Dear Fellow Nature Lovers, 

I hope you had a lovely Christmas time spent with family and friends. Now it’s time to ring in the New Year. Realizing that 2021 is behind us, it’s important to look back at our accomplishments, in spite of COVID restrictions. Later in my letter I will present links to the successes of National Audubon and some Zoom events through Mid-Atlantic Audubon. 

Here are some of our own Conococheague Audubon highlights for 2021.  

• Captivating, informative, and stellar meetings (if I do say so myself): 
  • Feb.     Birds of the Far North: An Icelandic Adventure 
  • Mar.    Homeland Security: Native Trees Are a Bird’s Refuge 
  • Apr.     Field Guide & App Comparison 
  • May     Invasive Plants: Not For the Birds 
  • Sept.    Cape May Fall Migrants 
  • Oct.     Wood Thrush Nest Success and Productivity in Central Pennsylvania Contiguous Forests 
  • Nov.    Research and Techniques in Ornithological Illustration 
  • Dec.     The Beauty and Fragility of the Everglades 

• Outreaches: 
  • CAS Volunteers engaged 337 individuals at the local Farmers Market with brochures and enticing poster. 
  • Outreach to twelve Hispanic and African American youngsters and their five teachers at NETwork Ministries in Chambersburg 
  • Outreach to twelve 5^th-6^th grade girls at Tuscarora Wildlife Education Project, Mercersburg, PA 

                    Thus, we reached out to 366 individuals this year!

Though we are forced to cancel our two January events because of the recent Omicron Covid outbreak, we are still making plans to move forward in February. Here are the two canceled January events:  the Jan. 10, 2022 Covered dish dinner and the Jan. 20, 2022 free nature film.  

• Jan. 10, Monday     MEETING CANCELED   6:00 PM Covered dish dinner and members’ photo show. All are welcome. 
• Jan. 20, Thursday    FILM CANCELED 

Though it’s only January, please make your plans now to be on hand to view our February Zoom meeting with Paul Bannick, nationally renowned and award-winning wildlife photographer from Seattle, WA area. He will share with us his incredible photos of Snowy Owls in his Feb. 14, 2022, 7 PM presentation of Snowy Owl: A Visual Natural History. Again, we thank Mr. Jim Bousum of Bousum’s Trucking, LLC in Chambersburg and Petersburg, PA for sponsoring Mr. Paul Bannick’s Snowy Owl presentation. I know that all will be thrilled to see one of our favorite birds captured on film. You may view this presentation in person at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church or from the comfort of your own home. I will send out the Zoom link for this presentation Sunday evening, Feb. 13, 2022.  

Also, I am still looking forward to showing the remaining two free National Geographic films:  Last Stand of the Great Bear on March 24, 2022 and In Search of the Jaguar on April 14, 2022 at our new film location:  Living Faith Chapel, 8770 Possum Hollow Rd., Shippensburg, PA 17257 at 7:30 PM with door prizes and a free pair of binoculars for one young person.  

It is with regret that I inform you of the passing of one of CAS Charter Members, Carl Garner, on December 27, 2021. He was an excellent birder and a meticulous record keeper of the birds he saw throughout the past 60 years of the existence of CAS. It’s possible his list goes back even before the 1961 establishment of Conococheague Naturalists, a.k.a. Conococheague Audubon Society. Dr. Dave Ebbitt has undertaken the extraordinary task of submitting electronically Carl’s lists to ebird.org. Kudos to Dave for working on a dauntless task. Family and friends will greatly miss Carl Garner. May he rest in peace.

NAS Highlights of 2021 short video on Eight Wins for Birds in 2021 

Audubon Mid-Atlantic (Audubon MD-DC and Audubon PA have been combined into one now.) 

Though there are many things I could bring to your attention, please view the following two announcements:

An hour and a half Zoom webinar on Jan. 6, 2022 Bringing Climate Action Home from 6:30 PM-8PM.

From Swans to Songbirds: Winter is for Birding on Feb 3 

Upon arrival at the Audubon Pennsylvania website, click the blue EVENTS button to register for this event.  You’ll receive a confirmation and Zoom details within a few days of registration. 

Another interesting 16-minute video called American Kestrel Box Program with Tom Sayers 

Remember. We are still looking for any interested able volunteers who would be willing to install eight American Kestrel boxes before March 31, 2022.  

Also, I found a short 3-minute video on Five Facts about American Kestrels by National Audubon featuring Rita McMahon of the Wild Bird Fund   

National Audubon also chose the top ten bird videos, which you will find as you scroll down the page to view each of the ten short videos. Enjoy! 

Also, anyone interested in being my Vice-president? Please contact me ASAP at 717-263-3692 or conaudubon@outlook.com . 

May you all have a wonderfully healthy and successful New Year! 

Terri Kochert