Seven Mountains Audubon

Chapter Assembly Details

2012-03-12T12:55:00.002-07:00

Hello again,  OPEN TO ALL AUDUBON MEMBERS (Debby's emphasis)

Please let me know by March 15 if you plan to attend the chapter assembly. We have to have a preliminary headcount to U-Pitt Johnstown by then.  You can email me your response using the form below and bring a check  with you to the assembly.  Also attached the registration form in two formats.  It is also available on our website on the homepage- http://pa.audubon.org.  ALL members are welcome to attend – please forward to anyone in your chapter who might be interested in attending, but is not on this email leader list.  (Thanks!) 

We have an very interesting agenda planned beginning with the wind farm tour on Friday afternoon, March 30.  The assembly day itself we will have plenary and panel discussions about wind/energy development in PA, Bird-friendly communities, and a plenary on Chapter Services.  Field trip choices on Sunday include Dunning’s Wetlands or Allegheny HawkWatch.

Please check ALL that apply and respond by COB Thursday, March 15 to ezeph@audubon.org

___ I will attend the Board Meeting, Friday, 3/30 from 10-2 p.m.

___I’m coming to the Wind Farm Tour Friday (Assembly registration fee is $21.00 – bring with you)

___I’m coming Friday night to The Alibi

___I’m attending Saturday only

___I’m staying over Saturday night and would be interested in dinner w/ group.

I am interested in a Sunday a.m. field trip to: 

___Allegheny Front Hawk Watch

___Dunning’s Wetlands

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Looking forward to another great gathering of Audubon where we will learn, share and have fun!

Ellen Zeph

Development Associate

Audubon Pennsylvania

100 Wildwood Way Harrisburg, PA 17110

(717) 213-6880 Ext. 4

(717) 574-2165 Cell

(717) 213-6883 (FAX)

Rabid Raccoons

2012-03-09T07:24:00.002-08:00

Here is another informative email from Robyn Graboski. Although it's geared toward Centre County it is relevant for our area as well.

Greetings all,

It seems we really do have a rise of rabies in Centre County. And it is everywhere including the State College area and the Penn State Campus. It has been here for a long time. We are just seeing more of it this year. See Attachment (not included in blog). This raccoon was found in Boalsburg.

FYI, if you find a wild animal that acts strange and that it might have rabies, call the Game Commission or the Police to have it put down. In many areas the police will help if the Game Commission is not available. You can also bring it to us if you wish, but most people don’t want to do that. Usually wild animals will act strangle when they have rabies such as:

- attacking everything in site (furious form)

- or acting very tame (dumb form)

- a raccoon, skunk or fox attacking a dog (Normally they are too smart to do something like that)

- a raccoon attacking a porcupine or skunk (wild animals know better, dogs don’t)

BTW, the dumb form and the furious form are from the same rabies virus. Animals can act differently depending on how it affects the brain; however, they act abnormal.

Distemper in raccoons and foxes acts very similar to rabies in that they just wander aimlessly or just sit in the yard in a stupor. Both diseases cause dementia in the animals so they don’t know what they are doing; that’s why they do stupid things like attack porcupines. Like I said, dogs just don’t know any better. Both rabies and distemper are fatal diseases in wild animals so in both situations euthanasia is the only humane option so the animals don’t suffer any longer. And it keeps the rest of us safe.

If possible, if you have a suspicious animal in your yard, put a recycling bin (or something similar) over the animal and something heavy like a cinder block to keep it there until you get help. Or shove it into a garbage bin container with a broom or shovel. Never, ever handle these animals with your bare hands even if they act tame! They are NOT tame, they are SICK!

Also, be especially careful of feral cats. The PA health department has indicated that more people are exposed to rabies from feral cats than any other domestic animal and probably wild animals. That is because more people are willing to pick up a stray kitty, but not necessarily a stray raccoon. (Emphasis added).

If you are bitten or scratched by a rabid animal or an animal that got away and are required to get vaccines, and don’t have insurance, the emergency room fees can be $10,000. Yes, that is correct…the painful part is the price!

If you have questions about a bite or possible human rabies exposure, call the health department for advice: 1-866-PAHealth.

If you have other questions, let me know and I will try to help you.

Robyn Graboski

Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator
Centre Wildlife Care
PO Box 572, Lemont, PA 16851
www.wildaboutanimals.org

814-692-0004

March 2012 e-news

2012-02-28T11:42:00.002-08:00

The following two SMA events will meet at 7:30 PM at the Kelly Twp. Supervisors' Building as noted in left-hand column.

Board Meeting: Wednesday 14 March

Please come and bring your ideas or just come to listen. Any Audubon member is welcome to attend the board meeting.

Mario Giazzon....Barn Owl Program: Wednesday 21 March Everyone is welcome.

Mario's presentation will focus on a brief discussion of barn owl natural history and current data resulting from the PA Game Commission's ongoing Barn Owl Conservation Initiative (BOCI) that was initiated in 2005. Over 800 owlets have been banded by Diversity Biologists statewide and roughly 42 bands have been recovered, leading to interesting observations on dispersal direction and distance, as well as age at time of recovery. Diet analysis of pellets collected from local sources will be discussed, as well as the current status and range of active nest sites through 2011.

Mario has worked as the PA Game Commission Northcentral Region Wildlife Diversity Biologist since 2007, primarily providing technical assistance to private landowners interested in managing their properties for bird and mammal species of greatest conservation need identified in the State Wildlife Action Plan. Other duties have included the Barn Owl Conservation Initiative, assisting in peregrine falcon banding, studying dispersal of female Indiana bats during spring migration, etc. Prior to working for the PGC, Mario worked as a private lands wildlife habitat biologist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Lycoming County, PA, for The Nature Conservancy in western Kentucky, and for the Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife Resources. He received his M.S. From Illinois State University and B.S. from Indiana University of PA.

Our First Saturday Walk 3 March will depart at 7:30 AM from the CVS side parking lot on SR 192, just west of US 15, see map right-hand column. Everyone is welcome as we explore an area birding locale.

Other Area Events:

Penn State Extension 15th Annual Home Gardeners' School of Central Susquehanna Valley

8:30 AM - 4 PM Saturday 3 March Milton Area High School

Presentations of particular nature interest include: Jim Green's A Bird's Eye View of Native Plants and Dick Hess's The Beautiful Eastern Bluebird. The Keynote speaker is Jessica Walliser, who co-hosts "The Organic Gardeners" on a Pittsburg radio station and is an accomplished writer. Pre-registration is now $45 fee, which is still a bargain as it includes five presentations, continental breakfast, and lunch as well as a chance to win one of 40 door prizes and visit with vendors and exhibitors. Click here to register via Cvent by noon this Fri. 168 people have registered for this fun, informative day.

The Reality of Climate Change

6:45 PM Thursday 8 March Public Library for Union County, 255 Reitz Blvd. Lewisburg

The Otzinachson Group of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Sierra Club and Seven Mountains Audubon are sponsoring a program on climate change, one of the most critical challenges that we and our civilization face. Earth's climate has been in constant flux forever, but the climate is changing much faster now than ever before. The rate of this change presents a serious challenge for species' adaptation - including humans. It is an issue that should be informed by science, not political ideology. The program will be presented by Elizabeth Crisfield who comes to us through the Climate Reality Project.

Linn Conservancy's Caring for Communities Events 1 April - 5 May. Details will soon be on their website and new Facebook page. Events include: Youth Photo Contest, Radio Roundtable, Movies, Montandon Marsh Walk, Greenways Walk, Falcon Presentation, Owl Prowl and Astronomy Night, Bicycle Ride, Canoe/Kayak, and more.

Happy Exploring,
Debby Meade

Lead Poisoning in Wildlife

2012-02-15T09:35:00.001-08:00

Email from Robyn Graboski on 2.15.2012

Greetings all,

I have some very sad news on the bald eagle with lead poisoning. Of course right after I sent out the e-mail that the bird was doing better with treatment, he stopped eating. We brought him inside and continued with treatment, but he went downhill. He became more anemic and could not keep anything down. Over the weekend the bird passed away. Lead poisoning causes anemia, digestive shut down and organ failure. That is what happened with this bird. We keep the expensive antidote on hand for lead poisoning and we will never give up on these animals. But they are tough to save because lead is so toxic.

Sorry it took me so long to give you an update. I wanted to collect my thoughts and give you some references before giving you the sad news.

How does an eagle get lead poisoning? From eating carcasses shot with lead ammunition; the lead pieces left behind in the meat dissolves in the digestive system, gets into the blood stream, is deposited in bone and tissue and makes the animal sick.

There is a national push to ban lead ammunition and replace it with non-toxic alternatives. However, some hunting groups take offense to this and consider it an anti-hunting push; which it is not. So this issue is very political; hard to believe when you read the research on this topic. Lead in the meat is toxic to not only animals, but also people. Hunters have said to me that they have been eating venison for years and it hasn’t hurt them a bit. We also used to think that DDT, tobacco and asbestos were safe. We are learning new things all the time. Here are some interesting articles on lead poisoning from lead ammo…More than you ever wanted to know…

Interesting X-rays of carcasses that were shot with lead ammo:

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/lead3.pdf

Extensive information and articles on the effects of lead ammo on animals and people:

http://www.peregrinefund.org/subsites/conference-lead/2008PbConf_Proceedings.htm

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501363_162-57336354/condor-recovery-program-beset-by-bullets/

Robyn

******************

Robyn Graboski
Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator
Centre Wildlife Care
PO Box 572, Lemont, PA 16851
www.wildaboutanimals.org
814-692-0004

February e-news

2012-01-26T16:58:00.001-08:00

White-throated Sparrow Photo Credit: Matt Levanowitz

Greetings Everyone,

SMA Facebook Group

We have a new project for those of you interested in using Facebook. Brent Bacon volunteered to set up a SMA Facebook group for us. If you already have a Facebook account you may view our site here. If you would like to learn about Facebook read their Help Center site which is viewable to anyone. Facebook accounts are free and enable you to access any public Facebook site. More and more nonprofits and businesses are using Facebook as an easy way to communicate with the public. Once you join an open group you are able to post on the site. Our site is open to anyone. If you have any questions please post on our new Facebook group site or use our email address below. We look forward to your comments. All our websites will always be a work in progress.

SMA Calendar

First Saturday Walk 4 February

We will depart at 7:30 AM from the CVS side parking lot on SR 192, noted on the map in the right-hand column, for a winter botany walk near Hughesville. Our walk will be at the Ingram farm and led by their daughter Nellie. Remember to bring your binoculars as we can bird too. We hope you will be able to join us for hot chocolate following the walk as well.

SMA Monthly Program 7:30 PM Wednesday 15 February

Kelly Township Supervisors' Bldg as noted on Venue map in left-hand column:
Brazilian Forests and Wetlands with Owen Floody and Andrea Halpern

This is a Brazilian excursion highlighted by two contrasting habitats: the Atlantic forest and the Pantanal. The first is one of the most endangered tropical forests in the world and is home to some equally endangered animals, including the maned wolf and the muriqui, the largest nonhuman primate in the Americas. The Pantanal is one of the largest wetlands in the world and may be best known for its jaguars and many birds, including the hyacinth macaw and many water birds.

Owen Floody and Andrea Halpern are professors of psychology at Bucknell University.

The Reality of Climate Change

6:45 PM Thursday 8 March Public Library for Union County, 255 Reitz Blvd. Lewisburg

Upcoming Events sponsored by other area organizations:

SnowFest 2012 12 - 4 PM Sunday 12 February RB Winter State Park

Experience such winter adventures as snow shoeing, ice skating, cross country skiing, horse drawn wagon rides, broomball, ice sculpture. There will be a food concession, silent auction, crafts, and nonprofit tables including our own Seven Mountains Audubon.

Matt Levanowitz's Nature PowerPoint Presentation
7 PM Monday 13 February Public Library for Union County Lewisburg
Yes, this is our SMA member and spectacular photographer. Focus will be birds, however, Matt will also share other nature shots.

15th Annual Home Gardeners' School of Central Susquehanna Valley

8:30 AM - 4 PM Saturday 3 March Milton Area High School

Presentations of particular nature interest include: Jim Green's A Bird's Eye View of Native Plants and Dick Hess's The Beautiful Eastern Bluebird. Jessica Walliser will give the keynote address, Beneficial Borders. Pre-registration and a $35 fee, which includes five presentations, morning treats, and lunch, must be received by 24 February. Click here to register online.

Using an informative subject line, please send all correspondence, unless otherwise noted, to: info@sevenmountainsaudubon.org

Happy Exploring,

Debby Meade....SMA e-news editor

http://gardeningpa.blogspot.com/

January 2012 e-news

2011-12-22T06:10:00.001-08:00

Northern Mockingbird Photo Credit: Brent Bacon

Greetings Everyone,

Our First Saturday Walk 7 January will depart at 7:30 AM. Meet at the CVS side parking lot noted on the map in the right-hand column. Allen Schweinsberg will lead the walk along the Buffalo Valley Rail Trail.

There will be a meeting of the SMA Board 7:30 PM Wednesday 11 January in the Kelly Township Supervisors' Building as noted on Venue map in left-hand column. Please feel free to come and bring your ideas. Any Audubon member is welcome to attend our board meetings.

Please join us 7:30 PM Wednesday 18 January for our monthly program held at the Kelly Township Supervisors' Building as noted on Venue map in left-hand column:

Atacama Landscapes: A Glimpse at the Driest Place on Earth
with Craig Kochel

Views of landscapes and active processes in the Altiplano of Chile. NASA views the Atacama as an environment that represents the boundaries of life on Earth, with places where it hasn't rained in hundreds of years and even bacteria can't be found in the soils. Craig will focus mostly on geological processes shaping the region - volcanism on an active converging tectonic boundary, wind, weathering, and rivers. Even in this driest of regions, effects of water erosion still dominates much of the surface landscape features. Photos will include views of several of the high salt flats "salars", the world's highest geyser field "El Tatio", some of the worlds most active volcanos, and snippets of the bird life high on the Altiplano.

Craig Kochel is a professor of geology at Bucknell University. His research interests include Appalachian debris fans, Virginia Barrier Islands, and the Geomorphology of Mars.

Upcoming Events sponsored by other area organizations:

Merrill Linn Conservancy Snowshoe/Cross Country Ski

1 PM Saturday 14 January at Dale’s Ridge

Snowshoes provided; skiers supply own. Please register online by 11 January or by calling 524-8666. Hiking may be an option if no snow.

Merrill Linn Conservancy Youth Photo Contest

Full details on Linn website in January.

15th Annual Home Gardeners’ School

8:30 AM - 4 PM Saturday 3 March at Milton Area High School

Presentations of particular nature interest include: Jim Green’s A Bird’s Eye View of Native Plants and Dick Hess’s The Beautiful Eastern Bluebird. Jessica Walliser will give the keynote address. Pre-registration and a $35 fee, which includes five presentations, morning treats, and lunch, must be received by 24 February.

Forty-three participants found 72 species during our Christmas Bird Count held on 17 December. Consider counting next year. The entire Buffalo Valley Rail Trail is in our counting circle which makes a nice walking route. Most of the other routes involve some car driving. Birding from your home is also an option if you live within the circle. Detailed results will be posted on our SMA website.

SPECIAL thanks

Allen Schweinsberg

leading our December First Saturday Walk
co-ordinating our 2011 Christmas Bird Count

2011 Christmas Bird Count Volunteers

Warren Abrahamson, Roger Allison, Owen Anderson, Steve Anderson, George Boone, Paul Dennehy, Roy Fontaine, Warren Frantz, Kerry Givens, Geoff Goodenow, Bob Gutheinz, Robert Hazard, David Hafer, Galen & Bonnie Ingram, Kay Cramer, Jill Largent, Matt Levanowitz, Bill Malone, Alice Marquart, Jen Mattive, Jack McCann, Wayne McDiffett, Larry McGraw, Debby & Paul Meade, Mike Molesevich, Dianne Muchant, Laurel Mutti, Dick Nickelsen, Kaustubh Patwardhan, Judy Peeler, Robert Reyda, Allen & Joanne Schweinsberg, Carl Shaffer, Richard Shaffer,Wesley Sigl, Joe Southerton, Logan Stenger, Stephanie Thomas, Don Ulrich, Tom Yannaccone

Alice Marquart, Judy Peeler, Joanne Schweinsberg

co-ordinating our Hog Island Scholarship process.

December Sharing Program Contributors

Using an informative subject line, please send all correspondence, unless otherwise noted, to: info@sevenmountainsaudubon.org

Happy Exploring,

Debby Meade....SMA e-news editor

December e-news

2011-11-26T09:49:00.001-08:00

Rough-legged Hawk Photo Credit: Lauri Shafer

Greetings Everyone,

Our First Saturday Walk will be to the Turtle Creek Dog Park along Supplee Mill Rd. near Lewisburg. Meet at the CVS side parking lot noted on the map in the right-hand column to depart at 7:30 AM with Allen Schweinsberg.

Please join us 7:30 PM Wednesday 14 December (PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS THE SECOND WEDNESDAY.) for our monthly program held at the Kelly Twp. Supervisors' Bldg as noted on the Venue map in the left-hand column:

Camaraderie & Dessert: Presented by Everyone
Continuing a long tradition, our December meeting will consist of member and guest presentations. Anyone who wishes may bring along a nature-related item to share – slides, photos, carvings, poems, stories – let your imagination run wild! Feel free to just come and listen. After sharing, we will have dessert: cookies, and cider or lemonade.

Our Christmas Bird Count is Saturday 17 December. Contact Allen Schweinsberg if you would like to help count. Read our About Us blog page for details about our count circle which radiates out 7.5 miles from the center of Vicksburg.

Due to the economy we have decided not to send out our annual fundraising letter.

At our November Board meeting, we voted to donate $200 to the Shikellamy 5th Grade Outdoor Education Summer Camp program to support their efforts in raising funds to continue their program which was cut from the school budget for the first time in 39 years. For more info please read their Facebook page.

Hog Island sponsorship....SMA is is now accepting applications from area teachers, currently teaching in our four county membership area, for a partial scholarship ($500) to attend a continuing education program at the Hog Island Audubon summer camp in Maine, 19 - 24 July, Sharing Nature: An Educator's Week. If you are an interested teacher please email us ASAP as the program fills quickly. We have sent a $100 deposit to the program. Our application deadline is 31 January.

Special Thanks to...
Allen Schweinsberg for leading our November First Saturday Walk to Dale's Ridge.

We welcome new leaders for our First Saturday Walks – No expertise required, just a desire to lead an outdoor walk – maybe to a new and different place than we have visited before? Contact Allen Schweinsberg if you would like to step forward.

Consider walking or biking a section of the new Buffalo Valley Rail Trail. Bird species sighted to date include: Mallard, Red-tailed Hawk, Rock Pigeon, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch, and House Sparrow. When you see others consider posting them on the BVRT Facebook Wall. We are hoping to spot a Rough-legged Hawk or Snow Buntings in the fields during the Christmas Bird Count, anytime would be great.

Using an informative subject line, please send all correspondence, unless otherwise noted, to: info@sevenmountainsaudubon.org

Happy Exploring,

Debby Meade....SMA e-news editor

November e-news

2011-10-31T13:14:00.000-07:00

Cedar Waxwing Photo Credit: Matt Levanowitz

Greetings Everyone,

We hope to see you at as many events as you are able to attend.

Our First Saturday walk will be Dale's Ridge. Meet at CVS parking lot noted on map in right-hand column to depart at 7:30 AM with Allen Schweinsberg.

There will be a meeting of the SMA Board 7:30 PM Wednesday 9 November in the Kelly Township Supervisors' Building as noted on Venue map in left-hand column. Please feel free to come and bring your ideas. Any Audubon member is welcome to attend our board meetings.

Please join us 7:30 PM Wednesday 16 November for our monthly program held at Kelly Twp. Supervisors' Bldg as noted on Venue map in left-hand column:
Why are amphibians so attractive? with Mitzuki Takahashi

Mizuki Takahashi will introduce basic taxonomy and ecology of amphibians with special focuses on Japanese and American species. He will also talk about conservation issues surrounding globally declining amphibian populations and present the summary of his dissertation work.

Born and raised in Japan, Mizuki came to the United States to study amphibians after he finished his master's degree in forestry at Tokyo University. In the U.S., he studied ecology, evolution, and reproductive biology of salamanders. After obtaining his Ph.D. from the University of Memphis, he came to Bucknell to work with Warren Abrahamson on ecological divergence of herbivorous insects.

Mark your calendar for our Christmas Bird Count Saturday 17 December. Contact Allen Schweinsberg if you would like to help count. Read our About Us blog page for details about our count circle which radiates out 7.5 miles from the center of Vicksburg.

Special Thanks to...
Allen Schweinsberg for leading our October First Saturday walk to Shikellamy State Park Overlook.

Dick & Nancy Dagle, Alice Marquart, Debby Meade, Bob & Elena Reyda, Allen & Joanne Schweinsberg, for participating in our Furnace Rd. October trash collection.

Using an informative subject line, please send all correspondence to: info@sevenmountainsaudubon.org

Happy Fall.

Debby...SMA e-news editor

October e-news

2011-10-17T05:15:00.001-07:00

Greater Yellowlegs Photo Credit: Lauri Shafer

Greetings Everyone,

14 - 16 October Furnace Road Cleanup...Would you like to help pick up trash along a segment of Furnace Rd this weekend? PennDOT provides all supplies. Through volunteer efforts SMA has been maintaining a 2 mile section of Furnace Rd for over 10 yrs.

7:30 PM Wednesday 19 October SMA Monthly Program.....
A Week in Costa Rica: Stalking the Wild Quetzal with Wayne Laubscher
There are over 800 species of birds living in the diverse habitats of Costa Rica. This Central American country offers birders great birdwatching opportunities from sea level to high mountain cloud forests. Here is found the Resplendent Quetzal, perhaps the most spectacular of all western hemisphere birds.
Wayne resides near Lock Haven, where he is the Clinton County compiler for Pennsylvania Birds and a veteran bander of Saw-whet Owls.
WHERE: 551 Zeigler Road, Lewisburg, PA.

Hog Island sponsorship....SMA is seeking to sponsor an area teacher to the Hog Island Audubon summer camp in Maine, 19 - 24 July, Sharing Nature: An Educator's Week: http://projectpuffin.org/OrnithCampsDescriptionTCHR.html#Programs
If you are an interested teacher please email us ASAP as the program fills quickly.

First Saturday Walk Leaders Needed...Would you like to lead a First Saturday walk? No experience necessary, just a love of walking outside.

Email address change?????.....If so, please contact our Membership chair.

Environmentally themed movie sought....Any suggestions for a "green" movie to be shown at Lewisburg's newly renovated Campus Theatre?

Using an informative subject line, please send all correspondence to: info@sevenmountainsaudubon.org

SMA Website: http://www.sevenmountainsaudubon.org/
SMA Blog: http://sevenmountainsaudubon.blogspot.com/

Debby...SMA e-news editor

Amish Pond Directions

2011-10-16T15:07:00.001-07:00

Photo Credit: Google Maps

Follow Paradise Rd. south from Turbotville. Note arrow at bottom right corner of map pointing to pond. The pond is usually dry, however, after extensive rain you may find unusual shorebirds or waterfowl at the site. Kudos Allen and Lauri.

e-newsletters

2011-08-18T16:33:00.000-07:00

Our monthly SMA e-newsletters will start in this blog in early October. Our only print newsletter for September 2011 - August 2012 is viewable on our SMA website: http://sevenmountainsaudubon.org/newsletter.pdf
If you are a SMA member and are creative or have computer skills and would like to help produce the e-newsletters please request access to post on this blog.

Birdathon 5.7.2011

2011-05-10T04:08:00.000-07:00

Barred Owl Photo credit: Matt Levanowitz

"Big Day" 2011 is over. The crazy people who live at our house got up at 2:45 a.m. in order to get maximum enjoyment from the morning. We were rewarded by the calls of a pair of Barred Owls at RB Winter State Park and fine birding with old friends the remainder of the day. So we got a little wet in the afternoon, but who cares?
Taken together, all the folks who got afield on Saturday reported a total of 127 species. I hope we all had fun and sustained our appreciation of the outdoors.
Reported by Allen to Mark's List. To view the species list go to: http://www.sevenmountainsaudubon.org/
Forty birders participated in our local Birdathon.

Great morning at Dale's Ridge.

2011-05-06T13:17:00.000-07:00

This morning Allen and Joanne saw many warblers at Dale's Ridge, including two new species for this locale...Cape May Warbler and a very cooperative White-eyed Vireo. Others included Nashville Warbler, Northern Parula, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warber, Magnolia Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, and Hooded Warbler. Great report.

She Flies On....and On....and On

2011-03-09T05:05:00.000-08:00

Oldest known wild bird in U.S. returns to Midway to raise chick

MIDWAY ATOLL — The oldest known U.S. wild bird – a coyly

conservative 60 -- is a new mother.

The bird, a Laysan albatross named Wisdom, was spotted a few weeks ago with a chick by John Klavitter, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist and the deputy manager of the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.

The bird has sported and worn out 5 bird bands since she was first banded by U.S. Geological Survey scientist Chandler Robbins in 1956 as she incubated an egg. Chandler rediscovered Wisdom in 2001. In 1956, he estimated Wisdom to be at least 5 years old then since this is the earliest age at which these birds breed, though they more typically breed at 8 or 9 after an involved courtship lasting several years. This means, of course, that Wisdom is likely to be in her early sixties.

There must be something to all that fish oil she consumes because Wisdom does not look her age (see photo below).

“She looks great,” said Bruce Peterjohn, the chief of the North American Bird Banding Program at the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, Md. “And she is now the oldest wild bird documented in the 90-year history of our USGS-FWS and Canadian bird banding program,” he added. “To know that she can still successfully raise young at age 60-plus, that is beyond words. While the process of banding a bird has not changed greatly during the past century, the information provided by birds marked with a simple numbered metal band has transformed our knowledge of birds.”

Wisdom, Peterjohn said, has likely raised at least 30 to 35 chicks during her breeding life, though the number may well be higher because experienced parents tend to be better parents than younger breeders. Albatross lay only one egg a year, but it takes much of a year to incubate and raise the chick. After years in which they have successfully raised and fledged a chick – which on Midway is about two-thirds of the time – the parents may take the occasional next year off from parenting. Klavitter said that Wisdom also nested in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

And since adult albatross mate for life, with both parents raising the young, it makes one wonder if Wisdom has had the same partner all these years or not.

Almost as amazing as being a parent at 60 is the number of miles this bird has likely logged – about 50,000 miles a year as an adult – which means that Wisdom has flown at least 2 to 3 million miles since she was first banded. Or, to put it another way, that’s 4 to 6 trips from the Earth to the Moon and back again with plenty of miles to spare.

One reason for all these miles is that Laysan albatross spend the first 3 to 5 years after fledging at sea, never touching land. Then they return to breed in the northwestern Hawaiian Island chain but some of their feeding grounds are actually off the coast of western North America, including the Gulf of Alaska. The parents tend to feed closer to the islands where their nests are when the chicks are very young, but they regularly commute to the northern Pacific Ocean and even the Gulf of Alaska when the chicks are older or when the adults are incubating. They convert the fish eggs and squid oil they eat into a rich, oily liquid, which they regurgitate and feed to their chick.

In the non-breeding part of the year, albatross do not touch land -- the birds, scientists believe, often even sleep while flying over the ocean.

Peterjohn noted that Wisdom’s remarkable record is just one example of the valuable data provided by bird banding. In addition to establishing longevity records for birds, banding data from the North American Bird Banding Program documents migratory patterns, provides critical harvest and survival information used to manage populations of migratory game birds, and supports research activities on many issues from toxicology to disease transmission and behavior. Since 1920, approximately 64.5 million birds have been banded by this Interior Department-Canadian Wildlife Service program, and of those, nearly 4.5 million bands have been recovered.

About albatross

Albatross are legendary birds for many reasons – in Samuel Coleridge’s poem, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” a sailor has to wear an albatross around his neck as punishment for killing the bird. According to seafaring legends, albatross are the souls of lost sailors and should not be killed. However, as reported by James Cook, sailors regularly killed and ate albatross.

Albatross are remarkable fliers who travel thousands of miles on wind currents without ever flapping their wings. They do this by angling their 6-foot wings to adjust for wind currents and varying air speeds above the water.

Nineteen of 21 species of albatross are threatened with extinction, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Present threats to the birds include lead poisoning of chicks on Midway from lead paint used in previous decades; longline fishing, where the birds are inadvertently hooked and drowned, though conservation groups have banded with fishermen and dramatically lowered the number of deaths from this cause; and pollution, especially from garbage floating on the ocean.

The birds ingest large amounts of marine debris – by some estimates 5 tons of plastic are unknowingly fed to albatross chicks each year by their parents. Although the plastic may not kill the chicks directly, it reduces their food intake, which leads to dehydration and most likely lessens their chance of survival. In addition, albatross are threatened by invasive species such as rats and wild cats, which prey on chicks, nesting adults and eggs. Albatross evolved on islands where land mammals were absent, so have no defenses against them.

USGS provides science for a changing world. Visit USGS.gov, and follow us on Twitter @USGS and our other social media channels.

Game Commission Looking for Reports of Dead Barn Owls

2011-02-23T07:24:00.000-08:00

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Game Commission wildlife biologists are seeking information from the general public about dead barn owls that may have succumbed to starvation during the long periods of snow and ice that covered much of Pennsylvania this winter. Information can be submitted to the Game Commission's Region Offices.

"Because of the length of time that much of the Commonwealth has had snow on the ground with a hard crust, barn owls have had an extremely difficult time attempting to catch meadow voles, which are their primary prey," said Dan Mummert, Game Commission Southeast Region Wildlife Diversity Biologist and regional coordinator of the agency's Barn Owl Conservation Initiative. "Therefore, we currently are in what is likely the highest annual period of mortality for these owls. We need landowners' cooperation in reporting any dead barn owls, especially those barn owls that have been banded, so we can learn more about such things as fledgling dispersal, habitat usage, causes of mortality and average lifespan." ….Full article at PGC Release #024-11.

Cats Indoors

2011-02-22T04:36:00.000-08:00

Help protect our biodiversity and reduce the chance of your cat getting lost or killed by keeping your cat indoors.
Cats Indoors! The Campaign for Safer Birds and Cats by the American Bird Conservancy well delineates why domestic cats need to be indoors. Key points: cats are natural hunters, even when well fed, so they kill song birds and small mammals when free to roam outdoors. Outdoor cat hazards include being hit by cars; cat fights; maulings by dogs, foxes, and raccoons; and various diseases including feline leukemia and rabies. Please keep your cats indoors.
Ask you veterinarian about getting your pet microchipped so vets and shelters will be able to identify your pet and notify you.
In case your cat (or dog) gets lost read helpful info by PetRescue, a small nonprofit in FL.
Above info compiled into poster for program/tabling events using Cats Indoors! line art: Cats Indoors poster.pdf

Keeping Birds Safe Around Windows

2011-02-20T08:53:00.000-08:00

Detailed info from Cornell Lab of Ornithology regarding why we need to protect birds from window collisions. In a nutshell, birds may appear to survive a window collision but actually fly off and die elsewhere.

A permanent solution is to cover your exposed windows with window screening to prevent the birds from hitting the glass. They may hit the screening but will bounce off unhurt if the screening is at least 2 inches from the glass. Two possible ways to attach the screening include using permanent sticky - backed hook tape along the window frames and plain loop tape around the screening or attach screening to a wooden frame then attach wood to window. The Old Trail Fabric Store in Shamokin Dam sells hook and loop tapes by the foot. Lewisburg Builders Supply will cut screening to your desired size. Hand or machine sew the loop tape to the screening. Hook and loop tapes enable you to easily remove the screening to clean the window.

Wildlife Rehabilitators in Our Area

2011-02-19T07:12:00.000-08:00

Spring and summer is baby season for wild animals. If you find an orphaned or injured wild animal, PA's regulations require that the public contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Wildlife rehabilitators are licensed through the state and volunteer their time and monies to care for these animals in hopes of releasing them back into the wild. There are three wildlife rehabilitators in our area you may call if you find a wild animal in need of care:

Kathy Guilfoose, Danville 271.0274

Joyce Derr, Lewisburg 412.4448

Jen Mattive, Penns Creek 837.3377.

If you are interested in rehabilitating wild animals, please contact one of these rehabilitators.

Audubon PA Chapter Assembly Saturday, April 9, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

2011-02-16T14:12:00.001-08:00

This event is only open to Audubon members.

SAVE THE DATE!
Audubon PA Chapter Assembly
Bucknell University's Langone Center
Learn, Share, and Have Fun!
Learn about Audubon PA's new Birdtown Program that every chapter can implement.
Share habitat issues impacting your chapter (break out sessions), and help form policy positions for Audubon PA.
Share your chapter successes and good ideas. Learn from other chapters.
Have fun at the Friday night social, Saturday networking, and Sunday morning field trips by Seven Mountains Audubon Society.
Some Friday and Saturday night accommodations in homes will be available, courtesy of Seven Mountains members.
More details will be coming soon. Plan on sending several chapters representatives.
Best to all,
Phil Wallis (Executive Director Audubon PA)