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BIRD HABITAT RECOGNITION PROGRAM
Looking Ahead to Spring
7:00 PM, Wednesday, March 25, 2026
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Mark your calendars and plan to participate at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in our “Looking Ahead to Spring” zoom meeting. This is the opportunity for our Chapters, Partners, and Bird Towns to share plans to promote Bird Friendly Habitat Recognition Program with our members and friends. David Arrow, President of York Audubon Society, will share how they are using ChatGPT to promote the program. Margaret Rhode, Vice-President of Liberty Bird Alliance, will share her report on the Native Plant Workshop that was sponsored by her chapter. Leigh Altadonna will report on some of the important changes and updates from the Council to promote the BHR Program. Many of these changes came from last October’s “Halftime Report” where ideas to enhance the BHR program grew from meetings with chapters and Bird Towns leaders.
This will be an open forum to share plans and ideas as we move into spring with the Bird Habitat Recognition Program. Spring native plant sales, Earth Week festivities, World Migratory Bird Day events and other activities offer broad opportunities to engage individuals in our communities to get involved.
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APRIL UPDATE FROM HARRISBURG
Andy Loza, WeConservePA
7:00 PM, Thursday, April 9, 2026
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| |  | The Pennsylvania Audubon Council has reengaged our association with Andy Loza, Executive Director of WeConservePA, to provide updates on the status of legislation in Harrisburg related to our Conservation Issues of High Priority. Andy has provided us with his assessments of what is moving and what is not moving in the General Assembly. We welcome his frank and honest assessment of the prospects of the environmental agenda as we move into the budget and campaign season. We will want to know the implications for the legislative agenda as we enter the campaign season and the November election. We will also look at the prospects for a look at which legislation has a chance to move forward as the current legislative session comes to an end in 2026. As we look ahead to legislative session in Harrisburg. We will also ask Andy to provide us with a report of what is “in” and what is “out” of the state budget, we will look at the status of funding of our state agencies and environmental programs. We welcome any members of your chapter or chapter board to participate! Please register to participate using the link below!
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CHAPTER NETWORKING FOR CONSERVATION
A Focus on AI Data Centers
7:00 PM, Tuesday, April 14, 2026
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Our Pennsylvania Audubon Council Advocacy and Conservation Committee has scheduled a special “Chapter Networking for Conservation” session devoted to the issue of AI Data Centers. This forum is scheduled for 7:00 PM on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, via zoom. The registration link for this program is below. This issue has risen as a concern to several of our chapters because of the many environmental impacts these facilities represent. There is special concern about the amount of energy and water these facilities need to consume. Jim Brown with Audubon MidAtlantic has shared that the National Audubon Society has not yet formulated a position on AI Data Centers. It is our understanding that any formal position from National is not expected soon.
This session will be an opportunity to share what we have learned about the current status of the development of AI Data Centers in the Commonwealth and the positions taken by of some of our conservation partners. This session will be a forum on whether the Council should proceed to draft an Education Policy and Position Statement on AI Data Centers and the emphasis we should highlight with our mission for the conservation and protection of birds in mind. To learn more in advance of our meeting consider participating in the Penn State Ext. webinar on Data Centers, scheduled for 1:00 PM on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
This meeting will also be an opportunity to report on the “roll out” of the Council’s “Conservation Google Group.” The goal is to have at least one contact from each of our chapters and conservation partners in this group.
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LOYALSOCK STATE FOREST:
PROFILE OF A THREAT TO OUR PUBLIC LANDS!
Bruce Buckle, President of Lycoming Audubon Society
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In February, Lycoming Audubon presented testimony at a Department of Environment Protection hearing on construction of an access road and staging area to drill for shale gas near Jacoby Falls in Loyalsock State Forest. Two years ago, expert birders David and Bobby Brown identified 49 species of birds in the vicinity of this proposed development. Their list included the melodious Wood Thrush, ten different species of warblers, Blue-headed and Red-eyed Vireos, and Scarlet Tanagers, an iconic Pennsylvania forest bird. Many of these birds are negatively impacted by the forest fragmentation that accompanies construction and drilling activity on State Forest lands.
Lycoming Audubon believes that our State Forests are a vital asset that deserve the highest level of protection. Extensive drilling for natural gas and the development of related infrastructure degrades our state forest lands and poses a significant threat to the birds and other wildlife that depend upon forested habitat. In 1931, renowned local educator and naturalist Charles Lose, camping along Loyalsock Creek, wrote, the “song [of the Wood Thrush] feels ancient and solemn, carrying a sense of permanence even as the natural world around it shows signs of loss and change.” Today, no one can make that claim of permanence, as the state's conservation mandate to protect state forest lands for birds and other wildlife is compromised by the ongoing industrial development of shale gas in state forests.
The Pennsylvania Audubon Council thanks Bruce Buckle, the Lycoming Audubon Society, and their conservation partners, including Trout Unlimited, recognizing the importance of our vigilance, speaking out, and taking action to address threats to our public lands — state parks, state forests, and state game lands. Wherever possible, the Council encourages local chapters to sound an alarm when public hearings by state agencies, like the Department of Environmental Protection, provide an opportunity for the Council to lend a voice of support to protect our irreplaceable public lands.
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PENNSYLVANIA AUDUBON COUNCIL
CHAPTER LEADERSHIP AWARD:
Recognition of Outstanding Individuals
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There are nineteen Audubon Chapters in Pennsylvania whose activities and programs are dependent on volunteers who are dedicated to the work of their “home” chapter in the communities they serve. This is especially true of the eighteen Pennsylvania Audubon chapters that are wholly volunteer run. Their success depends on an elected board members and officers with help of committee volunteers and members who step up to help with selected events like native plant sales, field trip leaders, CBC coordinators and so much more. There are some special volunteers who establish a record of long term and dedicated service to their chapter year after year. These are the individuals who often step up and provide a remarkable record of leadership and service to their chapter over many years. In some cases, it has been this service that sustains the chapter through tough times and challenges that help the chapter to endure.
The Pennsylvania Audubon Council “Chapter Leadership Award” has been established by the Council’s Board of Directors to provide recognition to these special individuals. A nomination process has been created for chapters to submit the names and background of individuals worthy of consideration for this recognition. A committee comprised of individuals on our Council board will be charged to review the nominations received and recommend a worthy recipient of the award. It is anticipated that this award will be made on an annual basis.
Funding from this award will be underwritten by the investment revenue generated from the Council’s “Walt Pomeroy Fund.” This “Fund” also underwrites the “Walt Pomeroy Conservation Award” established four years ago by the Council. The “Walt Pomeroy Fund” was established through very generous lead gifts from Lin Pomeroy to honor Walt’s seventeen years of service as the Regional Vice-President, Mid-Atlantic Region, of the National Audubon Society. It was Walt’s practice over his years of service to Audubon to present the “National Audubon Society William Dutcher Award” to outstanding chapter leaders. This was a specially framed certificate presented to the recipient at a special chapter event like and “Annual Dinner” or other members’ event.
Lin Pomeroy has recommended that this award be in the form of a framed print with a commemorative plaque and that it be simply identified as the Pennsylvania Audubon Council’s “Chapter Leadership Award.” The presentation to the worthy recipient will continue to be at a local chapter event in the tradition of the “Dutcher Award” as had been established. For more background and direction to submit a nomination go to the Pennsylvania Audubon Council website.
The Nomination Form and directions for the Pennsylvania Audubon Council Chapter Leadership Award are available on the Council website. Nominations will be accepted through May. The Council Executive Committee will review the nominations and select the recipient(s) for the award. The award will be presented in coordination with the recipient’s chapter.
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The Pennsylvania Audubon Council
“WALT POMEROY CONSERVATION AWARD”
A Call for Nominations for 2026
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Nominations of worthy individuals for the Pennsylvania Audubon Council Walt Pomeroy Conservation Award are being received! Additional nominations are welcome. The nomination window will be open through May 31, 2026. The Council Executive Committee will review the nominations and a selection for the Pennsylvania Audubon Council Walt Pomeroy Conservation Award will be announced. The award is in the form of a framed print with a commemorative plaque. The print is “Return to Penn’s Woods,” a beautiful depiction of a Peregrine Falcon perched on a branch overlooking the Susquehanna River. The Lycoming Audubon Society donated the print, which is attractively framed and features a commemorative plaque funded by the Council’s “Walt Pomeroy Fund.” It has been our tradition to present the award in an informal basis at a chapter designated location or event. The award has been presented in simple ceremonies and not intended to be given as a part of a fundraising event.
The Pennsylvania Audubon Council Executive Committee reinaugurated its conservation award in 2022 in honor of Walt Pomeroy, a great friend of Audubon. Additional background and information about the history of the award and Walt Pomeroy can be found on the Council website. We encourage chapters to consider submitting a nomination for this recognition. The link to the nomination form can be found here:
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SUPPORT FOR PBA3
Thank You to Our Chapters and Conservation Partners!
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Last December, the Pennsylvania Audubon Council made a special appeal to our Chapter network to consider making a designated financial contribution to the Pennsylvania Bird Atlas Project through Hawk Mountain Sanctuary. Gifts from Audubon or other groups since December include the Appalachian Audubon Society, Baird Ornithological Club, Bird Town Pennsylvania, Delaware Valley Ornithological Club, Lehigh Valley Audubon Society, Liberty Bird Alliance, Lycoming Audubon Society, Pennsylvania Audubon Council, Pine Tree Conservation Society, Quittapahilla Audubon Society. Donations have ranged from $250 to $1,000 with nearly $6,000 total support raised to date. There is still time to contribute. Click here to contribute directly to the PA Bird Atlas.
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CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
Council Officers and Board Members
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The Pennsylvania Audubon Council is an independently incorporated coalition supported by the nineteen independently incorporated Audubon Chapters in the Commonwealth. The Council Officers and Directors are nominated and elected by the chapters! The Council Officers and Directors are dedicated to the work to support and strengthen chapters and to serve as collective voice for our advocacy for birds and their conservation. We value the service of chapter leaders who are willing to share their time and talent to keep the Council a continuing source of support for this mission. Our leaders include individuals who have been leaders in their respective chapters but still find time to help guide our efforts on behalf of all chapters.
We welcome the nominations from our chapters of individuals who can strengthen our work. Our board currently meets on a bimonthly schedule via zoom. Moving to a schedule of quarterly Board Meetings is under consideration with an Executive Committee meeting as needed between Board Meetings. We welcome each chapter to nominate an individual to represent them on the Council Board. We are seeking individuals willing to serve one- year or two-year terms.
We request that nominations be made through any one of three individuals who have agreed to receive your nominees.
Please be prepared to offer contact information and the chapter with which they are associated. They will want assurances that the individual agrees to be nominated and that his or her chapter is also aware of the nomination. We ask that all nominations be made by May 2,2026.
Contact paauduboncouncil@gmail.com with any requests for information or questions about service to the Council.
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WHO’S WHO IN YOUR CHAPTER?
Keep Us Apprised of Your Leadership Changes!
| | Special thanks to those of you who have sent us the names and contact information of new board and/or committee members for additions to our DRUMMER mailing list. Some of our chapters operate on a fiscal year and conduct elections in May and June. Others operate on a calendar year and conduct elections in December or January. Please provide the names and email contacts for changes or updates of your officers and board members so that they can be added to the mailing list for the DRUMMER. Send leadership updates to paauduboncouncil@gmail.com. | | |
PENNSYLVANIA AUDUBON COUNCIL FACEBOOK PAGE!
Share Your Chapter’s Highlights
| | The Pennsylvania Audubon Council has a Facebook Page that is available for the public to view. Permission to post to the Council Facebook is restricted but we provide access to individuals from chapters to share chapter Facebook posts with the Council. We look to share their Facebook posts about upcoming chapter programs and events. We encourage posts that document chapter activities like field trips, community outreach, educational programs, and similar items. Chapter newsletter editors, webmasters, social media captains, officers, or others may request permission to post through our Facebook. Please take the time to request access! We want our Facebook to demonstrate the vibrancy and breadth of the work our chapters are doing! Send Facebook access requests to paauduboncouncil@gmail.com. | | | | |
