Overview and ActivitiesQuick LookNext Meeting: Monday 18th November - Plant Conservation Network Hummingbirds |
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MeetingsUnless indicated otherwise, all SMAS Programs are held at the Adams County Agricultural Resource Center, 670 Old Harrisburg Road, Gettysburg, PA at 7:30 pm (refreshments at 7 pm). A room number for the SMAS meeting will be posted on the front lobby entry inner door. Bonnie Portzline is happy to give her presentation ‘Birds with a Gettysburg address’ to interested parties. The presentation is based on her wonderful photographs of local birds. Monday 18th November, Sandy Lockerman will talk about Hummingbirds. Thursday 28th November to the 1st December, Thanksgiving trip to Chincoteague, VA. We plan to bird in the Chincoteague area and at other nearby venues - the weather report will determine our daily locations. Contact Deb Siefken (717-677-4830; siefkend@embarqmail.com) if you are interested in participating. Saturday 14th December, Christmas Bird Count. Please contact Mike Bertram (717-352-7936) if you would like to participate. Saturday 18th January, Bird walk at National Cemetery, Gettysburg NMP. 9 am start. Monday 27th January, Movie - Bird of Prey. With fewer than 800 Philippine Eagles remaining on Earth, Bird of Prey follows a small but devoted group of people who are determined to save these magnificent birds from extinction. It’s a remarkable story and a moving film—one that I hope you will enjoy and share with your family and friends. Monday 15th February, Great Backyard Bird Count at the old Country Club grounds, Gettysburg NMP. Details to follow. Thursday 5th March, Trip to Middle Creek Saturday 14th March, Woodcocks at the Siefken residence Monday 16th March, Presentation on Mexico - Monarchs and Birds by Laura Jackson Saturday 4th April, Annual Lunch at Hickory Bridge Saturday 18th April, Bird walk at Renfrew Museum and Park, Waynesboro at 7:30 am. Wednesday - Thrusday, 29th - 30th April, Visit to Mt. Cuba Center, Hockessin, Delaware, near Wilmington. Monday 18th May, Presentation on Birds and the Mayans. Citizen Scientists Wanted!
The Pennsylvania Amphibian & Reptile Survey is looking for interested citizen scientists to participate in their survey in this area. Willingness to record and report amphibian and reptile observations is needed. The 2 websites listed below provide more information on the project, the opportunity to sign up, and links to help with identification of herps: PARS and Pennsylvania Herp Identification For more additional information contact the Adams County coordinator Sue Muller. Her email address is: adams@paherpsurvey.org The South Mountain Audubon Society aims are to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity focusing on Adams County, PA. The Society works towards those aims with meetings, birding trips, and conservation activities. There are 2 Important Bird Areas locally: Click here to join National Audubon and the South Mountain Audubon Society. Please select U17 as the Chapter code from the drop down menu on the form. If you only want to join the South Mountain Audubon Society only then sign up at the next event you attend. The annual membership is $15. The Society can be contacted in the following ways: email: SMAS@southmountainaudubon.org Local Bird Sightings in 2017 and 20182017 and 2018 were very productive years for new and rare species being recorded in the area:
South Mountain Important Bird Area (covering parts of Adams, Franklin, and Cumberland Counties) Adams County (excluding sightings in the IBAs already noted) Further details including lists of all the bird sighted can be found on the Bird Lists page. See map for the definition of the IBA areas. |
Field TripsFIELD TRIPS - Field trips will be announced in
the quarterly newsletters (when possible) and on this website. Each field trip
will list a contact person and a meeting place. Please be sure to notify
the listed contact person of your planned attendance so that you can be
alerted to any changes in the schedule or meeting place. Bird Arrivals and Departures The Fall migration competitions are open. If you are interested in participating or just want to know what is going on contact Mike Bertram at 717-352-7936. Oakside ParkOn the 30th August 27 species were observed at the Park including the first sighting at that locality of a Scarlet Tanager. Opposum LakeOn the 3rd September 27 species were observed while kayaking at Opossum Lake.
Lake HeritageOn the 13th September we visited Lake Heritage; 16 species were observed.
Gettysburg National Military ParkOn the 26th of September the Society birded in the vicinity of the ampitheater in Gettsburg National Military Park. 18 species were observed including a number of Red-headed Woodpeckers. Rocky Ridge Hawk WatchOn the 5th of October the Society visited the Rocky Ridge Hawk Watch, east of York. The air was clear allowing us to see to a distance of 50 miles in some directions. 27 species were observed including many bald eagles (mostly local birds, not migrants) and a flight of 4 common loons. Oakside ParkOn the 25th October we birded Oakside Park; 24 species were observed, including first of the season White-crowned Sparrows.
Duck DriveOn the 11th November we visited Long Arm Reservoir and Codorous State Park on a Duck Drive, 22 species were observed.
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She is a trained and federally licensed bird bander and field ornithologist with over 30 years of experience in bird research and education. Sandy conducts several research projects in the central Pennsylvania area. In addition to songbirds and saw-whet owls, she has been studying the Ruby-throated Hummingbird migration as well as chasing, catching and banding wintering hummingbird species that are reported in Pennsylvania. Her program will be about these hummingbirds.
(Kristi Allen’s presentation on the Plant Network is postponed)
