Published: September, November, January, March, May

NaturallyNewsletter of the ConococheagueAudubon Society

March 2013

Photograph by Doris Burdick

Speaker at February MeetingBy Heather Sahli

Author and ornithologist Scott Weidensaulspoke to a packed audience at our February 11th

meeting. Approximately 200 people were inattendance and Scott gave a wonderful talk about allthe interesting research he and others are doing onthe little studied Northern Saw-whet Owl.

CAS Board member Mary Craig donated abeautiful painting she did of a Saw-whet Owl,which was then given to Scott and the Ned SmithCenter for Nature and Art. The painting will likelybe displayed at an upcoming owl art exhibit at theNed Smith Center and then used as a fundraiser forthem.

In addition to the wonderful audience inattendance at the meeting, CAS also raised $1754 todonate to the Ned Smith Center for their continuedresearch on saw-whet owls. Donations came fromCAS, our members, and the general public alike,with more than $300 being donated at the Mondaynight meeting.

Special thanks to everyone who helped toorganize and publicize this event. We certainlyreached a wide audience with Scott’s talk and nowknow much more about these cute yet enigmaticowls.

2012 Christmas Bird Count SummaryBy Valerie B. Barnes

Thanks to the 80 field observers and 32feeder watchers, the December 15, 2012 ChristmasBird Count in the Chambersburg Circle tallied 82species and 32,002 individual birds. Numbers werehigh for this count; normally we see ~ 71 speciesand ~23,500 individual birds (after discounting ayear with extraordinarily high numbers of gracklesand cowbirds).

We saw White-winged Crossbills for thefirst time on this count. Teams reported unusuallylow numbers of Killdeer, American Crow, andAmerican Tree Sparrow. We again missed thesespecies seen on 30 or more previous counts:Ruffled Grouse, Chipping Sparrow, and EveningGrosbeak We saw more that the usual numbers ofboth Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatch,Golden-crowned Kinglet, Red-bellied Woodpecker,Nothern Flicker, Carolina Wren, Red-tailed Hawk,Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, and Yellow-rumped Warbler.

Mark your calendars for the next Christmascount - Saturday December 14, 2013!

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Migration Bird CountBy Donna Hocker

Mark Your Calendars

The 2013 Pennsylvania Migration Count(PAMC) will be held Saturday, May 11. Last May,69 people counted birds in the field in FranklinCounty and/or at their backyard feeders. Memberscounted 10,344 birds of 135 species.

PAMC is a county-based bird count.Observations can be made anywhere in FranklinCounty over a 24 hour period on count day.Individual participants in Franklin County send theirdata to county compiler, Donna Hocker, who inturn, forwards it to the state compiler. The resultsare published in Pennsylvania Birds our stateornithological journal.

The rules are simple: spend some time in thefield counting birds in a specified area, keep track ofmiles traveled, and time spent counting birds.Birders of all skill levels can help out with thecount. You can count the birds in your yard, at yourfeeders, in a local park or down the street.

This will be the 20th year theConococheague Audubon Chapter has participatedin this event. As always we need more people tocount. If you would like to participate in the fieldbut don’t know where in Franklin County to countor count birds at your feeders contact Donna Hockerat 352-8713 or email dlhocker@yahoo.com

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8 April Annual Meeting PresentationBy Jean Morton

We are happy to welcome our guest speakerLinda Secrist to our meeting. Linda is the MasterGardener Coordinator at the Franklin CountyExtension here in Chambersburg and has imparted

her knowledge of how to grow and nurtureplants at numerous speaking engagements aroundthe area. She was also present at Norlo Park duringthe Master Gardeners tour on September 9, 2012 togreet the visiting gardeners. It should be aninteresting and informative evening.

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Norlo Park GardenBy Jean Morton

As spring approaches and the migration ofbirds gets underway, our thoughts turn once again toour garden. We have two weeding work daysscheduled for Saturday, April 6 starting at 9:00A.M. and Wednesday, April 17 starting at 9:00A.M.

Please try to come out and help on both daysif you can. We can accomplish so much more whenwe have enough volunteers. Since our garden iswell established it should be easier to maintain.

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Changes to 2012/13 Activities ListBy Valerie Barnes

Please note these changes to two field trips in the2012/13 Activities List.

New Leader March 9: Saturday 7:30 A.M. YorkCounty for Waterfowl. Auto tour; return by 3:00P.M. Leave from parking area at northeast corner ofRoute 233 and Route 30. Bring scopes, binoculars,and CB(s) and lunch. Conway Bushey 262-5659.

New Dates for Presque Isle trip: The dates for thePresque Isle and Pymatuning Lake trip are April 30through May 2 (Tuesday - Thursday). The purposeof the trip is to view Spring migrants. Motelreservations in Erie. Bring scopes, binoculars,CB(s). Carpool. Dale Gearhart (H) 597-3979 or(Cell) 860-5799.

CAS needs your help

Valerie Barnes is relinquishing her position asCorresponding Secretary. Thank you Valerie forall your work on behalf of ConococheagueAudubon Society (CAS).

The duties of the Corresponding Secretary asdefined in the chapter by-laws:The Corresponding secretary shall conduct allcorrespondence relating to the SOCIETY, shallissue all notices of Board meetings, as directed.Either by the instructions of the Board of Directorsor at direction of the President, certain othermembers of the SOCIETY may be permitted toconduct SOCIETY correspondence. A copy of anyand all correspondence shall be forwarded to theCorresponding Secretary.

As an elected officer, the correspondingsecretary is a member of the Executive Committee.According to the by-laws: It shall be the duty of theExecutive Committee to take the initiative indetermining the policies of the SOCIETY and tosupervise all holdings of the SOCIETY. …Typically, the Executive Committee meets annuallyto discuss goals, major projects, and the budget.

Our Chapter Guidelines identify thesetypical kinds of correspondence - thank you notesto:• Guilford Township, for the office at Norlo Park(annually, at the end of May)• Any organization or non-member who helps withfield trips (guide, parking, rest stop, etc.)• Any organization or individual who donatesmoney or property to CAS• Any organization or non-member who volunteersfor CAS activities (e.g., Norlo Park weeding, etc.)• Speaker, if the arranger provides contactinformation· Any member who is completing service (e.g.,outgoing board member or officer or committeechair)

When a donation is received, theCorresponding Secretary should acknowledge thegift with a note.

Board members are asked to remind andprovide details to the Corresponding Secretary to besure the thank you notes are accurate and are sent ina timely fashion.

In August the corresponding secretary needsto write a promotional letter which announces theWildlife Film Series to the ConococheagueAudubon Membership.

Also, there is a vacancy in the chair of theHospitality Committee.

The Hospitality Committee promotessociability in the chapter with emphasis onwelcoming guests to our activities. The Committeealso displays membership folders, Activities Lists,cloth patches, CAS window decals, PA BirdsChecklist, CAS Checklist, CAS Birds of FranklinCounty brochure and American Birding AssociationTrip List at each of the regular meetings. TheCommittee sends cards to members who may be illor to deceased members’ spouses and/or family.Committee members also provide centerpieces, andcoffee and tea service at the January Covered DishDinner.

If you are interested in either of these twopositions, please contact Conway Bushey at 717-262-5659 or wcbushey@embarqmail.com.

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Thank youBy Doris Burdick

I would like to thank the members ofConococheague Audubon Society for the giftcertificate to Snavely’s Garden Center. Yourthoughtfulness and generosity is appreciated.

After the May 2013 Naturally I will nolonger be serving as newsletter editor, JenniferWright will be taking on this position.

*** DEADLINE FOR ARTICLES FORMAY 2013 NATURALLYNEWSLETTER IS 15 APRIL***

Newsletter Editor - Doris Burdick58 Homestead DriveGreencastle, PA 17225Rcbdcb@comcast.net717 593 0983

Assistant Editor - Joyce Schaff3205 Warm Springs RoadChambersburg, PA 17201Pjschaff@comcast.net717 375 4632

Send all newsletter articles to the editor, and allmailing changes to the assistant editor.

Conococheague Audubon Website

The URL for our website is:http://www.conococheagueaudubon.org

Or google - Conococheague + Audubon

Visit often to keep up to date on all activities.

OFFICERS

* President: Conway Busheywcbushey@embarqmail.com (717) 262-5659

* Vice President: Doug Powlessdougpowless@hotmail.com (717) 352-3418

* Recording Secretary: Rhetta Martinrhettaanderic@embarqmail.com (717) 597 8675

* Corresponding Secretary: Valerie BarnesBarnesVa4@comcast.net (717) 352 4397

* Treasurer: Henry Betzhvbetz@embarqmail.com (717) 263-3165

* Immediate Past President: Donna Hockerdlhocker@yahoo.com (717) 352-8713

No matter how long the winter, spring is sure tofollow. ~Proverb

Spring is when you feel like whistling even with ashoe full of slush. ~Doug Larson

Visit a National Wildlife Refugeby Doris Burdick

The National Wildlife Refuge (NWR)system is wonderful to visit any time of year, but agreat opportunity for bird watching during theSpring migration.

Some refuges within a day’s drive:

* John Heinz NWR, Philadelphia, PAwww.fws.gov/heinz/index.html

* Blackwater NWR, Cambridge, MDwww.fws.gov/blackwater/

* Patuxent Research Refuge, Laurel, MDwww.fws.gov/northeast/patuxent/

* Bombay Hook NWR, Smyrna, DEwww.fws.gov/northeast/bombayhook/

Be sure to visit the refuge website to find out whatis happening.