Lancaster County Bird Club
	Lancaster, Pennsylvania Founded December 8, 1937 to secure the cultivation of public sentiment in the preservation of our native bird life.

"CALL NOTES"
APRIL - JUNE 2009

FROM PRESIDENT ANN BODLING

We are finally entering that long-awaited time of year that brings back the birds we have missed during cold winter months. I have missed their color, their antics and their songs and each morning at daybreak I head outside to see what new voices are being added to the chorus. How long has it been since you listened carefully to the American Robin cacophony at dawn? This morning the neighborhood was awakened by, not only their typical "Cherry-O" song, but also their whinny-like song and their variety of chip notes. Once upon a time I would have assumed several different species were singing together. Now I delight in being able to recognize the individual singers. A particularly loud couple of Carolina Wrens and a lone Killdeer completed the chorale and the music was as heavenly as any celestial choir I can imagine... to my ears anyway.

While on the subject of spring, I'd like to draw your attention to a couple of items found in the Call Notes. One is the Lancaster County Conservancy Birding Classic, a new venture that gives us all an opportunity to help preserve some of Lancaster County's best and most beautiful wildlife habitat. Please take the time to look over and consider participating in the Birding Classic in whatever way suits you.

The second subject has to do with our gardens and the life they support...or can support if we plant some of Pennsylvania's beautiful and hardy indigenous herbaceous and woody plants species. Included in this Call Notes are two upcoming native plant sales and information about dates and locations.

During these continually unsettled times in which we live, take time to actively appreciate the life around you. Spend as much time as you can outdoors drinking in the sights, sounds and fragrances of spring and giving thanks for the birds that have come back to us. As we look for ways to enhance their livelihoods here, we'll find that our own lives are enhanced as well. Enjoy the Spring!

PREVIEWS OF COMING EVENTS

Friday, April 10, 2009 - Club meeting at the Farm & Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster, at 7:30 p.m. Club members, Barbara and Peter Hunsberger and Robert Coley, will present a program, Polar Birds and Wildlife. The first part of the program will center on a trip the Hunsbergers took to the Svalbard Archipelago of Norway to observe Arctic birds and wildlife, particularly polar bears. The second part of the program will feature the birds and wildlife observed by Coley and the Hunsbergers on a trip to Antarctica and the Sub-Antarctic Islands of the Falklands and South Georgia. Special Note: This is the Annual Meeting of LCBC, at which time the election of officers and directors will take place.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009 - Safe Harbor and Shenk's Ferry, a mid-week trip combining birding and wildflowers. Leader: Jim Smith (Holtwood 284-4458 or e-mail Jimsmith0212 [AT] aol [DOT] com). Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the tennis court area of Safe Harbor Park.

Saturday, April 25, 2009 - A field trip to White Clay Creek State Park (Delaware) & Octorara Lake Area (PA) will be led by Bruce Carl (Akron 859-4179 or e-mail� carls [AT] dejazzd [DOT] com�). The group will meet at 6:00am at the A.C. Moore parking lot in the Lancaster Shopping Center. We will travel to White Clay Creek to start our day by walking the many trails there in search of early migrants�and resident birds that make�this area their home or use it as a brief stopover during migration. We will look for warblers, shorebirds, raptors and hopefully a surprise or two along the way. We will spend about a 1/2 day at White Clay Creek and have lunch there before traveling to the Octorara Lake Area in Lancaster County in search of more early�migrants. We will scan the lake at various vantage points and walk along some of the trails and dirt road areas in search of lingering waterfowl, early shorebirds and some resident birds that call the pine woods areas around the lake their home.

Saturday, May 2, 2009 - Birding trip to IBA#57, the Lower Susquehanna River Gorge, will be led by Jim Smith (284-4458 or e-mail Jimsmith0212 [AT] aol [DOT] com). Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Lock 12 parking lot (first right after crossing the Norman Wood Bridge). Be prepared to car pool.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009 - Field trip to Landis Woods by leaders Jane and Leon Schreffler is cancelled due to habitat destruction in Landis Woods.

Saturday, May 9, 2009 - The Pennsylvania Migration Count and Warblers Walks - The three designated areas for the warbler walks and migration count are Central Hammer Creek, Middle Creek WMA, and Chickies Rock County Park. The Pennsylvania Migration Count will also be done in other areas of Lancaster County. Contact Bruce Carl (859-4179 or e-mail carls [AT] dejazzed [DOT] com) if you are interested in doing an area for the Pennsylvania Migration Count.

• Central Hammer Creek - meet at 7:00 a.m. at parking lot at Rte. 322 and Pumping Station Road west of Brickerville. Leader: Bruce Carl (Akron 859-4179 or e-mail carls [AT] dejazzed [DOT] com).
• Middle Creek WMA - meet at 7:00 a.m. at the Visitors' Center. Leader: Fred Habegger (Akron 859-2521).
• Chickies Rock County Park - meet at 7:00 a.m. at Breezy View Overlook. Leaders Gary Shirk (Lancaster 291-2172 or e-mail glshirk [AT] verizon [DOT] net) and Roger Stoner (Lancaster 393-9030).

Saturday, May 16, 2009 - Meet at 7:00 a.m. on Warehouse Road (just across the bridge) for field trip to Safe Harbor area and observation site. Leader: Doug Anderson (Lititz 627-3707 or 572-3944 or e-mail doug [DOT] Anderson [AT] pennmanor [DOT] net).

Saturday, June 6, 2009 - Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the junction of Rte. 117 and Pinch Road in Mt. Gretna for a mystery field trip. Leader: Randy Miller (Manheim 664-3378).

LANCASTER COUNTY BIRD CLUB AND LANCASTER CONSERVANCY JOINT VENTURE

The Lancaster County Conservancy, in partnership with the Lancaster County Bird Club, is pleased to host a new and exciting event as a way for you to get outside and to give back - our 2009 Birding Classic.

Our Birding Classic is very similar to a walk-a-thon. Over a 3 week span, participants are challenged to visit the preserves of the Lancaster County Conservancy and count as many different bird species seen or heard as they can, and gather pledges - either per number of species identified or one time gifts - from friends, relatives, or businesses. All money raised will support the Conservancy's efforts to protect premier habitat for migrating birds and other wildlife in Lancaster County.

It's fun! Bird watching is a great way to get outside and appreciate our county's natural places. Get a small group together or join one of our tours and enjoy your day outside with friends.

It's important! Not only are you getting out, but you're giving back. The Lancaster County Conservancy is working hard to ensure that our natural places are protected and managed to provide vital habitat, protect precious natural resources, and offer opportunities for people to get outside. Raising money for the Conservancy is a real way to make a big difference right here in your own community and beyond - for this generation and into the future.

Here's how it works -

May 1: Interested participants must pre-register by May 1st by visiting www.lancasterconservancy.org/birdingclassic.htm or contacting the Conservancy at 392-7891. Once registered, you can download your participant packet at www.lancasterconservancy.org/birdingclassic.htm or come pick it up at the Conservancy's office.

May 2 - May 23: Get out onto our preserves and count bird species anytime during these three weeks!

May 16: Not an experienced birder? Don't worry! Several members of the Bird Club are offering guided tours on this date to help novice birders build up their lists. For more information on tours, please visit www.lancasterconservancy.org/birdwatchingtours.htm or contact the Conservancy.

June 19: After you're done birding, it's time to collect your pledges, which are due to the Conservancy by June 19th.

June 27: Finally, come out to the Conservancy's picnic where we will hand out awards and celebrate our successes!

Each participant is required to gather a minimum of $50 in pledges - but we're here to help. Included in the participant packet is a letter that you can personalize and send out to help solicit pledges and donations. Your packet will also include a sponsor tracking form to help keep track of your sponsors. All participants that meet the minimum of $50 become a member of the Lancaster County Conservancy.

Participants are responsible for collecting their own pledges from their sponsors. All checks should be made out to the Lancaster County Conservancy, and all donations are tax deductible.

If you're interested in adding owls or other nocturnal birds to your list, our Steinman Run and Fishing Creek Nature Preserves will be open overnight from May 16th to May 17th. This is a one-time, special exception for Birding Classic participants. Camping and fires are still prohibited.

For more information, or to be a part of this event, please contact Kristan McKinne, Director of Marketing and Communications, at kmckinne [AT] lancasterconservancy [DOT] org, or at 392-7891.

ELECTION BALLOT

All LCBC members in attendance at the April 10, 2009 meeting are eligible to vote.

• President - Ann Bodling
• First Vice President - Jane S. Schreffler
• Second Vice President - Michael G. McKinne
• Treasurer - Roger Stoner
• Recording Secretary - Sally S. Lownsbery
• Corresponding/Membership Secretary - Patricia P. Witmer
• Newsletter Editor - Barbara B. Hunsberger
• Directors - Doug Anderson - Jeffrey L. Musser - Carl R. Beck - James H. Smith - Carlton Groff - Rosemary A. Spreha - Linda McKinne - Jan A. Witmer

MEMBERSHIP NEWS BY PAT WITMER

Current membership is 363, which is 18 less than this time last year. Possibly the economic conditions have crunched our numbers too.

A hearty welcome to our new members, plus an invitation for them to join us on any of the numerous 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.

New Members:

• Fiorentino, Jim, 308 Iron Valley Drive, Lebanon, PA 17042
• Martin, Richard, (Sperry, Ms. Thyra) 740 Oak Hill Drive, Boiling Springs, PA 17007-9624
• Mayers, Mr. & Mrs. Timothy (Sandra) (Connor and Anna), 837 Stone Hill Road, Conestoga, PA 17516
• Via, Mr. & Mrs. Jim (Gail), 1025 Conestoga Boulevard, Conestoga, PA 17516
• Werner, Anthony, 2150 Coventry Road, Lancaster, PA 17601-3031

REQUEST

Webmaster, Kurt Bodling, would like to add some photographs of birds to the LCBC web. If any LCBC members have photographs they are willing to donate, please contact Kurt at thistlebrook [AT] gmail [DOT] com or Elizabethtown 367-9340. He is looking for photographs of species that breed in or pass through Lancaster County. Do NOT send any photos until he has discussed your donations with you.

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS BY BETTINA HEFFNER

The Scribbler, Jack Brubaker, of the Lancaster New Era picked up on some birding news on 1/9/09 when he wrote about Jim McMullen's mystery bird on a wire along Harrisburg Pike near Long's Park. Jim had reported seeing a "bird" at the same spot over several days. He went through his mental list of possible IDs but continued to be perplexed until he had a digital photo taken. The "bird" was a branch of a tree that had grown around the wire. Jim gets kudos for persistence and problem solving. The "bird" is still there.

Barbara Hunsberger was mentioned by The Scribbler on 2/3/09 in a piece on the upcoming biography of the late well-known ornithologist Ted Parker. Barbara pointed out that Harold Morrin was a mentor of Ted's. The January issue of Birding, the journal of the American Birding Association, reports on the new book.

Congratulations to Jonathan and Melissa Heller upon the birth of the club's youngest new member, little Caroline Rose, born 1/30/09, just in time for the spring migration.

Thirteen year old, Margaret Odell was beautifully featured in John McGonigle's "Outdoors" section of the Sunday News on 12/28/08 for her extensive volunteer involvement with the Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory (CVWO) at Kiptopeke State Park. The two photos of Margaret say a lot--in one she's smiling broadly as she holds a Peregrine Falcon ready for its release back into the wild; in another she's intently focused on extracting a Yellow-rumped Warbler from a mist net. In addition to extracting and releasing, she helped to record data. As a Kiptopeke Challenge contender, she raised $960 for the CVWO. Margaret credits our club for our financial and educational support. The article makes reference to big brother Andrew who had been a volunteer and intern with the CVWO. Good work, Margaret.

You may remember Len Eiserer when he presented his wonderful talk on the American Robin some years ago; he dressed the part in his red, brown and black attire. He was in the Sunday News on 1/4/09 for his generous gift to the North Museum to be used toward a new building, establishing a museum endowment, supporting the live animal room, and for a public lecture series. The club is collaborating with the museum on selecting the lecturers; you'll be learning more about this effort. These are exciting times for the museum and the community-at-large due to Eiserer generosity.

Robert E. Coley recently returned from a month-long birding tour of South Africa, travelling through Cape Town, the Cape of Good Hope, the West Coast, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Wilderness, Garden Route, Karoo National Park, Wakkerstroom Biosphere Reserve, Kruger National Park, Mkuzi Game Reserve, St. Lucia-Eshowe, Dhlinza Forest, Umlalazi, Underberg, Drakensberg Mountains, the Sani Pass in Losotho, and the Xumeni Forest, ending in Durban.The group of seven Americans and two Australians located over 400 species of birds including most of the endemic and near-endemic species. The most interesting species included the Southern Bald Ibis, South African Shelduck, Cape Vulture, Jackal Buzzard, Cape Francolin, Blue Crane (national bird), Blue Korhaan, endangered Cape Parrot, the dazzling Knysna Turaco, Clapper Lark, Karoo Long-billed Lark, Drakensberg Rockjumper, Barratt's Warbler, Karoo Eremonela, Rufous-eared Warbler, Cape Batis, Gurney's Sugarbird, Pink-throated Twinspot, and the Drakensberg Siskin. Among the mammals were giraffe, lion, rhinos, hippos, hyenas, jackals, and a wide variety of antelope. While enjoying the birds and the mammals, they were struck by the beauty and variety of the landscapes, from the table-top mountains, the deserts, the high mountains to the tropical shorelines of the Indian Ocean. Robert added 173 new species to his life list that now totals 3595 species from his travels to all 7 continents.

BIRDS ON THE MOVE (DECEMBER 1, 2008 - February 28, 2009) 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 (twoshaffers [AT] yahoo [DOT] com), but will accept mail or phone reports (717-569-2519). 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 an LCBC meeting, please send that report to Glenn also. Thank you for your help!

REPORT OF COMPLETED EVENTS

January 9, 2009 - Deuane Hoffman presented a program titled: Susquehanna River Conejohela Flats - A History and Seasonal Portrait. Deuane is a well-known local birder and world traveler. He has a particular interest for the demographics of PA bird distribution, having birded all 67 counties in the state on numerous occasions while recording at least 150 species of birds in each of these counties. Deaune's talk centered on the importance of the Conejohela Flats habitat for shorebird migration, species found throughout the year there, and discussed some of the people who have birded there. Deuane has been part of the PA Birds Magazine since its inception in 1987 and also has been a PSO Board Member for many years.

January 24-25, 2009 - Trip to Cape Henlopen and Delmarva Coast was cancelled.

February 6, 2009 - Paul Zeph presented a program titled, Kittatinny Songsters and the Susquehanna Water Gap. The Kittatinny Ridge is the largest contiguous forest in southeastern Pennsylvania, providing important songbird migration and nesting habitat. Mr. Zeph spoke about the various habitats of the region and the development threats to a number of areas of the ridge, especially the Susquehanna Water Gap. Paul Zeph is the Mid-Atlantic Highlands Action Program Coordinator, a four state initiative toprotect and restore habitats in the Appalachian Mountains. He is also vice president of Appalachian Audubon Society.

February 21, 2009 - Gary Shirk led a trip to Barnegat Lighthouse, Manasquan Inlet to Shark River Inlet, NJ. There were 11 participants including the leader. The weather was mostly cloudy with 15 mph winds and a daytime temperature of around 42 degrees. A total of 54 species was observed. Species of note included 40 plus Harlequin Ducks, Purple Sandpipers, Ipswich Sparrow, close looks at both Surf and Black Scoters, Redhead and Canvasback Ducks, Greater Cormorants and a Eurasian Widgeon.

March 7, 2009 - Leaders Bruce Carl and Fred Habegger led a field trip to Middle Creek WMA. There were 15 participants on a mild day in northern Lancaster County. The total number of species observed was 63, including 20 species of waterfowl, 1 Merlin, 2 Northern Harriers, 1 Cackling Goose 7 Redheads, and some Tree Swallows. Other species of interest included around 100,000 Snow Geese, a Bald Eagle incubating eggs on a nest and a mink in the beaver pond.

March 13, 2009 - Mary Ann McDonald presented Celebrating Biodiversity using her photographs and those of her husband Joe. The visual images were stunning, capturing all kinds of animal life interacting with the respective environment. Her verbal presentation was equally compelling as she described the threats to the habitat and the need for conservation. Africa is the couple's "second home" and many of the photos were of African wildlife. She emphasized the importance of respecting the people they meet along the way and involving them in their work. She praised the technology of digital photography and its use in capturing animal behavior in new and different ways.

March 15. 2009 - Randy Miller led 15 participants on a mild evening field trip to SGL 145 in Lebanon County, primarily to observe calling and displaying American Woodcock. A total of 31 species was observed, including 4-5 Am. Woodcock calling and displaying, 4 Fox Sparrows, 12 Wood Ducks, 2 Eastern Phoebes, 5 Pine Siskins. Spring peepers were also calling.

March 28, 2009 - This field trip will be reported in the next issue of the newsletter.

IMPORTANT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

Scott Weidensaul is encouraging participation in the North American Bird Phenology Program. The NABPP has been launched by the U.S. Geological Survey's Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. NABPP consists of approximately 6 million 3x5 index cards (known as Migration Observer Cards) containing information on arrival and departure dates of nearly 900 species of birds gathered by 3,000 volunteers over a span of 90 years (1881-1970). This is a very exciting and timely program that welcomes participants from all backgrounds and ages, who would like to get involved. Migration cards are currently being scanned and becoming available on the NABPP website. You can become one of the many volunteers from around the country to sign into their site and convert these files into their database. For program and sign-up information, go to the program's web page.

If you have any questions

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:

Created for the Internet on ... 14 June 2009