Conococheague Audubon Society

PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222

ConAudubon@outlook.com

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September 2023 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Birds, Monthly MessageTagged ,

Fall migration is underway, and interesting shorebirds, waterfowl, and songbirds have been seen. A Stilt Sandpiper has been hanging out on White Church Road. Earlier in the month an Eared Grebe was at the Greencastle Reservoir. Folks have reported Yellow-Bellied and Olive-sided Flycatchers. eBird alerts can inform you about rarities in the area.

The owners of the pond on Keefer Road west of Chambersburg have posted No Trespassing signs to keep unwanted visitors off the property. But they still welcome birders. Be sure to respect all landowners.

The Big Sit® is scheduled for October 7-8, 2023. Select your 17-foot diameter circle and sign up to participate. Report your results via eBird. It’s a great excuse to sit outside on a beautiful fall day and watch birds!

Audubon Mid-Atlantic is holding Philly Birding Weekend October 13-15. Planned excursions include walks in local watersheds and parks, a paddle on the Strawberry Mansion Reservoir, Saturday night celebratory Tally Rally.  Register now if you are interested. Last year, participants observed 93 species.

Conservation Corner Tip to Fight Plastic Pollution:  At check-out, refuse the store-supplied plastic bag.  Reuse your own shopping bag you bring with you.  This will reduce the number of plastic bags that end up in the landfill.

Upcoming CAS Activities. Check this website for calendar updates and maps to all locations.

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. 9, Saturday, FIELD TRIP. 7:30 AM, for FALL MIGRANTS.  Walk along part of  Cumberland Valley Rail Trail in Chambersburg. Meet at Big Lots, 184 Southgate Mall, parking lot next to Washington Street. Bring binoculars. Debby Hook, 717-372-0228, debbyk@pa.net.

Sept. 11, Monday, MEETING. 7:00 PM Birding Belize, by Chris & Rebecca Payne.  Arranged by John Greer.

Oct. 9, Monday, MEETING. 6:45 PM  Youth Contest Bird Photos & Lists due. Program starts at 7:00 PM: Birding Antarctica, by Mike & Cheryl Saylor.  Arranged by Dave Ebbitt.

Oct. 28, Saturday, FIELD TRIP. 8:00 AM Secrets of the Forest, Avian and Human. Join us at Pine Grove Furnace State Park as we look for fall migrants and learn about the secret history of the area. Meet in the parking lot of the Park office at the intersection of Rt. 233 and Pine Grove Rd. We will bird the area and then drive a short distance to Camp Michaux, site of a Civilian Conservation Corps camp, a World War II Prisoner of War camp, and a church camp. We will also check out the nearby bird blinds newly installed by the Bureau of Forestry. Wear sturdy shoes. Contact in advance John Greer at 443-255-8871 or jngreer@aol.com. Update:  The leader of the Camp Michaux Recognition and Development project for the Cumberland County Historical Society has volunteered to lead us on a historical tour, which will follow our birding outing at Pine Grove Furnace State Park.   Please join us for this unique opportunity to learn about the natural and human history of the area.

You might want to check this National Audubon article about how to tell a raven from a crow: https://www.audubon.org/news/how-tell-raven-crow

Thanks for your support for Conococheague Audubon and the birds! If you haven’t mailed in a donation yet, it’s not too late. Please make out your check to Conococheague Audubon and mail to CAS, PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222.

Good birding!

February 2023 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Birds, Conservation, Monthly Message, OutreachTagged

Winter is here, but I’m glad we haven’t had much snow to deal with (yet). Not many birds are coming to feeders at my house. Sometimes there’s a Sharp-shinned Hawk hanging around, but I can’t always attribute the paucity of birds to that.

Coming up soon: You can count birds anywhere for the Great Backyard Bird Count! The 26th annual GBBC will be held Friday, February 17, through Monday, February 20, 2023. Please visit the official website at birdcount.org for more information. Anyone can count anywhere for as little as 15 minutes, or as long as you wish. Keep separate lists for each location on each day that you bird. Report results via eBird. The Great Backyard Bird Count is an inter-organizational effort between the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society, and Birds Canada.

Volunteer opportunities:

  • Monitor Bluebird Trail boxes. Contact Dorian/Lynn Runt, adamsmail@centurylink.net or 717-352-4995.
  • Clean up and help maintain the native plants garden at Norlo Park. Contact Josh Donaldson, jd425@embarqmail.com or 717-264-6920.
  • We are looking for help at a new Bird Day event being planned by the Franklin County Visitors Bureau for 4 May. Contact Terri Kochert, bobterri81@comcast.net or 717-263-3692.
  • We need 2 new Directors to serve a 3-year term starting in May. Contact Ron George, Eric Martin, or Terri Kochert.
  • Plant trees at the new Furnace Run Park in Southampton Township ~April 14-16. 

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.

The Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology (PSO) would be happy to have you as a member. They publish a periodic report about birds seen in the state, sponsor the PA Bird Atlas projects, hold meetings, and conduct field trips. To learn more about PSO, visit pabirds.org. To join, visit this link: Join PSO.

November 2022 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Birds, Monthly MessageTagged , ,

Dear Conococheague Auduboners and friends –   

The winter finch forecast has been updated. Watch for Evening Grosbeaks; some have been spotted in both Fulton and Franklin Counties! Black-capped Chickadees are also being reported routinely in the area.  

Winners of our 2021-2022 Youth Contests will be announced at the beginning of our regular meeting on Monday, November 14. 

If you would like to participate for the first time in 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.  If you counted last year, your zone captain should contact you and you don’t need to contact the compiler. 

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

Upcoming CAS activities include:  

November 17, Thursday at Living Faith Chapel.  FILM 

7:00 PM Return of the Clouded Leopards (National Geographic).  A pair of rare leopard cubs are rescued from poachers and raised to learn how to live in the wild.  Door prizes, one free youth binoculars prize. 

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 the rest of fall and see lots of good birds,  

  Valerie Barnes, President

October 2022 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Birds, 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, 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

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