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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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"CALL NOTES"
JANUARY - MARCH 2006
Friday, January 13, 2006 - Club meeting at 7:30 p.m. at the Farm & Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster. Tonight's program, "Eco-Tourism -- Your Role as a Birder, Naturalist, or Photographer," will feature the work of well-known photographers and authors, Joe and Mary Ann McDonald. It will take a look at the effects of eco-tourism (good and bad) on birds, mammals, and the environment around the world...from Pennsylvania to Rwanda.
Saturday, January 21, 2006 - A trip to the Cape Henlopen area and the Delmarva Coast led by Fred Zimmerman (Landisville 892-3046). Meet at 6:00 a.m. at the A.C. Moore parking lot in the Lancaster Shopping Center, located between Routes 501 & 272, just south of Route 30.
Sunday, February 5, 2006 - A field trip looking for winter field birds and then to Middle Creek WMA for Tundra Swans and Snow Geese. Leader: Jan Witmer (Ephrata 738-1855). Meet at 1:00 p.m. at Martin's Country Market, along Route 322, just west of Ephrata.
Friday, February 10, 2006 - Club meeting at 7:30 p.m. at the Farm & Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster. Internationally-known author and naturalist, Scott Weidensaul, will present the program, "Return to Wild America: Searching for a Continent's Natural Soul." In 1953, naturalists Roger Tory Peterson and James Fisher made a now-legendary 30,000-mile trip across North America, which they chronicled in their best-selling book, Wild America. Fifty years later, author Scott Weidensaul has retraced their epic journey to see what we've gained and lost, and to catch a glimpse of what the future holds for wildlife and wild lands. From the great seabird cliffs of Newfoundland to the cypress swamps of Florida, from the cloud forests of the Sierra Madre in Mexico to lonely islands far out in the Bering Sea, Weidensaul searches out the wild heart of the continent -- and finds it strong.
Saturday, February 18, 2006 - A trip to the New Jersey shore led by Gary Shirk (Lancaster 291-2172 or e-mail glshirk [AT] verizon.net). Places to be checked include Shark River Inlet, Manasquan River, and Barnegat Light, Meet at 5:30 a.m. at the Reading Interchange of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, off Route 222 north of Ephrata.
Saturday, March 4. 2006 - Field trip to Middle Creek WMA led by Bruce Carl (Akron 859-4179 or e-mail carls [AT] dejazzd.com) and Fred Habegger (Akron 859-2521). Option #1 - Meet at 6:00 a.m. at Stop #1 to see the birds leaving the lake. Option #2 - Meet at 7:30 a.m. at Stop #1 for general birding.
Friday, March 10, 2006 - Club meeting at 7:30 p.m. at the Farm & Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster. Tonight's program will be presented by Pennsylvania Game Commission specialist, Dan Brauning. The program, "Peregrine Falcons -- A Story of Recovery," looks to be an interesting view of the Peregrine's recovery, particularly here in Pennsylvania.
Sunday, March 12, 2006 - The annual trip in search of courting Woodcock will be led by Larry Coble (Elizabethtown 367-5083). Meet at 5:00 p.m. at the junction of Route 117 and Pinch Road in Mt. Gretna.
Saturday, April 1, 2006 - Birding along the Susquehanna River, led by Jonathan Heller (Lebanon 228-2161 or e-mail jonathan.heller [AT] comcast.net). Meet at 7:30a.m. in the parking lot of the John Wright Restaurant in Wrightsville. A good time to be looking for Little Gulls along the river!
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS BY BETTINA HEFFNER
In mid-September, Jan & Pat Witmer, as part of their 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration, enjoyed an 11-day cruise aboard the paddlewheel boat, the Empress of the North. They cruised the Inside Passage from Juneau to Seattle, stopping at Skagway, Glacier Bay National Park, Sitka, Petersburg, Ketchikan, Victoria, and Vancouver. Included among the birds observed were many Bald Eagles, Horned and Tufted Puffins, Pelagic Cormorants, and Marbled Murrelets. Mammals sighted included a Grizzly sow with three cubs, several Mountain Goats, Sea Otters, California and Harbor Seals, and Humpback Whales. Most exciting was observing a pod of at least ten Orca Whales that playfully swam close by the boat for about half an hour one day.
On their migratory path, the Chimney Swifts stopped by temporarily at an abandoned chimney at Lancaster Catholic High School this fall. If you didn't witness the event, then perhaps you saw it on TV or read about it in the New Era. Leon Schreffler, a faithful and conscientious observer of these birds for 25 years, was featured on Jack Hubley's "Wild Moments" on TV in October 2005. Ad Crable followed up with the story for his "Outdoors" column on October 18, 2005, complete with Leon's photo. Some years the count has been as high as 1,350 birds. This year it was about 350, with a later arrival than in the past. The birds did not return in 2003 or 2004; their arrival on October 2, 2005, was later than the usual late August-early September date. What a joy it must have been to witness their return!
By the time you receive this newsletter, there may be an opportunity to view online an active Bald Eagle's nest, much like has been available with the Peregrine Falcons in Harrisburg. This would be the first "Eagle Cam" in Pennsylvania. Ad Crable wrote in the New Era on October 11, 2005, that efforts are underway to provide the live video documentation of the Eagle's nest along McCalls Ferry Road in York County, near the Holtwood Dam. Jim Smith, PPL's consulting naturalist for the Holtwood Environmental Preserve was mentioned in the article as a local expert. Jan Witmer and our Club were mentioned as supporters of the project. The primary players for the project are PPL and the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Stay tuned!
[EDITOR'S NOTE: Since the time of this article, some "glitches" have occurred and it is likely that the "Eagle Cam" will not be in operation for the 2006 nesting season.]
Our Club has been active in educating members and the general public about the second Pennsylvania Breeding Bird Atlas and our members have stepped up to the plate as volunteers. This fall Ad Crable devoted a column in the New Era to the Atlas and mentioned Randy Miller and his daughter Kate as participants. Randy is responsible for coordinating information for the northwest part of Lancaster County and most of Lebanon County. Among other discoveries, Ad reports that Randy personally recorded the first-ever breeding record of Yellow-rumped Warblers in Lebanon County. All skill levels can help with the Atlas. To learn more about the Atlas, go to the Breeding Bird Atlas Home Page or contact Randy Miller at Manheim 664-3778.
Front page coverage in the Intelligencer Journal on October 25, 2005, was given to the role of women in politics, both local and national. Pictured and quoted was Helen Adams, the chairperson of the Lancaster Township Board of Supervisors. Helen has kept statistics on female representation in local elected positions which indicate a low showing. While acknowledging that a change in the greater political system is needed to achieve full equality, she has been active in efforts over the years to increase women's participation through training on the political process.
REMINDER: Scholarship applications are due by February 1, 2006!
BIRDS ON THE MOVE (June l, 2005 to August 31, 2005) BY BARBARA HUNSBERGER
Editor's Note: Please report your sightings to Barbara Hunsberger, 984 Woodridge Boulevard, Lancaster, PA 17601. She prefers to have reports sent to her e-mail address: phunsberger [AT] comcast. net, but will accept mail or phone reports (Lancaster 393-4091). Remember, 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 behaviour that would be of interest to our members. Your help is needed in making this column a way of recording the county's birdlife. If you send a report to the Pennsylvania Bird List Serve or make a verbal report at a Club meeting, please send that report to Barb also. Thanks for your help!
| Sept. 4 - | 1 Belted Kingfisher (heard), 1 Green Heron and 1 Great Egret observed along the Conestoga River in Lancaster County Central Park - John & Holly Ferranti |
| Sept. 10 - | Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Tennessee Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler at Middle Creek WMA - Glenn Shaffer |
| Sept. 13 - | Black-throated Green Warbler, Philadelphia Vireo, and Yellow-billed Cuckoo at Safe Harbor - Glenn Shaffer |
| Sept. 14 - | Fifty species were observed by the Wednesday morning birding group along Pumping Station Road in northern Lancaster County. Highlights of the morning included Cooper's Eawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, (adult and juvenile), 5 or 6 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, 5 woodpecker species (Red-bellied, Downy, Hairy, Flicker, and Pileated (close fly-by), Easter Pewee, Carolina Wren, House Wern, Eastern Bluebird, Cedar Waxwings, 9 warbler species (Northern Parula, Yellow, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Black-throated Blue, Yellow-rumped, Black & White, Common Yellowthroat, & Canada), Scarlet Tanager, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak - Chuck Chalfant |
| Sept. 15 - | Canada Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, American Redstart at Landis Woods - Glenn Shaffer |
| Sept. 15 - | 16 Great Blue Herons, 25 Killdeer, 5 Kingfishers, 8 Green Herons, 2 Black Ducks, 50 Ring-billed Gulls, 1 Kestrel, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch (heard), 1 imm. Little Blue Heron, 1 Snowy Egret, and 13 Great Egrets observed at Octorara Lake - Chuck Chalfant |
| Sept. 23 - | Yellow-throated Vireo, Merlin, Gadwall, Green-winged Teal at Middle Creek WMA - Glenn Shaffer |
| Sept. 24 - | Chestnut-sided, Bay-breasted, and Yellow-rumped Warblers, Northern Waterthrush, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Sharp-shinned Hawk at Pumping Station Road - Glenn Shafer |
| Sept. 25 - | 1 adult Snowy Egret, 2 imm. Little Blue Heron, 12 Lesser Yellowlegs, 1 Greater Yellowlegs, 4 Pectoral Sandpipers, 8 Killdeer, 5 Least Sandpipers, 1 Black Ducks, 6 Pintails, 4 Green-winged Teal, 2 Blue-winged Teal, 12 Wood Ducks, 6 Great Egrets, lots of Great Blue Herons, 2 Osprey, 2 imm. Bald Eagles, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, and 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk at Octorara Lake - Chuck Chalfant |
| Sept. 25 - | 2 Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows, 6 Marsh Wrens, 1 Sora Rail, 2 Peregrine Falcons, 3 Osprey, 4 Bald Eagles (2 imm, 2 adult), 4 American Golden Plovers, 2 Black-bellied Plover, 1 Semi-palmated Plover, 3 Killdeer, 1 Wilson's Snipe, 6 Pectoral Sandipers, 1 Least Sandpiper, 1,000+ Tree Swallows, 1 American Pipit, 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers, and 1 Common Yellowthroat - Sedge Islands in the Susquehanna River near Bainbridge - Deuanne Hoffman and Tom Johnson |
| Sept. 26 - | Cooper's Hawk taking an American Goldfinch in their backyard in Ephrata -Jan & Pat Witmer |
| Sept. 28 - | 4 Bald Eagles, 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, 1 Black-billed Cuckoo, 1 White-eyed Vireo, 1 Red-eyed Vireo, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 5 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 12 Eastern Bluebirds, 12 Cedar Waxwings, several Yellow-rumped Warblers, 3 Black-throated Green Warblers, 1 Palm Warbler, 2 Black & White Warblers, Chipping Sparrow (migrating flock of a dozen or so), 1 Indigo Bunting - A total of 49 species observed by 11 members of the Wednesday Morning Birding Group in Muddy Run Park and adjacent state game lands. - Chuck Chalfant |
| Sept. 29 - | Swainson's Thrush, Wood Thrush, White-throated Sparrow, and Pine Warbler in Landis Woods - Glenn Shaffer |
| Sept. 30 - | Chuck Chalfant observed a life bird, Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow, in the sedge flats near Bainbridge. |
| Oct. 1 and 4 - | Philadelphia, Red-eyed, and Blue-headed Vireos, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Black-throated Green and Blue-winged Warblers among the eight species, both Kinglets, and Juncos at Pumping Station Road - Glenn Shaffer |
| Oct. 1 - | Red-breasted Nuthatch observed at the peanut butter and sunflower feeders in Jim & Rita Smith's backyard near Holtwood. |
| Oct. 5 - | 6 Great Blue Herons, 20+ Great Egrets, 1 Snowy Egret, 4 imm. Black-crowned Night-Herons, 8 Common Mergansers, 1 Osprey, 4 Bald Eagles, 5 woodpecker species (Red-bellied, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Downy, Hairy, and Flicker), Eastern Phoebe, Blue- headed Vireo, 1 Philadelphia Vireo, 5 swallow species (Tree, Northern, Rough-winged, Cliff, and Barn), 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, Golden & Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and 6 species of Warblers -- Northern Parula, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Bay Breasted, and Common Yellowthroat - 65 species were observed by 15 members of the Wednesday Morning Birding Group along Canal Trail between Falmouth and Bainbridge - Chuck Chalfant |
| Oct. 10 - | Jim Smith of Holtwood observed the arrival of the first fall White-throated Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos. He also observed a Brown Thrasher. |
| Oct. 12 - | Bald Eagle in the Hinkletown area - Gerald Trout |
| Oct. 13 - | Brown Creeper in Glenn Shaffer's backyard in Manheim Twp. |
| Oct. 13 - | 350 Chimney Swifts at Lancaster Catholic High School - Jane & Leon Schreffler |
| Oct. 19 - | 2 Eastern Screech-Owls (heard), Chimney Swift, 1 Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 2 Blue-headed Vireos, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Cedar Waxwing, and Carolina Wren in Lancaster County Central Park seen by the Wednesday Morning Birding Group - Chuck Chalfant |
| Oct. 20 - | 2 Lincoln's Sparrows, plus Savannah and Swamp Sparrows, 3 Magnolia Warblers, 2 Common Yellowthroat, 1 Connecticut Warbler, Ruby and Golden-Crowned Kinglets, Blue-headed Vireos, Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawk in Lancaster County Central Park - Glenn Shaffer (The Connecticut Warbler was a life bird.) |
| Oct. 20 - | Dark-eyed Junco, Townee, Golden-crowned Kinglets, and 4 Red-breasted Nuthatches at his feeders in Gap, plus a Peregrine Falcon that flew into his yard - Chuck Chalfant |
| Oct. 25 - | 12 Purple Finches in his backyard in Gap - Chuck Chalfant |
| Oct. 26 - | The Wednesday Morning Birding Group observed 53 species at Middle Creek WMA. Highlights included: 1 Pied-billed Grebe, 6 Great Blue Herons, 6 Wood Ducks, 30 Northern Shovelers, 3 Ring-necked Ducks, 1 Hooded Merganser, 50 Ruddy Ducks, 100 Snow Geese, 100s of Canada Geese, 2 Northern Harriers, 8 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 8 Red-tailed Hawks, 1 American Kestrel, 12 Tree Swallows, 10 Cedar Waxwings, 8 Field Sparrows, and 15 Eastern Meadowlarks at Middle Creek WMA-Chuck Chalfant |
| Oct. 28 - | 2 Purple Finches at feeder in Manheim - Jay & Shirley George |
| Oct. 30 - | Cave Swallow at the Conejohela Flats - Bob Schutsky |
| Oct. 30 - | 1 juvenile dark-morph Jaeger and Lesser Black-backed Gull seen from boat launch area along Blue Rock Road. Other birds sighted included 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, Black-capped Chickadee, 1 American Kestrel, 1 Horned Lark, 7 Eastern Bluebirds, Golden-crowned Kinglets, 520 Brown-headed Cowbirds, 2 Red-tailed Hawks, Savannah Sparrow, 1 Fox Sparrow, and 1 Blue-headed Vireo at Hummelstown - Tom Johnson |
| Oct. 30 - | 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, 2 Blue-headed Vireos, Red- and White-Breasted Nuthatches, 2 Eastern Phoebes, Towhee, 4 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 12 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 100+ White-throated Sparrows, 3 Field Sparrows, 4 Purple Finches, Palm and Yellow-rumped Warblers, 5 Winter Wrens, 3 Hermit Thrushes, and all in one thermal: 1 American Kestrel, 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks, an Osprey, Cooper's Hawk, and a flock of 84 migrating Canada Geese at Landis Woods - Leon Schreffler |
| Nov. 2 - | The Wednesday Morning Birding Group observed 43 species on part of Kelly's Run Trail and the Face Rock Overlook. Highlights were 32 American Robins, 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 15 Cedar Waxwings, 1 Ring-necked Pheasant, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Northern Harrier, 10 Bald Eagles, 100+ Ring-billed Gulls and a Red-tailed Hawk - Pam Fisher |
| Nov. 5 - | 2 Purple Finch, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch in Manheim - Jay George |
| Nov. 13 - | Three Bald Eagles were observed by James A. Tshudy between North State Street and Mohler Church Road, just northeast of the intersection of State and Mohler Church Road north of Ephrata. One of the Eagles was on the ground on a carcass in an open grass field; the second one was in a tree about 15 yards away; while the third one was circling. The one circling would periodically dive down toward the one on the ground getting within a few feet as though he was trying to get some of the kill. The one in the tree had also done that a few times. - Jay George |
| Mid-November - | 2 Ravens along the Susquehanna River near Accomac - Fred Habegger and Ray Uhlig |
| Nov. 15 - | 4 Surf Scoters (3 female, 1 male), a Common Loon, 2 Bald Eagles (juv.), 30 Black Duck, Northern Pintail, 100+ American Robins, 30 Cedar Waxwings, 2 Fox Sparrows, 2 Hermit Thrushes, an Eastern Towhee, and an Eastern Screech Owl at Octorara Lake and Blue Gill Road - Chuck Chalfant |
| Nov. 20 - | An Eastern Screech Owl in the Holtwood area - Jim Smith |
| Nov. 22 - | 1 adult female and 1 juv. Cooper's Hawk in backyard in Landisville - Robert Coley |
| Nov. 23 - | 1 Horned Grebe, 200 Canada Geese, 30 Black Duck, 1 Wood Duck, 20 Hooded Mergansers, 5 Ruddy Ducks, 6 Buffleheads, 6 Rusty Blackbirds, and 7 imm. Bald Eagles in the Octorara Lake area -- Chuck Chalfant |
| Nov. 25 - | A drake Long-tailed Duck on the Conestoga River at Walnut Street bridge - Derek and Roger Stoner |
| Nov. 25 - | 11 Tundra Swan, 8 Buffleheads, an imm. Peregrine Falcon, Red-shouldered Hawk, Scaup species, 2 Field Sparrows, and a Fox Sparrow at Middle Creek WMA - Andrew and Margaret Odell |
| Nov. 30 - | 1 female American Wigeon, 1 female Hooded Merganser, 1 male Lesser Scaup at pond on Bethesda Church Road; 5 imm. Bald Eagles, 2 Greater Black-backed Gulls at Wissler Run Park; White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Chickadee, and Eastern Bluebird at Susquehannock State Park, among the 36 species observed by the Wednesday Morning Birding Group - Jim Smith |
PENNSYLVANIA BREEDING BIRD ATLAS BY RANDY MILLER
We are now in the third year of the second Pennsylvania Breeding Bird Atlas and are continuing to look for volunteers to help survey nesting birds. We are looking for block owners or any observations of breeding birds. If you haven't input any data, please do so. We are encouraging an observation time of 25 hours per block. The web site is http://pabirdatlas.org. Should you have any questions, please feel free to call me at Manheim 664-3778. Thank you for any help you can give.
If you have any questions regarding items in the newsletter, Club
meetings/programs, or field trips, please feel free to contact a
member of the Board of Directors. For your convenience, their names
and phone numbers are listed below:
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MEMBERSHIP NEWS BY PAT WITMER
Current membership stands at 344, 22 less than this time last year.
Welcome to our new members! If you don't know many Club members, please join us on a field trip, which is a good way to get acquainted, not only with Club members, but with some of the good birding areas. I believe you will find our members both friendly and helpful to those beginning a new hobby of birding.
New Members:
Old Friends Returning:
REVIEW OF COMPLETED EVENTS
Sunday, October 2, 2005 - Leader Rosemary Spreha had seven participants on this trip to Memorial Lake State Park in Lebanon County, concluding the day with hawk watching at the Second Mountain Hawk Watch. A beautiful fall day was enjoyed by all as they identified 56 species. Most notable were: a good look at an adult Broad-winged Hawk on the drive up to the Hawk Watch, 2 adult Bald Eagles, a low Osprey in the late afternoon, Red-headed Woodpecker, Scarlet Tanager, Wild Turkeys, a large group of Cedar Waxwings, and a lot of Blue Jays (364 tallied by Kate Miller). Another item of interest was the butterflies at the butterfly bush at the Hawk Watch -- Variegated Frittilary, Pearl Crescent, Monarch, Cabbage, and Orange Sulfur.
Friday, October 14, 2005 - A nice crowd, including 22 young people, greeted our program presenter at this Club meeting. Wildlife Rehabilitator Beth Carricato and her husband, who operate the Dauphin County Wildlife Reserve, were featured. Among the live specimens they brought along for the program were a Great Horned Owl, a Screech Owl, a Red-tailed Hawk, a Peregrine Falcon, a baby Opossum, and a Black Rat Snake. A very informative and entertaining program.
Saturday, October 29, 2005 - Leader Larry Coble introduced a new type of birding endeavor with a "drop-in" birding experience at the East Donegal Township's River Park, off Vinegar Ferry Road. The idea was to check what was moving along the Susquehanna River from this location. For the morning, 11 people "dropped-in" and 45 species were observed. Among those ID'd were 12 scoters, 3 Bald Eagles, 1 Red-shouldered Hawk, Rough-winged Swallows, Tree Swallows, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, an imm. Blackpoll Warbler, 4 Carolina Chickadees, and lots of chickadees migrating along the tree tops, some of which were positively identified as Black-capped Chickadees. Also observed was a Red Fox.
Friday, November 11, 2005 - Tonight's Club meeting program featured Tom Powers, a local naturalist from Lebanon County, and Club member Richard Light. The program, "Nature's Footprints," showed us what to look for and how to identify many of the footprints nature's creatures leave as telltale signs of their presence. Some of the similarities and some of the subtle differences in these footprints were identified. Quite a different, as well as interesting program, from what the Club has seen in the past.
Friday-Sunday, November 11-13, 2005 - The trip to Chincoteague was cancelled due to lack of participants. Is the high cost of gasoline becoming a factor? If so, the Board of Directors would welcome feedback as to your interest in having birding trips to more local destinations.
Friday, December 2, 2005 - The Club meeting program was presented by Hank Kaestner, the Spiceman. This was Hank's third program for the Club and again was an excellent one. Featuring outstanding photos of a wide variety of birds and scenery, Hank allowed us to sample some of the many birds he had encountered in his travels all over the world as a purchaser of spices for the McCormick Company. His travels continue as he now serves as a consultant in the spice trade.
The results of the three Christmas Bird Counts will be published in the Annual Research Issue of "Call Notes."
Created for the Internet on ... 8 January 2006