SPRING TRIPS ANNOUNCED !
Thursday, April 22, 2021:    Wildflower Walk for Earth Day. Come along on a wild flower walk in southeastern York County. Shenks Ferry Wildflower Preserve in Lancaster County is well known for its abundance of wildflowers due to a geologic feature. Not so well known is that this feature occurs on the York side as well. Contact Bernie Frick at bernardfrick@comcast.net to join this morning walk in the woods of roughly a mile depending on the group. 

Saturday, May 1, 2021:  Bombay Hook and White Clay State Park  Cancelled  (more info in next section below)

Sunday, May 2, 2021:   Bird Walk at Nixon Park. This morning's walk will start at the Hollow Creek Trail parking lot, 400 Valley Rd, York,  and pick up the Old Field Trail among others in Nixon Park. Lasting about 2 hours. Contact Bernie Frick at  BernardFrick@Comcast.net to register and for more information. 

Saturday, May 8, 2021:  Morning bird walk at the William H. Kain County Park, Lake Redman Boardwalk to look for warblers, nesting birds, and wetland birds. Refer to trail #3A on the York County Birding Sites section at www.yorkaudubon.org for details. No bathroom facilities available. Meet at 8:30 AM. In case of bad weather, we will re-schedule. Leaders:  Dick Humbert and Sherry Lookofsky. Call 717-880-6644 to register or email sherryklookofsky@comcast.net.)

Wednesday-Saturday, May 12-15, 2021:  Magee Marsh - Cancelled  (more info in next section below)

Tuesday, May 18, 2021:  Bird walk at Hopewell Area Recreation Complex to look for grassland nesting birds, as well as red-headed woodpeckers. Leaders : Alice and Tom Simmons...717-428-3673. Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the parking lot.


Magee Marsh and Bombay Hook trips CANCELLED for 2021

MAGEE MARSH - A question was sent to past participants in the NatureStabler Explorations/York Audubon Society organized bus trips. The overwhelming response was hesitancy based on the unknowns for the pandemic and the vaccine. So NatureStabler Explorations will not offer a Magee Marsh bus trip for 2021. It will be offered again in May 2022.

For those of you who want to go on your own, Becky will be releasing our rooms for May 12-15 on Monday, Feb 15.

The Boardwalk at Magee will be closed to the public from April 15 to June 1st, 2021 to keep crowds from gathering closer than the recommended COVID19 social distancing guidelines.  The Black Swamp Bird Observatory has cancelled its annual “The Biggest Week in American Birding” and will provide all of its programs by internet.  If you would like to enjoy the Biggest Week, now is the time to do it!  We haven’t been part of the organized program when visiting Magee. If you join the Black Swamp Bird Observatory for $25 you can participate in the presentations May 6 – 10.  Go to
https://www.biggestweekinamericanbirding.com/special-announcement.html
to sign up.

BOMBAY HOOK - For the same reason that the Magee trip is cancelled, the Bombay Hook trip is also being postponed. We will try to take in the fall migration. (dates to be determined)

Note on Chincoteague and Assateague - We WILL return to Refuge Inn in Chincoteague on November 5-7, 2021. The details need to be worked out but the hotel rooms are booked. Suggestions to enhance the trip would be appreciated. Last time we visited Kiptopeke, Chincoteague, and Assateague.

Becky Stabler
NatureStabler Explorations
1 Center Square, Suite 201
Hanover, PA 17331
717-688-5183


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.
click the button to go to the map!

Signs to Enhance the York County Bird Trail Project: In an effort to improve the  experience for those who will use the York County Birding Map, signs will be placed at most of the 21 birding sites that are identified and described on our web site. Thanks to financial support from National Audubon and York County Parks and Recreation, signs have been procured and will be located so that the visitor will know they are at a special birding site and that more information can be found on our website about their location and other sites. 
The York County Birding Trail Map was an initiative long considered, but made a reality by former vice-president Andrew Wolfgang. The website on yorkaudubon.org provides detailed information on 21 locations including directions, unusual birds, best times of year, trails and other useful information. The signs are planned to be placed at the sites this spring and summer. 
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Recent pictures of the Short-eared owls from Hopewell Area Recreation Complex
(photos courtesy Michelle Wittig - Feb. 2021)
Don't forget to visit the York Audubon feeders at Pinchot Park
(photos courtesy Sherry Lookofsky)

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!
Baltimore Bird Club's Martin Brazeau has created a new website! If you loved his bird identification video quiz, and enjoyed his presentation at our December meeting, you will love this!

Birding videos and quizzes, topics on bird songs, warblers and more! Check it out! Thanks Marty!

DECEMBER ACTIVITIES A SUCCESS

Christmas Bird Count: Dec. 19, 2020 To no one's surprise, the 121st CBC was challenging. While National Audubon suggested that the count need not be held, they advised that it could be, but with restrictions: social distancing, wearing masks, not carpooling. Snow of 4 to 6 inches that arrived before the count day compounded the difficulty. Nevertheless, 21 counters participated identifying 74 species among 5,304 birds. The effort and results were, in fact, similar to previous years despite the challenges. No unusual species were counted, but Dark-eyed Juncos were plentiful and Wild Turkeys were not recorded. Despite the issues, which were significant, we were able to maintain the tradition of the York CBC. Our report becomes part of the National Audubon data base, the nation's longest-running community science bird project.   
Christmas Bird Count for Kids: Dec 29, 2020: For the 4th year, Nixon Park hosted the CBC4Kids. On a chilly but clear day, 13 kids and 9 adults were given instructions, binoculars, identification guides and sent out on park trails to count birds. Having enough volunteer guides, family groups were kept together throughout the walks. After an hour, the counters returned and while socially distancing outside, the birds were tabulated: 22 species and 123 birds including a Bald Eagle and Great Blue Heron. One parent left the following message:

 "I just wanted to thank all of you in your group for such an enjoyable morning.  We really did have the best time!  My kids talked about you guys and the birds the whole way home. They love the booklets Audubon provided as well.  We went on your website to check it out because the kids would love to participate in more activities in the future.”

A photographer for the York Dispatch, who accompanied us on a previous count, put his work in the newspaper’s Gallery:  
https://www.yorkdispatch.com/picture-gallery/news/2020/12/29/photos-kids-bond-birders-during-annual-audubon-count/4077813001/
 
Thank you to the park staff and Audubon volunteers who made this introduction to a citizen science project possible.

GETTYSBURG!

Fifteen Audubon members and friends joined Gettysburg Battlefield tour guide Dave Weaver on Saturday, January 23 for our annual Winter Wildlife Watching Tour. The weather was a brisk and breezy 30 degrees under blue skies. Though it appears the birds were smarter than our group, we did get glimpses of red-headed woodpeckers, kestrels, red-tailed hawks, turkey vultures, and starlings. Our guide took us to 4 choice locations for viewing the battlefield, but the birds were scarce. However, it was wonderful to spend a couple of hours with birder friends... socially distanced and masked!


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

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.
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.
Membership application for York Audubon Society - print and mail
york_audubon_membership_application.pdf
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