime, you may access the Activities List file here. We are starting to put the activities into the calendar on this site, so stay tuned. Our first meeting will be on September 12th and Bill Oyler will lead our first field trip on September 10th. We will meet again at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church (off Route 997, near the Scotland exit of I-81), 2695 Luther Dr, Chambersburg, PA 17202, with Zoom as an option for most meetings.  Two nature films will be shown at two locations in November and March: Chambersburg Area Middle School South and Living Faith Chapel. When you receive the annual mailing, check your address label to see when your membership expires.

We are still looking for someone to contact local media outlets with Publicity about our activities. Most of this happens through Facebook. If you are on Facebook, please step up. We need your help! There are also two Saturdays left when Terri Kochert will set up a display table at the Chambersburg Farmers Market (August 27 and September 24). Please contact Terri if you can join her between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Folks enjoy stopping by to talk about “their” birds.

This year, almost 2,500 photographers from across the United States and Canada submitted nearly 10,000 photographs and videos to Audubon’s 13th annual Audubon Photography Awards. Check out the winners!

Enjoy the rest of summer and good birding,

  Valerie Barnes, President

July 2022 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Birds, Conservation, How to Get Involved, Monthly Message, OutreachTagged ,

Dear Conococheague Auduboners and friends – 

Some Scarlet Tanagers are still singing, and the House Wrens seem to be feeding whoever is in the nest box. Summer is definitely here! 

Terri Kochert has graciously agreed to be our Outreach coordinator. (I hope her arm isn’t too sore after the twisting I gave it.) She has been involved in most of our outreach activities for the past few years, and, like Debby Hook, really enjoys engaging with the public about birds and Audubon. Please offer her your support by volunteering to help at such events. Or, help in advance by preparing materials for display. Bottom line: we need your help! 

In that vein, there are three more Chambersburg Farmers’ Market Saturdays for us this summer: July 23, August 27, and September 24. The time is brief for each day, just 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. It’s a great way to spend part of a Saturday morning, and you can visit the rest of the market booths while you are there. Corn should be available starting this week. J Please contact Terri (717-263-3692) if you want to help.  

We are on hiatus as far as meetings and field trips go. Our next meeting will be on September 12th and the next field trip is September 10th. We will be posting the schedule later this summer and sending you the new Activities List in August. We are still looking for someone to contact local media outlets with Publicity about our activities. Most of this happens through Facebook these days. So, if you are familiar with Facebook, please step up, or we won’t have as much engagement with the community. Contact me (Val Barnes) at conaudubon@outlook.com or 717-352-4397 to learn more. 

To celebrate the joy birds bring to our lives, National Audubon released Volume II of For the Birds: The Birdsong Project, produced by Grammy Award-winning music supervisor Randall Poster. In collaboration with some of the world’s greatest musicians, artists, and actors, the collection features all-new tracks by artists including Yo-Yo Ma, Elvis Costello, Very Nice Person, Hania Rani, The Flaming Lips, Michael Uzowuru, Mary Lattimore, Matthew McConaughey, Inara George and Van Dyke Parks, Jeff Goldblum, Stephin Merritt, and many more. Listen now at https://www.audubon.org/birdsong-project

According to a press release from Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources: On June 17, 2022, “leaders from seven state agencies today highlighted the importance of protecting native species, which are critical to protecting our natural resources, at a stream restoration site at Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission headquarters. Governor Tom Wolf has proclaimed the first Pennsylvania Native Species Day.”  

“Pennsylvania has 2.2 million acres of state forests, millions of acres of state park and game lands, and private forestlands that must be protected from invasive species,” DCNR Assistant State Forester Matt Keefer said. “Protecting our native plants and forests is critical to keeping Pennsylvania landscapes beautiful and productive for future generations.” 

Conococheague Audubon promotes native plants through the Norlo Park garden we established and maintain. Check it out, and contact Josh Donaldson (717-264-6920) if you want to help pull weeds or plant natives in the garden. You might also consider planting more natives on your own property. They are easier to maintain than non-natives, and benefit birds and other species as well. 

Here’s hoping you have a safe and happy Fourth of July. Stay cool and may you see lots of good birds. 

  Val Barnes, President 

May 2022 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Birds, Conservation, How to Get Involved, Monthly Message, ZoomTagged ,

Hello Fellow Nature Lovers, 

Migration is upon us! There have been sightings of a few warblers already. Bob Keener had a Black and White Warbler, John Greer had a Yellow Warbler.  We saw Wilson’s Snipe and Purple Martins off Wenger Road. We had our first Hummingbird on April 25. At Larry Lehman’s we saw a Yellow and Palm Warblers, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole, Gray Catbird, and Green Heron on April 26. Larry also has nesting House Wrens. On April 29 we had a Black-throated Green Warbler on Stillhouse Hollow Road and an Indigo Bunting at our feeder! It’s so wonderful all these signs of new life!   

Announcement from our PA urban centers: 

“The first season of the annual Lights Out Harrisburg program began April 1 at the start of peak spring migration and runs through May 31 when most winged migrants will have passed through Harrisburg. In the fall, Lights Out Harrisburg and peak migration will occur between Aug. 15 and Nov. 15 as birds travel south. Although the request is for lights out during these peak migration periods, light pollution is something to consider all year for Pennsylvania’s resident birds. 

Harrisburg joins Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and more than 30 other cities nationwide, with Lights Out programs. The National Audubon Society, along with partners, established the first Lights Out program in 1999 in Chicago.” 

By Christina Novak ra-dcnrpress@pa.gov <ra-dcnrpress@pa.gov 

Interested in serving as a wildlife mentor? 

The Wildlife Leadership Academy is seeking interested adults to be volunteer mentors wildlife/fisheries focused summer field schools.  Adult mentors learn alongside Academy students, serving as the primary mentors for the participating youth throughout the 5-day residential summer field schools.  Positions are available at each of the 2022 field schools, which will focus on white-tailed deer, bass, brook trout, turkey, and bear. (Five different weeks volunteer mentors are needed. June 13-Aug 6, 2022.) 

Interested in becoming a mentor for Wildlife Leadership Academy?  Apply online today at www.wildlifeleadershipacademy.org/adult-mentor-application 

Upcoming and ongoing events here at Conococheague Audubon:  

Our newly revised Bluebird Trail at Penn National under the direction of Lynn and Dorian Runt, plus many volunteers, have seen plenty of action.  They have recorded thus far five bluebird nests with 4-5 bluebird eggs each.  If you want to help, please call 717-352-3995. 

Please consider participating in one of our many activities.  You will be glad you did! 

May 5, Thursday FIELD TRIP

6:30 AM Path Valley for SPRING MIGRANTS. Leave from Keener’s home, 5207 Heisey Road. Bring scopes, binoculars, and lunch. Bob Keener, 717-532-9723 or 717-658-8765.

May 6, 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 9, Monday   MEETING

7:00 PM Is Sustainability Impossible or Inevitable? by James P. Hamilton. Arranged by Ron George.

May 14, Saturday                 FIELD TRIP

7:00 AM Little Cove for SPRING MIGRANTS.  Meet at the entrance of Buchanan’s Birthplace State Park. Bring lunch and binoculars.  Valerie Barnes, 717-352-4397or Donna Hocker, 717-491-2171.

May 14, Saturday                 WORK DAY

9:30 AM Work at NORLO PARK native garden. Bring garden tools and gloves. Josh Donaldson, 717-264-6920.

May 16-18, Mon.-Wed.     FIELD TRIP

Trip to Magee Marsh, Ohio, for WARBLER MIGRANTS. Bring scopes, binoculars, and lunch.  Make own hotel arrangements.  Sign up by Feb. 27.  Bob and Terri Kochert, 717-263-3692.

May 21, 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 and binoculars.  Eric and Rhetta Martin, 717-597-8675.

June 4, Saturday, 7:45 AM     BEGINNING BIRDERS’ WORKSHOP. Meet at Visitors’ Center in Caledonia State Park, Fayetteville; park in first parking lot beyond Visitors’ Center. Bring binoculars; a few pairs available for loan. Pre-register with Dave Cooney, 717-264-2116 or Janet Tice jwtice1@comcast.net, 717-372-0379.  (This is such a great bonding and learning opportunity for parents and children and/or grandparents and grandkids.  It will be great fun for all!  Why not check it out?) 

As I step in to my new role as Immediate Past President (IPP) of CAS, I want to say a huge “Thank You” to the MANY people who helped me along the way.  The list goes beyond the following list, but I especially want to thank Debby Hook (my IPP)for her tremendous guidance and assistance.  I thank Val Barnes for her computer skills getting the Zoom meetings up and running during these past two years of Covid and her gracious patience through it all. I also want to thank Donna Hocker, Treasurer, and Rhetta Martin, Recording Secretary, for their patience and wise advice along the way.  I was surrounded by a kind and helpful team of board of directors.  Thank you all for all your help! 

As I step down as president, CAS will continue running smoothly with Val Barnes as your next CAS President.  I wish Val, Lisa and the rest of the team another two fabulous years of continued success! 

Continue looking up and keep birding! 

Terri Kochert

Scroll to top