Conversations About Nature

Details about upcoming wildlife habitat driving tours that will be hosted by the Pennsylvania Game Commission on state game lands

By Steven Brodsky

… are in this Pennsylvania Game Commission news release that was issued today, September 8, 2026:

HARRISBURG, PA – The Pennsylvania Game Commission will again be hosting several wildlife habitat driving tours on state game lands for the public to enjoy from the comfort of their own vehicles this fall.

“These driving tours provide an overview of what’s available on our state game lands, while showcasing how the agency’s habitat work benefits various species of wildlife,” said Game Commission Executive Director Steve Smith. “For hunters, these tours highlight potential opportunities for the upcoming seasons, and for non-hunters, the beautiful Pennsylvania fall landscapes are second to none.”

All tours are free of charge, will be held rain or shine, and are only open to vehicles licensed for travel on public roads.

The 2026 Game Commission’s driving tours will occur as follows:

Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026

• State Game Lands 108, in Cambria County, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is a 7.5-mile, self-guided, one-way driving tour highlighting mountainous terrain and early fall foliage on the Allegheny Front within this 23,086-acre game lands. The tour begins at the game lands access road three-tenths of a mile north of Frugality, along state Route 53, in White Township (look for the sign) (40.659744, -78.495750). The tour will conclude on State Route 865, near Blandburg, in Reade Township. Items of interest along the tour route include a rehabilitated strip-mine area that has been converted into small-game habitat, where the Game Commission releases pheasants. The area also serves as a study area for grassland nesting birds and black bear. Endangered northern harrier hawks and short-eared owls also inhabit the study area. There are also several forestry projects to improve habitat for wildlife, new road maintenance projects to improve access, and herbaceous openings that have been planted to provide food for wildlife along the tour route.

Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026

•  State Game Lands 57, in Luzerne and Wyoming counties, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Game Commission personnel will be on hand to explain points of interest, including wildlife habitat-improvement projects. Four-wheel-drive vehicles with high clearance are required for this 30-mile, self-guided driving tour and it will take about three hours to complete. The tour will pass habitat-improvement projects completed by the State Game Lands 57 wildlife habitat crew with help from the National Wild Turkey Federation, and Ducks Unlimited. Representatives from the Game Commission and conservation organizations will be on hand to explain the projects and answer questions. The route will start at the game lands parking area on Mountain Springs Road just off State Route 487. Each vehicle will be provided with a map and brief explanation of wildlife habitat management programs being carried out on this magnificent tract of public hunting land.

Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026

• State Game Lands 111, in Somerset County, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is a 7-mile, self-guided, one-way driving tour highlighting mountainous terrain and early fall foliage on the Laurel Ridge within this 10,286-acre game lands. The tour begins on Augustine Road (39.895708, -79.413949). Items of interest along the tour route include several forestry projects to improve habitat for wildlife, herbaceous openings that have been planted to provide food for wildlife, native pollinator fields, and areas where the Game Commission releases pheasants. Habitat crews, biologists, foresters, and game wardens will be on hand to answer any questions. Visitors will be able to see the equipment the Game Commission uses to manage the game lands for wildlife. The tour will end where the game lands road meets Jersey Hollow Road.

Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026

• State Game Lands 26, in Bedford County, from noon to 3 p.m. This is a 12,000-acre tract situated in Blue Knob, PA. The tour begins off Route 869 near the Bedford/Cambria County line and covers approximately 7 miles. Participants will find ample opportunity to enjoy the historical aspects, quality habitat improvements conducted by Pennsylvania Game Commission habitat crews in partnership with cooperating organizations such as the National Wild Turkey Federation. Work by the Commission’s forestry staff will also be showcased through with the viewing of vast timber production brought forth through timber sales and timber stand improvements. *A narrated audio experience through the STQRY Guide app is available for this tour. Those interested in listening should download the app before arriving, as there is limited cellular service at the tour site. Users must allow the app to use your phone’s location services for the purpose of the tour.

• State Game Lands 110, in Berks County, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This tour begins at the Mountain Road gate approximately 5 miles west of Hamburg Borough and ends at the state Route 183 gate, 4 miles north of Strausstown. State Game Lands 110 offers over 10,000 acres of wildlife habitat in Berks and Schuylkill counties. In addition to hunting opportunities, the historic Appalachian Trail runs through the game lands paralleling much of the driving tour. This forested ridge is an important corridor along the Kittatinny Ridge that tens of thousands of hawks use every fall to migrate south along their migration route. Game Commission personnel will be stationed along the tour route to provide site-specific information and answer questions.

Friday, Oct. 16, 2026

• State Game Lands 311, in Elk County, from 2-6 p.m. This roughly 3.5-mile self-guided driving tour provides a peek behind the curtain on the elk range. The tour will start at the Winslow Hill Viewing Area in Benezette, then enter the game lands at the bottom of Dewey Road, continuing to Porcupine Road. Game Commission staff will be posted along the tour route. Among other highlights, the tour will showcase elk habitat management including the planting and maintenance of forage plots and the use of prescribed fire, early successional and aspen forest management, acid mine drainage treatment, grassland bird and American kestrel management, and recent infrastructure improvements including two different styles of Game Commission bridges. As a reminder, the tour is open only to PennDOT-registered vehicles. ATVs/UTVs are not permitted.

Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026

• State Game Lands 67, in Huntingdon County, from noon to 3 p.m. This is a 5,700-acre tract that begins in Saxton, on Burma Road off Little Valley Road (40.24886, -78.19808). It covers approximately 7 miles and ends on Route 913, between Coalmont and Dudley. Participants will find ample opportunity to enjoy the historical sites, quality habitat improvements conducted by Game Commission habitat crews in partnership with cooperating organizations such as the Huntingdon County Conservation District and the Shoup’s Run Watershed Association, as well as controlled-burn and quality forest management areas. *A narrated audio experience through the STQRY Guide app is available for this tour. Those interested in listening should download the app before arriving, as there is limited cellular service at the tour site. Users must allow the app to use your phone’s location services for the purpose of the tour.

• State Game Lands 211, in Dauphin County, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Known as the Stoney Valley Tour, this tour begins at the Ellendale Forge gate, located 6 miles east of Dauphin Borough, along Stoney Valley Road, and ends at the Gold Mine gate. This more than 44,000-acre state game lands bridges three different counties including Dauphin, Lebanon and Schuylkill. The tract has an abandoned railroad bed that traverses the entire game lands from west to east. The Appalachian and Horse-Shoe Trails run through this game lands, providing excellent opportunities for hiking and other recreational opportunities in addition to hunting. Game Commission personnel will be stationed along the tour route to provide site-specific information and answer questions.

The Game Commission manages and protects wildlife and their habitats while promoting hunting and trapping for current and future generations. To learn more about the agency visit www.pa.gov/pgc.

Posted 9-8-26

Birdwatchers who are in fellowship with the Lord

By Steven Brodsky

… be encouraged and comforted: When your eye is on the sparrow, the Lord’s eye is on you (and also on the sparrow)!

This is something to sing about!

See Mathew 10:29-31at Matthew 10 (NASB20) – [Jesus] summoned His twelve disciples and John 14:27 at John 14 (NASB20) – Peace I leave you, My.

Two books to have on hand when birdwatching: a favorite field guide and the Bible.

Posted 9-6-26

Enjoy seeing model trains operating in outdoor and garden settings by taking the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania’s 19th annual Garden Railways Tour

By Steven Brodsky

… This self-guided tour is scheduled for Sunday, October 4, 2026, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

You’ll find information about the 19th annual Garden Railways Tour in this excerpt from a news release that was issued today, September 1, 2026, by the Friends of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania:

Strasburg, Lancaster County, PA —Tickets are now on sale for the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania’s Garden Railways Tour on Sunday, October 4, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Enjoy an exclusive, self-guided tour of operating model trains in various outdoor and garden settings. It’s a fun family outing for all ages!

Plan your afternoon and choose from among the six stops on this year’s 19th annual tour. Garden Railways Tour sites are located in Wrightsville, Lancaster, Lititz and Manheim. The Garden Railways Tour is sponsored by Simon Lever Business Advisors and CPAs.

Tickets are just $10.00 per person for ages 6 and over. Children ages 5 and under are admitted free of charge. Tickets may be purchased online on the Museum’s website and will not be sold at the individual tour sites. A roster of Garden Railways Tour sites will be emailed to you following your ticket purchase. It is recommended that you plan the sites you want to visit in advance.

Garden railways are among the fastest growing interest area in model railroading, and many people find that trains add excitement to their gardens. This creative, family-friendly hobby may be set up in very small spaces or large expanses, as well as in differing climates and in widely varying degrees of complexity.  Garden railways have attracted the formation of enthusiast associations, special equipment from model train companies, websites and even its own magazine.

Posted 9-1-26

On a garter snake day afternoon

By Steven Brodsky

… this garter snake appeared to be using a shrub as an ectotherm’s equivalent of a hammock:

The garter snake wasn’t being sluggish (not-so-good pun alert: slugs are part of its diet) on what was a hot afternoon. It was thermoregulating on top and among the branches and leaves of a shrub.

Nearby, humans were drinking cold beverages while resting on hammocks, chaise lounges, and lawn chairs when they weren’t taking refuge in airconditioned rooms.

Posted 8-27-26

The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Elk Cam to go live on August 1, 2026

By Steven Brodsky

… The livestream will enable viewers to see and hear elk and other wildlife from the comfort of their homes.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission issued this news release yesterday, July 30, 2026:

ELK CAM FIRES BACK UP

As Pennsylvania’s elk rut approaches, wildlife enthusiasts can once again experience one of the most anticipated natural events in the state. The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Elk Cam will go live on August 1 and will bring all the sights and sounds of the bugling bulls to your screen.

The cam is located in the heart of Pennsylvania’s elk range, an area totaling more than 220,000 acres including State Game Lands 311 and Elk State Forest. Video and sound from the camera will be livestreamed at www.pa.gov/pgc and viewers can expect not only to see elk, but turkey, deer and other wildlife, as well.  Elk, which in the coming weeks will ramp up activity – with bulls becoming more vocal and competing with one another for available cows – always seem to take center stage. Enjoying the show is just a few clicks away.

“Whether it’s experiencing these remarkable animals in person or online, the elk herd in Pennsylvania continues to connect people across the Commonwealth and beyond,” said Jason Beale, Game Commission Division Chief for Conservation Education and Social Science. “Their growing presence is a testament to the dedication of the Game Commission’s biologists, habitat managers, Game Wardens and the strong partnerships we have built with other agencies and private organizations that help conserve elk habitats. With everyone working together, we can continue to promote “ELK SMART” behavior to the thousands of people who enjoy experiencing elk in Pennsylvania.”

The livestream is provided by HDOnTap and made possible with the help of the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission.

“We are proud to continue this partnership with the Pennsylvania Game Commission that brings wildlife viewing in Elk County to anyone in the world,” said Tim Sears, the founder of HDOnTap. “Each year, millions tune in to these livestreams nationwide, which offer a front row seat to Pennsylvania’s wildlife around the clock.”

The Elk Cam will run until the first elk firearm season, which begins on October 3. The top times to see elk on camera are morning and evenings.

The stream can be accessed on the Game Commission website at https://www.pa.gov/agencies/pgc/wildlife/wildlife-viewing/wildlife-cams.

VISITORS ENCOURAGED TO BE ‘ELK SMART’

While those viewing the Elk Cam need not worry about getting too close to elk or potentially compromising their wild qualities, things are different when viewing elk in person.

Wildlife is best appreciated from a comfortable distance, and those enjoying Pennsylvania’s elk country should do their part to preserve the wild nature of the herd.

“ELK SMART” provides four simple, effective ways to ensure a wild elk herd for generations to come.

• Give elk space – Keep a distance of at least 100 yards between you and the elk. Never approach them. Elk are wild animals that are unpredictable and sometimes aggressive, especially during the fall breeding season. Cows are also known to defend their young when they feel threatened.
• Never feed elk – Not only is it illegal to feed elk in Pennsylvania, but it teaches them to associate people, cars and/or homes with food. This could cause them to approach people looking for more. Feeding also promotes the spread of infectious diseases by having them unnaturally congregate into small areas.
• Don’t name elk – Characterizing elk, or any wildlife, by naming them degrades their wild essence. The very reason people are drawn to the elk is their unaltered independence from humans. Personifying elk as humans takes away from their truly wild nature.
• Do your part – The welfare of the elk herd is a shared responsibility. If you see someone being disruptive or careless, whether intentional or not, kindly ask them to stop or report it to the Pennsylvania Game Commission by calling 1-833-PGC-WILD. We all have a duty to ensure the safety of people and the long-term welfare of the elk.

Posted 7-31-26

Lovely

By Steven Brodsky

… you might agree, is this exquisite butterfly chrysalis:

Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Posted 7-30-26

On a dog day afternoon

By Steven Brodsky

… these world-class foxhounds enjoyed the thrill of the chase:

The foxhounds were doing what they were bred and trained to do; lucky dogs they were (and are).

Enjoy the photo on a dog day afternoon (or at any other time) from the comfort of your home.

Posted 7-13-26

Reminding us of the pleasure of spreading one’s ‘wings’ in the great outdoors

By Steven Brodsky

… is the cormorant pictured above.

In the coming weeks, many people will be spreading their wings while engaging in outdoor recreation (re-creation)!

Posted 7-6-26

It’s a season to enjoy the great outdoors

By Steven Brodsky

… God’s creation, the natural world.

May this also be a season for many people to come to know God as their Lord and Savior.

Ecclesiastes 3 (KJV) – To every [thing there is]

Posted 6-18-26

A Conversation With Katie Fallon, Author of ‘Vulture: The Private Life of an Unloved Bird’

By Steven Brodsky

Katie Fallon is a co-founder of the Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia. She’s worked with many species of raptors and other kinds of birds. Katie’s books include Cerulean Blues (2011) and the recently released Vulture: The Private Life of an Unloved Bird. Her essays have appeared in a number of literary journals. She has a lifelong love of nature. I’ve heard that the first word she ever spoke was “bird.”

Your new book gives vultures, particularly turkey vultures, the positive attention these non-predator raptors deserve. What brought about your interest in these maligned birds?

I’ve been fascinated by vultures for at least fifteen years. There was a roost near where I lived in West Virginia; every day I’d drive by this big, old dead tree with ten or so turkey vultures hunched in it. They became a familiar sight, and I looked forward to seeing them. Vultures are big and kind of dramatic, and in flight, there’s nothing more beautiful. In addition, they’re the ultimate recyclers—they turn death into life.

Many people in the U.S. have an aversion to vultures. Speak about this.

I think vultures remind people of their own mortality. It can be a little creepy to think about a large, dark bird waiting to consume your body when you die. In general, I don’t think people in the US are comfortable with thinking of our bodies as food. Vultures remind us that life will continue after we die, and that some life will continue because we die. They remind us of our animal bodies. Which can be unnerving!

In the absence of vultures, we’d have major health issues to contend with. Tell us why.

Vultures clean up our ecosystems by removing animal carcasses that could potentially contaminate soil and water. They can eat animals that have died of anthrax and botulism. In the absence of vultures, mammalian scavengers could increase in number, and many mammalian scavengers such as raccoons, skunks, feral dogs and cats can spread rabies; vultures do not. Several vulture species in India have suffered catastrophic population crashes in the last twenty years, and public health has suffered. India leads the world in human rabies cases, and the number of cases has increased as the number of feral dogs increased in the absence of vultures.

People get close to vultures by attending your presentations that feature non-releasable birds. How are these birds acquired? How are they trained?

The nonprofit I co-founded, the Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia, keeps eight non-releasable raptors for educational purposes (you need permits from the US Fish & Wildlife Service to do this, of course – the birds aren’t pets or personal property). All of our birds were injured wild birds that cannot return to the wild. We have three vultures. Lew the turkey vulture was hit by a car and suffered an injury to his shoulder that prevents flight. His “girlfriend,” Boris, was shot in the wing, and by the time she reached us the bone had already healed incorrectly. Our black vulture is Maverick, and he was hit by a car, which resulted in a shoulder injury that prevents adequate flight.

Our birds are all trained using positive reinforcement. We avoid negative reinforcement and punishment, and we try to empower the birds to have some control over their environments. We condition behaviors by offering food rewards when the birds perform the behaviors. Vultures (especially our black vulture!) learn quickly, and they are a lot of fun to work with.

What myths and misunderstandings about vultures do these presentations help to dispel?

People are surprised at how clean and charismatic the vultures are – and how beautiful they are up close, despite their featherless heads.

What vulture behaviors do people find to be most interesting?

People often ask if vultures throw up on us; our education vultures usually don’t (unless they get scared). Vultures also expel liquid waste on their legs and feet, probably to clean them as well as to keep cool. This often fascinates people as well.

Which species of vulture are found in Pennsylvania and neighboring states?

We have turkey vultures and black vultures. During the last Ice Age we may have had California condors, too, and possibly some other now-extinct vultures.

What has been learned about migration of these species?

Hawk Mountain has taken the lead on turkey vulture migration research. Dr. Keith Bildstein and his team have placed transmitters and wing tags on turkey vultures all over the Americas. They’ve learned that our eastern turkey vultures are partial migrants—some spend the winters in Florida, some on the New Jersey shore, some in Virginia, and in many places in between. Many western turkey vultures are complete migrants, leaving their breeding ranges in Canada and heading all the way to South America. And still others in the American southwest migrate into Central America and return. It’s fascinating how the different subspecies have different migratory strategies. Dr. Bildstein and his colleagues have ongoing research projects about turkey vulture migration, and are discovering more all the time.

Vultures have spectacular flying ability. What makes this possible?

Turkey vultures are very light – they have almost the same wingspan as a bald eagle but weigh less than half what an eagle weighs. Their wings are long and broad, and are made for soaring.

How high can they fly?

The Ruppell’s vulture holds the record for the highest-flying bird. Unfortunately for that individual, it was hit and killed by a jet flying over Africa at 37,000 feet.

Vulture: The Private Life of an Unloved Bird informs readers about lead toxicity in vultures. What is the extent of the problem? How do vultures ingest lead?

Vultures (and eagles, hawks, crows, ravens, and owls) can ingest small pieces of spent lead ammunition in animal carcasses or “gut piles” left by hunters. When someone shoots a white-tailed deer, for example, the deer is usually field-dressed, and many of the organs are left. This can be a delight for vultures and other scavengers! In ecosystems, scavengers often follow the big predators to clean up the leftovers; here, the same thing is happening—a human is the big predator, a gut pile is the leftover, and a vulture or eagle is the scavenger. However, if small lead fragments are still in the gut piles, avian scavengers can inadvertently ingest the lead and become sick. Lead toxicity from spent ammunition is the biggest obstacle in the way of California condor recovery.

The Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia provides rehabilitation for injured birds. What kind of care do vultures receive?

We’ve treated vultures with a wide variety of injuries and ailments—broken bones, head trauma, lead toxicity, soft tissue injuries. Every bird we admit receives an immediate comprehensive examination by an avian veterinarian, and is then treated as necessary with antibiotics, antifungals, anti-inflammatories, fluid therapy, or chelation therapy. They also receive orthopedic surgery if necessary. We do our best to get the birds back out in the wild if possible.

It must be very joyful to enable an injured bird to regain flight ability. Please tell us about a memorable release.

Two and a half years ago we released a female turkey vulture that had been shot with a shotgun—she had three pellets embedded in soft tissue. We had to leave the pellets in her body because removing them would cause damage. Once she was nursed back to health, we released her wearing a transmitter to track her movements. We learned that she travels to northern Georgia in the winters and comes back to West Virginia in the breeding season. We are thrilled that this vulture was able to return to the wild—and thrive!

Vulture watching is growing in popularity. Turkey vultures are very widespread. Where are some of the best places and times to observe them?

In many parts of the southeastern United States, you can see turkey vultures any day of the year in a variety of habitats. In the winter, vultures can be observed roosting together in and near many cities: in Virginia, check out Leesburg, Staunton, Radford, Pulaski, and Charlottesville; in West Virginia, many vultures can be observed migrating in the fall over Hanging Rock Tower in Monroe County and over Harper’s Ferry in the eastern panhandle. During the summer and fall, the overlook at Cooper’s Rock State Forest near Morgantown, WV, is a sure place to see turkey vultures. Hawk Mountain in Pennsylvania, of course, is an excellent place to watch turkey vultures and birds of prey during migration, especially in September and October.

What stimulated your interest in nature?

I’ve always been an outdoors person. I grew up in northeastern Pennsylvania, and I had horses as a kid. I spent a great deal of time with my horses, trail riding and competing, and when I got a bit older I often went hiking and camping with friends and family. One of my favorite childhood hiking spots was Ricketts Glen State Park—it’s filled with hemlock trees and many gorgeous waterfalls. It’s definitely worth checking out if you visit northeastern PA.

Was “bird” your first word?

Yes! My parents had bird feeders in their yard when I was a baby (well, they still do) and my mother says she used to hold me in front of the window to show me the birds at the feeder. One day, she said, “Look at the birds! Look at the birds outside.” And I nodded and said, “Bird.” I haven’t stopped talking about them since.

Katie Fallon’s website address is: www.katiefallon.com.

Posted 4-6-17, Reposted 10-29-19