Conococheague Audubon Society

PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222

ConAudubon@outlook.com

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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!

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!

May 2025 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Monthly Message, Outreach, ZoomTagged

Many folks have enjoyed spring field trips. Warblers abound! Join us when you can; see the calendar section for what’s planned. Please call the leader in advance.

Welcome to Jeff Schmaltz and Mike Fagan, who were elected to 3-year terms as directors at the April General Meeting.

Many thanks to outgoing directors Dave Ebbitt and Anne St. John. We will miss you, but look forward to your continued leadership and participation in new ways.

Join us for our last regular meeting of the season: May 12, Monday at 7:00 PM. PA Third Bird Atlas Update, One Year into the 5 Year Project, presented by member and atlas co-coordinator for Franklin County John Carter. Note that the last planning session for the Beginning Birders’ Workshop will happen just before the regular meeting, at 6:30 PM. These meetings are at our regular meeting place: St Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church, (off Route 997, near Scotland exit off I-81) 2695 Luther Dr, Chambersburg, PA 17202. The meeting will also be available via Zoom.

Volunteer opportunities:

  • Ruth Barton is stepping down as Hospitality Chair. The main duty is setting up a table in the back of our meeting room to welcome newcomers. Feel free to talk to Ruth about what else is involved. Please be hospitable!.
  • John Greer is stepping down as Conservation Chair. The main duties are to stay on top of conservation issues and keep our membership informed. It’s also terrific, but not mandatory, if you write a short article for each Naturally newsletter. Who is willing to be our collective conscience about conservation?
  • Bluebird Trail monitors. Contact Lynn or Dorian Runt.
  • Garden care. Contact Josh Donaldson.
  • Greencastle-Antrim Middle School Fish Release, May 15. Terri Kochert, Val Barnes, Dave Ebbitt. Anyone else?
  • Master Gardeners’ Plant Sale, May 17. Ron George and Dave Ebbitt. 9am – 1 pm at Franklin County Human Services Building. 425 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg.
  • Ride along with Bob Mulvihill, looking for Loggerhead Shrikes in our area. May 13, 14, 15, and TBD in mid-late June / early July. Anyone interested in riding along? Contact Bob directly at 412-522-5729.
  • Beginning Birders’ Workshop on June 7 at Caledonia. Many volunteers. Contact Janet Tice. Last planning session will be at 6:30 before the May general meeting on Monday, May 12 at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church, .
  • Appalachian Trail Festival, Red Run Park, Waynesboro, PA on June 14, 2025 from 9:00 – 3:00. Terri Kochert, Debby and Jim Hook. Anyone else?
  • North Square Farmers Market, Chambersburg, PA on June 28, 2025 from 8:00 – 12:00. Terri Kochert. Anyone else?

Please bring family and friends to our events – we welcome new faces! Everything is open to everyone and is free.

April 2025 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Conservation, Monthly Message, Outreach, ZoomTagged , ,

According to a recent press release from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources,

“Shapiro Administration Launches Statewide Program to Replace Invasive Trees and Shrubs

Pennsylvanians can replace up to five invasive trees and shrubs with native species through the new statewide Pennsylvania Invasive Replace-ive Program— registration now open for May events”.https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/newsroom/shapiro-administration-launches-statewide-program-to-replace-inv.html

“The program aims to replace some of Pennsylvania’s most problematic invasive species, including:

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! We need at least 30 votes for the election to be valid, so if you haven’t voted yet, please do. Jeff Schmaltz and Mike Fagan are running to fill our two director openings. Leaders will be reporting status for the 2024 season, so plan to join us in person or participate via Zoom.

Volunteer needs:

  • Ruth Barton is stepping down as Hospitality Chair. The main duty is setting up a table in the back of our meeting room to welcome newcomers. Feel free to talk to Ruth about what else is involved. Please be hospitable!
  • John Greer is stepping down as Conservation Chair. The main duties are to stay on top of conservation issues and keep our membership informed. It’s also terrific, but not mandatory, if you write a short article for each Naturally newsletter. Who is willing to be our collective conscience about conservation?
  • To honor Rhetta Martin’s son Jason, join us for a work session at the Michaux District Forest Office, 10099 Lincoln Way East, Fayetteville, PA 17222 at 8:30 AM on Wednesday, May 7. We’ll be helping to plant native seeds and plugs around the office. Wear gardening garb and bring a trowel or shovel. You need to submit a volunteer form: DCNR Conservation Volunteers. Action: Contact Josh Donaldson to volunteer.
  • Greencastle-Antrim Middle School Trout Release day, with nature-related activities, at Caledonia State Park on Thursday, May 15. Last year the schedule had us arriving at 8:30 to set up and leaving by 1:30; we assume this year will be similar. Action: Contact Terri Kochert to volunteer.
  • Buttonwood asked CAS to set up a display table on April 26, 2025 to celebrate Earth Day at Pine Hill Recreation Area, 12684 Mentzer Gap Rd, Waynesboro, PA. Volunteers will be needed from 11 AM – 4 PM. Action: Contact Larry and Sharon Williams to volunteer.
  • June 14, 2025 Appalachian Trail Festival, Red Run Park, Waynesboro, PA from 9:00 – 3:00. Action: Contact Terri Kochert to volunteer.
  • June 28, 2025 North Square Farmers Market, Chambersburg, PA from 8:00 – 12:00. (Just one time this summer.) Action: Contact Terri Kochert to volunteer.
  • Beginning Birders’ Workshop on June 7 at Caledonia. Planning meeting at 6 PM before the April General Meetings. Action: Contact Janet Tice to volunteer.

Please bring family and friends to our events – we welcome new faces! Everything is open to everyone and is free.

December 2024 from the President

By Valerie BarnesPosted on Posted in Monthly MessageTagged ,

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, full of good food and family traditions. Perhaps you saw some good birds in November, too. A Hermit Thrush and a pair of Eastern Bluebirds stop by my yard every now and then, and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and a Brown Creeper are here more regularly. The leaves from my oak trees are mostly down, and the (non-native) Burning Bush has no berries left. I was remiss in not discouraging you from planting Burning Bush. They are not native and can become really invasive. You might try a native viburnum or native shrub dogwood instead. There will be a list of good options in an upcoming Naturally newsletter.

Just in time for holiday gift-giving, at the December meeting we will display more than 20 fine art prints from the collection of Jim and Deb Wheeling. The Wheelings are generously donating the prints to Conococheague Audubon, and we are offering them to you. Any voluntary contribution would be welcome. The prints will be available for viewing starting at 6:30 PM.

At our December program, Diversity in the Andes, Debby Hook and Terri Kochert will highlight the spectacular plumage of bird species in “the birdiest place in the world.” After learning how folks in Colombia and Ecuador are benefiting from birding tourism, the program will finish with a colorful slide show of beautiful equatorial birds. The meeting will take place at 7 PM on Monday, December 9 at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church, (off Route 997, near Scotland exit off I-81) 2695 Luther Dr, Chambersburg, PA 17202. You may also participate via Zoom.

Conservation Chair John Greer reports that the legislature passed and the Governor signed a bill this summer that directs PENNDOT to landscape state-owned roads using native plants. This new law will benefit the public by reducing pollution run-off and beautifying our roadways.

John also reports that the legislature included $50 million for the Clean Streams Fund, which extends the Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP) in the state’s budget for fiscal year 2024-25.  ACAP will receive $35.75 million of the $50 million.  Under ACAP, decisions to reduce agricultural pollution run-off are made at the local conservation district level.

If you haven’t already, please consider donating to Conococheague Audubon to keep things rolling. Mail your donation to CAS at PO Box 20, Fayetteville, PA 17222. Good birding and Happy Holidays!

  Valerie Barnes, President

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