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Lancaster County Bird Club |
Lancaster, PennsylvaniaFounded December 8, 1937to secure the cultivation of public sentiment in the
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JULY-SEPTEMBER 2010
FROM PRESIDENT BARBARA HUNSBERGER
Welcome to a new year of birding with the Lancaster County Bird Club. As the new president I must first express my appreciation on behalf of the LCBC Board of Directors to our former president, Ann Bodling for her unwavering dedication and service to the Club and to environmental causes in general in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Ann joined the Club in 1994, became a member of the board as second vice president in 1999 and was elected president in 2006. She served as president until April 2010. Thank you Ann for a job well done. We will miss you. We also want to express our appreciation and gratitude to Carl Beck and Rosemary Spreha for their many years of service to the Board and their support of many of the Club’s activities. I would also be remiss if I did not express our gratitude to Kurt Bodling (Ann’s husband) for his service to the Club as our web master. He very ably volunteered his time to keep our web site up to date and pertinent for our members and other users.
Volunteers are very important to all non-profit organizations including Lancaster County Bird Club. Most of the organizations could not survive without a cadre of dedicated volunteers. We have a very important need for a volunteer to step forward to become the compiler for PA Migration Count for Lancaster County. This is an important annual compilation on the migration patterns of birds through Lancaster County. Please review the announcement and consider whether this is something that you could do to support your LCBC and the bird life of the county. Other volunteer opportunities are also available. Please inquire from any officer or board member.
I must also discuss a topic of concern to all of us, and that is the tragic and very real environmental disaster occurring in the Gulf of Mexico. Many of us would like to help but few are able to go there to volunteer their services. One way to assist is to contribute funds to organizations that are working to help preserve the affected wildlife and habitat. Here are a few organizations directly involved with bird life and bird habitat that would certainly appreciate whatever amount you are able to give. All are able to receive donations by check or by going to their web sites on the Internet. A few of these secure web sites are listed below.
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology www.birds.cornell.edu
- National Audubon www.audubon.org
- American Birding Association www.aba.org
- The Nature Conservancy www.nature.org
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
After many years of service, Bruce Carl is stepping down as the compiler for the Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Migration Count, which takes place each May. We thank Bruce for of his dedication and hard work, even as we begin our search for a new compiler to carry on the tradition. Bruce is very willing to coordinate the transition with a new volunteer for this position. If you would like more information on the duties and time commitment involved please contact Bruce directly at 368-4824 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Bruce plans to continue his extensive involvement as a member of LCBC by leading a number of field trips, as compiler for the Lititz Christmas Bird Count and other activities.
LCBC WEB SITE UPDATE
Keep watch in the next few weeks for a new look to the Lancaster County Bird Club web site. We are working on a new format, color scheme and menu options to make the web site easier for the user while providing more information about LCBC and its activities. Until the new web site is complete we will not be updating the old one. You may still use the membership form on the old site even though the form’s date is 2009. The URL for the web site is www.lancasterbirdclub.org.
LCBC CONTRIBUTIONS
| Lancaster County Conservancy | $1000 |
| North Museum (Ornithology Dept.) | $500 |
| Ned Smith Center (Northern Saw-whet Owl[NSWO] | $500 |
| Lancaster County Elementary Envirothon | $500 |
| PA Game Commission (Middle Creek WMA) | $500 |
| Lancaster History.org | $100 |
| TOTAL | $3100 |
PREVIEW OF COMING EVENTS
Saturday, August 28 - Bruce Carl will lead a field trip for early fall migrants along Pumping
Station Road and at Speedwell Forge County Park. Meet at 7:00 am at the parking lot at Route 322 and Pumping Station Road, west of Brickerville, to begin your birding adventures. Contact Bruce (Akron 368-4824 or
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
) to let him know that you are attending.
Friday, September 10, 2010 – Adrian Binns, the Field Director for Wildside Nature Tours, will present an illustrated talk, titled, The Lighter Side of Birding. Journey around the world as he
takes a light-hearted look at the intriguing observations and amusing tales that he has witnessed or been part of while leading tours to many wonderful birding destinations. Adrian has served as past president of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club (DVOC), one of the oldest bird clubs in the country, and was part of many winning Nikon/DVOC World Series of Birding Teams. He is currently a member of Nikon’s Birding ProStaff. Adrian is an accomplished avian illustrator and well-published photographer.
Saturday, September 11, 2010 – This field trip will be a walk along the trails in the old Cornwall fire tower area of the Furnace Hills. Meet at 7:00 am at the State Game Lands parking lot at the end of the former Cornwall Fire Tower Road. Leader: Steve Rannels (Hershey 534-2480 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).
Saturday, September 18, 2010 – Leader, Fred Habegger (Akron 859-2521), will meet the group at 7:00 am at the Route 322 and Pumping Station Road parking lot, west of Brickerville, to search for songbirds in the early morning, and then go to the Second Mountain Hawk Watch later in the morning for the Hawk migration. This is a good time for large flights of Broad–winged Hawks. Please bring your lunch if you are going to the hawk watch.
QUITTAPAHILLA AUDUBON SOCIETY ANNOUNCMENT
To celebrate International Biodiversity Year the Quittapahilla Audubon Society will be showing the film,
"Ghost Bird" at the Allen Theater on 9/26/2010 at 1:30 pm. “Ghost Bird,” the film, is a feature length documentary about an extinct giant woodpecker, a small town in Arkansas hoping to reverse its misfortunes, and the tireless odyssey of the bird-watchers and scientists searching for the Holy Grail of birds, the elusive Ivory Billed Woodpecker. Quittapahilla Audubon hopes to increase awareness of global species loss and to raise funds for local conservation projects.
Admission: $10–Adult; Students–$5.
Advance tickets will be sold at MJ’s Coffeehouse or by calling 717 - 964 - 3412
Please call if you have any questions.
Evelyn Koppel, Secretary
QAS 717 964-3412
MEMBERSHIP NEWS BY PAT WITMER
A reminder—your membership renewal for 2010-11 is payable now. Enclosed with this newsletter is the renewal form for your membership. Since this is the only notice you will receive, please complete the form and mail it, along with your check made payable to the Lancaster County Bird Club, to our treasurer, Roger Stoner, 1650 Princess Anne Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601, at your earliest convenience. Membership fees are tax deductible and additional contributions are gratefully accepted. It would be helpful if you included your 9-digit zip code and your e-mail on this form. A few people have already renewed, or new members have joined for 2010-11 and this is indicated on their mailing label with a “7/11” and there will not be a renewal form enclosed in their mailing.
Reminder: The Research Issue of “Call Notes” for 2010 will be made available on our web site at www.lancasterbirdclub.org in order to save printing and mailing costs. However, if you would prefer to receive a printed copy of the research issue, a space is provided for you to indicate this at the bottom of the membership form. If your dues for 2010-11 have already been paid or you receive a complimentary copy (i.e., Audubon Clubs, PGC) of “Call Notes,” a different form than the membership form is enclosed for your completion.
Total membership for 2009-10 was 358, a decrease of 19 members from 2008-2009.
Welcome to our new members! Please join us on our field trips, which provide a means of getting acquainted with other members of the LCBC, as well as familiarizing you with birding locations in the area.
New Members:
Johnson, Robert, 1318 Heatherwood Drive, Mt. Joy, PA 17552
St. John, Dr. Mary M., 8 Maria Lane, Columbia, PA 17512
Shenk, John B., 871 Clearview Avenue, Apt. 141, Ephrata, PA 17522
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS BY BETTINA HEFFNER
Bettina Heffner and the Club made front page news in the Quarryville Edition of the Advertiser on April 14. Bettina was interviewed about the Club’s participation in the Earth Day program at the Quarryville Library sponsored by PPL. This is the second year that the Club made the scene. This year club volunteers provided bird walks around the library grounds; folks could borrow our loaner binoculars.. Twenty seven species were sighted and listed on a big board as they were seen. Gently-used birding magazines were offered free to the public. Other volunteers were Sandy Roda, Jim and Rita Smith, Carl and Vonnie Beck, Maxine Montgomery, Roger Stoner, Bob Eshbach, and Gladys Horst. Save those magazines for next year!
Ad Crable’s article about the Mason-Dixon Trail in the Lancaster paper on June 1 included two members. For the article, Ad walked along part of the trail on a Wednesday morning. You guessed it…..he ran into Chuck Chalfant and the Wednesday group along Historic Lock 12, in York County. He also sited Charlie Albin for his good hard work in maintaining part of the trail. A thirty mile section of the trail has been designated as a National Recreation Trail. It’s the part from Wrightsville to Lock 12, following the Susquehanna River on the York County side. This trail is another local treasure, thanks to volunteers like Charlie. Ad stresses that new volunteers are needed to join the Mason-Dixon Trail Club and/or help with maintenance.
Participation in a club such as ours affords more than developing our knowledge and appreciation of wild bird life. We enjoy sidebar conversations about where to purchase native plants, what’s a good web site for airline flights, where to get good local strawberries, etc. We have a wealth of knowledge as a group. Adding to our collective knowledge base is Lynda Lueck- Stoner, a nutritionist. She was interviewed in the Lancaster paper on June 8 about salt. The National Salt Reduction Initiative advocates reducing the amount of salt in processed foods and in restaurant-prepared foods. Excess salt in our diets is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. Lynda stresses the need to read food labels for salt content, to be educated about which foods contain salt and to be mindful about what we eat. Sea salt and table salt are processed differently, she explains. Sea salt has less processing but both are the same minerals. If we are what we eat, let’s aim to be less salty.
Jim Smith, consulting naturalist for PPL, was quoted in the Intell issue of June 9, 2010, in an article entitled "Exelon Studies River Ospreys" by James Buescher. As a part of Exelon's effort to renew its license at the Holtwood hydroelectric facility, they have to conduct studies of the nesting, living habits, and migration of the birds along the lower Susquehanna River. Jim commented on the nesting and feeding habits of the Ospreys that use this area and then migrate south for the winter.
Barbara Hunsberger and Robert Coley joined ten other crazy birders on a wild “chicken odyssey” in beautiful Colorado. They arose long before dawn to arrive at the lek with enough light to distinguish bird from rock and were fortunate enough to see a number of displaying birds on each of the five leks, including Greater Prairie Chicken, Lesser Prairie Chicken, Sage Grouse, Gunnison Sage Grouse, and Sharp-tailed Grouse. Each has its own distinct dance and way of displaying its beautiful feathers even though the female seem totally oblivious to either the dance or the feathers. In between these special events they added the White-tailed Ptarmigan in a snow squall on Loveland Pass, both the Scaled and Gamble’s Quail, Chukar, and a dead Dusky Sage Grouse to complete the sweep. During the day they added a number of water birds, raptors, and passerines. Outstanding sightings were the Golden Eagle, several of the subspecies of the Dark-eyed Junco, the Mountain Plover, seven woodpecker species, McCown’s and Chestnut-Collared Longspurs, and Black Rosy-Finch, Brown-capped Rosy Finch, and Cassin’s among the finches. In all, they counted over 150 species, but only a few life birds because they had birded the area before. Always as a backdrop to the birding activities was the magnificent scenery of Colorado, from the majestic Rockies to the forlorn prairies. The tour covered 2300 miles in 10 days.
LCBC board member, Chuck Chalfant, conducted a “Big Year” of birds for Lancaster County in 2009. The purpose of a big year is to identify the most species in a given area over the course of the entire year. He identified a total of 270 species in the county. Chuck states that “I really enjoyed doing a big year, even though at times it gets grueling, but I learned a lot more about the birds of my home county and where to find them, by just traipsing around and much more from the more experienced birders of this county.” Please contact Chuck if you would like more information and the details of his “Big Year.”
BIRDS ON THE MOVE (MARCH-MAY 2010) COMPILED BY GLENN SHAFFER
Editor’s Note: Please report your sightings to Glenn Shaffer, 221 Maxson Rd, Lancaster, PA 17601. He prefers to have reports sent to his e-mail address ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), but will accept mail or phone reports (569-2519). Our focus is not just on rare or uncommon birds, but also on more common species that appear in unusual numbers, out-of-season, or exhibiting behavior that would be of interest to our members. Your help is needed in making this column a way of recording the county’s bird life. If you send a report to the Pennsylvania Birding List or make a verbal report at a LCBC meeting, please send that report to Glenn also. Thank you for your help!
Mar. 1 - 1 Pine Siskin – At feeder on Woodridge Blvd. in E. Hempfield Twp. – Barbara Hunsberger
Mar. 3 - 1 American Tree Sparrow – In tree at home in Gap – Pam Fisher
Mar. 5 - 1 Snow/Ross’s Goose Hybrid, 2 Greater White-fronted Geese – Middle Creek WMA – Justin & Devin Bosler
Mar. 6 - 2 Short-eared Owls – Stop #3, Middle Creek WMA – Mike Epler
Mar. 6 - 85 Snow Geese (all but 8 were “blue” phase) – Flyover LGH Health Campus – Glenn Shaffer
Mar. 7 - 1 Greater White-fronted Goose, 9 Cackling Geese – Greenfield Park & Estates - Justin & Devin Bosler
Mar. 7 - 1 American Woodcock – Digging in leaves in yard in Holtwood – Jim Smith
Mar. 7 - 1 Nashville Warbler – Washington Boro Water Treatment Plant – Justin & Devin Bosler
Mar. 9 - 2500 Tundra Swans – Flying over office building in Columbia – Meredith Lombard
Mar. 10 - 1 Ross’s Goose, 1 Cackling Goose, 120,000 Snow Geese, 2300 Tundra Swans, 15 species of ducks among 47 total species - Middle Creek WMA - Wednesday Birding Group of 17
Mar. 10 – 1 Cackling Goose – Pond behind Horst Building on Granite Run, Manheim Twp. – Glenn Shaffer
Mar. 10 - 1 Great Egret, 4 Hooded Mergansers – Wetland Preservation area, Red Rose Commons – Glenn Shaffer
Mar. 13 - 1 Little Gull, 175 Bonaparte’s Gulls, 6 Greater Scaups, 60 Buffleheads, 30 Common Goldeneyes - Susquehanna River at “The Rocks,” Blue Lane south of Columbia - Justin & Devin Bosler
Mar. 13 - 1 Northern Shoveler, 2 American Wigeons, 2 American Coots – Wood’s Edge Park – Meredith Lombard
Mar. 14 – 2 Peregrine Falcons, 2 Little Gulls with Bonaparte’s – Rt. 462 Bridge, Columbia and south – Eric Witmer
Mar. 14 - 1 Purple Finch – On feeder at home in Gap – Chuck Chalfant
Mar. 14 - 6 American Woodcocks - Girl Scout Rd. at Middle Creek WMA – Group of 12 with Bruce Carl
Mar. 14 - 1 Little Gull, 120 Bonaparte’s Gulls, 850 Ring-billed Gulls, 4 Herring Gulls, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Black Scoters – On Susquehanna River from home in Peach Bottom – Bob Schutsky
Mar. 15 - 1 Ross’s Goose, 1 Cackling Goose – Wood’s Edge Park – Justin & Devin Bosler
Mar. 16 - 1 Red-necked Grebe, 1 Red-breasted Merganser – Middle Creek WMA – Justin Bosler
Mar. 19 - 1 Eastern Screech Owl (seen), Heard only: 1 Eastern Screech Owl, 3 Great Horned Owls, 3 Barred Owls, 2 Northern Saw-whet Owls, 1 Long-eared Owl - Octoraro Lake area – Wed. Birding Group of 5
Mar. 20 - 11 Horned Grebes, 200+ Bonaparte’s Gulls, 28 Wood Ducks among 13 waterfowl species – Susquehanna River from Conejohela Flats to Columbia – Justin & Devin Bosler
Mar. 20 - 1 Virginia Rail (calling), 2 Swamp Sparrows – Wood’s Edge Park – Justin & Devin Bosler
Mar. 20 - 2 Wilson’s Snipes – Wood’s Edge Park – Meredith Lombard
Mar. 21 - 2 Great Horned Owls in courtship-like behavior, 1 Eastern Phoebe – From home in Gap – Chuck Chalfant
Mar. 21 - 6 Wilson’s Snipes – 0.25 miles past stop #3 at Middle Creek WMA – Mike & Linda McKinne
Mar. 21- 50+ American Pipits, 12 American Wigeons, 3 Green-winged Teal, 2 Killdeer - Fields at Riverfront Park near Marietta – Meredith Lombard
Mar. 24 - 2 Short-eared Owls, 1 Northern Harrier, 1 Ring-necked Pheasant, 2 Eastern Meadowlarks, 5 Blue-winged Teal as part of 15 species of ducks among 40 total species - Middle Creek WMA - Wednesday Birding Group of 15
Mar. 24 - 2 Black-crowned Night-herons, 1 Osprey,, 1 Eastern Phoebe, 1 Bald Eagle (Imm.) - Speedwell Forge Lake & County Park – Linda McKinne & Barbara Hunsberger
Mar. 25 - 1 Long-tailed Duck, 1 Red-breasted Merganser – “The Rocks” at Blue Lane – Justin & Devin Bosler
Mar. 25 - 1 Cackling Goose, 9 Gadwalls, 24 American Wigeons, 64 Wood Ducks, 70 Green-winged Teal, 36 Northern Shovelers, 5 Yellow-rumped Warblers,– Middle Creek WMA – Justin & Devin Bosler
Mar. 27 - 1 Greater Yellowlegs, 24 Green-winged Teal – Beechdale Rd. farm pond, Bird-in-Hand – Justin Bosler
Mar. 27 - 3 Horned Grebes, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Little Gull, 300 + Bonaparte’s Gulls, 1 Long-tailed Duck - Conejohela Flats – Bob Schutsky
Mar. 31 - 1 Peregrine Falcon, 6 Red-breasted Mergansers, 4 Northern Rough-winged Swallows, 2 Wilson’s Snipes, 20 Bonaparte’s Gulls, 3 Yellow-rumped Warblers among 47 total species– Susquehanna River from Washington Boro to Wrightsville to Long Level & Wood’s Edge Park – Wed. Birding Group of 13
Mar. 31 – 8 Red-tailed hawks, 30 Turkey Vultures – In field at Sunnyside Rd west of Ephrata – Jan & Pat Witmer
Apr. 2 - 1 Pectoral Sandpiper – Creek Rd. – Justin & Devin Bosler
Apr. 4 - 1 Dunlin, 2 Wild Turkeys (hens) - Conejohela Flats (turkeys on Green Is.) - Eric Witmer & Bruce Carl
Apr. 4 - 1 Eastern Towhee - Earliest date at feeder on Woodridge Blvd. in E. Hempfield Twp. – Peter Hunsberger
Apr. 7 - 1 Common Loon, 2 Barred Owls (calling), 4 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, 4 Pine Warblers, 2 Palm Warblers,
1 Gray Catbird, 3 Eastern Meadowlarks among 63 species – Octoraro area – Wed. Birding Group of 11
Apr. 8 - 18 Caspian Terns, 2 Blue-winged Teal, 8 Bonaparte’s Gulls, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers,1 Yellow-throated Warbler – Susquehanna River from Columbia to Conejohela Flats – Justin & Devin Bosler
Apr. 8 - 2 Broad-winged Hawks, 2 Virginia Rails – Wood’s Edge Park – Justin & Devin Bosler
Apr. 11 – 2 Forster’s Terns, 7 Caspian Terns, 2 Wild Turkeys - Conejohela Flats & Blue Rock Rd. – Bob Schutsky
Apr. 11 - 35 Common Loons – Flying low over Middle Creek WMA - Justin & Devin Bosler
Apr. 11 – 5 Bald Eagles (2 adults, 3 chicks) – Zeltenreich Church – Jan & Pat Witmer, Leon &Jane Schreffler
Apr. 11 – 3 Bald Eagles (1 adult, 2 chicks) – Espenshade Rd., Strasburg – Jan & Pat Witmer, Leon & Jane Schreffler
Apr. 12 - 25 Double-crested Cormorants – Unusual flyover location, backyard in Gap – Pam Fisher
Apr. 13 - 8 Chimney Swifts, 10+ Palm Warblers (In same tree) – Lancaster County Central Park – Glenn Shaffer
Apr. 14 - 1 Peregrine Falcon, Yellow - throated warblers (uncounted) - Safe Harbor Park – LCBC walk with Jim Smith
Apr. 14 - 1 Peregrine Falcon chasing a Pileated Woodpecker near the falcon nest – Safe Harbor – Ann Pettigrew
Apr. 14 1 Northern Parula, Louisiana Waterthrush (uncounted), Wild turkeys (uncounted) - Shenk’s Ferry Wildflower Preserve – LCBC walk with Jim Smith
Apr. 14 – 1 Rusty Blackbird – Middle Creek WMA – Dallas Dowhower
Apr. 14 - 1 Eastern Screech Owl (red phase) in nest hole in tree, 1 Bald Eagle, 2 Cooper’s Hawks, 1 Palm Warbler, 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 2 Pine Warblers, 1 Common Yellowthroat, 9 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, among 50 species – Speedwell Forge Lake & County Park – Wed. Birding Group of 13
Apr. 16 - 1 Red-shouldered Hawk, 4 Broad-winged Hawks, 1 Cooper’s Hawk - Flyover home in Gap – Pam Fisher
Apr. 21 - 8 Yellow-throated Warblers, 1 Osprey, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 2 Pileated Woodpeckers among 37 total species – Safe Harbor Park - Wednesday Birding Group of 20
Apr. 21 - 1 Green Heron, 1 Greater Yellowlegs, 6 Wood Ducks - Mt. Eden Rd., Octoraro Lake – Chuck Chalfant
Apr. 23 - 1 Baltimore Oriole – At feeder in East Earl Twp. – Denise Shaffer
Apr. 24 - 3 Little Gulls, 20+ Bonaparte’s Gulls – South of Rt. 462 bridge, Columbia – Mike Weible
Apr. 27 - 15 Willets – Middle Creek WMA – Jim Binder & Randy Miller
Apr. 27 - 3 Pectoral Sandpipers, 2 Greater Yellowlegs – Middle Creek WMA - Ron Ferry
Apr. 27 - 2 Yellow Warblers, 3 Lesser Yellowlegs, 1 Solitary Sandpiper – Middle Creek WMA – Dallas Dowhower
Apr. 27 - 1 Prothonotary Warbler – Pumping Station Road – Bob Eschbach & Glenn Shaffer
Apr. 27 - 1 Bald Eagle (adult) – Along Landis Run at Valleybrook, Manheim Twp. – Leon Schreffler
Apr. 28 - 3 Broad-winged Hawks (1 Perched), 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 6 Red-tailed Hawks (1 with squirrel lunch), 8 House Wrens, 1 Black-and-white Warbler, 3 Common Yellowthroats, 1 Palm Warbler, 10 Yellow-rumped Warblers among 50 species – Lancaster County Central Park - Wednesday Birding Group of 21
Apr. 28 - 1 Warbling Vireo – Chesapeake St. Bridge at Lancaster County Central Park – Fern Bauman
Apr. 28 - 1 Ruby - throated Hummingbird, I Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 2 House Wrens, 1 Gray Catbird – At home feeders in Denver – Loretta Gehman
Apr. 28-5/10 - 1 Tundra Swan (Injured) – Susquehanna River islands south of Bainbridge – Fletcher Coleman
Apr. 30 - 50+ Caspian Terns, 1 Least Sandpiper, 5 Spotted Sandpipers, 8 Lesser Yellowlegs, 1 Greater Yellowlegs, 2 Solitary Sandpipers, 1 Prothonotary Warbler - Conejohela Flats – Bob Schutsky & Jerry Book
May 1 - 1 Long-tailed Duck, 1 Semi-palmated Plover - Conejohela Flats – Bob Schutsky
May 2 - 2 Pectoral Sandpipers, 3 Solitary Sandpipers, 5 Least Sandpipers, 1 Greater yellowlegs, 3 Lesser Yellowlegs, 2 American Pipits, 1 Eastern Meadowlark – Holding pond on Junction Rd. – Glenn Shaffer
May 2 - 1 Orchard Oriole (1st year male), 1 Baltimore Oriole (male), 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler – On bird bath at Woodridge Blvd. in E. Hempfield Twp. – Barbara & Peter Hunsberger
May 3 – 1 Swamp Sparrow, 1 Indigo Bunting, 2 Yellow-billed Cuckoos (heard) – Yard in Gap – Chuck Chalfant
May 3 - 1 Northern Waterthrush – Along creek near home in Gap – Pam Fisher
May 4 – 4 Bald Eagles, 4 Solitary Sandpipers, 1 Warbling Vireo - Landis Valley Museum – Leon Schreffler
May 5 - 2 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, 1 Yellow-throated Vireo, 1 Blue-headed Vireo, 10 Red-eyed Vireos, 1 White-eyed Vireo, 10 Warbler Species including 1 Black-throated Blue, 6 Ovenbirds, 2 Northern Waterthrushes, 4 Louisiana Waterthrushes – Pumping Station Rd. - Wednesday Birding Group of 24
May 8 - 1 Golden-winged Warbler, 1 Blackburnian Warbler, 1 Cape May Warbler, 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 1 Cerulean Warbler, 2 Peregrine Falcons – Safe Harbor Park – Tom Raub
May 8 – 1 Ibis (dark colored), 13 Warbler species including uncounted Hooded, Canada, & Worm-eating - Pumping Station Rd. – Bruce Carl
May 9 - 1 Blue Grosbeak, 1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo, 1 Green Heron - E. Donegal Twp. Park – Amy Evans
May 10 - 3 Bald Eagles (2 Eaglets, 1 adult) – At nest at Zeltenreich Church near New Holland – Jan & Pat Witmer
May 11 - 1 Mourning Warbler (male) among 12 warbler species – Pumping Station Rd. – Glenn Shaffer
May 11 - 1 Sora, 2 Virginia Rails, 1 Ruddy Duck – Wood’s Edge Park, S. Centerville Rd. – Drew Weber
May 11 - 1 Common Tern, 25 Bonaparte’s Gulls, 1 Lesser Scaup, 1 Hooded Merganser – “The Rocks” at Blue Lane south of Columbia – Drew Weber
May 12 - 3 Peregrine Falcons (newborn chick and parents) – Safe Harbor Park – Dennis Harnley
May 12 - 1 Bald Eagle (adult) – Sitting in field on Gamber Rd., Manor Twp. – Dennis Harnley
May 12 – 40 Brant, 4 Orchard Orioles, 10 Warbler species including 25 Blackpoll, 1 Prothonotary, 12 American Redstarts among 62 total species – Bainbridge Canal Trail - Wednesday Birding Group of 6
May 14 - 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird (at feeder), 1 Bay-breasted Warbler, 1 Black-throated Green Warbler,
1 Northern Parula – Warblers in front yard oak tree in Bowmansville – Edith Leaman
May 15 - 1 Alder Flycatcher – Pinch Road power line cut near Lebanon County Line – Randy Miller
May 16 - 4 Bald Eagles (3 Eaglets, 1 adult) – At nest at Zeltenreich Church near New Holland – Jan & Pat Witmer
May 16 - 1 Cerulean Warbler, 2 Blackburnian Warblers in 14 warbler species - Middle Creek WMA – Drew Weber
May 16 – 1 Wood Thrush, 2 Great-crested Flycatchers – In yard in Denver – Loretta Gehman
May 17 - 1 Cerulean Warbler – Warehouse Rd. at Safe Harbor – Glenn Shaffer
May 17 - 2 Blue Grosbeaks, 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 8 Yellow-breasted Chats, 2 Grasshopper Sparrows, 1 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, 1 Willow Flycatcher - Observation Rd, Oak Dr., Safe Harbor – Glenn Shaffer
May 18 - 1 Brant – Wood’s Edge Park, S. Centerville Rd. – Stanley Stahl
May 19 - 4 Blue Grosbeaks (2 pairs), 30 Orchard Orioles, 1 Swainson’s Thrush, 10 Wood Ducks (Hen, 9 chicks), 1 Common Nighthawk, 50 Chimney Swifts, 6 Flycatcher species including 1 Yellow-bellied, 1 Least, 1 Olive-sided - Lancaster County Central Park, Rockford and City View Dr. – Wed. Birding Group of 15
May 19 - 1 Least Bittern, 1 Prothonotary Warbler, 7 Shorebird species including 3 Dunlin, 227 Least Sandpipers, 74 Semipalmated Sandpipers - Conejohela Flats – Bob Schutsky
May 21 - 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird (male) - At feeder in Ephrata – Jan & Pat Witmer
May 23 - 2 Black-bellied Plovers, 33 Semipalmated Plovers 1 Short-billed Dowitcher, 2 Dunlin, among 8 shorebird species , 2 Great Egrets, 4 Prothonotary Warblers - Conejohela Flats – Bob Schutsky
May 24 - 1 American Robin (leucistic) – River Rd., between Oak Rd. & County Waste Landfill – Meredith Lombard
May 28 - 2 Common Nighthawks - Flying around in Columbia – David Rotert
May 29 - 1 Red-headed Woodpecker – Near White Horse on Mt. Vernon Rd. – Drew Weber
May 29 – 70 Purple Martins, Cliff Swallows (uncounted) - Muddy Run Power Plant – Meredith Lombard
May 30 - 2 Peregrine Falcons – Norman Wood Bridge – Tom Raub
REVIEW OF COMPLETED EVENTS
March 31, 2010 – Eiserer-Hickey Lecture by Jan Witmer
The inaugural lecture of the Eiserer-Hickey lecture series, funded by the Eiserer-Hickey Foundation, was presented at the Roschel Performing Arts Center on the campus of Franklin & Marshall College. This lecture was held through the collaborative efforts of North Museum, the Lancaster County Bird Club, and Franklin & Marshall College.
Guest lecturer was Bill Thompson III, noted author, speaker, and currently the editor of Bird Watcher’s Digest. His topic, “No Child Left Inside—Birds as a Doorway to Nature,” was a review of his experiences with his own children and also the many school groups he has lead on birding trips. The “easy going” nature of his presentation and the humor that was interspersed throughout made for an entertaining talk.
On the serious side, he expressed a concern for what has been called Nature Deficit Disorder. This has been defined as the condition where children are no longer connected with nature. Their only contact with outside activities is through sports. The electronics explosion of IPods, video, and computer games, etc., provide too many distractions for youth.
Several points were given as a means of combating this condition. Most important was adults setting good examples. Birds present an easy way to get children hooked on nature. They want to know what they see. When introducing them to birds, keep it simple. Start in your own backyard or nearby areas; everyone should have binoculars; let them decide where they want to go; make a list every time you go out; join a bird club and get involved with its activities; make it fun.
It was an excellent message and a proven method to use for anyone interested in getting children connected with nature!
April 9, 2010 - At our club meeting Laurie Goodrich, Senior Monitoring Biologist with Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, presented “The Ecology and Behavior of Migrating Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks.” Her timely information on these partial migrants was part of her dissertation as she works toward her Ph. D. in Ecology at Penn State University. She and her team used radio telemetry to follow the hawks that were caught at Little Gap which is along the 185 mile Blue Mountain, also known as the Kittatinny Ridge. By following these birds in SUVs and sometimes a small plane, she confirmed that these hawks rarely build fat prior to migration; they eat as they go, taking off days to forage. For this reason, it’s important to conserve areas for the foraging. She concluded that they are diurnal, roosting at night and active from dawn to dusk, either foraging or migrating. For roosting, both species selected forested areas. For this reason, it’s important to conserve forests. Laurie gave us information on two specific species as well as the natural habitat needed for the success of their migration.
April 14, 2010 – Jim Smith led a mid-week trip, combining birding and wildflowers, to Safe Harbor and Shenk’s Ferry. The 13 participants started the day in a cold fog and ended the outing in bright sunshine and a temperature of 65 degrees. The group totaled 30 species; highlights of the day included 3 Yellow-throated Warblers, Northern Parula, many Chipping Sparrows and a pair of Peregrine Falcons nesting under the railroad tracks at the entrance to the Safe Harbor Dam. The wildflowers at Shenk’s Ferry Preserve were about one week past peak bloom. Butterflies were scarce due to cold conditions and soggy weather.
May 1, 2010 – The lower Susquehanna River near Locks 12 and 15 (IBA#57) was the setting for a trip led by Jim Smith with eight participants. The group had a total of 43 species for the morning. Highlights of the trip included 6 Osprey, females incubating eggs on three separate nests, 4 Bald Eagles with two active nests with at least 2 eaglets each, 1 Yellow-throated Vireo, 2 Cerulean Warblers, 4 Northern Parula, 1 Yellow-throated Warbler, pair of American Redstarts, 4 Orchard Orioles, and 3 Baltimore Orioles.
May 8, 2010 – Warbler Walks
Chickies Rock County Park – A day of clouds, rain, sun and wind produced 56 species for the 8 participants of the warbler walk led by Roger Stoner. The group identified 11 species of warblers and observed an active Bald Eagle nest on the York County side of the Susquehanna River. The Mountain Laurel was in bloom and many butterflies were observed.
Middle Creek WMA – Although it was also rainy and windy at Middle Creek, Fred Habegger and three participants observed 75 species. Highlights included Common Nighthawk, Forster’s Tern, and Bonaparte’s Gull.
Central Hammer Creek (Pumping Station Road, Speedwell County Park and Lake) - Bruce Carl led a group of 12 club members on this warbler walk where 63 species were identified. High winds later in the day made birding very difficult. Probably the highlight of the trip was a dark Ibis that was spotted flying high above Pumping Station Road where it was last seen flying north. Also seen along Pumping Station Road was an immature Bald Eagle that was spooked from along the creek near the first power line cut along the road. There were also 13 Warbler species identified: Black-throated Blue, Common-Yellowthroat, Black & White, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Yellow-rumped, Louisiana Waterthrush, Black-throated Green, Chestnut-sided, Canada, Hooded, Worm-eating and Northern Parula. Other sightings for the day included good looks at Acadian Flycatcher, Great Crested Flycatcher, Veery, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Baltimore Oriole.
May 15, 2010 – Leader Doug Anderson and 10 participants had a field trip to Warehouse Road in the Safe Harbor area, which also included The PPL Observation Overlook above the Susquehanna River. On this clear warm day the group observed 67 species. The highlights of the trip were many Yellow-breasted Chats and a Peregrine Falcon.
May 22, 2010 - Bruce A. Carl led a group of 16 on a field trip to Southern New Jersey. A total of 97 species were identified which included 14 species of shorebirds and 15 species of warblers. Areas visited included Bellaplain State Forest, Reed's Beach, Cape May Point State Park and Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge ("The South Cape May Meadows"). Some of the highlights from each location are mentioned below.
Bellaplain State Forest - Summer Tanager, Acadian Flycatcher, Hairy Woodpecker, White-eyed Vireo, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Field Sparrow and Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Warblers included: Prairie, Pine, Worm-eating, Hooded, Magnolia, Yellow-throated, Black & White, Blue-winged, Common Yellowthroat, Ovenbird, Louisiana Waterthrush.
Reed's Beach - Thousands of shorebirds, including hundreds of Red Knots. Other shorebirds present included: Purple Sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstones, Sanderling, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Willet, Short-billed Dowitcher. Other highlights included Boat-tailed Grackle, Marsh Wren, Least Tern, Bald Eagle and Osprey. There were four gull species on the beach: Herring, Laughing, Ring-billed and Great Black-backed.
Cape May Point State Park - Blackpoll Warbler, Least Tern, Common Tern, Piping Plover, Glossy Ibis, Black-bellied Plover, Yellow-breasted Chat and Orchard Oriole.
Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge - Gadwall, Oystercatcher (pair at nest), Piping Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Least Tern, Yellow Warbler and Northern Gannet.
If you have any questions regarding items in the newsletter, Club meetings/programs, or field trips, please feelfree to contact a member of the Board of Directors. For your convenience, their names and phone numbers arelisted below:
President – Barbara B. Hunsberger – 393-4091
First Vice President - Jeffrey L. Musser – 464-5273
Second Vice President - Michael G. McKinne - 653-8782
Treasurer - Roger Stoner - 393-9030
Recording Secretary - Sally S. Lownsbery - 872-2102
Corresponding/Membership Secretary - Patricia P. Witmer - 738-1855
Newsletter Editor - Barbara B. Hunsberger - 393-4091
Directors:
Douglas Anderson – 203-2482 Chuck Chalfant – 442-8953
Carlton Groff – 529-2249 John Lahr – 284-3497
Linda McKinne – 653-8782 Jane Schreffler - 569-0789
James Smith – 284-4458 Jan A. Witmer – 738-1855