Overview and ActivitiesQuick Look
Next Bird Walk / Field Trip: Saturday 21st May:- 7:30 am Next Meeting: Monday 20th June, 7 pm, Birds of Prey |
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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 (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 Arrivals and Departures challenge is ongoing. If you are interested in participating or just want to know what is going on contact Mike Bertram at 717-809-3911. Meetings and other ActivitiesSaturday, 21st May - Bird Walk at Monterey pass near Blue Ridge Summit We will meet at 7:30 AM at the parking lot across the road from the Monterey Pass Battlefield Park and Museum at 14325 Buchanan Trail E., Waynesboro, PA. This is a mostly paved trail with some elevation gain. Any questions contact Linette Mansberger (717-495-8137). Saturday, 28th May - Bird Walk at Hashawha Environmental Center near Westminter MD. We will meet at 7:30 AM at the Environmental Center parking lot at 298 John Owings Rd, Westminster, MD. Due to limited parking at the trailhead, we will shuttle a short distance from the Environmental Center to the trailhead. This trail will cross a boardwalk on the lake and travel into the woods and along a stream valley. There will be very slight elevation gains. Any questions contact Linette Mansberger (717-495-8137).
Monday, June 20 - Birds of Prey - presented by Patrick Miller. Refreshments and social time: 7:00 PM
Monday, October 17 - Meeting, presentatino to be announced. Refreshments and social time: 7:00 PM
Monday, November 21 - Meeting, presentatino to be announced. Refreshments and social time: 7:00 PM 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 2021The number of species observed were down from last year. There were few new or rare species recorded in the area in 2021:
South Mountain Important Bird Area (covering parts of Adams, Franklin, and Cumberland Counties) Adams County (excluding sightings in the IBAs already noted) Rare birds: Trumpeter Swan, Olive-sided Flycatcher Missing bird: Least Flycatcher 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. Mary Ann Furnace trailsOn the 9th of April SMAS walked the Mary Ann Furnace trails at Codorus State Park. 44 species were observed including tree and barn swallows, bald eagle, and osprey.
Bird BlitzBetween the 22nd and 25th April SMAS participated in a Bird Blitz in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Society of Ornithology. Four walks were organized which resulted in 84 species being observed. Other people also provided input making a total of 121 species oberved during the Blitz.
Wood Duck
Broad-tailed Hawk with squirrel Photos by Linette Mansberger Former State Hospital natural area, HarrisburgOn the 1st May SMAS visited the former State Hospital grounds in Harrisburg. 63 species were observed.
Yellow Warbler
Cooper's Hawk photos by Linette Mansberger International Migratory Bird DayOn the 14th of May SMAS birded at Spangler's Spring, Gettysburg NMP. 53 species were observed, the most exciting being a Wilson's Warbler..
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