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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"
APRIL - JUNE 2008
Friday, April 11, 2008 - Club meeting at the Farm & Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster at 7:30 p.m. Tonight's program, "The Secret Life of Turkeys," will be presented by Mary Jo Casalena, a wildlife biologist with the Pennsylvania Game Commission. She works in the Game Bird Section, specializing in the Wild Turkey Research Division. Special Note: This is the Annual Meeting of the Club, at which time the election of officers and directors will take place.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - A mid-week trip combining birding and wildflowers to Safe Harbor Park and Shenk's Ferry led by Jim Smith (Holtwood 284-4458 or e-mail jimsmith0212 AT aol DOT com. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the tennis court area at Safe Harbor Park.
Friday, May 2, 2008 - Club picnic at Middle Creek WMA - Note: This is the first Friday of the month. Activities begin with birding from the Visitors' Center at 4:00 p.m. Picnic (bring your own) at 6:00 p.m. at the Sunfish Pond picnic area. Additional birding will resume after a brief business meeting. In case of rain, we will meet and picnic in the Vistors' Center.
Saturday, May 3, 2008 - Birding the Lower Susquehanna River Gorge with leader Jim Smith, (Holtwood 284-4458 or e-mail jimsmith0212 AT aol DOT com. Meet at Lock 12 parking lot (first right after crossing the Norman Wood Bridge) at 7:30 a.m. Be prepared to car pool.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008 - Another mid-week trip, this one to Landis Wood Park near Neffsville. Leaders: Leon & Jane Schreffler (Lancaster 569-0789 or e-mail ls-js AT comcast DOT net). Meet at 8:00 a.m. at Boettcher House parking lot. Enter from Route 501, either from Hillside Lane (between Brook Lawn Farm Market and Neffsville Mennonite Church) or from Meadow Lane (just north of Neffsville Mennonite Church).
Saturday, May 10, 2008 - The Pennsylvania Migration Count and Warbler Walks - The three designated areas for the Warbler Walks are Central Hammer Creek, Middle Creek WMA, and Chickies Rock County Park.
If you wish to participate in the Pennsylvania Migration Count and bird in another area, contact count coordinator Bruce Carl (Akron 859-4179) for details.
Friday-Monday, May 16-19, 2008 - Birding from Lancaster County to Tioga County - Leader: Bruce Carl (Akron 859-4179 or e-mail carls AT dejazzd DOT com). Note: Reservations must be made by Wednesday, April 16th. The trip is limited to 12 participants. At a time when migrants will be moving through and nesters would be establishing territories, this trip will stop at some of the best birding locations in this area. Staying in the Wellsboro area all three nights, each day will have different destinations, as well as stopping at various locations going to and returning from Tioga County. More details will be announced at the April Club meeting.
Saturday, May 17, 2008 - A local trip to Safe Harbor area and Safe Harbor Dam overlook. Leader: Doug Anderson (Lititz 627-3707 or e-mail doug DOT anderson AT pennmanor DOT net). Meet at 7:00 a.m. at Warehouse Road area (just across the bridge) at Safe Harbor Park.
Saturday, June 7, 2008 - A mystery trip led by Randy Miller (Manheim 664-3778). Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the junction of Pinch Road and Route 117 in Mt. Gretna. This trip will be looking for birds that nest within our general area.
Club officers and members of the executive commitee for 2008-2009 will be elected at the Annual Meeting on Friday, April 11, 2008. The Nominating Committee will be presenting the following slate of candidates at the meeting:
Imagine yourself poring over the first edition of volumes of a famous naturalist. This could be you if you call and arrange a visit to the Archives and Special Collections at Franklin and Marshall College. In the collections is Alexander Wilson's (1766-1813) American Ornithology. You may call 291-4225 to arrange a visit. The website is http://library.fandm.edu/archives.
Current membership is 381, which is 15 less than this time last year.
A big WELCOME to our new members, plus an invitation for them to join us on any of the numerous upcoming spring field trips! Going on field trips is a good way to get acquainted with other Club members and also to learn about some of the good birding areas. Hopefully, lots of members will plan to attend the picnic meeting held at Middle Creek WMA in early May for a late afternoon and evening of birding, fun, and fellowship!
| I N M E M O R I A M |
| JEANNE T. KAUFFMAN |
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Although Jeanne was a member of the Lancaster County Bird Club for only about a year, she was very interested in the Club's activities. Being in poor health, she wanted many of her bird books to pass into the hands of others who would find them helpful. Thus, she donated a lot of these books to the Club to be sold at meetings last winter, with the proceeds going into the Club's treasury. Jeanne was a lifelong birding enthusiast, active in the National Audubon Society, and contributed to the Pennsylvania and Connecticut breeding bird atlases. The Club extends its sympathy to her family. |
| MARY M. BITTING |
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Mary Bitting, a member of the Lancaster County Bird Club since 1975, passed away at the age of 85 on February 28, 2008. For many years Mary was a regular attendee at meetings and a participant on field trips. A graduate of Indiana State University, she was an art teacher for 35 years. During World War II, she served as a Navy Wave. Mary also did volunteer work in her church and various community organizations. We extend the Club's sympathy to her family. |
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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Please know that as the adult recipient of the Harold B. Morrin Scholarship I purchased binoculars for the Hand Middle School Bird Club which consists of twenty-three 6th graders, two teachers, and myself as volunteer advisor. What wasn't expected was the matching grant by Eagle Optics, the vendor chosen to supply the bins. The children now have 18 pairs of new 7 by 35 bins. On behalf of the Hand Bird Club, I thank you!
A trip to the Bottom of the World - In January 2008 Robert Coley and Barbara & Peter Hunsberger completed the true trip of a lifetime when they embarked on a 19-day voyage from Ushuaia, Argentina, to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and Antarctica. They spent a few days in Buenos Aires and Ushuaia before the trip enjoying the sites and especially the birding, adding a number of lifebirds even before the trip began. In the Falklands, they visited Carcass Island for their first encounter with the first penguins, the Magellanic, which nests in burrows under tussock grass. On Saunders Island they were overwhelmed by the thousands of King (second only to the Emperor in size and color), Gentoo, Rockhopper, and Macaroni penguins. A large colony of nesting Black-browed Albatross on a cliff added to the excitement. After adding such lifebirds as the Long-tailed Meadowlark, Upland Goose, Magellanic Snipe, Cobb's Wren, Blackish Cinclodes, and Canary-winged Finch, they crossed the Antarctic Convergence Zone during their two days at sea to reach South Georgia Island. Making a number of wet landings via Zodiacs, they wandered among the thousands of King and other penguins, skuas, and seals. After another two days at sea, they arrived at the South Orkney and South Shetland Islands, mainland Antarctica. After sailing in the caldera of Deception Island, they made their first landing on the mainland at Turret Point, to get their first sighting of the little Adelie and Chin-strap penguins. In addition to the fur seals and elephant seals on the beaches, they encountered the Crab-eating, the Weddell, and the energetic Leopard Seal, one of which swam repeatedly under the Zodiacs. Many whales and dolphins made the sailing between locations more exciting! In addition to the seven species of penguins, they saw seven species of albatross, eight species of petrels, several shags, steamer ducks, oyster-catchers, and the Snowy Sheathbill. The majesty of Antarctica served as a stunning backdrop to the wildlife it supports.
We enjoyed reading about some of the highlights of Jay & Shirley George's trip to the South Island of New Zealand in our last newsletter. Sunday News Outdoors Editor John McGonigle knows a good story and picked up on it for his January 20th column. He writes of Jay's introduction to the world of digital photography and used three of Jay's New Zealand bird photos for the article. Jay is described as a "talented naturalist with a wide array of interests and expertise." One of his interests, in addition to birding, is wildflower gardening. Jay contributes pots of his plants to the Ned Smith Center for Wildlife and Art and other organizations for fund-raising purposes.
In December during an evening walk in the School Lane Hills area of Lancaster Township, I was aware of about a thousand or so European Starlings greeting me with every step. I figured it was just a matter of time before these birds made the news, especially since the American Crow has been in low profile of late. The Intelligencer Journal on February 22nd featured the Starlings in front page news, zoning in on their presence in School Lane Hills. Ann Bodling was identified in the article as our club president and her factual information on the natural history of the birds aided in rounding out the news story. Some of her information surely brought relief to concerned residents--the birds will disperse come spring!
Our club made the news in the Lititz Record Express on March 6th. Along with a photo of Snow Geese was one of club members birding at Middle Creek on the trip led by Bruce Carl and Fred Habegger on March 1st. Fred's species count for the day was quoted.
Congratulations to Milton G. Steffy, Jr.! He was pictured in The Shopping News on March 19th receiving a Lions Life Member Award presented by the Denver Lions Club. The Award included a certificate and pin. Milt's father was a founding member of the Denver Lions Club in 1926. Milt has belonged to the club for 54 years and served two terms as club president. That's dedication!
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 DOT 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 Serve List or make a verbal report at a Club meeting, please send that report to Barb also. Thanks for your help!
| Sept. 27 - | 2 Townsend Solitaire - On their deck, Strasburg - Bill and Jeanne Menges (This sighting was missed in the last issue.) |
| Dec. 4 - | 1 Northern Shrike - Took a bird at feeder in Valleybrook - Leon & Jane Schreffler |
| Dec. 12 - | 25 Horned Lark, 1 Merlin, 1 Cooper's Hawk, 3 Red-tailed Hawk - Clay Area - Pam Fisher & Glenn Shaffer |
| Dec. 18 - | 2 Greater White-fronted Geese, 1 imm. Red-shouldered Hawk - Pond at Greenfield Corporate Center - Frank & Barb Haas |
| Dec. 22 - | 1 Purple Finch - At a feeder at their home in Ephrata - Jan & Pat Witmer |
| Dec. 23 - | 3 Wild Turkeys - On their patio in Ephrata - Jan & Pat Witmer |
| Dec. 24 - | 1 Pine Siskin - At his home in Manheim - Jay George |
| Dec. 28 - | This was the last day the imm. male Rufous Hummingbird was seen at a feeder at a home in northern Lancaster County. |
| Dec. 29 - | 14 Bald Eagles (both adult & imm.), 3 Red-tailed Hawks - Intersection of Route 372, Smyrna Road, and Buck Run Road - Chuck Chalfant |
| Jan. 4 - | 1 Bald Eagle - Musser School Road; 2 Peregrine Falcon, doing in-flight courtship rituals, then diving at a sitting Red-tailed Hawk - Groffdale Road; 2 Red-tailed Hawk, adding material to a nest 1/4 built - Amsterdam Road, north of Route 23 -Leon & Jane Schreffler |
| Jan. 6 - | 1 Vesper Sparrow - Along Umbletown Road - Pam Fisher |
| Jan. 7 - | This was the last day the imm. female Rufous Hummingbird was observed at a feeder at a home in northern Lancaster County. |
| Jan. 12 - | 4 Bald Eagles (2 adult, 2 imm.) - 1 adult eagle was re-arranging existing nest at Octoraro Lake - Chuck Chalfant |
| Jan. 18 - | 9 Red-tailed Hawks, 100 Horned Larks, 1 Lapland Longspur, 1 imm. Bald Eagle, 3 Cooper's Hawks, 1 American Kestrel, 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 10 American Pipits - New Holland farm country - Leon & Jane Schreffler |
| Jan. 27 - | 2 Wilson's Snipe- Umbletown Road, Gap - Elaine & Chuck Chalfant |
| Jan. 27 - | 1 male Yellow-headed Blackbird (however breast and head were white) - Quarryville area - Chuck Chalfant |
| Jan. 30 - | 8 Bohemian Waxwing - Spicebush Trail, Middle Creek WMA - Bert Myers, Pennsylvania Game Commission Educator |
| Feb. 6 - | 1 Bald Eagle with fish, 1 Peregrine Falcon - Middle Creek WMA - Anne Hurst |
| Feb. 9 - | 2 Bald Eagles at nest site near Zeltenreich Church along Peters Road, south of New Holland - Jan & Pat Witmer, m.ob. |
| Feb. 11 - | 2 Short-eared Owls (one owl was transferring food from talon to beak on the wing) - Middle Creek WMA - Pam Fisher |
| Feb. 15 - | 15 Bald Eagles; Piney Island nest is under incubation - Holtwood Environmental Preserve - Jim Smith |
| Feb. 16 - | 1 Merlin - perched on snag, at the intersection of School Lane and White Horse Road, south of New Holland - Pam Fisher |
| Feb. 20 - | 1 Baltimore Oriole eating mealworms put out for Bluebirds (Oriole was in yard for 13 weeks); 3 Red-headed Woodpeckers (feeding there all winter) - Narvon area - Esther Petersheim |
| Feb. 25 - | 1 Northern Shrike - Along Willow Point Trail, Middle Creek WMA - Chris Inch, m.ob. |
We are in our fifth and final year for the Breeding Bird Atlas (BBA) and are still looking for volunteers. Any records will add to the project. If you have records for Region 79 and have not entered them, please give them to Randy Miller or Rosemary Spreha. I would like to thank the volunteers who have already put their records in for the Second BBA. This project could not have been done without the effort of everyone. One of the most asked questions is, "Can I enter data from other years?" The answer is "Yes you can." This project started in January 2004 and will end in December 2008. For more information, see www.pabirdatlas.org or call Randy Miller at Manheim 664-3778 or Rosemary Spreha at Harrisburg 657-0271.
Friday, January 11, 2008 - Scott Weidensaul delighted the 180+ members and friends present at the Club meeting with his lecture on his latest publication, "Of a Feather," which deals with the history of birding. He began his talk by tracing the travels of Billy Bartram from Philadelphia during the early 1800s. During the presentation, he also cited other Pennsylvania birders, including Audubon and Baird. He continued with various other birders and their backgrounds, bringing us up to date with the accomplishments of Kenn Kaufman and Dave Sibley. This excellent presentation was very interesting and at times Scott's sense of humor erupted!
Saturday-Sunday, January 12-13, 2008 - Leader Fred Zimmerman had only two other participants on this two-day trip to the Cape Henlopen area of Delaware. They identified 64 species of birds, highlighted by Common Eider, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Rough-legged Hawk, Surf Scoter, Common and Red-throated Loons, Red-breasted Merganser, Long-tailed Duck, Purple Sandpiper, and Canvasback Duck. They visited Cape Henlopen State Park, Indian River Inlet, Silver Lake, Gordon's Pond, Prime Hook NWR, and the Dupont Nature Center.
Saturday-Sunday, February 16-17, 2008 - Eight people participated on leader Gary Shirk's trip to the Jersey Coast. Birding Point Pleasant, Manasquan Inlet, Shark River Inlet, and the Barnegat Lighthouse area on Saturday and then the Sandy Hook and Princeton areas on Sunday, the group observed a total of 80 species of birds. Best sightings included 45 Harlequin Ducks, several Great Cormorants, Purple Sandpiper, Ipswich Sparrow, Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Gannets, Long-tailed Duck, 3 Short-eared Owls, and a single raft of four to five thousand Greater Scaup.
Friday, February 22, 2008 - The Club meeting was cancelled due to inclement weather.
Saturday, March 1, 2008 - Leaders Bruce Carl and Fred Habegger had 13 birders join them on the trip to Middle Creek WMA to witness the Snow Geese spectacle and search for other waterfowl. They managed to identifiy 54 species, including 16 species of waterfowl plus Coot. They heard American Woodcock, observed the active Bald Eagle nest, and enjoyed the estimated 50,000+ Snow Geese.
Sunday, March 16, 2008 - This Sunday evening trip led by Randy Miller was again successful in observing the primary target bird, the American Woodcock and its courtship display. The 15 participants identified 23 species, the highlights being the observation of four displaying American Woodcocks and hearing two additional ones. Also observed was a Red-phased Screech Owl in a Wood Duck nesting box, heard a Fox Sparrow calling, and saw a male Wood Duck in pursuit of two females.
Friday, March 21, 2008 - Club President, Ann Bodling, presented a very informative program, "Planting for Pennsylvania Native Wildlife with Pennsylvania Native Plants." In addition to explaining a rationale for using native plants, the program also illustrated different kinds of plants for attracting hummingbirds, butterflies, and other wildlife. An excellent program for anyone interested in attracting wildlife to their property.
Saturday, March 29, 2008 - This birding trip along the Susquehanna River will be reported in the next newsletter.
Created for the Internet on ... 17 May 2008