SMAS

Overview and Activities

Quick Look

Next Field Trip: 8 am Saturday October 25th, Oakside Park, Biglerville

Next Meeting: 7 pm Monday November 17th, Beavers at Gettsburg NMP

Meetings

Unless indicated otherwise, all SMAS Programs are held at the Adams County Agricultural Resource Center, 670 Old Harrisburg Road, Gettysburg, PA at 7:30 pm (social time starting at 7 pm). A room number for the SMAS meeting will be posted on the front lobby entry inner door.

Field Trips

FIELD TRIPS - Field trips will be planned on an annual basis and a tentative list will be sent in late December to those on our email list. Details for day trips will be announced in the monthly email blasts, and details for overnight trips will be announced a few months in advance. Also, information can be found on this website. Each monthly email will list a contact person and a meeting place and time for the upcoming events. If you are not on our email list, you can contact Mike Bertram at the2nomads@gmail.com or call 717-809-3911 (please leave a voicemail) if you have questions or need other details. Field trip cancellations will be announced by email as soon as possible and also on this website.

Local Bird Sightings in 2024

One new species was seen in Adams County in 2024, an American White Pelican. Other rare species observed included: Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Greater White-fronted Goose, Ross's Goose, Mississippi Kite, White-rumped Sandpiper, Log-billed Dowitcher. Species that were expected, but not found, were Bank Swallow and Dickcissel.

In the grasslands IBA (Important Bird Area), as well as many of the sightings mentioned under the Adams County list, there was a sighting of a rare Barn Owl in the IBA.

In the South Mountain IBA was the first sighting of a Trumpter Swan. Also there were sightings of probable escapees, Northern Bobwhite and Chukar.

Meetings and other Activities

NO Meeting: Monday, October 20,

Bird Walk: 8 am Saturday, October 25, Oakside Park, Biglerville - meet at 8 am at the parking area to the left of the entrance. The Park is on route 394 a mile east of Biglerville. Questions - contact Mike Bertram at 717-809-3911

Saturday, November 15 at 8:00 AM - Bird Walk at Battlefield Bed and Breakfast, Emmitsburg Road, Gettysburg

Meeting: Monday, November 17, Chris Davis, Biologist, will talk about the beavers living in Gettysburg National Military Park.

Audubon Christmas Bird Count: Saturday, December 20. If you are interested in helping contact Evan Vaeth at nexevan@gmail.com

Meeting: Monday, January 26, Linette Mansberger will present 'Winging it Near Water'

The South Mountain Audubon Society aims are to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity focusing on Adams County, PA.

The Society works towards those aims with meetings, birding trips, and conservation activities.

There are 2 Important Bird Areas locally:

Click here to join National Audubon and the South Mountain Audubon Society. Please select U17 as the Chapter code from the drop down menu on the form.

If you want to join the South Mountain Audubon Society but not National Audubon then sign up at the next event you attend. The annual membership is $15.

The Society can be contacted in the following ways:

email: the2nomads@gmail.com

Tel.: 717-809-3911

Mail: SMAS, P.O. Box 3671, Gettysburg, PA 17325.

Educational Initiatives

South Mountain Audubon sponsors educational efforts on natural history in the local schools. This year it financed the purchase of books by the Bermudian Middle School.

Bermudian not found