Overview and ActivitiesQuick LookSouth Mountain Audubon Society has decided to schedule a few outdoor activities for the upcoming weeks. We have chosen locations where it is relatively easy to practice social distancing and where we can divide the groups into smaller numbers if needed. Please note varying beginning times and locations.
|
|
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 (profile - courtesy of The Gettysburg Times) 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. Bird Arrivals and Departures The Spring 2020 migration competitions are concluding and the winners will be announced soon. A Backyard Bird competition will start at the beginning of June. If you are interested in participating or just want to know what is going on contact Mike Bertram at 717-352-7936. Friday 29th May Bird Walk on the Battlefield - Peach Orchard and Devil’s Den Areas Saturday, June 13 - State Game Lands #249 Saturday, June 27 - Oakside Park, Biglerville
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 2019There were a number of new and rare species recorded in the area in 2019, although they have been previously recorded in adjacent areas:
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 planned on an annual basis and a tentative list will be sent in late December to those on our email list. Details for day trips will be announced in the monthly email blasts, and details for overnight trips will be announced a few months in advance. Also, information can be found on this website. Each monthly email will list a contact person and a meeting place and time for the upcoming events. If you are not on our email list, you can contact Mike Bertram at mike@the2nomads.org or call 717-809-3911 (please leave a voicemail) if you have questions or need other details. Field trip cancellations will be announced by email as soon as possible and also on this website. Battlefield WalkOn the 1st of February the Society had a winter’s walk in the Battlefield. 11 species were observed including Red-headed Woodpeckers
Great Backyard Bird CountOn the 15th February 40 attendees braved the winter cold for a walk at the Old Country Club, Gettysburg. 23 species were observed and were reported as part of the Greater Backyard Bird Count.
Middle CreekOn the 5th March 13 members visited Middle Creek to see the amazing sight of thousands of Snow Geese and Tundra Swans. 44 species of bird were observed.
WoodcocksOn the 14th March around 20 people turned up at Deb and Ralph Siefken’s house. We saw and heard at least 3 woodcocks.
|
