Today is World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD)! WMBD celebrates and brings attention to one of the most important and spectacular events in the Americas – bird migration. Each year, hundreds of bird species migrate between their nesting habitats in North America and wintering grounds in Latin America, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

This year’s conservation campaign, “Birds connect our world,” highlights the tracking technologies that researchers use to learn about migratory routes, examines the hazards birds face during their journeys, and implements conservation actions to help migratory birds along the way. Click here to learn more about WMBD.

To help celebrate WMBD here in northcentral Pennsylvania, ecologist and Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy member, Bob Ross, shares some insight on three species that both migrate through Pennsylvania annually and breed in Pennsylvania as well. All three are illustrated in this article with photos taken by Bob from his personal gallery.  See if you can spot them this season!

Celebrating World Migratory Bird Day
By: Bob Ross

First the Hooded Warbler, a true neotropical migrant, which refers to birds that spend winters in the neotropics (Central and South America) but migrate long distances north in spring to breed in temperate or arctic North America, returning to the tropics by fall.  This forest songbird prefers mature extensive forests with dense understory, often near forest roads or other gaps in the forest cover.  It nests in shrubs typically not far from the ground.  It is an insectivore and aracnid feeder and feeds by hawking, hovering, and gleaning prey from foliage.  It plays an important role in forest health by helping to control damaging caterpillars on trees and shrubs.  Often heard before seen, this songbird is worth learning its song then getting into the forest to find.  Its territories are found throughout central Pennsylvania woodlands.

Another summer beauty that enriches our lives with song and color is the Indigo Bunting.  This songbird is also a neotropical migrant with distribution similar to the Hooded Warbler, but ranges further west into the Great Plains and some areas of the mountain West.  It is a seed and berry feeder primarily, often stopping at yard feeders to “carb-up” before reaching its breeding grounds.  It is more generalist in breeding habitat, though, than the warbler, preferring brushy or abandoned agricultural fields to forage in.  But it sings atop tall trees along roadsides and fields all summer long and all day long where we can hear him easily and find him with some effort (watch out you don’t get “warbler neck” looking up so much!).  Like all songbirds, it feeds it young insects and other invertebrates, gleaned from grasses, shrubs, and trees.  Find this bird easily by driving along gravel or farmland roads with wooded patches, or by bicycle or foot along rail or other foot trails.

Finally a true frugivore native to Pennsylvania and throughout sub-arctic North America, the Cedar Waxwing.  It winters south to Central America then migrates north to breed widely across the continent, mostly dropping south of Canada for the winter.  It is nomadic, following ripening fruit shrubs and trees, often breeding late in summer in response to this food source wherever it might be.  It also feeds its young insects, however, and is often seen sallying out over rivers such as Pine Creek in August to capture them above water, sometimes in large groups.  Check out the tree cover the pair of waxwings is using in the photo: a flowering honey locust, soon to be seen and smelled in northcentral Pennsylvania!

Bird migration is already underway in Pennsylvania, so get out there into the woods, hills, and dales to watch it.  Whether waterfowl, raptors, or songbirds, you can enjoy migratory birds and their connection to the rest of the world this time of year, every year!

Bob Ross was the lead research ecologist at the Northern Appalachian Research Laboratory near Wellsboro before retiring in 2007.  He spends winters in the southern California desert and recently published the book Birds of the Whitewater River, Southern California (www.birdsofwhitewaterriver.com).

By: Susan Sprout

Find out what’s underfoot with NPC member and environmental educator, Susan Sprout! Catch up on past issues of Underfoot: Introduction & Bloodroot, Trout Lily & Coltsfoot.

Blue Cohosh
As you walk through the moist richness of spring woods, you may notice plants of a totally different hue standing out from all of the various greens. If the stems, leaves, and flowers are a dark bluish-purple color, the plants are Blue Cohosh.

This plant is tri-ternate and is organized in groups of threes. Its first leaf of the season has a stem that separates into three branches, each dividing into three parts and having three leaflets. The flowers are divided into six parts with yellow nectar glands in the center to entice early bees for pollination. Deep blue seeds appear later. They look like blueberries, but are not considered edible. This native plant is a member of the Barberry Family, Berberidaceae, and was sought out by many different Native American tribes for its medicinal root which they harvested in the fall.

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Dutchman’s Breeches
Above a puddle of grayish-green, deeply-cut, and feathery basal leaves, you may see an ersatz clothesline stem of creamy white flowers that appear like pairs of pantaloons hung up to dry. This unique plant of the Poppy Family, Papaveraceae, is Dutchman’s Breeches. Common names come into popular usage because they reflect the looks, use, or habitat of a plant. This one certainly fits! 

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Its fragrant two-spurred flowers are pollinated by bumblebees whose proboscis unlike that of a honeybee is long enough to reach the nectar. Years ago I took one plant growing near a friend’s cabin and planted it under our big maple. Its progeny now carpet that area in
early spring.

Susan Sprout is a retired school teacher who continued teaching after retirement at Montour Preserve helping teachers of  handicapped students with nature walks, at the National Shell Museum as a curator of the fossil collection, and as teacher of Shell Studies at the local school on Sanibel Island. Based on her love and study of plants, she does living history presentations of medicinal plants used by Native Americans, colonial immigrants, and people living during the Civil War. Both she and her husband, Richard, serve as cannoneers  with Thompson’s Independent Battery C PA Light Artillery.  Sue has served on the Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy board in the past. The Sprouts have been Conservancy members for 29 years.

By: Susan Sprout

We hope you enjoy this 2nd installment of Underfoot, by NPC member and environmental educator, Susan Sprout! Click here to catch up on the introductory issue of Underfoot.

Trout Lily
You know it’s time to go fishing in PA when the trout lilies bloom. Look for them as you slog in to your favorite trout stream.  They will have a single or double leaf depending on how long they have been growing. And those leaves are speckled and shaped just like the trout you seek, but smaller.

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They do not flower for the first four to seven years of life. So, if you see a yellow flower nodding on an erect stalk coming up from the leaves, enjoy its loveliness. It’s been there awhile! Also known as dog-toothed violets, they grow in colonies from underground bulbs which are reported to be edible.  I have seen them push up in the spring through sand piles left from high water in the riparian buffer zone of Muncy Creek, my favorite fishing spot.

Coltsfoot
In early spring, you may see yellow dandelion-like flowers coming straight out of the soil on scaly stems with no leaves showing at all.  You have found young coltsfoot plants. Another nickname “Son before Father” indicates just that…flowers before leaves! After the flowers fluff their seeds like dandelions, members of the same Asteraceae Family, the hoof-shaped leaves with rather furry undersides will begin to emerge. 

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This plant is common from Newfoundland south and west to Minnesota. Our intrepid colonial ancestors saw to that! Not knowing what plants they would find when they landed in the New World, they brought its roots and seeds with them. Why is that? Coltsfoot has been regarded by many cultures for thousands of years as one of the best remedies for coughs and congestion. Its leaves were a very important part of the early American “Doctor Mom’s” medicine chest.

Susan Sprout is a retired school teacher who continued teaching after retirement at Montour Preserve helping teachers of  handicapped students with nature walks, at the National Shell Museum as a curator of the fossil collection, and as teacher of Shell Studies at the local school on Sanibel Island. Based on her love and study of plants, she does living history presentations of medicinal plants used by Native Americans, colonial immigrants, and people living during the Civil War. Both she and her husband, Richard, serve as cannoneers  with Thompson’s Independent Battery C PA Light Artillery.  Sue has served on the Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy board in the past. The Sprouts have been Conservancy members for 29 years.

This year marks the 50^th Anniversary of Earth Day.   While many of the community events and group clean-ups have been cancelled, there are still plenty of things you can do on this international day of environmental action.

1.  Go Digital – Join Earth Challenge 2020 and become a part of the world’s largest citizen science effort. 

2.  Get Your Hands Dirty – Plant a tree.  As the saying goes, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
– Chesapeake Bay Foundation offering tree seedlings to celebrate Earth Day
– Learn how to plant a tree

3. Make Everyday Earth Day – Make a pledge to change at least 3 daily habits; such as avoiding single use plastics, composting your kitchen scraps, or unplugging your devices!  Consistent, small acts like these will reduce your carbon footprint and lead towards a more sustainable future. More Earth Day Everyday Tips here…

4. Make a Donation – Support NPC’s ongoing mission to sustain the rural landscapes and waterways of Northcental PA with a special Earth Day donation.

5.  Get Outside (of course!) – Take some time to get outside and really soak up the natural world around you on this particular day.  Whether it’s for a hike through the woods or a simple meander along the creek, finding time to enjoy our environment strengthens our resolve to protect it. 

Tamara Wagner recently joined the NPC staff as the new Land Steward Specialist.  Tamara has her BS in Environmental Resource Management with a Minor in Marine Science from Penn State University.  Previously, she has served as a Fish and Wildlife Biologist with the USFWS and a Natural Resource Specialist with the USDA.  Tamara is also a certified CrossFit Trainer and enjoys daily farm life with her family on their homestead in rural Danville.

Here’s a little Q&A to help you get to know Tamara better:

Q. What are you looking forward to the most about working for NPC?
A. My college training was in the conservation field and I’ve held numerous positions dealing with conservation work.  After taking a hiatus to raise my boys, I’m thrilled to return to my “roots” in conservation work, to meet local landowners and hear their stories and visit some incredible properties within the NPC region!

Q. Why does NPC’s mission to conserve the rural landscapes and waters of our region matter to you?
A. Being a rural landowner and also helping to raise the next generation of conservation stewards is the heart of the way of life for my family.  Protect, preserve, and pass it on for future generations to enjoy and appreciate.

Q. What are some of your favorite ways to spend time outdoors? 
A. You can always find me soaking up some time in the sun, working around our farm, swimming in ponds, or bouncing with my kids on a trampoline!

Q. Do you have a favorite outdoor destination is Northcentral PA?
A. Our family loves a good hike at Ricketts Glen, taking in the waterfalls!  I’m definitely drawn to locations with water nearby—anything from the Susquehanna River and its tributaries to RB Winter state park and Locust Lake.  There are so many beautiful areas in our region and state!

As the Land Steward Specialist, Tamara is responsible for ensuring that all of NPC’s conservation easements are monitored for compliance. To welcome Tamara to NPC and/or reach out to her with any questions, please feel free to contact her at twagner@npcweb.org.

We’re counting down the days to March 11 – 12 and Raise the Region!  This annual 30-hour giving campaign is an opportunity for you and your fellow community members to come together to show your support for the local nonprofits serving north central Pennsylvania. 

Here at NPC, we’ve been proud to serve as your local land trust for the past 30 years!  The foresight and generosity of NPC donors throughout these years has helped conserve the landscapes and improve access to some of the region’s most beloved outdoor destinations – such as the Pine Creek Rail Trail, Loyalsock Trail, and the Susquehanna River – just to name a few! 

These natural treasures are now a gift that can be passed on for generations to come, thanks to donors like you.

We invite you to continue this legacy and help celebrate NPC’s 30-year history of conserving the land we all love, by supporting NPC during this upcoming Raise the Region event.

Here’s a few ways you can help:

• Get ready to give! You can help NPC surpass our goal of $5500 by donating during the campaign.  On March 11 – 12, starting at 6PM on March 11, visit www.raisetheregion.org and make a donation to Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy. You will have 24 hours to make your donation, and all giving will end at 11:59PM on March 12.
• Help us spread the word!  Helps others learn about NPC by sharing this email and upcoming Facebook posts about the campaign.  Ask others to do the same.
• Become a fundraising champion. Sign up to become a fundraising champion to help drive people to our Raise the Region profile on March 11 – 12. Contact Holly for more information.

Wetlands are land areas that are saturated or flooded with water either permanently or seasonally. They are rich with biodiversity and provide critical habitat for many species of migratory and resident birds, reptiles and amphibians, fish, insects, and plants. In fact, 40% of all species live or breed in wetlands!  Wetlands also provide a variety of important ecosystem services, such as storing floodwaters, cleaning and recharging groundwater, sequestering carbon, trapping sediment, and filtering pollutants for clean water.  In addition, Wetlands offer economic opportunities for recreation activities like boating, fishing, hunting, bird-watching, and canoeing. The variety of life, or the biodiversity, that can be found in wetlands plays a major role balancing the health and wellness of the entire planet. 

Inland wetlands, such as the ones found in Pennsylvania, include marshes, ponds, lakes, fens, rivers, floodplains, and swamps.   For the past 30 years, NPC has played an active role in helping to conserve these delicate ecosystems across the region.  Here’s a look at some of those conserved land:

Pennsyl & Homer Webster
These two sisters properties located just north of Wellsboro cover a large area of wetland, locally known at the “The Muck.”  The area was once used to raise lettuce and celery, but today hosts as a breeding ground for a variety of birds, including Marsh Wrens, American Bitterns, Common Snipe, Virginia Rail and Sora Rail.  It’s been designated as one of Pennsylvania’s Important Bird Areas and offers a boardwalk and wildlife viewing blind for the public to enjoy.

Cavanaugh Access
Many people know the Cavanaugh Access Area because it provides quick access to the Pine Creek Trail.  However, this 132-acre parcel of land also helps conserve important wetlands along Marsh Creek.  The wetlands are extensive, fed by Canada Run, and close to wooded areas. This allows wildlife to use the wetlands and Creek by moving from the forest to the stream and wetlands and back.  Marsh Creek is a major tributary to Pine Creek. Marsh Creek meanders and bends through this property for nearly one mile. This Creek and its associated wetlands are a huge sponge that provide water year round that helps keep Pine Creek’s water cooler in the summer.

Clinton County Solid Waste Authority (CCSWA)
Wetland mitigation is the restoration, creation or enhancement of wetlands for the purpose of compensating for unavoidable impacts to wetlands at another location.  During the 1990’s, the CCSWA worked closely with the Army Corps of Engineers to construct a mitigation wetland to replace an area that was impacted during their expansion.  Today, NPC holds a 49-acre easement on the land, protecting the wetlands’ water, soil, fish and wildlife conservation values.

PPL Wetlands
This property was the first conservation easement of any type in Montour County back in 2008.  The entire conserved property consists of nearly 109 acres and includes a 5-acre mitigation wetland constructed by PPL, 59 acres of wooded wetland, cropland, and creek frontage.  Today, dragonflies can be found patrolling above the water and broods of ducks raise their young here.

Fossil Farm
The 150-acre easement holds a variety of unique environmental values, including a beaver pond and several other large wetland areas.  Catlin Hollow Creek flows through the property before entering Crooked Creek before winding its way to the Chesapeake Bay.  This property helps to conserve the water quality of not only this region, but plays a vital role on a much larger scale as well!  

Learn more about NPC’s other conserved properties with wetlands here:  John F Logue, Logue/McMahon, Maurey, Viani.

Wildlife habitat. Clean Water.  Climate Control.  Economic Benefits.  Recreational Opportunities.  Basically, wetlands are like ecological and societal powerhouses. 

Thank you to NPC’s members, partners, and supporters that helped conserve these special places for the benefit of our communities today and generations to come!