Pe..ru¼ y.,e,vwua, Soue.:ty ,60.Jt O~o.togy Ne..w-6te.ti.Vt Vo.fume. 2 , No. 2

tia.y , 1991

FR.CM THE PRESIDE?fl'' S DESK ... varied habitat--hemlocks , hardwood forest , wetlands , cranberry and May has arrived! The warblers are blueberry bogs , and lakes . here! I've been rather busy with a new addition to our family, but I hope Sane interesting field trips are you're out in the field in your Special planned. On Saturday morning a Area looki ng at birds. beginning bird walk is pl anned on the camp property. Doug Gross , coordinator Our Special Areas Project is well of the Breeding Bird Atlas Project in underway. Forms have been designed; the Crystal Lake area, reports that we packets have been sent to interested should find a variety of species ,

; persons; and birders are already including Comnon Ravens , Swainson' s .,,!,,.,.. -.._ ... inventorying birds in at least nine Thrushes, and Mourning Warblers. Also _,.;.,q: ,· state parks . on Saturday morning , Doug wil l be leading a SAP trip to World' s End State Plans have almost been finalized for Park and adjacent Wyoming State Forest . our second annual fall meeting. Shonah Hunter has been working hard to organize Saturday afternoon we will have .... the field trips, workshops , and meeting . presentations on vari ous ornithological topics. Last year's presentations were We have been having a few problems outstanding. Details on subjects to be with our mail . This problem will soon covered will be sent to you with the be resolved. Please bear with us registration information. through our difficulties. Thanks! ; Saturday evening the annual business PSO has come a long way since our meeting will be conducted. Election of beginning. We are an active society. I officers is scheduled, and we will hope your share our enthusiasm and dicuss projects for the organization. par tici pate i n the Special Areas Project and in our fall meeting. See you in Additional field trips to nearby September ! areas will be conducted on Sunday morning . Possibilities include Rose --Conrad Schmidt , President Valley Lake , Rickett's Glen, Montour . , . ~ Preserve, the Riverlands , and Loyalsock SECOND ANNUAL PSO MEETING lt ;~#. Creek.

Plans are being coo-g;>leted for- the Many recreational faciliti es are second annual PSO meeting. The meeting available for our use, free of charge, will be held September 13, 14, and 15 , at Crystal Lake Camps , i ncluding 1991 , at Crystal Lake Camps, north of swirrming , boating, tennis, hiking, etc. Hughesville in north-central These activities are available for your . Crystal Lake Camps is family's use while you bird and attend well known for its miles of cross meetings, so this weekend would make a country ski trails and hospitable good family mini vacat ion. Rates are accromodations. The carnp's remote reasonable . Cost of accomnodations for ·; ., country setting includes 920 acres of two nights, including meal s i s $58 per person. One night including meals (Friday supper through Saturday lunch) costs $29. Meals may be purchased separately. Costs are as follows: Breakfast $4 Lunch $5 Dinner $7 Other accorrmodation/meal combinations will be available if you cannot stay for the entire weekend. THE RAVEN REPORTER

Mark your calendar and plan to News of the Special Areas Project attend! Detailed registration and program inforrration will be sent to you in early sunmer. If you have any My first experience with World's End questions, please contact Shonah A. State Park was as a Boy Scout, back- Hunter, Department of Biological packing my way along the length of the Sciences, Lock Haven University, Lock . So , like any true Haven, PA 17745. Phone (717) 893-2062. "ridgerunner, " I entered the area on foot . I was burdened by an overly heavy pack , quite sweaty , and ready fo~ an ice PORC UPDATE cream fran the concession stand and a cool swim in the creek. Instead, we --by Ed Kwater marched through the park, over a bridge, and hiked (or, perhaps, crawled) out.of The Pennsylvania Ornithological the Loyalsock Creek's deep glen to find Records Ccmni.ttee (PORC) is now in its camping further along the trail .in third calendar year. We have been Wyoming State Forest . I can still receiving numerous rarity reports , and remember struggling up the steep grade, we welcome receiving as many as grabbing saplings and tree roots with possible. The mechanisms are now in muddy hands, and pulling my way up the place to identify which species are slope to High Rock Lookout . There , we classified as rarities within our state. caught our breath and paused to admire the expansive forests of Sullivan Pennsylvania Birds is the vehicle County, interrupted only by the curves by which all PORC news is disseminated. of Route 154 and Loyalsock Creek. The second annual report is currently being prepared for publication in Even then, I wore a pair of Pennsylvania Birds Volume 5, No. 2. binoculars when I hiked--a fledgling ~ Reports will be published annually and birder with a backpack. I was curious , '-~,,,_ · will reflect PORC's decisions made on but I had little guidance. Where could ·-~ the documentation of rare birds reviewed I find out wha t birds lived in Sullivan during the past twelve months. County, much less World's End State Park? What were the big, black birds The official list of Pennsylvania soaring over the park? Or, at least , birds has been published in Pennsylvania what would they most likely be? Were Birds as a direct result of the they crows? Vultures? Ravens? Could deliberations of PORC. This list will they be any or all of these? Do t~ese be reviewed and upgraded every five birds nest in the park? Would I find years . them there in the winter? None of these questions could easily be answe:ed by any literature offered. For this area DID YOU KNCW THAT? and much of the state, there still is no literature easily accessible today. It has been shown that the minimal speed at which a bird can fly and still Although some accorrplishecl birders remain airborne is about 16.5 feet per second , or about 11 miles per hour. toured the area, there is very little .,:t

published about the area's birds , even an organization which bears the name of at the much visited World's End State the legendary W. E. Clyde Todd, author Park. As far as nesting birds , the of Birds of Western Pennsylvania, is the Pennsyl vania Breeding Bird At l as wi ll first to join in this effort . The change this situation when it is Special Areas Project shares much of the published. Skip Conant and I are exploratory spirit held by Todd who was gathering data for t he enti re year i n often the first ornithologist to walk order to publish an annotated checkl i st into many places to study birds. It has of the birds of Sullivan County sometime been more than 50 years since the i n the future . However , most members of publication of that landmark book , yet the public want something specific when much of Pennsylvania i s poor ly explored they visit a park. They want something by naturalists . With the advent of the small and simple that addresses their Atlas Project and now the Special Areas interests. In short, people want a Project , perhaps this will change . good , easy-to-understand checklist . Park personnel would also like more Several of the leading birders in information in order to educate the Pennsylvania have expressed an interest public about the park's wildlife and to in the project and have even selected manage the park's resources . Although Special Areas to work in. For instance, some park rangers are acccmplished Lycoming Audubon Society became the naturalists , their time is monopo l ized second l ocal sponsoring organization and by providing many other services to the will inventory birds at Susquehanna general public; they have no time to State Park near Williamsport . We wi l l write checklists. keep you infonned of the progress made by these and other gr oups i n this Our local group, the North Branch colurm. Bird Club , is adopting World's End State Park as our Special Area . We also plan How to Becane Involved with the Special to eventually inventory the adjacent Areas Project Wyoming State Forest as a parallel project. Some members of our group wi ll Special Areas Projects are being also inventory a small Natural Area in sponsored by small local clubs or Colunbia County named Jakey's Hollow . chapters of larger organizations , It holds a small stand of mature, virgin usually a bird club or an Audubon forest only a few miles fran Bloansburg. Society. Each Special Area needs a Several other clubs have expressed an Local Coordinator. This person must be interest in the project. a good organizer and corrmunicator , as well as a good birder. We anticipate Our First Sponsors that many fonner Breeding Bird Atlas Regional Coordinators will fulfill this The first club to sponsor the role. I f you are interested in being Special Areas Project was the Todd Bird the Local Coordinator for a Special Cl ub of Indiana County. This group has Areas Project , please contact Douglas already begun to survey birds at Ye l low Gross , Chairman of the SAP Ccmnittee. Creek State Park . It promises t o be one His address is given below. Other of our largest inventories . Yellow members of the corrrnittee are Bob Martin, Creek attracts many migrant water birds, Margaret Bri t tingham , Margaret Hi gbee, i ncluding many vagrants . Many of the and Daniel Brauning . sightings have appeared in Pennsylvani a Bi rds, The work of the What can you do whi le you are Todd Bi rd Club wi l l certainly highlight waiting for your package of forms and the importance of Yellow Creek as a instructions? Pick your Speci al Area . stopover f or migratory birds of many We offer a lis t of places that have been species . suggested for inventory by the PaDER ., interested birders , and our own ~}2:~. It is parti cularly appropriate that corrrnittee members . It is also important ::--<~.£

. . . to approach the achninistrator of the ~~- .,. ~;;.:""': DER - Bureau of Forestry Special Area (the State Park Natural and Wild Areas Superintendent, District Forester) and talk with him about the project. We are Alan Seeger Huntingdon asking for a $25 donation from each Algerine swamp Lycoming sponsoring organization in order to fund Bark Cabin Lycoming expenses we expect to incur during the Bear Meadows Centre project. Please approach your group for Bruce Lake Pike these funds and send all proceeds to Bob Detweiler Run Huntingdon Martin. Forrest H. Dutlinger Clinton *The Hemlocks Perry --Douglas A. Gross The Hook Union *Jakey' s Hollow Columbia . ,. For information, contact: Johnson Run cameron Joyce Kilmer Union Douglas A. Gross Bob Martin Meeting of the Pines Franklin c/o Ecology III 128 Elrrwood Court Mount Davis Somerset R.R. 1 Emporium, PA 15834 Mount Logan Clinton Berwick, PA 18603 Pine Creek Gorge Tioga Pine Tree Trail Elk Rosecrans Bog Clinton STATE PARKS, NATURAL AREAS , AND FORESTS Snyder-Middleswarth Snyder TARGETED FOR Sweet Root Bedford SPECIAL AREAS PROJECT INVENTORY Tall Timbers Snyder Tamarack Swamp Clinton State Parks County *Wycoff Run cameron Black Moshannon Centre National Forests Codorus Creek York ""·" _,_"' ~ _..,. Cook Forest Clarion Heart's Content Warren Evansburg Montgomery Scenic Area French rCreek Berks Tionesta Natural Warren Hickory Run Carbon and Scenic Area Keystone Westmoreland *King's Gap Cumberland c~ Laurel Hill Somerset *Projects Started "• ~ Little Pine Lycoming ' McConnell's Mill Lawrence ;-" -"j;,-~ Moraine Butler FIELD TRIPS Ohiopyle Fayette Parker Dam Clearfield *Prince Gallitzin cambria The PSO has been invited to participate Pymatuning Crawford in the following field trips sponsored Raymond B. Winter Union by the organizations noted in Ridley Creek Delaware parentheses. Rickett's Glen Luzerne/Sullivan Ryerson Station Greene Saturday, May 11 (Appalachian Audubon Society) --King's Gap, Huntsdale Fish Shawnee Bedford .~,.,,~ .- . *Susquehanna Lycoming Hatchery, Opossum Lake, and environs , *Susquehannock Lancaster led by Jane Earle (717-486-7964 ). Meet Swatara at the King's Gap Pond parking lot at 7 Lebanon a.m. Tuscarora Schuylkill White Clay Creek Chester Sunday , May 12 through Tuesday , May 14 *World's End Sullivan *Yellow Creek Indiana ,,. _,. (Conococheague Audubon Society)--Presque Isle, led by Bill Hague (717-352-2647 ) . < -- Friday, May 17 to Sunday, May 19 (York any human interloper who dares to Audubon Society)--Presque Isle, led by intrude. More likely, though, it's Dick Humbert (717-266-1864). because shorebirds are notoriously difficult to identify, so few people are Saturday, May 18 (Wyncote Audubon really qualified to conduct such Society)--Bull 's Island, led by Cliff surveys. Hence (215-438-1707). Migrant vireos and warblers are the targets of this In fact , it was these very negative outing . qualities that attracted Jerry McWilliams, a member of the Presque Isle Saturday, June 1 (Wyncote Audubon Audubon Society, to the project. "I Society)-- .. Meet like shorebirds because they're so ... ~_;...... t:~ ... ~'-'- ....~~:- ... at 7 a.m. on Sycamore Mills Road. Call difficult to identify," he says. "I 215-572-1175 for further infonnation. like the challenge." ...... - ' He proved equal to the challenge A NOTE FRCM YCOR TREASURER frcrn the very beginning when he saw the project's original survey forms. He Dues are to be paid on your noticed irrmediately the list was anniversary renewal date. If you joined inc~lete and found errors regarding PSO before May 1, 1990 , please remit the status of several species on the your $10 dues to: list. Thanks to the work of McWilliams and 182 other volunteers around the Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology state, those errors are being corrected. c/o R.R. 2, Box 191 Two or three times each week during ~ Kempton, PA 19529 the spring and fall migrations, •' .,.~ McWilliams and several other volunteers ~ frcrn the Presque Isle Audubon Society ;.f'~ NAMING COR NmSLEITER census the shorebirds at Gull Point in . On a good day , they may tally unusual species such as You guessed it! We still haven't Whimbrels and Western and Baird's decided upon a name for our newsletter . Sandpipers. Over the course of the At our second annual meeting in year , as many as 22 species of September, you, the members, will have shorebirds pass through Gull Point. the opportunity to vote for a name. So start thinking and send any of your Jerry Book and two other volunteers. ideas to PSO before the fall meeting. frcrn the Lancaster Bird Club conduct a similar survey on the Susquehanna ,:"~t River's Conejohela Flats. Book also ·-~-.... . FOR THE SHOREBIRDS "t. enjoys the challenge of shorebird identification. He says he does it . --by Scott Shalaway because, "It's fun ."

It's not surprising that the Results from the Conejohela Flats shorebird project was one of the- least project suggest that the Susquehanna may popular in Pennsylvania's Volunteers for be more important to migrating Wildlife program. It ranked ninth out shorebirds than anyone ever imagined. of eleven projects, attracting less than ''We' re finding birds listed as uncorrmon 14 percent of the volunteers. to rare statewide in nruch greater numbers than expected. This highlights Maybe it's because most shorebirds the importance of the Susquehanna River are so drably colored. Or maybe it's as a migration route for shorebirds ," he because they frequent nrud flats, a says . habitat that often sucks the shoes off

---~ ::- ,.>-~-.~""' Marbled and Hudsonian Godwits, H~ TO GET A MAN TO PUT UP A Long-billed Dowitchers, Red-necked BLUEBIRD BOX Phalaropes, and Buff-breasted Sandpipers are among the less coornon species found on the Flats' annual list that numbers - -by Gloria Winger 20 to 22 species per year. I am a feminist . I really am. I Book's survey has had a tangible know women are equal to men . I just conservation payoff , too. Because of happen t o be married to a man who i s interest in the shorebird survey, Book good building , hamneri ng , di ggi ng ho les, reports that the Flats are now protected you know, stuff I never got t o do as a by the owners , the Safe Harbor Water little gir l . Not that I can' t do it; Management Corporation. "Safe Harbor just that I don 't like to do it. executives have been very cooperative and supportive of the project ," he says What happens when a feminist needs with pride. another bluebird box put up in t he yard? First, she looks out the window and The value of volunteer projects exclaims , "Oh , John , come and 1o ok ! should never be underestimated, There ar e t wo pairs of bluebirds according to Dr. Gordon Kirkland fight i ng over the same box! Isn ' t that professor of biol ogy and Directo~ of t he heartbreaking? The poor little t hi ngs !" Vertebrate Musetn11 at Shippensburg University . He also advises the When he sees the four bi rds in Pennsylvania Game Corrmi ssion on action, a warning bell goes off in his conservation issues. "Population head and he says , "Oh , well , that' s surveys by volunteers are especially nature. " valuable for less popular species such as shorebirds and bats ," he states. The next day the feminist comes home with a bluebird box in the trunk of the Because few peopl e seek these car, praying that the four birds are critters out , they are poor ly still at it. She watches out the window understood. Annual surveys by careful ly that afternoon and oohs and volunteers identify population t rends aahs loudly at every swoop of the wings. that help alert biol ogists to ecological A lot of "poor little things" are problems before they reach the crisis necessary at this point. ~ stage. After a mere two or three hours, the Though a paid professional , Kirkland man says , "Maybe we ought to get another also donates his time t o state bluebird box sometime." conservation projects . ''We can' t expect to be paid for everything we do, " he "Oh , Honey , I'm so glad you think says. "Perhaps that's why this so! I got one today , " the feminist volunteer program works. It attracts says. (There's some body language that highly motivated volunteers who want to goes with this that this newsletter do what they're doing ," says Kirkland. can't convey . I'm sure you know i t . ) Volunteers like Jerry McWilliams and Jerry Book and the 1,327 people who The may says, "Some day we'll get a voltmteer for Pennsylvania's wildlife. metal pole, and I'll put it up."

To learn more about shorebird The next day , the feminist suggests ..., a little shopping trip . Of course, a i,:lfJ' identification, attend a local Audubon ~.,,_ .... ; .. or bird club meeting and meet the stop at a feed store is not out of the resident shorebird expert. Every ar ea way . "Oh , John! Look at the metal has one . Then tag along on the next poles ! Isn' t that just what we wer e field trip he or she leads , and learn talking about yesterday?" from the pro . ''We'll have to come back f or i t some other time," he says so sadly. "It's 6 Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, and 1/2 feet tall . We'll have to bring the White-breasted Nuthatches were detected station wagon." more often in the morning , whereas White-throated Sparrows were noted more "Maybe it wi 11 fit!" Her excitement often at midday (between 11 and 1:59 is strong. "I'll see if they'll let you p.m.). Numbers of contacts of all take it out and try it before you buy species combined were relatively similar it." between morning and midday but were much lower in the afternoon (after 2:00 The cashier has other ideas. She p.m.). suggests that if they can't take it today , they put the pole on lay-away. Black-capped Chickadees , Tufted The feminist offers herself as a hostage Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatches, until the man tries to get the pole in Golden-crowned Ringlets, and White­ . ---.. the car. throated Sparrows were observed more often in early winter (before 19 The man seems surprised at the January) than later in the season. We conversation, looks at the twelve people conclude that winter bird counts can be in line behind him, who are all looking conducted in both morning and midday back at him, and resigns him.self to hours with little or no qualitative loss fitting a 6 1/2 foot pole into the 5 of data . In addition, counts should be foot interior of the car. made i n early winter to minimize the effects of food shortages later i n On the way home , the feminist winter t hat may influence avian insists that the car has to be locked mortality and movements to feeders . while they stop for lunch.

''How could someone steal our pole?" OFFICERS ~ ◄ ~ . ""'l, ~ the man asks. ''We don't even know if ~~~.::~ we'll ever get it out." President Conrad Schmidt Vice President Robert Martin At home the man seems determined to Secretary Eugene Zielinski get the project canpleted. After two Treasurer Jocelynn Smrekar hours of labor, a little liquid refreshment, and a lot of sledging on BOARD MEMBERS the pole, the box is erected. Margaret Brittingham When the project is canpleted, the Jane Earle feminist watches out the window with Douglas Gross anticipation. Will the second pair of Margaret Higbee bluebirds accept the new box? In my Roy Ickes case, I never saw them again.

*************************************** "Effects of Tirre of Day and Season on Winter Bird Cmmts." Brian F. Rol-1 finke and Richard H. Yahner, The Condor: 92:215-219, The Cooper Ornithological Society, 1990. Researchers examined the effects of time of day and season on counts of wintering birds in a central Pennsylvania forest . Black-capped

~ ·~ . ..,., -- }._.,-.:· ,._ ...; , ... ~ ... ,. . ...--~-;t . . , ~l... ,. • MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL FORM Dues are $10 per year and are payable on or before your anniversary renewal date. Please make checks payable to "Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology" and mail with this fonn to: Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology c/o Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association -' R.R. 2, Box 191 K�ton, PA 19529 *************************************************************************

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