Observation start time: 08:30:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 6.5 hours
Official Counter: Darrell Smith
Observers:
Visitors: Amy and Matt Cook from Strode Mills; They were in camp chairs looking over Big Valley when I arrived. I had a wonderful conversation with them. After about 2 hours they left. About 1:30 in the afternoon they came back with some fresh cooked muffins for me. What nice people. They said they will be back. Can't wait! Some other site seers and a young man who said that he would be back again. What a wonderful day!
Weather: Warm and overcast most of the day with 5-10 mph winds from the WNW.
Raptor Observations: This was big bird day! Adult Be's 11:16,12:26,1:40,2:43,2:59. Imm. Be's 12.58,1:22,1:40,1:44,1:48,1:53. Many TV's and BV's not migrating.
Non-raptor Observations: Chimney Swifts, Many Tree Swallows, Several Ravens, 17 Monarchs.
Predictions: Some possible showers in the morning clearing for the afternoon. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Darrell Smith (<oleagleye...>)
Observation start time: 08:45:00 Observation end time: 14:30:00 Total observation time: 5.75 hours
Official Counter: Jon Kauffman, Ken Bowman
Observers: Ken Bowman, Meredith Sweatlock
Visitors: A couple from Bucks Co headed to their cabin for the weekend to hike thousand steps, golf, and kayak the juniata river.
Weather: Light winds from the NW all day with occasional gusts at 8-10mph. Partly cloudy with a combination of whispy and cumulus cloud formation. Afternoon had a period of 100% cloud cover as a small pocket of potential rain came from the west.
Raptor Observations: AMKE 2M 3F 1Unk
Good Osprey flight with ten in one hour and of those ten, six were circling together.
Non-raptor Observations: Red-headed Woodpecker(1) Red-breasted Nuthatch(1) Eastern Wood Pewee(1) Least Flycatcher(1) Yellow-throated Vireo(1) Tree Swallow (55) Barn Swallow(3) Black and White Warbler(1) Tennessee Warbler(2) Magnolia Warbler(1) Cape May Warbler(1) Blackburnian Warbler(1) Black-throated Green Warbler(2) warbler sp.(9)
Ruby-throated Hummungbird(21)
Lantern Flies, House Flies, Saddlebag Dragonflies, Tiger Swallowtails, Monarch(16) ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jon Kauffman (<jvk5019...>)
Date: 9/3/26 6:33 am From: Blizard, David A <dab22...> Subject: Re: Sayers Dam tonight
Great report, JPG! Presume nighthawks are migrating!?
Sent from my iPad
On Sep 2, 2026, at 10:17 PM, Gyekis, Joseph Peter <jpg186...> wrote:
we got a big flock of nighthawks, a thousand blackbirds (mostly grackles), a splendid lightning show, and one participant saw a black bear on their way in
tomorrow morning Arboretum at 8 the Thursdays in September will be going forward
________________________________
From: State College (PA) Bird Club <SCBIRDCL...> on behalf of Gyekis, Joseph Peter <jpg186...>
Sent: Wednesday, 02 September 2026 15:23:09
To: <SCBIRDCL...> <SCBIRDCL...>
Subject: Sayers Dam tonight
Bring the rain gear, a storm is predicted to be rolling through just before our 7:15 start time. Maybe we will get storm bird goodies, maybe a rainbow, we will only know if we get out there.
Sunset Bird Count at Sayer's Dam
Wednesday, September 2, 7:15 pm - 8:15 pm
Wednesday, October 7, 6:15 pm - 7:15 pm
Wednesday, November 4, 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Wednesday, December 2, 4:15 pm - 5:00 pm
Date: 9/2/26 7:16 pm From: Gyekis, Joseph Peter <jpg186...> Subject: Re: Sayers Dam tonight
we got a big flock of nighthawks, a thousand blackbirds (mostly grackles), a splendid lightning show, and one participant saw a black bear on their way in
tomorrow morning Arboretum at 8 the Thursdays in September will be going forward
________________________________
From: State College (PA) Bird Club <SCBIRDCL...> on behalf of Gyekis, Joseph Peter <jpg186...>
Sent: Wednesday, 02 September 2026 15:23:09
To: <SCBIRDCL...> <SCBIRDCL...>
Subject: Sayers Dam tonight
Bring the rain gear, a storm is predicted to be rolling through just before our 7:15 start time. Maybe we will get storm bird goodies, maybe a rainbow, we will only know if we get out there.
Sunset Bird Count at Sayer's Dam
Wednesday, September 2, 7:15 pm - 8:15 pm
Wednesday, October 7, 6:15 pm - 7:15 pm
Wednesday, November 4, 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Wednesday, December 2, 4:15 pm - 5:00 pm
Date: 9/2/26 12:23 pm From: Gyekis, Joseph Peter <jpg186...> Subject: Sayers Dam tonight
Bring the rain gear, a storm is predicted to be rolling through just before our 7:15 start time. Maybe we will get storm bird goodies, maybe a rainbow, we will only know if we get out there.
Sunset Bird Count at Sayer's Dam
Wednesday, September 2, 7:15 pm - 8:15 pm
Wednesday, October 7, 6:15 pm - 7:15 pm
Wednesday, November 4, 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Wednesday, December 2, 4:15 pm - 5:00 pm
Observation start time: 08:30:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 6.5 hours
Official Counter: Ken Tucker
Observers: Darrell Smith
Visitors: Darrell Smith, Some Site Seers, Cindy Bickel stopped to say hello, A trucker with radiator problems asked for water until help come.
Weather: Light winds from the WSW & W. Overcast most of the day. Very warm.
Raptor Observations: Adult BE's 1:10, 1:38. Imm. BE's 2 @ 12:04 Many TV's & BV's not migrating. Red Tails not migrating.
Non-raptor Observations: Nemo, Goldfinches, Cedar Waxwings, 20 Monarchs, 3 hummingbirds, some flying ants and lantern flies.
Predictions: About the same. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Darrell Smith (<oleagleye...>)
Observation start time: 09:15:00 Observation end time: 15:30:00 Total observation time: 6.25 hours
Official Counter: Nick Bolgiano
Observers:
Visitors: Jen and Arthur
Weather: Wind initially SW 4-5 mph, switched to W 8-10 mph in afternoon, mostly sunny, temp 74-87F
Raptor Observations: BE - 2 Ad, AK - 1 F
Non-raptor Observations: Tree Swallow-123, Purple Martin-4 ======================================================================== Report submitted by Nick Bolgiano (<nickbolgiano...>)
Date: 9/1/26 7:43 am From: Lee, Jen <jal21...> Subject: Zeiss rep at Jacks Mt Hawk Watch 9/12
________________________________
From: Cindy Bickel <cindyb7689...>
Sent: Tuesday, September 1, 2026 10:38:41 AM
Hello all, here is information about a special event on 9/12 at Jacks. For some reason the document gets out of alignment when I try to send it through email. My apologies. Please share with fellow optics users and encourage them to attend. Raindate 9/19.
Thanks, Cindy
On 8/27/2026 1:31 PM, Don Kiel wrote: > Hi all, > > As a semi-retirement project (still working a bit!) I would like to > start a not-for-profit online birding blog where I could write, share > photos, and especially present some of the data I have recorded for > over 15 years on birds in our area of Gray Woods - sort of a citizen > science presentation platform with a healthy dose of (hopefully) > interesting graphics and pattern analysis. I don't want to spend a > lot of money on this, but I know good platform software and > registrations would have an initial cost along with renewals. I'm > pretty decent with IT and graphics in general but haven't done a blog > before. It's been suggested to me that WordPress might be a good > choice. I'd like to ask the group for any advice you can offer. > Thanks very much! > > Don Kiel > <skyco26...>
Date: 8/27/26 10:54 am From: Constanza Ehrenhaus <cxe1169...> Subject: Re: Birding blog question
Hi Don,
That sounds like such an interesting project! Wordpress is indeed very user
friendly, and they offer free and very accessible paid options depending on
what you want. I did a blog ages ago through them and now co-admin a
webpage for which I purchased the domain from them. It really is not
difficult.
Godspeed! I look forward to reading your blog!
Coty
On Thu, Aug 27, 2026 at 1:32 PM Don Kiel <
<00000ff91fe3ef40-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> As a semi-retirement project (still working a bit!) I would like to start
> a not-for-profit online birding blog where I could write, share photos, and
> especially present some of the data I have recorded for over 15 years on
> birds in our area of Gray Woods - sort of a citizen science presentation
> platform with a healthy dose of (hopefully) interesting graphics and
> pattern analysis. I don't want to spend a lot of money on this, but I know
> good platform software and registrations would have an initial cost along
> with renewals. I'm pretty decent with IT and graphics in general but
> haven't done a blog before. It's been suggested to me that WordPress might
> be a good choice. I'd like to ask the group for any advice you can offer.
> Thanks very much!
>
> Don Kiel
> <skyco26...>
>
Date: 8/27/26 10:48 am From: Zoey Greenberg <zoeytalon...> Subject: Re: Birding blog question
Hi Don,
Unlike you, I am notably challenged in the IT/tech department, and even so
have been able to run a bird blog for RRF off of Wordpress fairly easy. It’s
user-friendly in my opinion. However, RRF has a subscription so there are a
lot of creation tools at my disposal that may not be available otherwise.
Squarespace and Wix are also worth checking out. I’ve played around with
both. If I recall, Wix is the cheapest / free.
Here is an article written on Medium (another platform for getting your
words out) that compares the three platforms with pros and cons etc.
Hope this is a little helpful!
Zoey
On Thu, Aug 27, 2026 at 11:31 Don Kiel <
<00000ff91fe3ef40-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> As a semi-retirement project (still working a bit!) I would like to start
> a not-for-profit online birding blog where I could write, share photos, and
> especially present some of the data I have recorded for over 15 years on
> birds in our area of Gray Woods - sort of a citizen science presentation
> platform with a healthy dose of (hopefully) interesting graphics and
> pattern analysis. I don't want to spend a lot of money on this, but I know
> good platform software and registrations would have an initial cost along
> with renewals. I'm pretty decent with IT and graphics in general but
> haven't done a blog before. It's been suggested to me that WordPress might
> be a good choice. I'd like to ask the group for any advice you can offer.
> Thanks very much!
>
> Don Kiel
> <skyco26...>
>
Date: 8/27/26 10:31 am From: Don Kiel <00000ff91fe3ef40-dmarc-request...> Subject: Birding blog question
Hi all,
As a semi-retirement project (still working a bit!) I would like to start a not-for-profit online birding blog where I could write, share photos, and especially present some of the data I have recorded for over 15 years on birds in our area of Gray Woods - sort of a citizen science presentation platform with a healthy dose of (hopefully) interesting graphics and pattern analysis. I don't want to spend a lot of money on this, but I know good platform software and registrations would have an initial cost along with renewals. I'm pretty decent with IT and graphics in general but haven't done a blog before. It's been suggested to me that WordPress might be a good choice. I'd like to ask the group for any advice you can offer. Thanks very much!
Don Kiel
<skyco26...>
Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 5 hours
Official Counter: Craig Kochel
Observers: Diane Stewart, Mark Shope
Visitors: Barb Yoder
Weather: Warm with south winds 5-10 mph all day. Mix of clouds and sun. Nice day save for the lantern flies and gnats
Raptor Observations: Most birds were flying along the ridge axis at moderate height very fast. Apparently there was a strong current running above the ridge. Only one Broadwing kettle occurred near the end of the count when wounds slacked off. Otherwise birds were largely streaming past in single file.
Pretty nice flight for early in the season.
Non-raptor Observations: Ravens (including Nemo)_, lots of TVs and TVs. Cardinals, many Cedar Wasxings, Bluejays, Peewee, Red Bellied WP, Goldfinches ======================================================================== Report submitted by Darrell Smith (<oleagleye...>)
I am interested in collaborating with this project, but on the 29th we are
doing a Feather Friendly dots installation. I would like to help in
October, if you can keep me in the loop.
Thank you!
Coty
PS: I love this project!
On Sun, Aug 23, 2026 at 2:14 PM Susan Hart <susancrandallhart...>
wrote:
Non-raptor Observations: RT Hummer-10, Chimney Swift-9, C. Nighthawk-2, Purple Martin-3, Tree Swallow-10, Barn Swallow-23, Chestnut-sided Warbler-1, Yellow-rumped Warbler-1 ======================================================================== Report submitted by Nick Bolgiano (<nickbolgiano...>)
Date: 8/25/26 10:39 am From: Constanza Ehrenhaus <cxe1169...> Subject: Rhoneymeade fall festival volunteers needed
Hi all,
Rhoneymeade is having a Fall Festival on Oct 24th. Before I ask if the State College Bird Club could join to table at their event, we would need to know if we have enough volunteers to table. Duties include picking up the table and materials from Millbrook marsh to set up before the festival, pick up and return materials to Millbrook, and share information with festival goers. Bonus points if you keep count of visitors. We do not need one person to do the whole festival, we've had events in which there is a rotation of volunteers taking 2 hours shifts. Whatever time you want to/can offer is welcome!
Date: 8/25/26 9:36 am From: <bluebird6771...> <000056793b0161d0-dmarc-request...> Subject: Fw: NestWatch eNews: New range-wide study on Tree Swallows, plus a surprising bluebird find
Tree Swallows and Eastern Bluebirds article below. Both species breeding in nest boxes at Soaring Eagle Wetland and Dreibelbis Birding Area Nick Kerlin
----- Forwarded Message -----From: NestWatch - Cornell Lab of Ornithology <nestwatch...>To: "<bluebird6771...>" <bluebird6771...>Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2026 at 12:26:32 PM EDTSubject: NestWatch eNews: New range-wide study on Tree Swallows, plus a surprising bluebird find
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#yiv5232506507templatePreheader .yiv5232506507mcnTextContent p{font-size:14px !important;line-height:150% !important;}}@media only screen and (max-width:480px){#yiv5232506507 #yiv5232506507templateHeader .yiv5232506507mcnTextContent, #yiv5232506507 #yiv5232506507templateHeader .yiv5232506507mcnTextContent p{font-size:16px !important;line-height:150% !important;}}@media only screen and (max-width:480px){#yiv5232506507 #yiv5232506507templateBody .yiv5232506507mcnTextContent, #yiv5232506507 #yiv5232506507templateBody .yiv5232506507mcnTextContent p{font-size:16px !important;line-height:150% !important;}}@media only screen and (max-width:480px){#yiv5232506507 #yiv5232506507templateFooter .yiv5232506507mcnTextContent, #yiv5232506507 #yiv5232506507templateFooter .yiv5232506507mcnTextContent p{font-size:14px !important;line-height:150% !important;}} In this issue: New study explained on our blog, plus a bluebird nest cam surprise
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| Not rendering correctly? View this email as a web page here. |
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NestWatch eNewsletter
August 2026
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| Tree Swallows by Jim McGinity / Macaulay Library. |
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On the Blog: Northern Tree Swallows Face a Nesting Season Squeeze
A new study of nearly 95,000 Tree Swallow nests from across North America found that they are laying eggs earlier as springs get warmer. Although Tree Swallows are adjusting their nesting timing in response to climate change, northern populations have been declining while southern populations have remained stable or even increased. The findings, reported in this month's blog post, suggest that birds in the north may have a harder time keeping up with rapid warming and other challenges, making them more vulnerable to population declines.
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| Eastern Bluebirds getting a snake delivery. Video by Becky Wylie. |
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Eastern Bluebirds Filmed Delivering a Steady Supply of Snakes to Nestlings
Becky Wylie and her husband have been observing bluebird nests in Missouri for many years, but this is the first year they installed a nest box with a built-in camera. It was immediately enlightening and surprising! They learned that their bluebird pair consistently delivered tiny snakes–still wriggling–to the nestlings as soon as they were large enough to swallow them (with some effort). The camera revealed that both ring-necked snake and DeKay's brown snake were repeatedly on the menu, adding to a small set of rare observations of ophiophagy (snake eating) in bluebirds. Watch a nestling eat one, if you dare.
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| Submission of the Month: Debbie Maas recorded this Western Warbling Vireo nest in Juneau, Alaska! Eastern and Western Warbling Vireos used to be known as one species–the Warbling Vireo–but were recently split into two separate species. Western Warbling Vireos breed over much of the western half of the continent, nesting in the outer portions of deciduous trees and tall shrubs.
Be sure to submit photos with your nest visit data for a chance to be featured here.
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| Submit Data to NestWatch |
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| Influx of Purple Martin Data
Thanks to Mike McCartney for submitting 179 nest records for upload to NestWatch! Have historical data you'd like to contribute? Contact us to learn about our bulk upload option. |
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| Welcome New Chapters
Our newest NestWatch Chapters are Academia Científica Escolar Yecos del INCO / Fundación Yecos Chile, of San Antonio, Chile, & Spearpoint Community of Weed, California. Find a Chapter near you! |
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| NestWatch Tip of the Month
Did you know? Archiving a nest site removes it from your nest site map and yet ensures that the data recorded for that nest site remains in our database. Nest sites can be archived when they are no longer in use, or if the nest box itself has been moved. A new nest site should be created when a nest box is moved more than 12″ (30cm) in any direction. Learn how to archive a nest in our FAQ. |
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| Photo credits: Purple Martin by Laura Frazier; Black-necked Stilt by Cristina Avila; Eastern Bluebirds by Leslie Clapp; American Robin nest by Laura Sprinkle; Indian Paradise-Flycatcher by Manish Panchal. |
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| The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a membership institution dedicated to interpreting and conserving the earth’s biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds.
Our mailing address is:
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Date: 8/23/26 11:14 am From: Susan Hart <susancrandallhart...> Subject: Volunteer workday at Millbrook Marsh
Hi State College Bird Club members,
I just wanted to let you know about a volunteer opportunity at Millbrook
Marsh Nature Center, next Saturday, August 29. Starting at 9am and onward
into the afternoon, we will be working to clear an area on the side of the
education building, in preparation for a new native plant garden. Because
our bird feeder viewing area is located here, our goal is to create a space
filled with species and resources that support birds. This project has been
generously funded by the State College Bird Club, and is being completed in
partnership with members of the PA Native Plant Society and PA Master
Naturalists.
If you’re interested in joining us, please let me know at <suhart...> or
feel free to send me a text at (315) 345-6856. I will let you know if plans
change because of the weather.
Thanks for considering it! If you are interested but can’t make it this
time, I can let folks know about our planting date in October.
Observation start time: 09:15:00 Observation end time: 11:30:00 Total observation time: 2.25 hours
Official Counter: Jen Lee
Observers: Craig Kochel
Weather: Early fog burned off before I was on the Mt. W-WNW winds 8-10mph. Big clouds moving through. Short shower around 11:30.
Raptor Observations: A few birds moving for some early season warmup! TV/BVs not counted.
Non-raptor Observations: Heard or saw 2 Ruby-throated Hummers chasing each other, barn & tree swallows moving through, N.Flicker, Pileated. Ind.Bunting, Goldfinches, Cedar Waxwings, Ravens. Mourning Dove. Lanternflies, Gnats. Small sinkhole in gravel mound near steps. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Darrell Smith (<oleagleye...>)
| 2026 Nestbox Summary |
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| Soaring Eagle/Dreibelbis Birding Area |
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| Species | Fledged | Eggs/Young Lost |
| Eastern Bluebird | 11 | 15 |
| Tree Swallow | 41 | 23 |
| BC Chickadee | 0 | 7 |
Weather (cold, rain, heat) and predation (possibly snake? snakes) took a toll on fledgling success during this 15th year of monitoring. Eastern Bluebird results were the lowest for the past six years. Tree Swallows were the third lowest for the same period. The addition of new baffles and box relocations hopefully will remedy the predator problem.Occupancy rate was 94% of boxes present.
Monitors: Nick Kerlin and Mark Nale
Date: 8/19/26 5:09 am From: KATHLEEN BECHDEL <0000d165c6a818d5-dmarc-request...> Subject: Fall Schedule of Events
Hello,
Below is the list of fall events. All of this information is available on the websitehttps://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.scbirdcl.org%2F&data=05%7C02%<7Cscbirdcl...>%7Cd3bc92f0947144531eea08defde998c1%7C7cf48d453ddb4389a9c1c115526eb52e%7C0%7C0%7C639227376912246689%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=2B08ye1zeF%2FU8NupOnJgBPL2nmeWQu5bLKZLD%2FWDsX0%3D&reserved=0 .
Fall 2026 Field Trips of the State College Bird Club
All field trips are open to members and non-members.
This field trip is open to members and non-members.
Heron Watch at Fisherman's Paradise
Tuesday, September 8, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm (Raindate September 10)
Trip leader: Julia Plummer
Heronry at Fisherman's Paradise, at the end of Spring Creek Road, Bellefonte, PA. Watch the Great Blue Heron return to their roosts on the hillside behind the fish hatchery. Meet at the gate to the fish hatchery on the bridge between the first two parking areas. Bring a folding chair to set up along the fence.
This field trip is open to members and non-members.
This field trip is open to members and non-members.
Tudek Park
Saturday, September 19, 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Trip Leader: Constanza Ehrenhaus
This walk will be designed for beginner birders, especially families with children. Of course, all are welcome. The area is stroller-friendly, and the walk will be kept to one hour to fit younger learners' attention spans. We will meet in the parking lot.
This field trip is open to members and non-members.
Penns Prairie at Tri-County Municipal Park, Centre Hall, PA
Sunday, September 27, 7:30 am - 9:00am
Trip Leaders: Andrew Bechdel and Leigh Rix
Penn's Prairie is a multi-purpose park integrating recreation, wildlife conservation, and historical prairie restoration and preservation. The park is located at 2400 Upper Brush Valley Road, Centre Hall, PA 16828.
Join Andrew Bechdel and Leigh Rix (Watershed Specialist and Education Coordinator for Centre County Conservation District) for a leisurely walk throughout Penns Prairie Park outside Centre Hall, Pa. This newly developed, multi-purposed park provides opportunities for a variety of avian life such as nesting grassland sparrows, Red-headed Woodpeckers, and American Kestrels. Although this park has been open to the public since August of 2018, an understanding of avian life is still in the works and we hope to increase community efforts in helping understand the changes throughout the development of the park.
This field trip is open to members and non-members.
Canoe Creek State Park
Saturday, October 3, 8:00 am - 9:30 am
Trip Leader: Connor Schmitt
Connor Schmitt will lead a walk through a variety of habitats at one of Blair County's top birding spots. The walk will include scanning the lake for waterfowl, walking through a meadow and on a boardwalk that hugs the lake. This field trip is also sponsored by the Juniata Valley Audubon Society.
After entering the park, drive straight to the T in front of the large parking area. Turn left and park at the farthest lot next to a picnic pavilion and the restrooms.
This field trip is open to members and non-members.
**This trip has yet to be scheduled** Bald Eagle State Park
Trip Leader: Bob Snyder
We will meet at the Swimming Beach at Bald Eagle State Park and visit various locations around the main park area including the beach, winter launch, the Sunken Road Overlook. Additional possible locations will be a drive to the top of the dam for a short walk down the service road to view Hunter's Cove and the emergency spillway marsh at the dam.
We will be looking for waterfowl on the lake and also hope to find winter birds such as Northern Shrike, Snow Buntings, American Pipits and American Tree Sparrows.
Please consider the weather and wear appropriate cold weather gear and sturdy boots. An orange vest is also recommended. Binoculars, spotting scopes and cameras are also encouraged.
This field trip is open to members and non-members.
Date: 8/14/26 5:51 am From: Constanza Ehrenhaus <cxe1169...> Subject: Board members needed for new non-profit
Hi all,
Trillium Pennsylvania is a recently incorporated nonprofit dedicated to making environmental education affordable and accessible to people of all ages. Our work focuses on environment, education, and equity to foster love and respect for nature through diverse educational programs. We believe that understanding our environment creates connection, and that connection inspires people to protect and preserve it.
To help grow our initiative, we are looking for dedicated volunteers to serve on the Board of Directors. The candidates should believe that caring for the environment is a shared responsibility, that education is essential to environmental protection, and that these opportunities should be accessible to everyone, regardless of economic status.
We are especially looking for people with experience in accounting, legal services, educational programming, fundraising, and event organization. This list is not exclusive, if you are interested in participating and bringing your unique skills to Trillium Pennsylvania, we would love to hear from you!
At this time, all positions are unpaid, and our organization is run entirely by volunteers as we work toward sustainable growth.
If interested, please send an email to <trilliumpennsylvania...> including why you are interested in being part of this initiative, your skill set and what your previous experience has been.
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 12:45:00 Total observation time: 4.5 hours
Official Counter: Diane Stewart
Observers: Ken Tucker
Visitors: Barb Yoder helped out with spotting which was greatly appreciated.
Weather: Overcast with almost no winds out of the NW. Little variation in the temperature.
Raptor Observations: A nice variety for the first day of the 2026 season. Many TV and BV. The TV preferred the new tower leaving Nemo and friends to the old tower. The first eagles came through in pairs at 11:35, 11:51, and 12:00. All were soaring high on thermals.
Non-raptor Observations: Eastern towhees were quite vocal. Cedar Waxwings. Dark-eyed Junco. Goldfinches. Too many swallows to count. Nemo and a friend showed up on the first tower. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Darrell Smith (<oleagleye...>)