Need something to do? Try out a new birding area!
Most sites on our York County Birding Map can be experienced while practicing social distancing.

HELP WANTED!!

Long time York Audubon newsletter editor Karen Lippy is no longer able to produce our quarterly newsletter. Current board members have a lot on their plates with trying to keep the chapter going during these trying times. We are making an appeal to our members to please let us know if you would be able to take on this task. Much of the content would be provided to you, and other board members would be responsible for the printing and mailing, we basically just need someone to pull the content together in a document (such as Microsoft Word). Please don't let our newsletter die! We have most of the information on this website, but not all members use the internet. Email audubonyorkpa@gmail.com for more information if there is any possibility that you might be interested.



2020 Bird Sale is a hit!
Dick Humbert's 37th year of organizing the bird seed pick-up for York Audubon Society was blessed with perfect weather for early November! The binoculars were won by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Stuhre. The afternoon volunteers, masked up, posed for a shot. People also bought some of Cliff Beittel's pristine book collection and Clyde Fisher's hand-crafted peanut feeders.

To contact us by email, or to unsubscribe from our email list, send a note to:

audubonyorkpa@gmail.com


Have an unusual bird sighting?

An unusual bird for the area, an unusual time of year for a bird to be seen, or maybe the first of the season as the migration season begins!
Report it on our new Birding Blog!
Members can enter their sightings (text only) on the blog for other members to read and comment on.
Click the button below to check it out!
Still need something to do? Try out the wealth of resources available from the American Birding Association (ABA) website, including tips on birding from home.

https://www.aba.org/

in memoriam
ALICE FRICK
York Audubon Society lost a valuable member of our organization late this spring. Alice Frick succumbed to cancer, a battle she valiantly fought for 20 years. She had a dedication to the natural wonders all around her, especially the birds. Alice and Bernie shared countless outdoor adventures while camping and hiking and exploring parts of the U.S. and beyond. Alice enjoyed sharing her vast library with others, and teaching us about the latest birding technology.

For the last few years, Alice was our Conservation chairperson. She volunteered, along with Bernie, to work with PA Audubon leaders on a variety of projects with school children at Hannah Penn School, William Penn High School, and Kiwanis Lake. Alice established the annual Christmas Bird Count for Kids at Nixon Park, recruited Andrew Wolfgang to be our YAS vice-president , and hosted lunch for all of the Christmas Bird Count participants from our organization. Each autumn, Alice willingly helped with our annual bird seed distribution day.

Alice and Bernie invited the executive board to meet monthly in their home a few years ago, saving our organization hundreds of dollars in room rental fees at the church. She graciously served refreshments as well during those meetings. She readily shared ideas for speakers and field trips. She and Bernie gave some delightful presentations to our group during monthly meetings, and led several field trips to local birding hotspots.

Alice remained a true friend to York Audubon Society, bequeathing a generous amount of money toward our endeavors. We remain ever grateful to Alice Frick.

Mark your calendars! 

Our 2020 trips had to be canceled, but Becky Stabler is making sure that we won't get shut out for 2021!
She has already made arrangements with the vendors,
and registration will begin in January 2021 for the following trips!

May 1, 2021     Saturday     Bombay Hook and White Clay Creek, Delaware

May 12-15, 2021    Wed - Sat    Magee Marsh and South West Lake Erie Shore, Ohio
Please Note Our NEW MEETING LOCATION 
(when in-person meetings resume)
 OUR YORK AUDUBON SOCIETY Regular MONTHLY CHAPTER MEETINGS
WILL BE HELD AT THE
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH of YORK,
925 S. GEORGE ST, YORK, PA
(just north of York Hospital)

Regular Monthly Meetings are free and open to the public - Come join us!

 



Peter Kaestner shared some of his marvelous worldwide adventures at our March York Audubon Society meeting. The audience loved listening to his near-death experiences of birding in many remote and beautiful places! His life list is at 9,450 so far, with a goal of an unfathomable 10,000 birds! Peter is pictured here with Tish Swam and Carolyn Mathur.
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Our February 2020 meeting featured Mark Kocher, veteran volunteer for local raptor rehabilitator Mitzie Eaton. He wowed the  crowd tonight with live raptors and his many colorful stories about them. We got up close with a beautiful Red-tailed Hawk, a cute little Screech Owl and a handsome Barred Owl!





The crowd was huge for the York Audubon January meeting, when George Schardt presented "The Desert Southwest~ A Birder's Paradise". His photos and stories were spellbinding, and humorous parts were charming! We applauded a spectacular program! Pictured are George and his wife Darlene.

Images from the Desert Southwest
Christmas Bird Count for Kids

York Audubon Society held our annual Christmas Bird Count for Kids at Nixon County Park on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019. Participants met at the Nixon Park Nature Center, and from there left in smaller groups to walk through different areas of the park and tally any birds that were observed. Everyone met up after about an hour of walking to come up with a grand total of sightings, which were then reported and used in National Audubon's 120th Christmas Bird Count. Reports are then used in scientific studies to track bird populations worldwide.
ANNUAL BIRD SEED SALE!

Thanks to all who purchased seed and helped make our annual sale a success. This is our major fundraiser for the year and it was encouraging to see all the support. A special shout out to all of the folks who showed up to help load bags of seed into customers cars, direct traffic, help with the paperwork, etc.  There will be lots of well fed birds in York County this winter!
Look for us again next year!
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Our November 19 meeting featured the very talented photographer Bob Anderhalt (right), show here with York Audubon vice-president Andrew Wolfgang. Bob narrowed over 17,000 pictures down to his 100 best in order to present "The Birds of Magee Marsh". The photographers in the audience were enlightened on some of the techniques used to shoot the pictures, while the bird lovers were just "wowed" by the gorgeous photos. Thanks Bob for a great evening!
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York County geologist Jeri Jones (left) enlightened us about the many fascinating geological features of our county. He will lead a field trip to the Chickies Rock area on Saturday, Oct. 26. If you're interested, call him at 717-887-7103. Jeri is pictured here with our Audubon vice-president Andrew Wolfgang.

http://www.jonesgeo.com/


At our September 2019 meeting, Cliff Beittel, acclaimed bird photographer who now lives in Sanibel, Florida, offered tips on capturing the best possible nature photos. He revealed secrets about lighting, timing, subjects, equipment, and more. Check out his amazing photos at:

https://www.cliffbeittel.com/index
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Cliff Beittel, shown here with Program Director extraordinaire Tish Swam, and the York chapters own photography buff, Bob Anderhalt.
Shown above are just some of Cliff's cover photos found on several national magazines.
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Guest speaker Doc Schoch with YAS President Carolyn Mathur following Doc's extremely interesting and informative presentation entitled

“Damsels and Dragons—Flies, that is!”

at the May 2019 chapter meeting.
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