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Penns Valley Conservation Association www.pennsvalley.net Spring 2018 Woodcock? WSOV-LP… On Air Now! A Neat Bird by Any Name! This service of PVCA is dedicated to providing an entertaining approach to educating our communi- By Lisa Williams ty about the surrounding environment and its rela- Timberdoodle, mud bat, bog sucker, woodcock – tional implications on a local and global scale. This whatever we call him, this is one of the most inter- Low Power FM radio station hopes to celebrate the esting animals to be found in Penns Valley. Eyes past, be mindful of the present, and curious about too high, bill too long, legs too far to his rear . . . a the future of Penns Valley (and surrounding val- woodcock in the hand seems a cumbersome clown, leys) and the sustainability of their environmental an assemblage of spare parts. But watch this clown communities. in his own element - a wet thicket in springtime - The station, located on one of the highest hills in and you’ll see one of the greatest wildlife shows in Millheim along Route 45, has a broadcast range of Penns Woods. Subject of art, festivals, and odes approximately 10 miles in either direction. WSOV- penned by the great masters of wildlife manage- LP wishes to amplify the uniqueness of our locali- ment . . . the Sky Dance of the humble woodcock ty through music, spoken word, and other creative will entertain anyone who ventures into their sog- gy haunts during springtime. ability to successfully reach out to the community Aldo Leopold, Father of modern wildlife manage- isaudio dependent outlets. on As our a volunteers. non-profit Acting organization, as an audio our ment, was truly enamored with this spectacle and platform, WSOV-LP allows community supporters devoted a section of his April entry in A Sand Coun- to relate to audience members through entertain- ty Almanac to this description of the Sky Dance: ing, educational, and environmentally-minded audio expression. skyward in a series of wide spirals, emitting a mu- WSOV-LP is committed to embracing its small sical“Suddenly twitter. the Up peenting and up heceases goes, and the the spirals bird steeperflutters and smaller, the twittering louder and louder, un- broadcast radius, but is also eager to begin online til the performer is only a speck in the sky. Then, streaming! Once we have the capacity to share our without warning, he tumbles like a crippled plane, sound online, as a small, rural community, we will giving voice in a soft liquid warble that a March be able to reach across the globe and create genu- bluebird might envy. At a few feet from the ground ine connections. Stay tuned for online capabilities he levels off and returns to his peenting ground, as we should begin streaming soon! usually to the exact spot where the performance In order to sustain broadcasting and streaming, began, and there resumes his peenting.” the station needs money. This is no secret, but as Nasal peents, twittering spirals, warbling free-falls: This is truly a show that can be enjoyed by anyone. be creative with our gathering of resources. While a Low Power, non-profit radio station, we have to- with patchy openings of short grass or bare ground mously appreciated and braced the backbone of thenTo find listen a viewing for the location, distinctive search evening out ‘peent’a wet thicket of the thespecific station, and we general need the donations support of have Business been Spon enor- male woodcock. To the unfamiliar he sounds like an sorship and Community Membership to further Continued on page 21 Continued on page 3 View from the Chair By Jim Pierce There is a saying that “We are all wiser than any of us”. For PVCA’s pur- poses I would extent that idiom from just wiser to include; stronger, nicer, more effective, and better looking. PO Box 165 PVCA is looking good! As you will see in this newsletter, together we all Aaronsburg, PA 16820 continue to grow, change, make change, take on new projects, and ulti- www.pennsvalley.net mately to Conserve, Educate, and Build Community. We have a strong [email protected] Board with four new faces, an energetic new Operations Director taking

Operations Director/Force-Of-Nature Becky Bragg. We also have a new Board of Directors over a well organized and fiscally sound office system thanks to outgoing Chair: Jim Pierce, Haines Twp. In the coming months we hope to have some more new grant projects, anotheroffice, a RADIOschool garden,STATION, a recycling and a growing program list in of the solid school, Business and someMembers. fun/ Vice Chair: Mike Arthur, Gregg Twp. informative programs for our Members and Valley Neighbors. Treasurer Martha Hoffman, Millheim Borough/Rochester, NY Since its inception the fine folks guiding this organization have focused on broadening our base by finding common ground, and cross pollinating Secretary: - with other public and civic organizations including schools, churches, the Kat Alden, Gregg Twp. ers who live, work, visit, and appreciate this special place. Plain Community, fisher-folk, cyclists, hunters, bikers, and so many oth With our success comes the opportunity to ramp up the creation of bridg- Tom Doman es and partnerships. This lofty aspiration, in conjunction with our mis- Kim Forsythe sion to “serve as a steward for the natural and cultural communities in the watershed” will weigh into our activities, projects, and commitments Lexie Orr, Centre Hall in 2018 and beyond. Kurt Grotz,Borough Haines Twp. This year we hope to expand on the successful Centered Outdoors part- John Smith, Gregg Twp. nership with Clearwater Conservancy with another partnered grant de- Eli Ward, Millheim Borough schools, including charter schools. We’re planning workshops with PASA Tess Weigand, Hartley Twp. andsigned PA to Women’s put our Whiz-BangAgriculture Educational Network. WSOV Director will Jim provide Flanagan us intowith more new Director of Operations: opportunities to solidify our partnerships with the Penns Valley Schools, TBA musicians, storytellers, and community leaders. Environmental Education I honestly believe that the current trend of division, seclusion and si- Coordinator: lo-separation is temporary, more a National than Local phenomenon, and Jim Flanagan that the pendulum of this exhausting stasis will swing back toward ap- Newsletter: preciation and acceptance of diversity. Here in the Valley, folks is folks, Martha Hoffman, Jim Pierce, and like good people everywhere we want to see harmony and collabo- Greta Haney, Elaine Gustus ration in our community. We want to raise our children in a place that’s Webmaster: not only beautiful, but friendly. I also believe that in order to achieve Charlie Boyer Genius bridge-and-partnership success we must emulate respect and grace, and that often the path to “together” is further from one side than the other, Database: but remember that together we are all wiser, stronger, better looking… Bill Torretti Book Keeper: As you read these pages I would urge all of you to do so through a lense Rebecca Bragg of inclusion, with the purpose of seeing where we are together. The face

ideas, more wisdom… more of us. of PVCA shines as it continues to reflect more faces, more partners, more 2 WSOV-LP cont’d from page 1 progress WSOV-LP. We have four Business Sponsorship tiers: Brass, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Ranging from as low as $300 per year to as high as $1200 biannually, these - cially sustaining the station. Interested in becom- ingsponsorships a valued Business will act asSponsor? our main For crop more for details, finan you can email Lisa Marshall [lisa@smartworkco. com]. Community Membership will be another avenue for sponsorship. For $75, community members will be able to purchase a year-long individual membership. These memberships will include an annual t-shirt designed by WSOV-LP as well as other gifts. Have ideas for membership opportunities? Email Nickelaus Engle [[email protected]] and let us know what a community radio membership would mean to you. We will also offer a Family Member- ship, $100 per year, essentially acting the same as the Community Membership, but will allow cou- ples with their children under the age of eighteen to be included as members of WSOV-LP Our goal for WSOV-LP, besides being a service for PVCA, is to create synergies between entertain- ment, education, and the environment. Like any ecosystem, the strength of our community lies in the richness and diversity of our culture. We want and perspectives, so we need you to speak up and shareWSOV-LP your to voice! benefit from a wide range of tastes

3 Welcome New Board Members PVCA is thrilled to welcome the following people to Kim Forsythe our board: Kim Forsythe moved to Penns Valley in 2014 with Tom Doman her family seeking a region with a rural setting and rich natural history. This was one of the most pur- Tom has lived in Penns Valley since 1983. After poseful moves for her family from the many that relocating from southwestern Pennsylvania and preceded. Growing up with a strong appreciation purchasing a small farmstead west of Spring Mills, for the natural environment and the splendor it his dream of having world class trout streams and brings we knew we wanted to provide this for our outdoor recreational opportunities literally ‘out the children especially in their more formidable years, - 13, 15 and 17 (the ages of my children). She is a tionately called Toad Hall in honor of the amphibi- graduate of Juniata College BS Environmental Sci- back door’ was realized. The property, now affec ans visiting the pond each spring, is enrolled in the ence/Ecology and Montana State University MS in CREP program with the goal of re-establishing the Science Education, and has been in the education riparian buffer along a tributary of Muddy Creek. Tom’s successful career of research and teaching at Penn State University concluded in 2008 leaving School.field for Shemore says than “When 20 years your with interests a current intersect position withas a Biology/Ecology your strengths youteacher have at found Mifflin your County passion. High Prior to joining PVCA, Tom was a Board member - more time for fly fishing and conservation work. of the Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited and estry and environmental regulation I was imparted was also President of that conservation group. As In my life’s path working in the fields of wildlife, for an active member of PVCA from the mid- 90’s, Tom considered my teachers and followed my passion to has served on the Board of Directors, been Presi- education.upon the influence Knowledge of many that isamazing shared peopleis the learning whom I dent of PVCA and continues to work with the Wa- of the next generation. I look forward to learning tershed Committee. A primary focus is addressing and sharing with PVCA to carry out their mission water quality concerns in the Upper Penns Creek within the Valley.” watershed. For the past 5 years Tom has been active on the Potter Township Planning Commission. John B. Smith Environmental stewardship is an important part John B. Smith is a longtime PVCA member, landown- of his life. He lives in Georges Valley enjoying the er, and part-year resident in Penns Valley since 1974. beauty of Central Pennsylvania and sharing rural He has conducted a 40-year project to enhance eco- life with his wife Tammy, black lab, Sarah and Jake, logical diversity at ChicoryLane Farm near Spring the cat. Life is good! Mills, a PVCA education site now permanently con- served with an easement held by Clearwater Con- Michael Arthur Michael Arthur is a geologist who has lived in Penns of working with PSU extension, conservation pro- Valley since 1991. He and his wife Jan have operated fessionals,servancy. John and leads volunteers field days to improve to demonstrate wildlife wayshab- Tamarack Farm, a small, sustainably run sheep and itats, regenerate woodlands, reconstruct wetlands, produce farm, in rural Spring Mills for the past 20 increase native plant species, and control invasive years. Mike served on the PVCA Board previously in plants on an old farm. As a resource to encourage the late 1990s-early 2000s. He has been a member conservation, has created a website, chicorylane. of the Gregg Township Planning Commission for com, to catalogue native plants and birds at Chicor- more than a decade and is a member of Grace UCC yLane and to browse bird sightings locally, region- ally, and globally. He is a lifetime member of PASA playing guitar and mandolin, and serving the com- and a supporter of Green Drake Gallery, WSOV, and munity.in Spring Mills. He enjoys fly-fishing in local waters, Rhoneymede. He currently is adjunct member of the Centre County Conservation District. Former- ly, he was board member of a municipal water and sewer authority in North Carolina. 4 Welcome 2018 Business Members Anders Olsen Construction Northwest Savings Bank Bill MacIntyre Chevrolet, Inc. Over the Moon Farm Black Walnut Body Works Penns Valley Pharmacy Bobbie’s Kitchen Penns Valley Veterinary Clinic Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Bryant and Carson, P.C. Agriculture Brother’s Pizza Clearwater Conservancy Spring Bank Acres Cooke Tavern Pennsylvania Certified Organic Creative Design and Printing Stone Meadow Farm Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks Re/Max Centre County Envinity, Inc. Purple Lizard Maps First National Bank R.. Brooks Associates Kuppel’s Auto Centre, Inc. Sierra Club - Moshannon Group Martin’s Feed Mill Tamarack Farm Trail2Creek.com Millheim Small Engine WingHaven Nursery Mifflinburg Bank and Trust Murray’s Chickens Woodbine Farms Nature’s Pantry Woodward Cave Nittany Lawn and Property Maintenance Woodward Gymnastics Camp

We’re thankful for our business community, those that have shown loyalty to PVCA over the years and also our newest members. These businesses have shown their commitment to in- vesting in the place where they work and live. Through their participation in PVCA as Business Members these businesses stand out as leaders in the Penns Creek watershed community. We hope our members will thank them with patronage. Do you own a business? Please consider supporting PVCA as we carry out our mission to protect and preserve Penns Valley waters, farmlands, forests, and the heritage upon which its vibrant rural quality of life depends.” Thank you!

PVCA’s Mission and Vision PVCA serves as a steward for the natural and cultural communities in the Upper Penns Creek Watershed. We seek to preserve and honor the agricultural roots of Penns Valley by protecting and conserving its waters, farmlands, forests, and rural heritage. PVCA envisions an engaged community, where growth is balanced with support for healthy natural systems that foster the local economy. Our Valley has dark night skies, clear streams, healthy forests, prosperous farms, and local jobs.

5 dents laugh and listen to each other as they move Get Connected, Naturally throughout the landscape. These small, but mean- By Jim Flanagan ingful, interactions are the foundation of commu- As an environmental educator I am often looking for nity and as these students grow they can look back new ways to introduce the students of Penns Valley to the places of Penns Valley. The PVCA Environ- know their friends and classmates. It is our hope on their field trips as a place where they got to mental Education Committee has had some great success with connecting students to place through to contribute to the bonding of a great Penns Valley Community.that PVCA field Please trips join and us other at one activities of our events. continue Mountainside Homestead in Woodward, the Penns If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Valleyfield trips Environmental to Muddy PawsCenter, Marsh and - injust Spring slightly Mills, be- [email protected] and we will match you to the yond the limits of the Valley - RB Winter State Park. best volunteer opportunity. We are looking forward to exploring some new locations such as Fox Gap Camp, the Penns Valley YMCA, and possibly a site or two in Georges Valley Summer Schedule Announced

While the connection to place seems apparent, for Centred Outdoors for field trips and restoration projects. it is the interactions between the volunteers and Clearwater Conservancy, along with many part- the students that will make these environmental connections take hold. When property owners - generously share their beloved places, such as the trednering Outdoors, organizations, an open announces invitation to that free the guided summer ad- Williams at Muddy Paws and the Shimps at Moun- venturesschedule atis finalizednine outdoor for the destinations second season around of Cen- tre County during the summer of 2018. the Smiths of Chicory Lane (for landowner proj- Centred Outdoors provides opportunities for people ects),tainside they Homestead provide the (for opportunity student field for trips),visitors and to connect with the landscape as well as each other. most beautiful areas in Centre County. Whether you These connections are facilitated by wonderful vol- visitof all the ages sites and on fitness your levelsown or to attend explore a guidedsome of hike, the unteers and partners who encourage the students - and visitors to more deeply explore the landscape nation. - sometimes evoking more questions than answers. there are amazing things to discover at each desti Part of the goal for volunteer-guided visits is to give On Sunday, June 3rd, the public is invited to the visitors the tools to ask important questions and Family Fishing Picnic from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at then allow them to explore the answers as a group Tussey Mountain, co-hosted by Spring Creek Chap- or on their own. PVCA volunteers do a wonderful ter Trout Unlimited and ClearWater Conservancy. job keeping visitors curious and engaged. Thank - you volunteers and partners for your commitment This event marks the official kick-off of Centred Out to the Penns Valley Community! - ing,doors guided and willand featureother wilderness fishing and workshops food, children’s (email Not only are the volunteer-visitor interactions im- [email protected], fly tying and fly to casting register). stations, kayak portant, but so are the connections between visitors. As visitors explore these landscapes they are Beginning June 10, Centered Outdoors events will take place every Sunday afternoon from 2-5 p.m. the conversations that arise just from a short walk and every Wednesday evening from 6-9 p.m. until August 15. Events will feature guided hikes and ad- alongconnecting a path. to eachThese other. face- Ito-face am always connections amazed are by ditional outdoor activities for everyone to explore, vital, especially in this time of continuous virtu- appreciate, and discover the natural locations in al connectivity, and this is especially true for our Centre County. Participants who track their progress will earn credit on the Centred Outdoors web- between stations are as important as the stations themselvesyouth. On field - even trips if thethey’re discussions not always that related transpire to taking the “Centred Outdoors Challenge.” the activities at hand. It is refreshing to hear stu- site and be eligible to win end-of-summer prizes for 6 Everyone is encouraged to participate in Centred Outdoors this summer. When we take a time-out from our busy sched- ules to disconnect from tech- nology and reconnect with nature, we increase our physical and mental wellness, develop a greater appreciation for the wild outdoors, and are remind- ed to engage with the local or- - serve, protect, and restore the beautifulganizations region who where work towe con all love to live. The primary goal for Centred Outdoors is to connect healthy places, healthy people,

Centred Outdoors destinations and healthy non-profits. include the Arboretum at Penn State, Bald Eagle State Park, Black Moshannon State Park, Barrens to Bald Eagle Wildlife Corridor, Millbrook Summer Schedule Marsh Nature Center, Mount Nittany, Poe Paddy Tun- June 3 - Kickoff Event - Family Fun Picnic nel, Spring Creek Canyon, and Talleyrand Park. For more information on Centered Outdoors or to regis- June 10 & 13 - Spring Creek Canyon ter for the program, visit www.centredoutdoors.org. June 17 & 20 - Poe Paddy Tunnel Penns Valley Conservation Association is one of June 24 & 27 - Barrens to Bald Eagle Wildlife Cor- ridor and implementing the program led by ClearWater Conservancy.many community Other partners partners organizing, include Centre developing, Foun- July 1 & 4 - Talleyrand Park dation, DCNR, Mount Nittany Health, Centre Moves, July 8 & 11 - Downtown Urban Hike / Arts Fest Penn State Sustainable Communities Collaborative, Millbrook Marsh Nature Center, Get Outdoors PA, July 15 & 18 - Bald Eagle State Park Spring Creek Chapter Trout Unlimited, and Mount July 22 & 25 - Mount Nittany Nittany Conservancy. July 29 & August 1 - Millbrook Marsh Nature Center Emily Gates, Director of Strategic Partnerships at PA Recreation & Park Society explained during the August 5 & 8 - The Arboretum at Penn State - August 12 & 15 - Black Moshannon State Park lishes the platform needed to unite various partners inprogram’s health, conservation,first year that and“Centred recreation Outdoors to achieve estab a common goal with immediate and long-term ef- fects.” The guided adventures through Centred Outdoors will be a fun and healthy way for people to have a stress-free, cost-free summer of fun. Whether you’re look to explore more, learn more, or get more in- volved with your community, this exciting invitation offers great options for everyone. 7 On Leaving Penns Valley By Nick and Toni Brink more. Sometimes we see people we know when we are out on errands. We see wonderful communi- - ties of Hudson Valley people all around us that have After almost five decades as residents of Penns Val beliefs and passions similar to PVCA members and ourselves. Also, neighbors and people in libraries, Hudsonley, where Valley our offive New children York to grew be neighbors up, we are with now a daughterin the process and her of family. moving fiveOur hoursother children away to and the food coop and more are very friendly. But the big- grandchildren are much farther away in four oth- gestCSA, thingstores, we YMCA, miss isvolunteer-run walking down film the theatre, street andthe running into people who hug us and know us--like from near the Hudson Valley to visit them. We ac- in Penns Valley. We miss our young neighbors and cepteder states, the and invitation it is easy when to catcha small a homeSouthwest with roomflight their children who made us honorary grandparents. for a big garden became available within walking And we miss the sounds of the creeks, the roads distance of our daughter. While we weren’t quite we know so well, the Amish buggies, our farmers’ ready to leave our beloved community and home on Elk Creek (would we ever be?), at 72 and 78 years and fauna, the Elk Creek and Inglebean cafes, the young we thought “better now than later” to down- Greenmarket Drake, and Learning Burkholder’s Garden, Market, the Valley’s and wildother flora fa- miliar places where we invariably see friends and wanted to spend more time with our family before converse. thesize, grandkids move, and grow be near up and family scatter. as we age. We also When we come back to Penns Valley, we easily When we were making the decision, which was participate and fall into step with all we know. In excruciating for many months, we made a list of New York, Nick continues his writing and enjoys “pros” and “cons” about living in each place to help researching his family who lived in our very town- us evaluate and decide what is best for our future. ship in the 1600’s. He also put in days of hard, dirty A friend who made a similar move gave us some work happily removing invasives and moving rocks good advice. She said once we make up our minds, to make a large labyrinth for meditation behind our just put on blinders, look straight ahead, and go for cottage. Toni is helping with our daughter’s busi- it! Otherwise our decision-making could falter. We ness in exchange for exercise classes led by our did that, and it seems to be working. However, we daughter and granddaughter, and there are many opportunities for all of our interests. We are hav- lively and loving community. It hurts to leave our ing the meaningful, frequent interaction with our Coburncan’t minimize home where the pain our children we have and felt 10 leaving grandkids this have memories. Our Coburn home has been re- many Penns Valley friends have ties near our new homefamily and that are we vowing hoped tofor. visit Also, us. Wewe lookare finding forward out to skills of so many talented, artistic friends to make it modeled over the years with the love and amazing streaming PVCA-related radio, WSOV the “Sounds of the Valley.” We plan to stay members of PVCA, our New York kids have put nearly a year of work intoenergy making efficient the cottageand personalized beautiful and with suited beauty. just Yetfor us. makewhich new we friends are realizing while volunteering is a wonderfully and working unique In the Hudson Valley, besides people we already withorganization. others there, Our because long term that New seems York to goal result is toin know such as my daughter and her husband’s large the most authentic friendships and just feels good. extended family and friends, we made some im- Anywhere we live or visit we are learning that vol- portant friends on our own right away. We went unteering is key. We are sure we will feel more at to the local weekly Peace Vigil and introduced our- home in the Hudson Valley when we are there most - of the time and learn more faces and names. ing on since 2003, just as long as our Peace Vigil We now live a little more than half-time in our inselves. Penns This Valley. Peace They Vigil immediately in New Paltz reached has been out andgo lovely, small Hudson Valley cottage. We are often included us in friendship and are in touch with us in Penns Valley to work on cleaning out almost 50 almost daily about peace and justice activities and 8 years of stuff and to enjoy old friends a little longer ality, Penns Valley will always be home, as are our hometowns in our native California where we grew be returning many times in the future to visit this up so long ago. In the long run, all these dear plac- awesomebefore selling Pennsylvania our house. community. We feel confident In New we York, will es, relationships, and memories are “home” and are we are working on saying “we live here”, and we try what we cherish. not to call Penns Valley our home anymore. In re-

Keystone Tree Initiative - Free Tree Announcement

PVCA is coordinating an opportunity for ripar- for planting, therefore; ian landowners to obtain free trees and shrubs 3. This is a great time to help widen the PVCA through PVCA and the Chesapeake Bay Founda- circle of volunteers and supporters through tion (CBF) for your riparian buffer this Spring. reaching out to your soccer team, yoga friends, The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) has of- Girl Scout Group, work friends, local businesses, fered PVCA 1,000 trees through their Keystone church group, school group, and especially your Tree initiative of planting 10,000 trees in PA this neighbors to help you plant the free trees April year. There is no contract or survival require- 20th-April 29th ment for the trees, which come with plastic tubes and stakes. The trees are in a bundle of 100 and 4. April 21st is the PVCA streambank clean-up, are around 6-18 inches tall, depending on nurs- so we won’t schedule any formal PVCA orga- ery availability, subject to change. 5. The trees, tubes, and stakes will be dropped This initiative stems from the CBF efforts to cre- nized event plantings for that day. ate as many tree planting events as possible sur- off in a central PV location for pick-up, yet to be rounding Earth Day (April 20th through 29th) determined. with the event locations all mapped on this website https://gis.cbf.org/treeplanting/ If you serve. If there is a large interest, PVCA will work choose to participate in this planting as a land- Please keep in mind that this is first come first owner PVCA requests your address, contact in- gmail.com for more information or to sign-up as formation, date, and time for your event during ato landowner prioritize the or projects.to volunteer E-mail by andreaferich@April 1. There that week, so others looking to volunteer can get will be more details for landowners and volun- plugged into planting with you during your cho- teers closer to the installation. sen tree planting event from the CBF website. Species List: Sycamore Some things you might want to consider: Swamp white oak 1. There are some site preparations that will need to occur before you plant-- such as mow- River birch ing/ weed whacking. On-going mowing around Red oak the trees (or herbicide treatment, in the right lo- Red maple cation if that is your preference) and tree tube maintenance will help survival. We are asking Pin oak interested landowners to commit to at least 100 Silky dogwood trees. Winterberry holly best locations for trees prior to the planting, but Black chokeberry is2. amAndrea not ableFerich to cancommit help toyou being flag someeverywhere of the

9 Through a Necomer’s Eyes By Nike Koos and now I have further proof that it is not neces- All my friends across the Pond are eager to know sarily true. what life is like here, in the United States. Hard as Not necessarily... but the area where the grass is I try to impress them, I cannot come up with any other answer than I have no idea really. Aaronsburg lawns around houses are not enclosed with fences could be anywhere on this planet where there are anddefinitely yet everybody greener hererespects is Trust. others’ The property. literal green Peo- mountains, valleys, creeks, and little settlements. ple don’t chain their bikes to railings or lock their The air is clean, life is stress-free and quiet. The community is close-knit like rural communities them when they return. Many people don’t even normally tend to be. Job opportunities are scarce, lockcars becausetheir house they and have yet no nobody doubt they takes will anything... still find but the people are resourceful and hard-working True, people just walk in, without warning, prac- so they seem to have a good life. Everything is sim- tically any time of the day, but with the intention ilar to Hungary and yet... of welcoming newcomers, having a friendly chat ... and yet everything is just a bit different... one of or bringing a gift of home-grown veggies or home- the biggest differences being bigness itself. Cars made cakes. What they really bring is the light are big, houses are huge, and trees are enormous. of neighborly love and care. It is an uplifting and Trees here seem to scrape the sky and it is never humbling experience for us. more conspicuous than in the mornings when I am This genuine Trust was the most striking differ- standing by the window with my mug of hot cof- walk-in Amish dairy, where you can pick up any- wonder world outside and watching my son walk thingence Iyou noticed need when and they I first trust came you here. to Ileave love the downfee, the the blazing road fireto catchbehind the me, school admiring bus. the He frozen looks money. When bartering, like for example driving really tiny under those giant trees and it makes me the Amish around in exchange for construction contemplate how small and fragile we are and how work or produce, it is the elimination of money powerful Nature is. that brings people closer together both in terms of Nature and common sense rule here in Appalachia physical proximity and trusting each other. and if you are a European ex-city dweller, there are This kind of life is only a remote chance for most a couple of steep learning curves to go through. - tion. Taking the plunge into country life, especially Shriner Mountain that my son could not take on a city dwellers who are fed up with urban civiliza neighbor’sThe first curve four-wheeler. was one inA lessonthe road learned on the the side hard of your social circle included, and there is no guaran- way about how driving a four-wheeler in the Ap- teeoff-grid how living,successful requires you willleaving be in your your comfort new life. zone, It is palachian mountains is different from riding a bike a huge leap of faith. In Hungary it was only about a in the Buda hills in Hungary. The only similarity decade ago that small communities of big-city peo- we discovered was the rusty iron scattered on the the countryside. These communities mostly con- simply an eyesore, but a potential danger: it could ple first decided to begin their life all over again in easilymountainside have spiked they theflipped neighbor over. andSuch my trash son. is Also not facade of what they had believed to be the perfect it was sad disappointment. We have come to live lifesist - of germ-free, professionals comfortable who realized and offering that the instant shiny here, “the wilderness” as I call it, that is supposed solutions - was deceptive and was taking its toll on their health and the balanced development of their here just like anywhere else... On the positive side, children. In Hungary these pioneers join forces to be pristine, only to find that waste is dumped- with others of a similar mindset to buy a piece of land together, often with no more than a primitive selfish as it may sound, the experience was liber cottage on it and they set out to create everything thatating. the Hungarians neighbor’s are grass characterized is always much by a greener serious 10lack of self-confidence and pessimism. We think from scratch with an eye to become self-sufficient and to leave as little eco footprint as possible. As many of them opt to home-school their kids they are bringing up a new generation that is capable of Tree Seedlings and thinking outside the box. They learn to be creative, Fruit Trees Available compassionate and environmentally conscious – a With spring just around the corner, the Centre huge difference from the mainstream Hungarian County Conservation District is now accept- school system based on the old Prussian princi- ing orders for the annual Tree Seedling Sale. ples which receives young, open-minded individ- - uals and produces indoctrinated, uniform adults sor environmental education programs in- whose individuality, creativity, and sensibility is cludingProceeds the from annual the Centresale are County utilized Envirothon to spon mostly ruined in the process. It is a blessing to lead and the Conservation Poster Contest. Seed- a simple, healthy, stress-free, and joyful life, and to ling varieties include: Colorado Blue Spruce, have the freedom to choose how to educate your Norway Spruce, Eastern White Pine, Pitch children. What so many people can only dream Pine, Scotch Pine, Fraser Fir, Scarlet Oak, Riv- about is intrinsic to the Valleys of Centre County. er Birch, and Kousa Dogwood. Seedlings are Somehow time has slowed down in this corner sold in bundles of 10 bare-rooted seedlings. of the world: people take their time, they stop to Fruit tree varieties include: Apple tree pack- talk, and they connect at a more meaningful level. age (one each for pollination) Enterprise Apple and Nova Spy Apple; Pear tree pack- have to be an accomplished artist or musician to age (one each for pollination) Harrow Sweet beArt, able music, to expressand gastronomy yourself flourishthrough andyour you art don’t and Pear and Shenandoah Pear; Plum tree pack- to be given the opportunity to share it with others. age (one each for pollination) Plum-Stanley People here are appreciative beyond imagination. and Bluebyrd Plum; Red Haven Peach. These I often think that life here is still a bit similar to semi-dwarf fruit trees are bare root averag- what it used to be like on the Frontier. Maybe it is ing four to six feet in height. only my journey that makes me feel so: I followed For an order form, please visit the Centre in the footsteps of millions before me who crossed County Conservation District website at the Pond to start a new life. Sometimes I miss the www.centrecountypa.gov/conservation or tremendous opportunities European city life of- call 814-355-6817. Order forms and payment fers. Sometimes I miss the colorful European cul- must be received before March 23, 2018. tural diversity and the ancient history that left its mark everywhere, creating an unmistakably Euro- pean atmosphere. But what we have here, on the “Frontier” is a different kind of opportunity: the opportunity of Creation. We are blessed with plen- ty of space to create our homes, create friendship, create art, create our own media, and most of all to create a friendly community. We have a chance of doing better than humanity has been doing so far. Creation takes a lot of faith, courage, and effort,

Even Hungarians’. but it empowers you and boosts your confidence. I am grateful to live here and I hope we can be one link in the chain of wonderful locals who carry the torch of neighborly love and care around and keep the flames alive. 11 12 13 Park Reviews from Anne Burgevin’s Students Halfway Dam Sayers Dam By Sylvia Decker By Barry Decker Halfway Dam is a very fun place. We visit it every Over the weekend my family and I went boating at year with our cousins, Chase and Colton. We en- Sayers Dam and took a picnic with us. My favorite joy swimming in the water, playing on the beach or part of this experience was driving our boat around playground, and taking a break eating lunch. It’s a the lake. I had just gotten my boating license and great place to go. About: Beach - Scale of 1 to 10: 9. a motor boat. it was the first time I had used it. It is fun to drive There is a small beach that is good for building Sayers Dam is surrounded by Bald Eagle State sand castles, digging holes, and building hot tubs. Park. The park has 14.5 miles of hiking trails so that you can get close to nature. The trails are of them with water from the swimming area. all different skill levels. Most of them are easy to You can build a hot tub by digging holes and filling intermediate. About: Swimming Area - Scale of 1 to 10: 7 The park has a 1,730 acre lake. It was made for The swimming area is connected to the beach. The water is always very cold. You can’t see through feet lower to make room for spring rains. The lake the water at the deeper areas, but you can see isflood a lot control, of fun. soYou during can go the paddle winter boarding, it is drained canoe 15- through it at the shallow spots. About: Playground - Scale of 1 to 10: 8 water skiing, tubing or simply for a boat ride. If youing, don’t fishing, have kayaking, a boat, you motor can boating,rent a pontoon swimming, boat A small playground can be found on the beach. It or a jet ski. There are rental canoes and kayaks is very nice because it has different things to play too, as well as several boat launches around the on, like monkey bars and slides. lake. Most of the launches have a picnic table or About: Concession Stand - Scale of 1 to 10: 8 two around them. They also have pavilions around them. You can reserve a pavilion up to 11 months Right above the beach is a small concession stand; ahead for a fee. Unreserved pavilions are free for the food is good. Nearby there are picnic tables anyone to use. with umbrellas. The concession stand has a little shop inside where there are sand and water toys You’ll enjoy the neat, little marina. It has a little for sale. store that seems like it has almost everything you would need at a park, right down to ice cream. About: Hiking, Biking, and Horse Trails - Scale of 1 You can rent a dock area to keep your boat in the to 10: 9 water during the summer. If you’re not a boater, There are trails that you can hike, bike, and ride don’t worry. There is a 1,200 foot long sand and your horse on that go through the woods. You can turf beach with a swimming area, a snack bar, and do different things on different trails. They are very playground. nice trails that are always kept clear, but every now The park has several levels of accommodations, and then you come across a fallen log or two. from overnight trips to week-long vacations. There About: Overall Opinion - Scale of 1 to 10: 9 is full service lodging in the nature center. There is Halfway Dam is a very nice park that I would rec- also a campground with everything from full ser- ommend to anyone. vice hookups to rustic tenting spots. The park is known for bald eagle watching and

the day but my dad says he has caught many while for fishing. I have never caught a fish here during 14 night fishing. Sayers Dam is a nice place to go for a boat ride on a sunny afternoon. That is why I like it so much. Other than this, it is a great skate park, probably and is bad for flow.) my favorite. You can also buy a season pass for Tussey Mountain Skate Park $200, so you can go whenever you want while it’s By Gus Tritsch open from mid April through October. There is a You have to pay $10 to ride for a full day at the great place to watch the action from as well. Tussey Mountain Skate Park, but it is well worth it. The park is spacious. It has great features and Park if you want to learn to skateboard, BMX bike, nice people use the park. I think the best feature scooter,I definitely or inlinerecommend skate. Itthe is Tusseygreat for Mountain advanced Skate riders, too. can jump really high out of either the smaller side orin the largerwhole sidepark and is the learn fly newbox. tricks.It is made so you Fairbrook Park: A Park with Vistas There are lots of other quarter pipes, handrails, and More and grind boxes. Grind boxes are long boxes that By Anne Elise Burgevin you can grind down like a handrail. There are lots of other banks, drop-ins, and four step-ups, which Fairbrook Park is a bike ride away from my home is a ramp with a gap that you have to jump up. One in Pine Grove Mills, and yet, when I’m there I for- of the step-ups is about 1.5 feet tall, the next is get its proximity to home because of the beauty of about 2.5 feet with a long gap, the third is about the park’s vistas, winding forest paths, and open 3.5 feet tall, and the tallest is around 4.5 feet. - ly lined and readied for the fall season. People jog A problem I’ve noticed with the skate park is the alongfields. theToday pebble at the paths, park, andthe soccera family fields enjoys are a new pic- condition of some of the ramps. Some are old, nic under the pavilion conveniently located next cracked, and misshapen, others have bad tran- sitions. (Basically, the curve is really sharp and the way on her leash and my young adult daughter comes suddenly which can knock you off balance to a decent sized playground. With my dog leading 15 walking beside me, the world seems just perfect. poetry. This is one of the many reasons I enjoy vis- The lay of the land at Fairbrook Park intrigues me. iting Fairbrook Park so much. I like the way the paths lead us up small hills and If I could wave a magic wand and add something down into shallow valleys, and I imagine children to the park, I would suggest adding a teaching gar- happily sledding down these hills in the winter. den, such as a pollinator or native plant garden. Then young children could learn about pollinators give the landscape character. A grove of black lo- and native plants up close. Encouraging young custsAs one cradles who regularly the north tree end gazes, of the the park, park’s a standtrees people to take a leadership role in protecting and of tulip trees invites me over to the west side and understanding our environment is an important black walnuts dot the entire park. While approach- goal to achieve. Also, signs explaining the garden ing a small, dead fruit tree my eyes follow the bare could provide a self-guided tour. I encourage everyone to come out to Fairbrook Park, on Tadpole Road a few miles south of Pine redbranches tailed to hawk, the top. with It isits then supper I realize in its we talons, are being sits Grove Mills, and enjoy the vistas, the unexpected almostgazed upon. directly Intently. above Ius. quietly I can evengasp. see An the immature hawk’s encounters with animal life, the diverse plant and eyes in detail. Instinctively my dog sits down near tree species, and the paths that follow the park’s my feet. A red squirrel’s tail hangs over the branch perimeter. You might even get to watch a soccer the hawk is sitting on. I wonder if we have inter- game or two! rupted the hawk in mid-meal. Normally, any hawk Glacier National Park could tell this hawk wasn’t going anywhere. While walkingwould have toward flown the off wooded as soon path as we I lookmoved, over but my I Many Glacier Area shoulder a few times and see the hawk tearing at By Gus Tritsch This past summer, I went with my family on a road meets squirrel. trip across the Midwestern US. Along the way we the squirrel’s body. Where field meets forest, hawk Every forty feet along the wooded path a new vista visited Yellowstone, the Badlands, and Glacier Na- of the Pine Grove Mountain ridge appears in our tional Park. During our time in Glacier we spent view. I think, this never gets boring to look at. The a day in an area called Many Glacier. Even though mountain in spring is not the same mountain in our visit to Many Glacier was brief, we still enjoyed fall. Mountains excite me. They inspire me to write it immensely.

16 Glacier National Park lies in the northwest corner Allegrippis Trails Park at Raystown of Montana across the northern Rocky Mountains. It is directly connected to Waterton Lakes National Lake By Shana Tritsch peace park. Glacier National Park was established Our family recently visited the Allegrippis Bike Trail onPark May and 11th, together 1910. the The two park form covers the world’s over 1,583 first System, at Raystown Lake, near Huntington, Penn- square miles of thriving forests, towering moun- sylvania. The Allegrippis Trail System is world re- tains, and beautiful aquamarine lakes. Of that, nowned and located only an hour from our house. Many Glacier makes up only a small portion, but I can’t believe it took us this long to get there, but it it still has some of the most spectacular scenery in won’t be long before we go back. the whole park. Many Glacier lies in the very heart of Glacier Na- tional Park. The lodge at Many Glacier sits on the aWe great started place with to start a visit your to RothrockAllegrippis Outfitters, adventure. in edge of Swiftcurrent Lake. Swiftcurrent Lake is TheyHuntington, offer everything to rent a from bike. advice Rothrock to maps Outfitters to any is connected by stream to Lake Josephine, a short biking equipment that you might need. distance from the end of the lake. Huge mountains From there we headed to the trailhead at the Bakers surround the lakes in all directions, their jagged peaks tower thousands of feet above the lakes. with bike tools, water, and facilities. The trails are a seriesHollow of Parking loops, whichLot. The makes trailhead it possible is well to outfitted create a Many Glacier has some of the best day hikes in the ride of any length. The 32-mile trail network was park. During our stay we hiked the Red Rock Falls designed by mountain bikers and built cooperative- Trail. The short hike passes 5 small lakes, each ly by the US Army Corps of Engineers, Appalachian more beautiful than the last, and ends at the begin- Regional Commission, PA Department of Conser- ning of the Swiftcurrent Pass Trail, a steep exposed vation and Natural Resources and others in 2009. hike that climbs over 2,000 feet in under 2 miles. The trail system was designed to be sustainable and At the end of this grueling ascent sits the Granite prevent erosion. Grade reversals, a fancy name for Park Chalet, a stone building made in the early “whoop-de-doos” are places where the trail goes up twentieth century by railroad companies trying to attract tourists. If you make reservations you trail instead of down it. An estimated 26,000 bikers can spend a few nights at the Chalet. We did not, visitand down the trail sharply, system causing annually. water to flow across the but I still highly recommend it. From there, several The trails are beautiful, smooth dirt roller coast- trails lead to different parts of the park including ers through habitat ranging from old oak groves to one to the top of Swiftcurrent Mountain. - During our visit we ate lunch at the Many Glacier ings, which correspond to the hilliness of the trail. Someyoung arepine quite forests. steep There and arerequired three difficultypushing, andrat logs and stone dating from the early 1900’s when there are some rocky and root bound sections, but theLodge. park Thewas Lodgeestablished. is a magnificent The food was structure excellent of it all adds to the fun.

Lake. steeper blue and black trails, acorns fell like rain and our table had an amazing view of Swiftcurrent The park service runs a boat shuttle across the fromAs we the soared huge along, oak trees.first on We the were green treated trails, thento a lake to a short trail takes that you to another shut- panoramic view of Raystown Lake at the eastern- tle on Lake Josephine. From there you can hike to most point in the trail system, where we caught our the Grinnell Glacier and Grinnell lake. breath and studied the map. We rode hard for several hours and estimate that we rode less than a quarter of the available trails. (which you should), make sure to spend a day or The Allegrippis Trails provide an excellent oppor- moreSo, if anyin Many of you Glacier. find yourselfYou won’t on regret a trip it. to Glacier tunity for riders of all levels to enjoy. Our family can’t wait to return.

17 PVCA and PVEI – A Partnership Built on a Love for Learning By Danielle Yoder, Principal at Penns Valley Ele- looked like an overgrown bed of weeds morphed mentary and Intermediate School into a true learning garden and with the help of Mr. For over ten years, the Penns Valley Conservation Flanagan and Mr. Shimp, students began to learn Association (PVCA) has provided an environmen- by doing through the development of the garden. tal educator to support authentic science oppor- Students in grades K-6 not only helped to build the tunities in the Penns Valley Area School District. garden, high school TSA students worked collabo- Throughout those years all schools within the dis- ratively with Mr. Flanagan and Mr. Shimp to build trict have been supported through PVCA’s devel- a shed with a water barrel attached so that a wa- opment of environmental days, co-teaching oppor- ter source was available at all times to supply the tunities, and lesson development based on science garden. curriculum. In the past three years, however, a This year, the collaborative partnerships between special bond based on a true love for learning and PVEI and PVCA have continued. Mr. Shimp and Mr. community awareness has developed at Penns Flanagan come weekly to co-teach lessons with Valley Elementary and Intermediate School. teachers, hold special classes for students inter- When Jim Flanagan took over the helm of envi- ested in extending their learning, and now even ronmental teacher for PVCA, he was energetic and - eager to build PVCA’s partnership, and that he did! ementaries in the district to come and learn. What develop environmental field trips for the other el Mr. Flanagan often met with teachers and admin- was once a seed, has blossomed into a beautiful istrators to share ideas and discuss how he could garden and Penns Valley Elementary and Interme- best partner with our school. Early on, activities diate School and the district is thankful for all that and lessons were provided and environmental PVCA can provide. days were enhanced, and from there, the program began to explode. Over the past two to three years, Mr. Flanagan’s work has become much more than a job; instead,he and his community partners have brought a love of learning into the doors of Penns Valley Elemen- tary and Intermediate School. What began as some conversations on how PVCA can help grow the environmental awareness program has blossomed into weekly hands-on lessons, a hands-on garden space, community nights that allow parents and students to learn together, and much more! As a collaborative effort, the administration, teachers, Mr. Flanagan, and other representatives from PVCA met to discuss how to take an overgrown courtyard and develop it into a learning garden for students. The team discussed ideas, wrote and were funded with a Lowe’s grant of $2,000.00, and then developed an action plan. As the teachers began to discuss thoughts and ideas for the garden with their students, Mr. Flanagan recruited a local Educator Jim Flanagan and devoted volunteer Dan farmer, Mr. Dan Shimp, to help coordinate the ef- Shimp last spring being thanked by the staff at forts. PVEI for their countless hours in supporting our Throughout the 2016-17 school year, what once students. 18 Updates from the Environmental Education Committee Since the last newsletter we have a had a very pro- tablish a Garden Club that will help maintain the ductive Fall and Winter: garden throughout the spring but especially in the First of all we have continued working at Penns summer. We have already gathered some volun- Valley Elementary and Intermediate School (PVEI) teers (teachers, students and family members) at on Day 3 (of 6). On this dayDan Shimp (Mountain- a STEM Science Night at the school but we could side Homestead) and Jim Flanagan (PVCA Edu- use many more. We would love to have your help. Also around the school, we are working on setting variety of topics but primarily in the PVEI RAM Gardencator) work and thewith Penns first Valleythrough Environmental fifth graders Cenon a- sixth grade to local environmental centers includ- ter. We often cover animal adaptation and basic ingup theRB Winterspring fieldState trips Park, for Muddy kindergarten Paws Marsh, through The plant science through hands-on activities and PVEI RAM Garden, The PV Environmental Center, inquiry based exploration. Lately, we have been and Mountainside Homestead. At the high school, sending the students back to the classroom with we have made some good connections through longer-term in-class activities such as coloring car- Chip Brown (Fox Gap Camp), who has invited the nations with dyed water, to show that plant move 7th Grade Class to the camp to study trout, ripar- water up the stem, and growing lima bean sprouts ian restoration, and water quality. This project is in a canning jar, to see the roots begin to form and - ing PVCA, Trout Unlimited, The Chesapeake Bay going to involve a variety of organizations includ We are also getting ready for spring gardening. Foundation, Chesapeake Conservancy, ClearWater the leaflets start to grow. One of our main objectives at this point is to es- Conservancy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and the Penns Valley Area High School. The WATER Grant with ClearWater Conservancy (CWC) has given PVCA the opportunity to branch out into other watersheds through programs

Stateand field College trips Area with High the StateSchool. College These Park programs Forest willSchool involve and futurethe students programs/field in the data trips collection with the of important watershed health aspects and riparian restoration projects. PVCA was also asked to teach during the Penns Valley Y’s summer science camp. We will be doing a variety of activities with the students focusing on water and gardening, again with the help of the WATER Grant. The Y is also considering building a raised bed garden on the property and with the help of Dan Shimp, we will help get this up and running. The EEC is glad to support these continuing pro-

trip season and new future programming. If you aregrams interested and we inare helping looking the forward Education to a Committee busy field Parent/community night where Jim and Dan offer continue these efforts please contact Jim Flanagan lessons and activities for parents and kids to do at [email protected] and come to our together. monthly committee meeting to learn more. 19 Scenes from the Wine for the Watershed Event, Dec 10, 2018

Lysle Sherwin points out < the water contours in the valley below to Board

Member Eli Ward. Jim Pierce and Lisa Mar- < shall are standing beside

individualthe pledge pledges.board filled with fishes representing

< Amy Seaton, Greg Wil- enjoying the festivities. liams, and Sharon Frazier

20 Woodcock? A Neat Bird by Any Name! cont’d from page 1 insistent frog or insect. But careful attention to the cock population are linked to the declining amounts loudly-repetitive nasal peents, often coming from of early-successional (“young”) forest and thicket multiple males in different portions of the thicket, habitats these birds need. Although total forested acreage in Pennsylvania today is similar to that in worthy of showing to friends and family. the 1980s, the percentage in young forest has de- will soon verify that you have located a dance floor clined from around 20% to 12% - a loss of some 1.7 The best viewing occurs just after sunset each million acres of this habitat type over the past 30 warm evening through May. Seat yourself under a years. This loss of habitat translates almost directly - to the loss of woodcock and other species that rely ing the dancers against the western sky. Then wait on these habitats. In fact, woodcock populations in quietlybush to andthe watcheast of for the the dance show floor, to begin.thus backlight As Leop- PA have declined to nearly half of what they were in 1968, according to statewide surveys. thicket, alights on the bare moss and at once be- ginsold wrote: the overture: “He flies a inseries low offrom queer some throaty neighboring peents Woodcock Populations in Georges Valley spaced about two seconds apart . . . “ The old pastures, shrub thickets, and wet meadows After the initial warm up, he will launch himself of Georges Valley still offer refuge for woodcock as into the air and begin his nightly attempt to im- they migrate through our area in the spring and press a female. In a high-quality thicket, you may fall. In fact, 13 male woodcock were heard sing- be fortunate enough to observe multiple dancers in ing along a 3.5 mile stretch of Georges Valley during the sky at once. If you are lucky enough to see sky late May 2011. This is a hopeful sign for a popu- dancers on the ground, you will see mini-versions lation on the decline. However, brood sightings are of the turkey gobbler - strutting with heads thrown rare and Georges Valley may not be providing the back toward fanned tails in vainglorious attempts full mix of habitat features that woodcock and oth- to impress females watching silently nearby. Leo- er ‘young forest’ specialists require. What will it take to improve populations of woodcock and other huff” . . . and enjoy these antics of spring. species that rely on young forests? pold advises us to “sit quietly, lest he fly away in a When the sky dance season ends in late May, wood- Woodcock Site Requirements cock busy themselves raising their brood of four Woodcock need diverse habitats within close prox- chicks through the summer, before winging south imity to thrive: 1) small clearings for courtship for the winter. Leaving Penns Valley in October, our birds will return in March and April to nearly the exact area where they hatched. Monitoring in PA indicates that actively-managed sites support 6 to 9 times the abundance of woodcock as sites receiving no management. So decisions made by Penns Val- ley landowners directly affect the future of these neighbors! Woodcock Populations in PA The American Woodcock, a native bird long loved by PA sports- men and birdwatchers, is declining throughout most of its range. Long term losses in the wood-

21 (“singing grounds”); 2) dense shrubland or young preferred forest types are prone to root suckering forest thickets on moist soils for diurnal forag- or stump sprouting. ing areas; 3) early successional forests for nesting Stem densities of 10,000 stems/acre of young trees and brooding, and; 4) clearings for summer night and shrubs is optimum. However, woodcock will roosting. Woodcock habitats may look ‘messy’ and - unappealing in the eyes of some landowners, but ties: Woodcock have been observed on sites with there is order and pattern to their habitat needs. 150-300occupy stands trees > of 3” variable DBH/acre; size sapling classes densities and densi of - 500-1800 stems/acre; and a shrub density of 5,500 doodle.com: – 20,000 stems/acre. Most often, optimum habitat This information is summarized from www.timber Singing Grounds conditions occur in regenerating hardwood clear- cuts (e.g. overstory removal cuts) between 3 and 15 A variety of openings can serve as singing grounds, yrs of age. Birds will sometimes use mature forest including clear cuts, natural openings, log landings, if there is a dense understory, so woodcock recom- mendations often involve ‘daylighting’ an area of forest access roads, pastures, cultivated fields, and suitable soils through clear cutting or thinning to reduce shade density in the understory. andreverting brood-rearing agricultural habitat. fields. Most The femalequality woodcockof singing nestgrounds within is influenced 100-150 yardsby the ofproximity a singing of ground.nesting Nesting Areas Therefore, singing grounds are best-located adja- Nesting occurs in young second-growth hardwood cent to or nearby areas of thick cover. Conversely, stands that are near feeding areas and/or singing where quality singing grounds occur on site, sur- grounds. Nesting/brooding cover may also serve as rounding forest can be managed to produce the feeding cover, but can also be somewhat drier than thick cover required by nesting females and broods. feeding areas. Stem densities should be at least It is likely that in most of Pennsylvania, singing 6,000 stems per acre. Elevations up to the second grounds are not the limiting factor for woodcock bench along riparian areas are used. Large sapling/ populations, so management activities should be focused on foraging and nesting habitats. dense shrub layer understory are also used. Areas Foraging Areas aspole small size as hardwoods 1 acre can (15-25 be used. yrs Preferences post harvest) for with forest types for nesting are the same as for feeding ar- Young forest or thicket habitats that provide over- eas (see above). head cover are important for all ground-feeding and ground-nesting target species in this plan. For Brooding Areas woodcock, moist sites with an abundance of earth- Young, open second growth hardwoods in the seed- worms are the highest-priority sites in which to fo- ling/sapling stage and 2-15 years old will be used cus management activities. High priority foraging as long as there is no dense ground cover (bare ground is necessary for brood rearing). Females surrounding second order streams, shrub scrub nest in young to mixed-age forests near or inter- wetlands,areas include and young old-field forest habitats, or shrub riparian lands adjacent habitats mixed with feeding areas. They prefer stands of to riparian habitats extending up to 2 benches or hardwoods less than 20 years old -- places where terraces uphill from the stream bottom. the stems are so thick that a person would have Forest type can help guide management priorities. some trouble threading his or her way through. Preferred forest types for feeding areas include Hens will nest in cutover areas as few as two years shade intolerant hardwoods and shrubs, in particu- after logging. They also nest in mixed-age wood- lar aspen, alder/willow, birch, dogwood, viburnum spp., hawthorn, shrub honeysuckle, black locust, in diameter at breast height) above a dense shrub layer.land, withThere small may pole-sized be little overhead trees (up cover to 3 or (as 4 inches in old forest (and older forest with well-developed shrub layers)and multiflora in northern rose. hardwood, Secondary hickory, sites include cherry, young yel- cover height about 12 feet. low poplar, and oak forest types. In general, most fields), or trees up to 50 feet tall, with the average

22 Woodcock Walk PVCA Invites Prospective Landowners to tour the site of habitat restoration that led to a ten- fold increase in the native Woodcock population. Sunday April 7th, 6pm—8:30 Dinner, presentation & Woodcock walk RSVP Required: [email protected] or call :349-5830 Contact us for more information.

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AARONSBURG BELLSMAJESTIC BRYANTANDCARSON BURKHOLDERS CENTREHALL COBURN ELK ELKCREEKCAFE FEATHEREDHOOK FIRSTNATIONAL HOSTERMAN INGLEBEANCOFFEEHOUSE INGLEBY MARTINSFEEDMILL MEATMARKET MIFFLINBURG MILLHEIM MILLHEIMSMALLENGINE PENNS PINE REBERSBURG SPRINGMILLS STANLEYCBIERLY STOVER TRIPLECREEKLODGE WEAVERS WOODWARD

23 US POSTAGE PAID StateNon-Profit College, Org PA Permit No. 213 PO Box 165 Aaronsburg, PA 16820 www.pennsvalley.net

PVCA’s Upcoming Events

Saturday, March 10 - Row Crops and Tuesday & Wednesday, May 8-9 - Cen- Small Scale Grain Workshop. 10am- tre Gives. 2:30pm. Saturday, June 2 - Frog Fest. - Riversongs, 3-6pm. Sunday, March 25 June 17 & 20 - Centred Outdoors. - Woodcock walk. 6pm. Sunday, April 8 Labor Day Sunday, September 2 - (Monday, April 9 rain date) Crickfest. Thursday April 12 - Spring meeting. 6:30pm. Guest Speaker: Rod Fye from the Centre County Waste and Refuse For more information on any of the Authority. above events, visit our website (pennsvalley.net) or Facebook page, or email Saturday, April 21 - Streambank Clean- [email protected]. up. 9am.