South Mountain Airs

The Newsletter of the South Mountain Audubon Society

August - September 2012, Volume XXXVII #3 – The E-mail Edition

UPCOMING SMAS EVENTS

SMAS Annual Picnic

Monday August 13th – The Annual SMAS picnic will be held at Laura Hershey's home, 8164 Carlisle
Pike, York Springs, PA, 17372. Dinner will be at 6pm. Please bring a dish to share. All are welcome to
come at 5pm. Bring a place setting for yourself.
And do not forget to psych yourselves up for the “Annual SMAS Bean Bag” competition.
Directions: Northbound on US #15 at the York Springs exit, go East on PA #94, Carlisle Pike. #8164
will be on the right shortly East of the interchange.

UPCOMING MONTHLY PROGRAMS

Please note that due to availability issues at the Adams County Agricultural Resource Center, both the September
and October programs will be held on the third Monday vice the second Monday of the month.

September 17th - “PA State Parks Cavity-nesting Volunteer Program”
State Parks Citizen Science- making a difference for cavity-nesting birds
The Cavity-nesting program in Pennsylvania State Parks is the longest running citizen science program in the
agency. Started in 1981 as a response to declining bluebird populations, the program has grown in focus on other
cavity-nesting species and focuses more on producing usable data for research purposes. The volunteers in the
program have fledged over 91,000 cavity-nesting species. Tara Gettig, the Environmental Education Specialist at
Pine Grove Furnace State Park will speak about the history of the program, the vision for the future and
opportunities nearby to get involved with.

Monday October 15th - "Dairy of a Duck Hunter" presented by Gene Wingert.

Hardie Disney was a duck hunter from West Fairview, a small town at the mouth of the Conodoginet Creek in
Cumberland County. Between 1898 and 1938 he shot 17,000 ducks on the Susquehanna River at Harrisburg. He
kept a record of every duck he shot. This diary is in the State Archives. The program covers a bit of river history
and then compares Disney's figures with today's abundance and modern observation records. The results are
surprising. Gene teaches environmental science at Dickinson University.

UPCOMING SMAS FIELD TRIPS

Contact Mike O'Brien, Field Trip Chair, as necessary for more information on all Field Trips, the annual
Christmas Bird Count and the Spring Migration Count: 717.642.6676 Res / maddogobrien@gmail.com E-mail.
Please let the Leader know in advance if you plan to attend any field trip, especially if you plan to go direct.
Trips are subject to weathering out, especially in the colder months, or otherwise being changed. In addition, if
we have only one or two known attendees, we may cancel or reschedule a given field trip. We cannot alert you
unless we hear from you.

Thursday September 30th The "Pulpit" Hawk Watch at Tuscarora Ridge

Hawk watching trip to Tuscarora Ridge summit where US #30 passes over the crest of the ridge near
McConnellsburg, PA. Long called "The Pulpit," this site provides good views of approaching raptors.
Broad-winged Hawks will still be going through at this time. Kestrels and Red-tailed Hawks should be
present in good numbers and most other raptors are possible at this time. Short and easy access from
where we will park to the observation area. No facilities (McConnellsburg within driving distance).
Meet in parking area between Burger King and CVS on US Rte #30 (York Street) near its intersection
with US #15 in the shopping area where Staples and CVS are located - across the street from Walmart.
We will carpool to the extent possible. Bring a chair if you wish as well as personal/food/drink items.
Bring apparel as dictated by the weather. Meeting time is 8:30 AM with return in mid-afternoon.

Information on the 4th Quarter SMAS Schedule:

October - TBD. Tenative trip is to visit Antietam National Battlefield, Sharpsburg, MD
November - TBD
December (Saturday) 17th The SMAS CBC

Mark your calendars now for the 113th Audubon Christmas Bird Count.

Feathery Factoid; The Quiz: We thought we would change things up this edition and provide a short quiz in
lieu of a discussion on flying distance, diving depth, etc. The quiz is a mixture of topics but are all mostly easy
and deal with North American species, categories or something “birdy.”
1. What shorebird has the longest bill? How long might it be?
2. Who had the lead role in the 1991 Hollywood movie Hudson Hawk?
3. In golf parlance, what is a “birdie”?
4. What is the common group name for mostly nocturnal species best identified by their vocalizations
for which many are named. Can you name a second group name used for these birds?
5. Name two birds that were recorded and named on the Corps Of Discovery Expedition circa 1804 – 1806?
6. What is a furcula? Think about it. Everybody knows it by its common name.
7. Name the mascot of the U.S. Air Force Academy?
8. Name the only subterranean breeding and roosting bird found throughout the Americas?
9. More Hollywood. Who starred in the 1998 movie, Good Morning Vietnam?
10. Which species is the most widely distributed American gamebird?

Answers appear at the end of the Newsletter.

Volunteers needed:
We do not currently have a Hospitality Coordinator for the refreshments we provide at out regular program
meetings. You need no specific experience. The duties involve canvassing for volunteers willing to bring
refreshments to the regular month program meetings, 6 or 7 times a year; maintaining the list of people
scheduled by month, and giving them a reminder call before the meeting they are volunteering to provide for. We
will provide a list of people who have helped out in the past for you to contact if anyone is willing to do this.
Please consider volunteering. Contact Mike O'Brien for info or any questions: call 717.642.6676 or click
maddogobrien@gmail.com

Answers to Feathery Factoid: The Quiz.
1. The Long-billed Curlew. The bill averages 4 to 8 and ½ inches. 8 and ¾ inches has been recorded.
2. Bruce Willis.
3. One (stroke) under par.
4. The Nightjars. Or the Goatsuckers. In the old world it was believed they obtained food by sucking
milk from goats, but they were probably hawking insects stirred up by the goats.
5. Lewis' Woodpecker, named after Meriwether Lewis, and Clark's Nutcracker (William Clark).
6. The two fused collar bones (clavicles) in an avian species, i.e., the wishbone.
7. The Prairie Falcon.
8. The Burrowing Owl.
9. Robin Williams.
10. The Mourning Dove.