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FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS
Our Mission: Inspire Stewardship of Pennsylvania's State Parks and Forests

No Bad Weather - Shawnee State Park
Photo by Marci Mowery

SO MANY EAGLES. I could populate this entire email with photographs of eagles this week and really I don't think it ever gets old to see them in the wild. Which is why people just can't get enough of them.

The masthead this week shows the changeable nature of March, no doubt. Marci snapped her niece Stephanie and friend Cathy enjoying a stroll in the liquid sunshine at Shawnee State Park at the beginning of the month. No matter. It's always good to get outside with your gals.

Pam Metzger
Membership Coordinator
Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation

News of Note

Oh, dear. Thanks to reader Timothy for ruining my life. You can thank him for doing the same for you. HDonTap.com. Webcams of all kinds - eagles, wolves, sand hill cranes, beaches, marinas, elk, seals, owls. I'll skip the golf courses but you can even spy on a couple of rescue guinea pigs.

Rats. The spotted lanternfly quarantine area has expanded for 2021. Right on our doorstep here in Somerset County.

Better news for all you trout fisherfolk anxiously awaiting the opening the season on April 3. More campsites will open on April 2 so you can get an early start.

It's that time of year, people! Maple sugaring is happening. Check out this video from Mark Ware, Executive Director of the Historical & Genealogical Society of Somerset - and a third generation sugarer.

Passionate about the outdoors? Good with words? Enjoy telling stories through print and social media? Sadly, we will be bidding farewell to Sarah, Public Relations and Outreach Coordinator. If you would be interested in joining our team (or know someone who might), the position description should give you all the details you need to apply or share.

The March contest? Submit your cinquain.

Pictures of the Week

As noted above, there are many eagle pictures to choose from this week but there's something about the "side eye" being received here by photographer Jeremiah Gadsby at Goddard State Park that it begs inclusion. Click to the original and be glad you aren't on the receiving end of that expression.

Artem Balashov gets extra credit for his photographs of the February trek in Moshannon State Forest. If you check out the other photos you'll see he managed 1.5 mph in snow that had to have made that tough going. But worth it. Majestic for sure.

Samantha Markovich paid a winter visit to the Blue Hole swimming hole in the Forbes State Forest but I daresay did not dip. Nearby you'll find the remains of CCC Camp S-98 where donations to PPFF helped to fund placement of interpretive signs and restoration of a stone watercourse built by the CCC.

Speaking of not swimming, here's a glimpse of the lake at Presque Isle State Park. Patricia Anderson reports that the ice is breaking up. It won't be long until sunbathers replace snowshoes.

Where Are We?

Click for a larger view.

Take Five for Trivia

How do hellbenders breathe? Well, while they have lungs they actually do breathe through the skin. I included "Feet" as an option to remind myself of an interesting hellbender fact: "Unlike other salamanders, they can’t regrow their limbs. Biologists 'tagged' hellbender salamanders captured in the 1990s by clipping off one of the amphibian’s toes." Please don't clip their toes OR call them names OR move their rocks.

As noted above, there are eagles, eagles everywhere. Obviously that was not always the case and it was not all that long ago that they were on their way to extinction. When were they officially deemed to be out of danger and delisted from the federal Endangered Species List?

Enter each week to increase your chances of a fabulous prize at the end of the month when I'll draw one entry from all correct answers received during the month.

In Closing

Click the photo for the jigsaw of the week.

SUPPORT PPFF

Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation (PPFF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization - contributions to which are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. The official registration and financial information of PPFF may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling, toll-free within Pennsylvania, to 800.732.0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.

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