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About

JVAS members help out at the Brush Mountain Woodlands, a property above Altoona owned by The Nature Conservancy
JVAS members help out at the Brush Mountain Woodlands, a property above Altoona owned by The Nature Conservancy

The Juniata Valley Audubon Society (JVAS) was chartered in 1969 as a chapter of the National Audubon Society. Audubon continues to be dedicated to the conservation and restoration of natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the Earth's biological diversity.

Juniata Valley Audubon accomplishes its mission through advocacy, science, land stewardship, and education — working directly with Audubon Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania state office of the National Audubon Society.

The territory of the JVAS comprises all of Blair and Bedford Counties in south-central Pennsylvania and portions of adjacent counties. JVAS is one of the state’s 21 Audubon chapters, with more than 500 members. All are welcome to join us at our program meetings or field trips.

The Juniata Valley Audubon Society is committed to welcoming and encouraging birdwatchers and nature lovers from all walks of life. We believe we are able to grow and learn better when we are committed to inclusivity. We respect the individuality of each member, and we want to continue to engage a diverse membership; we encourage people of all races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientation, physical abilities, religions and beliefs, and socio-economic backgrounds to embrace conservation, birding, and nature. Without a diverse perspective and a commitment to conservation, JVAS cannot move forward. Together we can work towards our goals of protecting birds and the environments they need to survive.

Programs

We meet monthly from September through June — see the programs listing. The December meeting is a supper and tally rally for our annual Christmas Bird Count, traditionally held on a Saturday before Christmas. All other meetings are on the third Tuesday of the month. The April meeting is our annual banquet, which includes a silent auction, a program, and most years, the granting of a conservation award. The June meeting is our annual picnic, a potluck supper held at a local state park or state forest picnic area. All other meetings are at the Bellwood-Antis Public Library at 7:00 p.m., and most often feature a slide-show and talk by a biologist, nature writer, nature photographer or conservationist. Come for the delicious snacks and beverages, stay for the "edutainment."

Field Trips

Our field trips, like our programs, tend to run from September through June. These are almost invariably on the weekends, and we try to have at least one a month. Unlike most Audubon chapters, we are not exclusively bird-focused. Many of our members are equally interested in things such as wildflowers, trees, reptiles and amphibians, wetland ecology, edible wild foods, mushrooms, geology, and more. Make a habit of attending JVAS field trips and you'll be sure to get a real nature education!

JVAS members receive printed programs of the meetings and field trips, but from time to time members volunteer to lead additional trips on a more impromptu basis, so we encourage everyone with access to the internet to subscribe to our blog here, "like" our Facebook page, and/or join our listserv to stay apprised of upcoming events.

Other Projects

Please see the Conservation Issues section for links to our current campaigns.

History

See the dedicated page. Includes some founding documents and a complete list of officers from 1969-present.

Bylaws

Click here for the latest version of our bylaws (which do get amended from time to time).

Board of Directors

Officers

President: Mark Bonta
814-600-8394
[email protected]

Vice-President: Laura Jackson
814-652-9268
[email protected]

Secretary: Schawnne Kilgus
412-600-0663
[email protected]

Treasurer: George Mahon
814-942-6258
[email protected]

Committee Chairs

Membership: Denice Rodaniche
814-502-8431
[email protected]

Conservation: Laura Jackson
814-652-9268
[email protected]

Programs: Laura Jackson

Partners in Neotropical Bird Conservation: Laura Jackson

Education: Susan Braun
814-574-0795
[email protected]

Field Trips: Michael Kensinger
814-505-3410
[email protected]

Mark Bonta
814-600-8394
[email protected]

Publications & Publicity: Matt Karabinos
412-860-7297
[email protected]

Hospitality: Catie Farr
[email protected]

Historian: Mike Jackson
814-652-9268
[email protected]

Other Positions

Newsletter Editor: Laura Jackson

Christmas Bird Count Coordinators: Laura Jackson and John Carter

Website: Dave Bonta
814-660-9638
[email protected]

Directors-at-Large

Warren Baker
Sharon Clewell
Paola Jaramillo Calderon