2025-2026 Programs

Programs are presented at AAS Chapter Meetings (monthly on 3rd Thursday evening from 6:30 to 9:30)

Meeting location: Christ Presbyterian Church

421 Deerfield Road

Camp Hill, PA 17011

Park in the lot at the far end of the church.

Thursday, September 18, 2025

Who is West Shore Wildlife Center?

Take a deep dive into the work and history of West Shore Wildlife Center. Learn about some of our past patients and their miraculous stories of recovery and return to the wild. Find ways to become more involved in our mission to inspire coexistence between humans and wildlife. This program is presented by Emily Garrigan and Garrett Lamason. Emily founded West Shore Wildlife Center in 2019. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from York College of Pennsylvania and was named Spartan of the Year in 2021. Emily previously served as a rehabilitator and educator with Raven Ridge Wildlife Center and Tamarack Wildlife Center, both in PA. Emily holds state and federal permits for rehabilitation of all native wildlife, including endangered/threatened species. She also holds permits for educational use of wildlife that allows WSWC to provide sanctuary to non-releasable animals. In 2020, Emily became a Certified Wildlife RehabilitatorTM (CWR) through the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council and enjoys speaking at professional conferences around the country. Garrett joined the WSWC crew during the spring of 2024. He has been digging in the creeks of Pennsylvania looking for creatures for as long as he can remember. If not at the center, you can find him kayaking and looking for turtles, or walking the trails around The Children’s Lake in Boiling Springs. Garrett has a strong passion for animals of all shapes and sizes and especially has interest in snapping turtles. His favorite part of working with WSWC is getting the chance to gain hands-on experience with the awesome wildlife that reside in ecosystems of PA. Join us at 6:30 p.m. for refreshments and socializing. The meeting starts at 7:00 p.m., followed by the program. We meet at Christ Presbyterian Church, 421 Deerfield Road, Camp Hill, PA 17011. Park in the lot just past the church.

Thursday, October 16, 2025

Non-Reproductive Vocalizations and Flocking Behaviors in Hybridizing Songbirds

Pennsylvania is home to two species of chickadee: the Black- capped and Carolina Chickadee. Hybridization occurs where the ranges of these two species overlap, like the narrow band across our region. In this talk, learn how Black-capped and Carolina Chickadee hybrids and their parent species differ in behavior, as well as the potential impacts of hybridization on local ecology and reproductive isolation.

This program is presented by Dr. Joan Spinelli. Dr. Spinelli completed her Bachelor of Science with a minor in Visual Arts at Jacksonville University (JU) in 2018. She worked under Dr. Vanderhoff, performing a research study on the effects of urbanization on avian abundance and diversity, which is published in the Florida Field Naturalist. She then went to Lehigh University to pursue her PhD, which was recently completed in January 2025. She worked under the direction of Dr. Amber Rice, studying different potential reproductive isolating barriers between the naturally hybridizing Black-capped and Carolina Chickadees. Her dissertation work focused on non-reproductive vocalizations and behaviors in the two chickadee species and their hybrids, as these have been overlooked when considering mechanisms that can affect reproductive isolating barriers between species. Join us at 6:30 p.m. for refreshments and socializing. The meeting starts at 7:00 p.m., followed by the program. We meet at Christ Presbyterian Church, 421 Deerfield Road, Camp Hill, PA 17011. Park in the lot just past the church.

Thursday, November 20, 2025

Bird Photography with Carrie Zhang

Join local bird photographer Carrie Zhang as she discusses bird photography basics and how to find birds to photograph. She will also share some stories from her experiences as well as how and why she got interested in birds.

Thursday, December 11, 2025

Turkey Talk with the PGC

Join PA Game Commission Biologists, Faith Diffenderfer and Anya Watts, to learn about the PA Wild Turkey Study! This presentation will focus on the research protocols and general findings of habitat use, survival, and nest success. We will discuss how these findings will be applied to best management practices to protect the species for future generations.

Thursday, January 15, 2026

Protecting Paradise

Learn from a DCNR Environmental Education Specialist about the efforts to preserve and protect Presque Isle. This presentation will give you a behind the scenes look at the techniques used to manage animals, plants, and the park's many visitors.

Thursday, February 19, 2026

TBD, likely related to Evening Grosbeak Conservation with David Yeany II (PNHP & WPC)

Thursday, March 19, 2026

Cerulean Warbler Habitat in the Kittatinny Ridge

Speaker: Jennifer Sliko, PhD

Cerulean Warblers, once widespread in the eastern U.S., are now a near-threatened species, with populations declining by about 70% since 1966 due largely to habitat degradation. The Kittatinny Ridge Conservation Landscape (KRCL) provides critical breeding and foraging habitat for this and other forest-deelling bird species. As a designated climate refugia, the ridge helps buffer biodiversity from the impacts of climate change. Key conservation challenges include forest fragmentation, invasive species, fire suppression, and excessive deer browsing. Effective forest management strategies--such as shelterwood harvests, canopy gap creation, and crop tree release--can improve structural diversity and restore essential habitat. Community actions like bird-friendly landscaping, conservation easements, and climate-conscious living also play an important role in protecting these vital ecosystems.

Thursday, April 16, 2026

Eggs & Nests

Join Scott Bills (former PA Game Commission employee), for an up-close look and hands-on presentation of eggs, feathers, and nests