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.  

March 2026 from the President

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

Greetings Conococheague Auduboners and friends –

I think spring is coming after all. Saturday, February 28 was gorgeous and warm – what a treat! For me, best of all, a Pine Siskin popped in on Friday and was here yesterday as well. I hope you are seeing good birds in your yards, too.

Our last FREE nature film of this season will be shown at 7 PM, Thursday, March 5, at Chambersburg Area Middle School South (1151 E. McKinley St.). Come get tuned up for migration with “Watching Warblers”. 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 (7 and 21 March).

Our next regular meeting takes place on March 9, Monday, at 7:00 PM. Gabriel Foley, executive director of the Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership, will present “Results of Recent MD and DC Breeding Bird Atlas”. 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.

The first planning session for the Beginning Birders’ Workshop (June 6) will occur before this meeting, so come at 6:30 to participate.

We’re already starting to plan for our next season. Please submit budget requests covering  June 1, 2026 – May 31, 2027 to Donna Hocker no later than March 15, 2026.

Field trips coming up this month include:

  • March 7, Saturday. 8:00 AM Middle Creek WMA, Lancaster County auto tour for WATERFOWL.  Meet at the Park & Ride, Scotland Exit 20, I-81 northbound.  Bring scopes, binoculars, and lunch.  Eric and Rhetta Martin, 717-597-8675. 
  • NEW DATE ADDED: March 11, Wednesday, 6:45 AM and March 19, Thursday. 7:15 PM. WOODCOCKS at Heisey Road orchard with Bob Keener.  Head to 5207 Heisey Rd, Shippensburg but park 0.10 mile off of Stillhouse Hollow Rd.  Bring flashlights. Bob Keener, 717-658-8765.
  • March 28, Saturday. CONSERVATION CLEAN-UP. Adopt-A-Highway clean-up on 2 miles of Route 997 (Black Gap Road) west from I-81.  Pick up trash on section with wide shoulders, easy walking.  Supplies provided.  Meet at 9:00 AM at Scotland Park & Ride, I-81 exit 20.  Sign up with Joe & Vanessa Miller, 717-377-6507 (Joe), millerhouse@embarqmail.com.

Please contact the leader in advance and check our website for any last-minute updates. We have a change for one trip in May: Bill Oyler’s field trip in the Fort McCord area has been shifted to May 30.

We continue to seek volunteers for these positions: Film Chair and Vice President. Please contact me to offer your services. Elections will take place at our April 13 meeting, so we really need a candidate for Vice President soon!

Thanks to all who have made a donation. If you would like to, please send your check to Conococheague Audubon Society, PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222. Good birding!

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!

March 2025 from the President

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

It’s above 30 degrees. Can spring be far away?!

Eastern Bluebirds take advantage of nest boxes and our Bluebird Trail team is in charge of organizing volunteers to monitor at least two nest box trails – one on Penn National Golf Course and one at Caledonia State Park. You are invited to attend the opening presentation for the 2025 bluebird season on Saturday, March 8, at 9:30 AM in the Penn National Clubhouse, 3720 Clubhouse Drive, Fayetteville, PA. The keynote address will be presented by JOAN WATROBA from the Bluebird Society of Pennsylvania. Please contact one of the organizers to register for the event: Lynn & Dorian Runt 717-352-4995 or adamsmail@centurylink.net; John Fry 301-503-3646 or johnefryjr@yahoo.com; Ruth Barton 301-367-6968 or ruthbarton46@gmail.com.

An application for the $500 scholarship that Conococheague Audubon is offering this year is available on the Chambersburg Area Education Foundation website. Applications are due March 21, 2025. Qualified applicants include those CASD students who intend to pursue post-secondary studies in environmental conservation, ornithology, wildlife management, or a related field. We look forward to seeing applications. Please tell CASD seniors about the opportunity!

Buttonwood Nature Center near Waynesboro has invited us to set up a display table at their Earth Day event on April 26. The event will take place from 11-4 at Pine Hill Recreation Area. We seek volunteers; and we need to decide soon whether or not we have enough interest to say yes. Please contact Terri Kochert (terri.kochert81@gmail.com  or 717-263-3692) ASAP if you are interested.

Field trip: Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area is mostly closed due to geese having been infected with Avian Influenza. The March 1 field trip is CANCELLED.

The last Nature Film of the season is Frogs: The Thin Green Line. Join us on Thursday, March 6 at 7 PM at Chambersburg Area Middle School South.

Budget requests for the June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026 season are due to Donna Hocker ( dlhocker@yahoo.com ) by March 1.

A reminder that the April 14 annual business meeting will feature elections and reports from the year as well as a program, Radio-tracking Passerines in Early Successional Habitat, by Grace Muench.  Plan to participate!

Volunteer needs:

  • Conservation Chair John Greer reminds us our highway clean-up day is March 8, 2025.  This is part of PENNDOT’s Adopt-A-Highway program. We have “adopted” 2 miles of PA-997 from I-81 west to Main Street, Scotland. It is easy walking on wide shoulders. Supplies are provided–including “grabbers” generously donated by Waste Connections so as to save our backs. We will meet at 9 a.m. at the Scotland Park & Ride, I-81 exit 20.  Even if you are unable to pick up trash, we need a driver to shuttle supplies, and we need a pickup truck to carry filled bags.  Please join us to help beautify PA! Action: Contact John to volunteer.
  • Bluebird Trail – see earlier paragraph above.
  • Greencastle-Antrim Middle School Trout Release, May 15. Val Barnes and Terri Kochert are volunteering to help out.  Action: Additional volunteers? Contact Terri.
  • On April 26, 2025 Buttonwood is requesting CAS to have a display table to celebrate Earth Day. Action: Volunteers will be needed from 11 AM – 4 PM.  Contact Terri.
  • June 14, 2025 Appalachian Trail Festival, Red Run Park, Waynesboro, PA from 9:00 – 3:00. Action: Volunteers? Contact Terri.
  • June 28, 2025 North Square Farmers Market, Chambersburg, PA from 8:00 – 12:00. (Just one time this summer.) Action: Volunteers? Contact Terri.
  • Beginning Birders’ Workshop on June 7 at Caledonia. Planning meetings at 6 PM before the March and April General Meetings. Contact Janet to volunteer.
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