JOIN US for our next meeting

​
​Monday, February 9, 2026 at 7:00 pm​
​when Kathy Gingerich will present:

"FEATHERS"

Kathy Gingerich will reveal the mysteries of each feather on a bird.There’s far more to feathers than meets the eye.​
​
Join us at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of York,925 S. George Street, York, PA 17403.​
(all meetings are free and open to the public)

Saturday, March 21 21 Pinchot State Park

• Meeting location: Conewago Day Use area off of Alpine Rd. Meet at the wooden pier overlooking the lake (go all the way to the right lakeside of the parking lot as you enter). https://maps.app.goo.gl/AXwwKKVLT1LzFF5p6​
• Time: 8:30 to 10:30 am
• Notes: This is a great place to bird anytime of year. We will see birds around the parking lot as well as on the water

All bird walks are free and open to the public. No registration required.

The "Nifty Fifty" Rule: No Spring Cleanup Until 50°F!

To protect your 2026 pollinator population, follow the "Magic 50" Golden Rule: wait to cut back old growth until daytime temperatures are consistently above 50°F for at least seven consecutive days (Usually the last week or two in March). Many native bees overwinter as larvae inside hollow stems, while butterflies and beneficial insects hide in the leaf litter; cleaning up too early removes these "nurseries" and eliminates the primary food source for early-arriving spring birds.

When temperatures finally stabilize, use these bird-friendly cleanup methods:

· The 15-Inch Stubble Rule: Leave 12 to 18 inches of perennial stalks standing to serve as nesting sites for next year’s solitary bees.

· Chop and Drop: Instead of bagging debris, chop stalks into 6-inch pieces to use as "self-mulch." This keeps nutrients on-site and provides cover for ground-foraging birds like Dark-eyed Juncos.