From blooming meadows to city parks and backyard gardens, this inspiring
film celebrates the magic of nature while showing families practical ways
to make a difference.
* See the groundbreaking work of The Caterpillar Lab, entomologist David
Wagner, and Doug Tallamy, co-founder of Homegrown National Park
* Hear inspiring stories about why caterpillars are essential to healthy
ecosystems
* Learn simple steps you can take to create habitat in your own yard or
community
* FREE ADMISSION, BUT REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED (LIMIT 60
GUESTS)*
From blooming meadows to city parks and backyard gardens, this inspiring
film celebrates the magic of nature while showing families practical ways
to make a difference.
* See the groundbreaking work of The Caterpillar Lab, entomologist David
Wagner, and Doug Tallamy, co-founder of Homegrown National Park
* Hear inspiring stories about why caterpillars are essential to healthy
ecosystems
* Learn simple steps you can take to create habitat in your own yard or
community
* FREE ADMISSION, BUT REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED (LIMIT 60
GUESTS)*
Date: 5/29/26 8:48 am From: Kathy Forcey <49forceyk...> Subject: Re: SCBIRDCL Digest - 25 May 2026 to 28 May 2026 - Special issue (#2026-126)
I am moving out of the area. Please remove me from this list serve.
Kathy Forcey
Katherine M. Forcey
On Thu, May 28, 2026 at 8:29 PM SCBIRDCL automatic digest system <
<LISTSERV...> wrote:
> There are 2 messages totaling 118291 lines in this issue.
>
> Topics in this special issue:
>
> 1. Post-potluck bird walk!
> 2. May on Sinking Creek
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Date: Thu, 28 May 2026 12:13:46 -0400
> From: Denise Alving <denise.alving...>
> Subject: Post-potluck bird walk!
>
> Hi everyone!
>
> It was great seeing many of you at the end of season potluck last night!
> Eight of us went on a bird walk through the boardwalk at Millbrook Marsh
> after dinner and the meeting. We had a lovely series of encounters finding
> 24 species in the 40 or so minutes walking. The highlight was definitely
> getting to see an orchard oriole singing in a bush very close to us, and
> then immediately after seeing a Baltimore oriole flying overhead and
> landing on the other side of the boardwalk! Full list here:
>
>
> https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Febird.org%2Fatlaspa%2Fchecklist%2FS347991500&data=05%7C02%<7CSCBIRDCL...>%7C68299f59cd854d5a78c708debd99c3d9%7C7cf48d453ddb4389a9c1c115526eb52e%7C0%7C0%7C639156665275538032%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2B2Imz7UqajmjjP4d0AJ5n5imfx3js%2FMt%2B0hEq6ug3rY%3D&reserved=0 >
> I forgot to get ebird info from folks, so if you want me to share this list
> with you, please let me know the best way to add you!
>
> Thanks!
>
> Denise
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Fri, 29 May 2026 00:29:21 +0000
> From: "Ramsey, Lawrence William" <lwr...>
> Subject: May on Sinking Creek
>
> It is clearly a decent breeding season on Sinking Creek. Pic 3 taken
> during a brief AM shows an adult sheltering the brood in pic 2 as they
> paused grazing our lawn. Pic 4 is a WODU mom and brood taken this evening
> first seen yesterday.
> larry
>
> ------------------------------
>
> End of SCBIRDCL Digest - 25 May 2026 to 28 May 2026 - Special issue
> (#2026-126)
>
> *******************************************************************************
>
Date: 5/28/26 6:32 pm From: Alan Klein <nogotether...> Subject: Re: May on Sinking Creek
Great shots. I was back at Millbrook today and captured a few shots as
well. Noticed three families along the stream. Momma and Poppa kept an eye
on me the whole time.
On Thu, May 28, 2026 at 8:30 PM Ramsey, Lawrence William <lwr...>
wrote:
> It is clearly a decent breeding season on Sinking Creek. Pic 3
> taken during a brief AM shows an adult sheltering the brood in pic 2 as
> they paused grazing our lawn. Pic 4 is a WODU mom and brood taken this
> evening first seen yesterday.
> larry
>
Date: 5/28/26 6:10 pm From: Constanza Ehrenhaus <cxe1169...> Subject: Re: May on Sinking Creek
Are the 12 ducklings all hers?
Thank you for sharing!
On Thu, May 28, 2026 at 8:30 PM Ramsey, Lawrence William <lwr...>
wrote:
> It is clearly a decent breeding season on Sinking Creek. Pic 3
> taken during a brief AM shows an adult sheltering the brood in pic 2 as
> they paused grazing our lawn. Pic 4 is a WODU mom and brood taken this
> evening first seen yesterday.
> larry
>
Date: 5/28/26 5:30 pm From: Ramsey, Lawrence William <lwr...> Subject: May on Sinking Creek
It is clearly a decent breeding season on Sinking Creek. Pic 3 taken during a brief AM shows an adult sheltering the brood in pic 2 as they paused grazing our lawn. Pic 4 is a WODU mom and brood taken this evening first seen yesterday.
larry
It was great seeing many of you at the end of season potluck last night! Eight of us went on a bird walk through the boardwalk at Millbrook Marsh after dinner and the meeting. We had a lovely series of encounters finding 24 species in the 40 or so minutes walking. The highlight was definitely getting to see an orchard oriole singing in a bush very close to us, and then immediately after seeing a Baltimore oriole flying overhead and landing on the other side of the boardwalk! Full list here:
Date: 5/25/26 11:10 am From: Thomas, Brady Scott <bst5117...> Subject: May 27th Potluck Picnic at Millbrook Marsh
Happy Memorial Day, Bird Club!
This Wednesday, May 27th at 6:00 pm at Millbrook Marsh, we will be gathering for our Annual Picnic Potluck! Feel free to bring a dish to share along with any serving and eating utensils you might need. We will be providing plates for folks to use!
Date: 5/25/26 11:10 am From: Constanza Ehrenhaus <cxe1169...> Subject: Volunteers needed for next weekend
Hi all,
We need a volunteer or two to set up at Frog Fest, next Saturday. Frog fest goes from 1-4, so you would need to be there before, and pick up materials from Millbrook Marsh.
We had someone lined up, but they had an emergency and will be unavailable.
Please, let me know if you would like to contribute to this event.
Date: 5/21/26 6:26 pm From: Gyekis, Joseph Peter <jpg186...> Subject: Re: May 30 Field Trip Cancelled!
Yes, at 2:30 pm we will have a bird walk at FrogFest. Meet at the little pond closest to the parking lot.
________________________________
From: State College (PA) Bird Club <SCBIRDCL...> on behalf of KATHLEEN BECHDEL <0000d165c6a818d5-dmarc-request...>
Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2026 8:34 AM
To: <SCBIRDCL...> <SCBIRDCL...>
Subject: May 30 Field Trip Cancelled!
Hello, all
Due to a scheduling conflict, the May 30 Field Trip at Penns Prairie Park in Centre Hall has been cancelled.
You may be interested in attending Frog Fest at Muddy Paws Marsh on May 30 from 1 - 4 pm. Here is a link to the event.
Date: 5/21/26 8:25 am From: Blizard, David A <dab22...> Subject: Re: Orchard Orioles nesting
Brill pics!
Sent from my iPad
> On May 21, 2026, at 10:32 AM, Robert Snyder <birdphotoginpa...> wrote:
>
> 
> Hello All,
>
> I had the opportunity while Atlasing around my neck of the woods near Bald Eagle SP yesterday 5/20/26) to photograph a pair of Orchard Orioles.
>
> I watched the female as she went to and from a nest hidden in the leaves. I’m thinking she was completing a nest. A male (her mate) was seen nearby.
>
> Bob Snyder
>
>
> <CD1545F5-2431-42BF-9AA1-E7051F790584.jpeg>
> Male Orchard Oriole
> <5437BED4-4290-444A-A49F-B8092A7893C1.jpeg>
> Female Orchard Oriole
>
> <54E62E5F-23ED-4093-9EA7-FFB742E0A931.jpeg>
> Female leaving concealed nest
>
> <E2AB9236-F6F1-4FA0-83B3-9A08DEBCC97F.jpeg>
>
>
> Do the best you can, where you are, with what you have.
> Theodore Roosevelt
Michael P. Johnson, Ph.D.
Emeritus Professor of Sociology, Women’s Studies, and African and African American Studies, Penn State
1155 Oneida St.
State College, PA 16801
814-404-6975
My website<https://sites.psu.edu/feministmpj/welcome> ________________________________
From: State College (PA) Bird Club <SCBIRDCL...> on behalf of Ramsey, Lawrence William <lwr...>
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2026 9:28:24 PM
To: <SCBIRDCL...> <SCBIRDCL...>
Subject: Hoodie fledging
In the last 8 years we have had half a dozen nesting attempts by Hooded Mergansers (HOME) in one of our “Wood Duck” houses on Sinking Creek and no Wood Duck attempts. The houses are on our property and visible from our house, and the wood ducks are much less tolerant of any sight or us. This year’s HOME attempt was the latest brooding start date estimated from when the male was last seen, or the last egg laid based on periodic nest box monitoring. The male was last seen on April 16 . According to Birds of the World on the Cornell site, the average incubation time is 32 days which means hatching should be May18 +/- a couple of days. I began intense remote photographic monitoring on the monitoring of the adult female coming and going on the May15 and noticed a change in behavior in the morning of the 18th and did a very quick check inside the nest box at 12:30 PM that day and say most the nest covered with hatchling and one chick was still sitting on a half of egg shell. The birds of the World ref note the hatchlings left the nest within 24 hours of hatching, so I spent the evening of the 18th until the end of civil twilight in a blind about 30 meters from the nest box to attempt to capture and young leaving; nothing. I was in the blind again at nautical twilight the morning of May 19 watching. About 6:30 AM mom stuck her head out and looked around then flew down and swam around a bit with another female, whom we called a “sister” and they explore un and down. We have seen up to three so-called “sisters” together in the last few weeks. About 7:10 the mother flew back into the house. In hindsight looks like she was telling the kids to pack. She came out at 7:26 (first picture) and into the creek below the house, and I could hear faint calling and exit shortly began at 7:28:25 (second picture) and it was all over by 7:39:40 (remaining pics). The photos were not great as at 1/2000 sec the ISO was 25000 so there was a lot of noise reduction etc. was required. That said it was fun and will try again if they are back next year.
Date: 5/20/26 6:46 pm From: Johnson, Michael Paul <mpj...> Subject: Re: Hoodie fledging
Spectacular! Thank you.
Michael P. Johnson, Ph.D.
Emeritus Professor of Sociology, Women’s Studies, and African and African American Studies, Penn State
1155 Oneida St.
State College, PA 16801
814-404-6975
My website<https://sites.psu.edu/feministmpj/welcome> ________________________________
From: State College (PA) Bird Club <SCBIRDCL...> on behalf of Ramsey, Lawrence William <lwr...>
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2026 9:28:24 PM
To: <SCBIRDCL...> <SCBIRDCL...>
Subject: Hoodie fledging
In the last 8 years we have had half a dozen nesting attempts by Hooded Mergansers (HOME) in one of our “Wood Duck” houses on Sinking Creek and no Wood Duck attempts. The houses are on our property and visible from our house, and the wood ducks are much less tolerant of any sight or us. This year’s HOME attempt was the latest brooding start date estimated from when the male was last seen, or the last egg laid based on periodic nest box monitoring. The male was last seen on April 16 . According to Birds of the World on the Cornell site, the average incubation time is 32 days which means hatching should be May18 +/- a couple of days. I began intense remote photographic monitoring on the monitoring of the adult female coming and going on the May15 and noticed a change in behavior in the morning of the 18th and did a very quick check inside the nest box at 12:30 PM that day and say most the nest covered with hatchling and one chick was still sitting on a half of egg shell. The birds of the World ref note the hatchlings left the nest within 24 hours of hatching, so I spent the evening of the 18th until the end of civil twilight in a blind about 30 meters from the nest box to attempt to capture and young leaving; nothing. I was in the blind again at nautical twilight the morning of May 19 watching. About 6:30 AM mom stuck her head out and looked around then flew down and swam around a bit with another female, whom we called a “sister” and they explore un and down. We have seen up to three so-called “sisters” together in the last few weeks. About 7:10 the mother flew back into the house. In hindsight looks like she was telling the kids to pack. She came out at 7:26 (first picture) and into the creek below the house, and I could hear faint calling and exit shortly began at 7:28:25 (second picture) and it was all over by 7:39:40 (remaining pics). The photos were not great as at 1/2000 sec the ISO was 25000 so there was a lot of noise reduction etc. was required. That said it was fun and will try again if they are back next year.
Date: 5/20/26 6:29 pm From: Ramsey, Lawrence William <lwr...> Subject: Hoodie fledging
In the last 8 years we have had half a dozen nesting attempts by Hooded Mergansers (HOME) in one of our “Wood Duck” houses on Sinking Creek and no Wood Duck attempts. The houses are on our property and visible from our house, and the wood ducks are much less tolerant of any sight or us. This year’s HOME attempt was the latest brooding start date estimated from when the male was last seen, or the last egg laid based on periodic nest box monitoring. The male was last seen on April 16 . According to Birds of the World on the Cornell site, the average incubation time is 32 days which means hatching should be May18 +/- a couple of days. I began intense remote photographic monitoring on the monitoring of the adult female coming and going on the May15 and noticed a change in behavior in the morning of the 18th and did a very quick check inside the nest box at 12:30 PM that day and say most the nest covered with hatchling and one chick was still sitting on a half of egg shell. The birds of the World ref note the hatchlings left the nest within 24 hours of hatching, so I spent the evening of the 18th until the end of civil twilight in a blind about 30 meters from the nest box to attempt to capture and young leaving; nothing. I was in the blind again at nautical twilight the morning of May 19 watching. About 6:30 AM mom stuck her head out and looked around then flew down and swam around a bit with another female, whom we called a “sister” and they explore un and down. We have seen up to three so-called “sisters” together in the last few weeks. About 7:10 the mother flew back into the house. In hindsight looks like she was telling the kids to pack. She came out at 7:26 (first picture) and into the creek below the house, and I could hear faint calling and exit shortly began at 7:28:25 (second picture) and it was all over by 7:39:40 (remaining pics). The photos were not great as at 1/2000 sec the ISO was 25000 so there was a lot of noise reduction etc. was required. That said it was fun and will try again if they are back next year.
