Monthly Programs (for directions to the Programs, click here)
Appalachian Audubon presents monthly community programs at the Christ Presbyterian Church, in the Allendale development, Lower Allen Township. Meetings begin at 7:00 p.m. with refreshments and social time, followed by brief announcements and the program at 7:30 p.m. The programs are free and open to the public.  Meetings generally are held on the third Thursday of each month, except for holidays, from Sept. through May. For further details on the next monthly program, please click on "Newsletter" above, download the Kingfisher Courier for the month of interest, and see page 1.

September 17, 2009
Images from Penn’s Woods
Renowned photographer Joe Kosak offers some of his best digital photography as Wildlife Conservation Education Specialist with the Pa. Game Commission. Much of the work is relatively recent and includes his work with the Peregrine Falcons on the 15th-floor ledge of the Rachel Carson Building, and being 300 feet underground in the Canoe Creek Mine to monitor bats. Joe’s photographic journey will cover Middle Creek WMA, including snow geese; whitetails; local birds and migrants; reptiles and amphibians; and, of course, a smattering of off-the-wall stuff that always makes any program exciting. Expect to see a fast-moving program of outstanding photography that is delivered by a man who has been writing about and photographing Penn’s Woods for more than a quarter century.

October 15, 2009
A Forest Story
Gene Wingert will examine the history of the   forest in south central Pennsylvania to present day. Forest Ecology is explained and changes in forest structure during the latter part of the twentieth century are explored. A major impact on our forest structure is the white-tail deer and fire suppression.  This program examines the evidence of the impact of Pennsylvania’s State Mammal and fire suppression in local forests including Waggoner’s Gap HawkWatch area, State Game Lands 170 and Michaux State Forest.

November 19, 2009
Green Space and Land Use in Cumberland County
Stephanie Williams, the Greenway and Open Space Coordinator for the Cumberland County Planning Department, will review trends and data used in land use planning including growth and land preservation, and offer a fascinating look at the county’s  recent Greenway and Open Space Initiatives.

December 10, 2009
The Appalachian Trail -  a Footpath for Those Who Seek Fellowship with the Wilderness
The Appalachian Trail runs 2,175 miles from Maine to Georgia and is readily accessible to south-central Pa. residents.  Join past AAS president and naturalist, Lorrie Preston, a.k.a. "Shutterbug," as she shares highlights of nearly 1,000 miles of the trail she has section-hiked since 2006.  Enjoy trailside wildflowers through the seasons and other jewels of nature which delight and inspire this middle-aged hiker.   

January 21, 2010
Countries of Southern Africa: Diverse Habitats, Wildlife and Birds
Enjoy the world's oldest desert, see one of the world's largest waterfalls, travel along the South Africa coast, see the world's oldest human footprint and enjoy a wide variety of mammals and birds in this diverse     program about southern Africa. From animals to human culture to habitat diversity, this presentation by Walt Pomeroy will bring all these visual stories together in one evening. From three separate Audubon trips that he co-led, this program will visit South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe habitats of grasslands, deserts, forests, wetlands, rivers and coastline.

February 18, 2010
Ramsay’s Road Trip
Follow along as former AAS president and birder Ramsay Koury takes us on a summer trek to Colorado and the Dakotas.  We will explore Rocky Mountain  National Park, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and the beautiful Badlands including lots of birds, mammals, and scenery. Ramsay also describes his search for the White-tailed Ptarmigan.

March 18, 2010
Birding in the Backyard
Naturalist and long-time friend of AAS, Chris Rebert, will reintroduce us to some of our backyard favorites. Chris’s broad bird knowledge and teaching skill is highlighted in this presentation which includes basic songs and field markings of frequent backyard visitors, as well as discussions about habitat and bird feeding.
 
April 15, 2010
On The Rocks: The Life and Times of the Allegheny “Goodrat”
The Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister) is a good rat in Pennsylvania with a fascinating life history.  Jerry Hassinger, biologist and retired chief of the Wildlife Diversity Section of the Pa. Game Commission, has spent many years researching this cute, threatened critter of our rocky ridges, and will share with us some interesting facts and stories about this furry-tailed pack rat. Jerry will also provide an update on research being done to monitor woodrat populations and implement conservation measures to reduce its steady population decline.

May 20, 2010 – Annual Banquet
Ten Greatest Birds of the Last 30 Years
Often a bird sighting is not just ours alone, it is shared with other birders, sometimes hundreds of others. So, which are the birds that changed North American birders as a community, and left their mark on birding as a sport and science? Looking back over the past three decades, author and tour leader Jeffrey Gordon will tell the stories of  ten birds that made a difference to all of us, whether we personally saw them or not. From the Newburyport Ross's Gull to the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Jeff will share his selection of ten birds that changed the world.