Overview and ActivitiesQuick LookNext Meeting: Monday 28th January - Cheasapeake Bay presented by B. J. Small |
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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. Mon., Dec 10: York Audubon meeting Scott Weidensaul presents “A Galaxy of Falcons” Each year, what may be the largest gathering of raptors on the planet ~a million Amur falcons~ assembles in the remote mountains of N.E. India, a spectacle unknown to the outside world until a few years ago. Scott will discuss his 2017 expedition to Nagaland to document this stunning phenomenon, and the astonishing conservation saga that surrounds it. Luther Memorial Church, 7:00 P.M. Saturday 15th December Christmas Bird Count. If you are interested in participating contact Mike O'Brien on 540-314-5108 Saturday 22nd December Bird Walk at Oakside Park, Biglerville. Meet at the parking lot off route 394; time: 8 am. Any questions - contact Mike Bertram on 717-809-3911 Monday 28th January, B.J. Small from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation will be presenting. Bird Arrivals and DeparturesThe friendly competition of documenting the dates of bird arrivals and depatures in Adams County in 2018 has finished. The winners were: Cy Dietz (summer resident arrivals), Bonnie Portzline (pass-thru migrants), Linette Mansberger (summer resident departures); and Kathy King (winter resident arrivals). Feedback is requested on the concept and a web page which documents the dates. The competitoion will be run again in 2019. Field trips to Oakside Park, BiglervilleThe monthly bird walks at Oakside Park, Biglerville continue (see left column). 31 species were observed in September including a number of additions to the Park bird list. 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 |
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. Harrisburg State HospitalOn the 6th October South Mountain Audubon participated in a Big Day bird count at the old Harrisburg State Hospital site. 61 species were observed including a number of warblers.
Hawk Mountain
Duck DriveOn the 13th November SMAS Members took a drive around Adams County Lakes & Ponds. The highlights of the tour were Hooded Mergansers and a Bald Eagle.
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Broad-winged Hawk
