THE spot for spring Golden Eagles
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Spring Count 2024
Andrew Bechdel returns as our official counter for spring 2024! A central Pennsylvania native, Andrew grew up only a couple miles from the Tussey Mountain Hawkwatch. He first developed an interest in birds of prey as an animal care volunteer at Shaver’s Creek. As an undergraduate, he earned his B.S. in Recreation Management with a minor in Environmental Studies from Lock Haven University. Following college, Andrew served two AmeriCorps terms - once as an Assistance Environmental Educator for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and again as the Trails Assistant for the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership. In his work, Andrew has had the opportunity to share the world of birds with others and spread the message of avian conservation to the public. Andrew previously worked at Braddock Bay Raptor Research to count the juvenile dispersal of Red-tailed Hawks and monitor wintering Saw-whet and Long-eared owls.
As usual, our data will be posted regularly to HMANA's HawkCount website and to the State College Bird Club listserv.
In Memoriam
Chuck Widmann
Chuck Widmann passed away in August 2020 at the age of 81. A regular at the hawkwatch for over *20 years*, he was much beloved by all who had the great pleasure of spending time with him on Tussey. Chuck supported our counters not only by spotting raptors, but more importantly with invites to dinner, snacks on the watch, an unfailingly cheerful demeanor, and lasting friendship. This was especially appreciated on those lonely and cold early days for counters who were a long way from home.
In his memory, a Chuck Widmann Citizen Science Endowment has been created to support citizen science projects like the Tussey Mountain Spring Hawkwatch sponsored by Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center. For more information or to contribute, contact Jon Kauffman at jvk5019@psu.edu.
