Conococheague Audubon Society

PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222

ConAudubon@outlook.com

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January 2024 From the President

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

As 2023 draws to a close, let us share our wishes for peace around the world and hopes for our planet and its fauna and flora. Let this be a year when we all do what we can to be good stewards for our communities, feathered friends, and our friends and family.

Sometime this winter, Bob and Terri Kochert plan to lead a trip to the Gettysburg area to see Short-eared Owls, if the owls start appearing on a regular basis. Contact the Kocherts to sign up.

Our annual covered dish dinner and members’ photo show will take place on Monday, January 8, 2024, at 6 PM at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church. All are welcome. Members typically contribute one dinner item (casserole, meat, vegetables, salad, pasta, fruit, rolls, etc.) 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.

Our second nature film, Season of the Osprey, will be shown Thursday, January 18, 2024 at 7 PM at Chambersburg Area Middle School South. Admission is free, but donations are welcomed.

The Art Sale to benefit Conococheague Audubon is expected to continue through January at Wallspace Gallery and Framing, 1769 Lincoln Way East, Chambersburg, PA 17202. Members James 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. Most prints are unframed, but approximately 16 framed prints are still hanging at Wallspace. Regular gallery hours are Tues-Fri 10-4:30, Sat 10-2; other times by appointment, 717-264-7210. Browse the catalog online at Wallspace.com or in person at the gallery.

Our Treasurer, Donna Hocker, asks that committee chairs, directors, and officers submit budget requests for the June 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025 season by February 1, 2024. If anyone else has ideas about potential expenses or income for the upcoming season, please contact a committee chair, director, or officer as soon as possible.

It’s always a good time to make a donation to Conococheague Audubon Society and mail it to PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222. Anyone interested in joining our leadership team? Please contact conaudubon@outlook.com and tell us what you would like to do.

May 2024 be full of good health, good cheer, and good birds!

October 2023 From the President

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

It’s officially Fall, and birds are coming through. Enjoy these lovely days and cool nights. Our visiting Flamingos are gone; one flew away and the other died en route to a different rehabilitation place. It was sad to see them go, but what a glorious time it was to have them visit! This winter’s finch forecast is available. See https://finchnetwork.org/winter-finch-forecast-2023-2024?mc_cid=e9ddf5df38&mc_eid=42119ad7ac .

Roy Brubaker, Forest District Manager at the Michaux State Forest informed me about a public meeting Wednesday, October 18 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the South Mountain Fish and Game Meeting room; 11547 Loop Rd, Fayetteville, PA 17222. The session gives the public the opportunity to express ideas about plans to repurpose the South Mountain Golf Course property as the next location for the Michaux Resource Management Center (district headquarters and visitor center). Roy states: “please understand our primary objective at the District, Bureau, and Department level is to ensure the expression of community care interests surrounding the Michaux — both its history and its future – during our public input meeting on 10/18.” If you have opinions about this topic, please attend the public meeting.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is sponsoring clean-up efforts to keep trash out of our oceans. If you organize and register an event, they will provide some supplies. Visit https://www.keeppabeautiful.org/programs/pick-up-pa/ .

Conservation Chair John Greer reminds us the best way to limit the amount of plastic that ends up in the environment is to reduce our use of plastic in the first place. 

TIP:      Reduce your plastic consumption by buying products in cans or glass, and then recycling them. Note that recycling glass is increasingly difficult as many centers no longer accept glass. We will continue to search for options.

Youth contest entries are due at the October 9 meeting! Come early (6:45 p.m.) to submit your best bird photos and list of bird species observed this year. Come for the program “Birding Antarctica” presented by Mike and Cheryl Saylor.

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!

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.

September 2023 from the President

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

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