SMAS

Overview and Activities

Quick Look

Next Field Trip: 7:30 am Saturday 5th September, Michaux State Forest

Next Meeting: 7 pm Monday, 21st September, Peregrine Falcons

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 2025

The Adams County list for 2025 had 3 species that are not regularly seen: Common Gallinule, Little Blue Heron, and Alder Flycatcher.

The South Adams Grasslands Important Bird Area (IBA) had 5 species that are not not regularly observed: Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Common Gallinule, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Cerulean Warbler, and Clay-colored Sparrow. The regularly seen Bonaparte's Gull was missing.

The South Mountain IBA list was missing 9 species that are normally observed: Long-tailed Duck, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Kestrel, Bonaparte's Gull, Horned Lark, American Pipit, Prairie Warbler, and Rusty Blackbird.

There were no observations of new species on any of the lists.

Meetings and other Activities

Field Trip: 7:30 am Saturday, September 5th, Michaux State Forest

Meet at 7:30 AM at the Big Flat parking lot off Shippensburg Road. This is a 2-mile downhill walk along the Ram Hill Trail and Ten Points Trail. We’ll park a car or two where the Ram Hill Trail meets 233 and then drive people back to the parking lot where we meet. Scott Wood will lead this walk.

It would be a good idea to contact Scott Wood in advance if you plan to attend the walk so that he can be looking for you on Saturday morning.

Swood1@gmail.com or 973-975-6122

In case of inclement weather, please contact Scott Wood for confirmation of the walk.

Wear appropriate footwear and bring water and bug repellent. There is a bathroom at Big Flat. Cell phone service is unreliable at Big Flat and along the trails.

Directions from Gettysburg: Take PA 34 north to Biglerville. Turn left on 234 West. Turn right in Arendtsville to follow 234 West. In about 3 miles, just past Conewago Campground, turn right onto Shippensburg Road. In less than 2 miles, turn left to continue onto Shippensburg Road. Go straight across Route 233 at the 4-way intersection. Big Flat parking lot will be on the left in less than 2 miles after crossing Route 233. Map below.

GPS Coordinates: 39.98836° N, 77.40135° W

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South Middleton township parking

Meeting: 7:00 pm Monday, September 21st, “A Falcon Watch Scrapbook” - presented by Sue Hannon of Harrisburg’s Falcon Watch and Rescue

This presentation includes a brief discussion of the history of the Rachel Carson Peregrine Falcons and some of Sue’s favorite stories from more than 20 years with Harrisburg’s world-famous Peregrines! Sue Hannon joined Harrisburg’s Falcon Watch & Rescue in 2005, became the volunteer coordinator in 2012, and the program coordinator in 2023. In her years with Falcon Watch she has participated in over 30 rescues.

Field Trip: 8am, Saturday 26th September, South Middleton Township Park We will gather between 7:00 and 7:30 AM in the parking lot of South Middleton Community Park at 534 Park Drive, Boiling Springs. An earlier arrival MIGHT provide additional migrating warbler species! (Map Below - We will gather at the pink star located just beyond the parking area.) Tony Arnold will lead the walk.

Questions? - Please contact Tony at 717-253-4247

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Big Flat parking

Field Trip: 8 am, Saturday 10th October, Slyder Farm Leader: Cy Deitz. Details to follow.

Meeting: 7:00 pm Monday, October 19th, Gettysburg’s Bucket List: Least Shrew and other small mammals from the battlefield.

Field Trip: 8 am, Saturday 24th October, Oakside Park, BiglervilleMeet at the parking area by the park entrance on route 394, 1 mile north of Biglerville.

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Meeting: 7:00 pm Monday, November 16th, Brazil’s Atlantic Rainforest, presented by Linette Mansberger.

Field Trip: 8 am, Saturday 5th December, Duck Drive Details to follow.

Field Trip: Christmas Bird Count, Saturday 19th Decemberber Contact Evan Vaeth (877-764-7382) if you are interested in participating.

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 (based on your zip code).

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

Each year, South Mountain Audubon chooses a school to be the recipient of new library books chosen by the school’s librarian, approved by our board, and funded with members’ donations to our education budget. Recently the Alloway Creek Elementary School in the Littlestown Area School District received their donation. Pictured below is the school’s librarian, Linda Fink, with the new collection.

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