APAS EVENTS PAGE (updated 4/7/08)
Scroll Down the List of Meetings & then Outings... (Past... Future... Additions/Corrections)
Allegheny Plateau Audubon Society Meetings:
Programs are held at 7:00 p.m. in the Engineering and Science Bldg., Room 200, UPJ on the third Thursday of Sept., Oct., Nov., Mar., Apr. and May.
March 20 - APAS Meeting... Dennis McNair will discuss climate change. Dennis is a trained global warming lobbyist for the National Wildlife Federation, and he will bring important updates and information on this extremely important human-induced phenomenon. You won’t want to miss this presentation.
April 17 - APAS Meeting... Wildlife photography by Jim Richey. Jim’s stunning presentation will include both his expeditions and local photography. He will also give hints on how to take quality photographs using digital photography.
May 15... APAS Meeting. Spring skies by Jack Beuthin of the Earth and Planetary Department at UPJ. This will be our first classroom introduction to astronomy and it will be a fun-filled educational introduction to our Spring skies. We've had a speaker substitution for the May 15 meeting. The new speaker is Steve Lindberg who teaches Astronomy at UPJ. He'll still be speaking on learning the spring/summer night sky. He suggests that people bring their binoculars. If the night is clear and it gets dark enough, we'll do some basic stargazing outside at the end of his talk.
APAS Outings & Other Events
The Breeding Bird Survey is now in its final year and many blocks are still not completed or even started. This premier project, conducted from January to August of 2008, needs your help. Jeff and Retta Payne, Neil Woffinden, and Tom and Janet Kuehl are among the coordinators for Bedford, Somerset and Cambria Counties. If you can participate in this important survey, please contact one of the coordinators.
February 25 to May 10 - Spring Raptor Count at the Allegheny Front Hawk Watch - Our spring count produces some of the highest numbers in the Eastern US (including Hawk Mountain). We love visitors and, if you want, you can learn to be an observer or a counter. The earliest birds are Golden Eagles in late February, and the latest are Osprey in May.
March through May - Dunnings Creek Waterfowl Survey - Join Tom Dick or Rosemary McGlynn for this seasonal phenomenon. We visit the wetlands and Shawnee State Park three times weekly, spending about three hours on the survey. Please call 814-754-5727, and leave a message and phone number if you would like to join us.
March (TBA) Dunnings Creek Work - Help clean wood duck and bluebird boxes at Dunnings Creek Wetlands. If interested, call Tom Dick.
April 2 - Spotted Salamander Migration at the Payne Farm. Don’t miss this opportunity to see Spotted Salamanders migrating en masse to a vernal pond. This is a wonderful children’s outing and there is also a possibility for Jefferson Salamanders. Jeff, Retta and Chris Payne are the leaders. Directions and time will be presented at the March meeting. Call Tom Dick.
April 3 - Cub Scout Outing to Dunnings Creek- Hands-on fun for kids. Note: This is our first outing for a Windber troop, but we would like to encourage members to request additional children’s outings. Bring your children, grandchildren, and give suggestions on outings to introduce them to outdoor critters, trees, ponds, streams, and just the fun of being outside. We have great naturalists, and it will get the kids away from computer games.
Fri April 11 - Wilmore Dam Herp Outing - UPDATED 4/10/08
The Herps Outing at Wilmore Dam (Tom and Deb Bodenschatz) will be held Friday, April 11. Join Debbie Bodenschatz to search for salamanders and other wetland species. Wilmore is rich in wetlands and Debbie is just the one to find all those salamanders and frogs like you’ve seen at the Earth Day displays. When the weather is just right she will give us a date. This will be a night foray; boots, flashlights, and rain gear are usually in order.
We will explore creeks and springs first, and , if the weather is warm , some of our favorite snake spots. After dark we can explore the vernal ponds. Flashlights and nets are always welcome. Anyone interested in making a day of it, you can join our friends and family earlier. Just let us know at debbodenschatz@hotmail.com or tenaftertom@verizon.net or call us at 814-495-5252. Anyone interested in a spur of the moment rainy night adventure, please let us know and we will put you on our call list. We are hoping for a warm rainy Friday or Saturday night. It can be amazingly fun.
April 19 - Earth Day Celebration – Guess what? No work parties! Just food and guided nature tours of wetlands and adjacent areas. Bring family and friends. Call Sally Dick or Rosemary McGlynn if you can join us. UPDATE 4/16/08... Meet at the Red Barn at the Wetlands at 11AM Sat. rain or shine. Bring a covered dish to share for lunch ;we'll picnic about noon & then bird the wetlands-maybe woods,impoundments,creek-whatever we decide. So dress for the weather & maybe some wet trails (just in case!). No work-Just fun!
New Listing... April 26 - WORK DAY AT THE HAWK WATCH - The Hawk Watch site is in need of - "sprucing up". You are all invited to participate in the activities. Tools needed: Lopers, Small & large chain saws, Rakes & shovels,Etc. Weather permitting the event will take place Saturday, April 26, 2008, 8:00 AM DST. Bring plenty of water and your lunch. Rain Date: Sunday, April 27.
May 3 - Nocturnal Rail Survey at Dunnings Creek Wetlands - This will be a late evening survey for Sora and Virginia Rails. We will walk the trails at night and play tapes to hear the rails respond. Occasionally the rails can get quite bold and come out of hiding. Bring a flashlight and wear boots.
May 10 - Migratory Bird Day - This is a fun-filled day greeting all the returning birds. Our location is Bedford County where we separate into teams and scour the county for as many species as possible. We meet back at the Wetlands where we tally and eat. If you have never participated in this outing, it’s a great way to learn your species and see them in their colorful new spring molts. Call Rosemary McGlynn or Tom and Sally Dick. (Please contact us a full week prior to the event since many of us will be away the week before.)
Date TBA - Astronomy Field Trip by Jack Beuthin - This will be a hands-on field trip to practice what you learned from Jack during the lecture. Since we need clear skies, the date and location will be announced at the May 15 meeting.
May 28 - Spring Shore Birds at Dunnings Creek Wetlands - Depending on the migration, other dates will also be considered. We draw down Bittern Pool by several inches to lure shorebirds from their migration. Over the years, we’ve had 22 species of shorebirds.
May through August Dragonfly/Damselfly Counts - Dennis McNair and Tom Dick will be doing dragonfly and damselfly censuses of the following environments: streams, bogs, emergent wetlands, ponds and rivers. Anyone is welcome to join us and learn. Let us know of your interest!
June 8 - Hiking Charles Lewis Natural Area - Jim Pemberton of the Westmoreland Bird and Nature Club will lead. This is an extremely interesting location in the Conemaugh Gap, home to interesting plants, mammals (Pa. Woodrat), and reptiles such as Timber Rattlesnakes and Copperheads. The emphasis of this trip will be on the snakes. The time will be 9:30 a.m. and directions will be provided at meetings or via e-mail for participants.
June 14 - Kayaking Shawnee Lake from a Naturalist’s Perspective - Leaders are Tom and Sally Dick and Rosemary McGlynn. Meet at the Colvin parking lot (first parking lot before bridge on Rt. 96 after Schellsburg.) We’ll look at all the natural features of the lake including plants, insects, birds and, if possible, aquatic invertebrates and fish. Bring your own kayak or rent a canoe. We will schedule additional kayak outings in different environments this Summer.
