The October 2009 edition of the "Chickadee Chatter" (Spotted Knapweed, Reminder of Hawk Watch Rules, Members' News, Update on Programs & Outings, Spring 2009 Hawk Watch Count Results, The New Blind a the Wetlands, Reminder of Dues for 09-10)

The June 2009 edition of the "Chickadee Chatter" (The 2009 Migratory Bird Count Results, The calendar of events for the Summer & Fall, A review of a book about Roger Tory Peterson, an article about the Autumn Olive, & the invasion of Pine Siskins)

The March 2009 edition of the "Chickadee Chatter" (The Christmas Bird Count results, 2008 Fall Hawk Watch Count Results, Spring 2009 Hawk Watch, Kudos to Chris, Spring 2009 Calendar of Events, The Jeweled Net of Indra, APAS Website News, Shade-Grown Coffee, Rusty Blackbirds)

The September 2008 edition of the "Chickadee Chatter" (Sensible Winds Solutions Update, North American Butterfly Count Local Results, Spring Hawk Watch Count Summary, List of Winter APAS Meetings & Activities, Global Warming Legislation, Celebrating Urban Birds Programs, and a Reminder About Membership Renewals)

The May 2008 edition of the "Chickadee Chatter" (Hawk Watch Records, Report on Earth Day Outing, Spring Waterfowl Migration Counts, Lee's Cucumber & Onions Recipe, Report of the World Series of Birding)

The February 2008 edition of the "Chickadee Chatter" (Shaffer Mountain Wind Development Update, Fall Hawk Watch, 2007 Christmas Bird Count Results)

The April 2007 edition of the "Chickadee Chatter" (Green Energy & Wind Turbines, Recent Outings Revisited, The Golden Eagle Project, Lee's Everything Cookies Recipe)

Our newsletter, the "Chickadee Chatter", is available in pdf format (Adobe's Acrobat Reader).

Anyone that would prefer receiving the newsletter electronically, to conserve paper and mailing costs for us, can sign up for email delivery by contacting the webmaster: (webmaster@alleghenyplateauaudubon.org).

We welcome appropriate items and articles for submission to our newsletter. Please email submissions to the webmaster: (webmaster@alleghenyplateauaudubon.org). Your article will be forwarded to the editor of the newsletter for consideration.

APAS MEETINGS & EVENTS (updated 2/25/10)

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., Apr. and May.

April 15 Meeting—Birds of Australia- Ross Galardy is an expert birder and is well known throughout the birding community of Pittsburgh and Westmoreland. Many of the earlier members remember Ross as a teenager interested in birds. He is presently a student at the University of Pittsburgh and recently finished a solo travel of 13,000 miles in Australia. Show up and we’ll all go down-under.

May 20 Meeting—Birds of Arizona –by naturalist-photographers Mike and Laura Jackson. Mike and Laura are members of APAS and are the founders of SOAR (Save Our Allegheny Ridges). They co-founded the Bedford Bird and Nature Club and have also had numerous photography exhibits

APAS Outings & Other Events

Please remember to contact outing leaders three to five days prior to the outing!!

Notice for “Date TBAs.” When you sign up for a Date TBA, the leader will contact you personally on the best time to have this outing. Details can be discussed at that time. Outings can change due to weather or be rescheduled for other reasons.

Unfortunately, in nature, weather is important to the success of the event and dates set in stone can change and events be postponed. We will attempt to make announcements of these changes on our website and send APAS Bulletin emails to those subscribed. To join the APAS bulletins email list, send an email with a request to join to the bulletin list to webmaster@alleghenyplateauaudubon.org

February 26 to May 5—Spring Hawk Watch—APAS has one of a very few Spring Hawk Watches. The earliest birds are our Eastern Golden Eagles in late February, and the latest are our May Ospreys. Join us on the mountaintop.

March to May 5—Waterfowl Outings-- Join Tom Dick for this seasonal phenomenon! We visit the Wetlands and Shawnee State Park three times weekly, spending about three hours on each survey. It’s a great way to learn to ID waterfowl. There are days when the number of waterfowl exceeds 2000. Call Tom at 814-74-5727

April 25 to May 10—Shorebirds of Dunnings Creek Wetlands---Bittern Pool is drawn down to accommodate the potential 22 species of shorebirds. Thanks to Chris Payne’s blind we can stay dry during rainy days while observing. Shorebirds travel thousands of miles from the tropics to their arctic breeding grounds and may stop over for a short stay to rest and feed. Call Tom Dick (814-754-5727) for dates

March 20—Dunnings Creek Wetlands Invasive Plant Removal-- Garlic mustard has infiltrated approximately ¼ acre and needs pulled. This is a dangerous invasive capable of out-competing the surrounding native plants and we need lots of people to help. Please notify Tom Dick at 814-754-5727 if you can help.

March 21 - Help clean wood duck and bluebird boxes at Dunnings Creek – cleaning and replacing boxes is an essential part of keeping these birds on the wetlands. If interested, contact Tom Dick at 814-754-5727. We always need help!

April TBA - Wilmore Dam - Join Debbie Bodenschatz on an outing to Wilmore Dam to search for the many species of salamanders and frogs. Wilmore is rich in wetlands, and Debbie knows the frogs and salamanders extremely well. This is also a great outing for kids and grandchildren. This will be a night foray and boots, flashlights, and rain gear are usually in order. Call Debbie at 814-495-5252 or email debbodenschatz@hotmail.com. When the weather is just right, she will notify us

April 24—Earth Day at the wetlands---A no workday! We will eat, enjoy being with fellow conservationists, and tour the wetlands (uplands, impoundments and stream). Bring a covered dish and meet around 10:00 a.m. at Jerry’s barn. Last year we had Bald Eagles, Osprey, and Forster’s Terns flying around as we ate. Dunnings Creek is a great stream for kids to net crayfish, fish and generally get wet having fun.

May 8—Pa. Migratory Bird Day--- This event takes place in Bedford Co. where we count all the migrants and resident birds for one day. This is a state sponsored event to gather information on all species for conservation purposes. Last year Debbie Bodenschatz found the federally endangered Piping Plover at Shawnee Park so anything is possible. Join us for a fun filled day. Contact: Sally Dick or Rosemary McGlynn 2555734

May 15-- Photographers for Pollinators----This is a NEW conservation outing developed by John Pickering PhD., who founded the Polistes Society and Discover Life. Their purpose is to assess, through photography, our dwindling native pollinators. It’s a way we can contribute to pollinator diversity on a regional basis. The images would be sent off to a pollinator database for distribution to researchers. Our organization has many photographers and this could also be the beginning of a photography conservation group within the chapter. See Tom Dick for details

May and August --- Moth Lighting at Night - Another way to appreciate biodiversity. Setups will be at the Allegheny Front Hawk Watch. This event was highly successful last year, attracting moths and other nocturnal insect. The location and time change allows for different species. Contact Dennis McNair at 255-4088 for exact date, which will depend upon the weather.

Please remember to contact outing leaders three to five days prior to the outing. Details can be discussed at that time. Outings can change due to weather or be rescheduled for other reasons.

May to September: Dragonflies, Damselflies and Butterflies of Dunnings Creek Wetlands and Shaffer Mt--- If you wish to accompanying Tom and Sally Dick on these weekly forays please call 814-7545727 to get on the list of people we will call. You will be notified usually a day or two ahead. During most occasions we will also be looking at other species, specifically birds and flowers/

June TBA Charles Lewis Natural Area--Jim Pemberton. This is a unique location nestled within the slope of the Conemaugh Valley. It is home to interesting plants (mountain maple), mammals (Allegheny Woodrat), and reptiles such as timber rattlesnakes and copperheads. The emphasis of this trip will be on the rattlesnakes. Directions will be provided via e-mail for participants who sign up. Call Tom Dick at 815-754-5727 to get on list.

June TBA kayaking--- There will be kayak/ canoe trips to local lakes and dams and possibly a river trip. Kayaking is a good way to get close to aquatic nature and many of our kayakers are good naturalists. In the past we’ve inspected old beaver dams, shoreline botany, observed Black-crowned Night Herons and spawning carp, saw large colonies of encrusting bryozoans on submerged logs and many other aspects of nature that only be seen by a canoe or kayak. Contact Jack Julian at 814-242-5131 for details.

July 3- Bog Outings on Shaffer Mt.---In this outing we will be looking at several sphagnum bogs with their associated carnivorous plants, dragonflies and birds. We will also discuss when and how the bogs may have developed. If time permits we will visit some of the string bogs lining creeks. Call Tom Dick for details at 814-754-5727

July 11- North American Butterfly Count: As most of you know our count is one of the highest counts in the Northeast. The count circle includes the high Allegheny Plateau and the hill and valley region of Bedford County. Contact Tom or Sally Dick (814)-754-5727.

August 1 - Audubon Picnic at Hidden Acres Farm - This is a great children’s outing with hands-on-biology. We collect snakes, fish, butterflies, and other insects only to be released unharmed later. There will also be fund raising events, book sales, great food, camaraderie and, hopefully, a beautiful day. This is our most attended event of the year and all are welcome. Bring a Covered Dish.

Click here to download a pdf version of our Outings and Events Page for Spring/Summer 2010