Conococheague Audubon Society

PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222

ConAudubon@outlook.com

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July 2026 from the President

By Ron GeorgePosted on Posted in Birds, Get Involved, Monthly Message, OutreachTagged , ,

As July arrives along with the wonderful heat and humidity of summer, it’s hard to believe that by the end of the month fall migration will be underway for some species. So, it’s time to slow down and enjoy the birds that nest in our area while you can. Pay close attention, and you might get to see a Brown Thrasher carrying a mouthful of berries to a fledgling standing in the tall grass–its gaping mouth in permanent “feed me” mode. That was a never-saw-that-before moment for me, the kind of thing that keeps birding new and interesting no matter how long you’ve been doing it! Whether you’re coding those breeding behaviors in the PA Bird Atlas portal on eBird or just appreciating those hard-working bird parents, take it slow and stay hydrated! 

While the summer is the off-season for CAS, our volunteers have been working hard, getting ready for the upcoming year. Thanks everyone (you know who you are)! I hope you’ll join us for some of the great programs, films, and activities we are planning, and remember, it all happens because our volunteers make it happen. 

Get Involved with CAS

If you’re interested in helping us do what we do, I’m sure we can find a way for you to get involved that suits your interests and availability. We are currently seeking volunteers to pitch in with the following.

Vice President: Urgent Currently the position acts as an assistant to the President and will not be required to become President at the end of their term. Without that assistance, we won’t be able to do everything that we want to do. If you’re interested in possibly volunteering, we can discuss how you would like to contribute to the leadership team of CAS. Contact me at writinron@comcast.net.

Trip Leaders: We are close to finalizing the activities list for the coming season. We have previously offered a trip to Letort Springs in May and a trip for beginners along the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail, June 19. If you want to lead one of these, contact Lisa Coombs ASAP. Once the Activities List is completed in the next week or so, it will be printed and sent to all members. We can still add trips later in the season, but they won’t appear in our handy-dandy Activities List! If you have an idea for a new trip that you would like to lead, email conaudubon@outlook.com . 

Financial Support: Thanks to all who have made a donation. If you would like to donate, please send your check to Conococheague Audubon Society, PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222.

Everything: Email conaudubon@outlook.com if you would like to get involved in any of our activities: 

  • monitoring Bluebird trails
  • maintaining birdfeeders at Caledonia State Park
  • caring for the native plant garden at Norlo Park
  • providing outreach to the public
  • clearing trash for our Adopt a Highway project
  • counting birds for the annual Christmas Bird Count (feeder watching or in the field)
  • presenting free nature films to the public
  • leading bird trips
  • contributing photos and articles to our newsletter Naturally
  • offering our yearly Beginning Birder Workshop
  • stuffing envelopes for our annual fundraising mailer!!!

Upcoming Events

SOAR Bird Walks Year-round, first and third Saturday of every month, 8:00 am. Various locations. Check the website for locations: SOAR Bird Walks are Year-Round – Buttonwood Nature Center Trip leaders: Larry and Sharon Williams

Next Meetings

Tuesday July 21, 2026, 6:30 pm: joint meeting of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors on July 21, 2026, at St. Lukes. Committee chairs are also invited.

Monday Sep. 14, 2026: first regular meeting of the new season.  

June 2026 from the President

By Ron GeorgePosted on Posted in Birds, Get Involved, Monthly MessageTagged ,

Well, we’re past the peak of spring migration, yet there are still some stragglers and long-distance travelers passing through. The rainy weather created some opportunities to see some cool shorebirds including, Dunlin, Hudsonian Whimbrel (maybe Eurasian as well!), White-Rumped Sandpiper, and Pectoral Sandpiper. Songbird-wise, I was hearing Blackpoll Warblers last week on their way to the upper reaches of Maine and northern(!) Canada. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the Blackpolls that nest in Western Canada actually have extra-long wings to help them along their epic migration route. While Blackpoll Warblers are still heading north, other birds are raising young. Already, I’ve seen several fledglings: Downy Woodpecker, Fish Crow, Northern Cardinal, Killdeer, American Robin, Eastern Towhee, Carolina Wren, and Northern Mockingbird. Time’s a-wasting, Blackpolls!

Get Involved with CAS

Your support for Conococheague Audubon makes everything we do possible. We are currently seeking volunteers to pitch in with the following.

Technical Know-how: Urgent Our website could probably use some security upgrades, but our current web maintainers lack the knowledge to decide. Please contact Val Barnes (717-352-4397) ASAP to share your expertise.

Vice President: Currently the position acts as an assistant to the President and will not be required to become President at the end of their term. There is plenty of flexibility here, so if you’re interested in possibly maybe volunteering, we can discuss how you would like to contribute to the leadership team of CAS. Contact me at writinron@comcast.com

Trip Leaders: We are looking for some new field trip leaders for 2027: May Horse Valley field trip, the May Letort Spring Garden field trip (previous leader John Greer) and the June Chambersburg Rail Trail field trip (previous leader Debby Hook). If you’d like more information about what’s involved please contact the previous trip leaders. If you want to lead one of these or if you have an idea for a new trip that you would like to lead, email conaudubon@outlook.com

Programs for Monthly Meetings: We’re working on next season’s activities list and are in need of ideas for the programs for our monthly meetings. We’re currently in need of programs for Sep 14, Dec 14, and Feb 8. We always look to the members of the board to arrange these, but everyone is invited to share their suggestions. We welcome topics related to birds, nature, and conservation. Email conaudubon@outlook.com

Financial Support: Thanks to all who have made a donation. If you would like to donate, please send your check to Conococheague Audubon Society, PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222.

Everything: Email conaudubon@outlook.com if you would like to get involved in any of our activities:  monitoring Bluebird trails, maintaining birdfeeders at Caledonia State Park, caring for the native plant garden at Norlo Park, providing outreach to the public, clearing trash for our Adopt a Highway project, counting birds for the annual Christmas bird count (feeder watching or in the field), presenting free nature films to the public, leading bird trips, contributing photos and articles to our newsletter Naturally, offering our yearly Beginning Birder Workshop . . . Whew, we do a lot! Thanks, volunteers!

Next Meetings

Our next regular meeting is not until Monday Sep. 14. There will be a joint meeting of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors on July 21, 2026, at St. Lukes. Committee chairs are also invited.

December 2025 from the President

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

As I type, our first real snowfall is winding down. It is lovely outside, with the ground white and branches draped with snow as well. Birds are happily visiting feeders in the yard. As we ease towards the first day of winter, it feels as if it’s here already. Days are certainly shorter!

We continue to seek volunteers for several positions: Conservation Chair, Hospitality Chair, Film Chair, Vice President, and Treasurer. Please contact me to offer your services. We need you! Many thanks to Ron George for agreeing to be the next President!

Our next regular meeting takes place on December 8, Monday, at 7:00 PM. We look forward to hearing from local birding enthusiast Andy Markel about Adrenaline Birding Big Month. Our regular meetings occur at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church (off Route 997, near Scotland exit off I-81) 2695 Luther Dr, Chambersburg, PA 17202. Please join us in person or via Zoom. We welcome everyone.

We had a good turnout for our first free nature film last month. The next one is January 29 – Islands of Wonder: Borneo.

SOAR Bird Walks will take place on the first and third Saturdays (6 and 20 December).

Christmas is coming, so we have Christmas Bird Counts coming, too. Sign up with the compiler if you want to start participating in one you haven’t done before.

  • December 20, Saturday. Chambersburg area (PACH).  Lisa Coombs, 715-602-2838, lcoombs58@gmail.com.

Our annual covered dish dinner and members’ photo show is at 6:00 PM on Monday, January 12, 2026 at St Luke’s. Please plan to join us for good food and fellowship. Members typically contribute one dinner item and/or a dessert. Coffee, tea, and pots/jugs of water will be provided. Bring your own table setting, including a napkin, flatware, plate, bowl, and mug/cup. Let’s try to avoid plastic and disposable items! If you have a few photos you wish to share, please bring them on a USB thumb drive. Bring a friend; all are welcome!

Inputs for the next issue of the newsletter are due December 15 to Jane Bussard, janenbussard47@gmail.com. 

Thanks to all who have made a donation. If you haven’t yet, please send your check to Conococheague Audubon Society, PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222. Good birding!

November 2025 from the President

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

The Juncos are back, so it really must be fall and easing into winter. Have you seen a Red-breasted Nuthatch? A Brown Creeper? How about a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker? Those are all standard winter visitors to my yard, but I haven’t seen that Nuthatch or a Sapsucker yet.

We continue to seek volunteers for several positions: Conservation Chair, Hospitality Chair, President, Vice President, and Treasurer. Please contact me to offer your services. We need you! Also, those of you who agreed to write letters to accompany our charitable contributions, please send your letter(s) to Donna Hocker dlhocker@yahoo.com before the end of the year; please double-check the address for the recipient.

Our regular meeting takes place on November 10, Monday, at 7:00 PM. We’ll start by announcing the Youth Contest Winners and then enjoy hearing about Kyle Rambo’s Big Year 2024. Our regular meetings occur at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church (off Route 997, near Scotland exit off I-81) 2695 Luther Dr, Chambersburg, PA 17202. Please join us in person or via Zoom. We welcome everyone.

Our first free nature film will be on November 13, Thursday at Chambersburg Area Middle School South (1151 E. McKinley St.). Come see Journey of the Broad-winged Hawk, a PBS nature film. It depicts the migration of the Broad-winged Hawk from NH to PA to TX to Ecuador. Door prizes will be awarded following the film. Admission is free, but we happily accept donations at the door.

SOAR Bird Walks will take place on the first and third Saturdays (1 and 15 November).

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology shared this link before Halloween: Spooky Birds! It’s fun, so you might want to check it out.

Thanks to all who have made a donation. If you haven’t yet, please send your check to Conococheague Audubon Society, PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222. Good birding!

October 2025 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in UncategorizedTagged , ,

Temperatures are drifting a little lower in the area, and there are good reports of migrating birds.

September 25, 2025 marked a new record night for Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s BirdCast. The migration tool recorded more than 1.2 billion birds. Amazing!

Many thanks to Joe and Vanessa Miller for leading a group of 12 who cleaned up a 2-mile stretch of PA Route 997 on Saturday, September 27. Before our first meeting of the year, Ron George and Tracy Snyder helped 10 participants see and identify 10 species of birds around St. Luke’s. Maybe we should make that an annual event…

We are seeking volunteers for several positions: Conservation Chair, Hospitality Chair, President, Vice President, and Treasurer. Please contact me to offer your services. We need you! If you would like to help take Greencastle-Antrim students on a bird walk at Tayamentasachta on Monday, October 20, please contact Terri Kochert [terri.kochert81@gmail.com or 717-263-3692].

Our only October activities are the regular meeting on Monday, October 13 and SOAR Bird Walks on the first and third Saturdays (4 and 18 October). Youth Contest Bird Photos and Lists are due at 6:45 PM at the regular meeting. Members Jeff and Sue Schmaltz will present 5 Years of Birding in our Mobile Home at 7 PM. At the November 10 meeting, we’ll announce youth contest winners and enjoy Kyle Rambo’s Big Year 2024 program. Our regular meetings occur at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church (off Route 997, near Scotland exit off I-81) 2695 Luther Dr, Chambersburg, PA 17202. Please join us in person or via Zoom. We welcome everyone.

Thanks to all who have made a donation. If you haven’t yet, please send your check to Conococheague Audubon Society, PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222. Good birding!

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