Audubon Society Donates to PGC

Pennsylvania Game Commission Clarion/Jefferson County Land Management Group Supervisor George Miller announced the Seneca Rocks Audubon Society (SRAS) recently donated a 3-point hitch mounted HARDI herbicide sprayer to the PGC’s Food and Cover Corps for use in controlling invasive, woody plant species at State Games Lands (SGL) 330 in Clarion County. SGL 330, known locally as “The Piney Tract” or more properly “Mt. Zion”, is designated as a Global Important Bird Area, which means that it meets the internationally set standards for supporting a certain portion of a rare bird population.

Unusually large numbers of birds found there include Henslow’s Sparrow, Savannah Sparrows, Grasshopper Sparrows, Bobolinks, Eastern Meadowlarks, Northern Harriers and Clay-colored sparrows. Henslow’s Sparrows, in particular, are rare and are sought after by bird watchers who have come to SGL 330 from other countries to see them.

SRAS has been involved in protecting this area since the 1980s. Over the last two years, Audubon Pennsylvania received funding from several sources to help implement management for grassland birds at the site, including the removal of woody vegetation in the larger grassland areas.

Specifically, funding from the State Wildlife Grant (SWG) program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) administered in PA by the PGC, helped to purchase this sprayer for use in keeping the grassland areas open by preventing encroachment by woody species.

During the donation ceremony, PGC Land Management Group Supervisor George Miller stated that “The Commission is grateful for the donation of this much-needed herbicide sprayer and for the cooperative relationship that the PGC has with SRAS and Audubon Pennsylvania in protecting this valuable grassland habitat”.


Pictured from left, Flo McGuire-Seneca Rocks Audubon Society (SRAS), Sarah Sargent- Audubon PA, George Miller-PGC, Ron Montgomery-SRAS, Gary Maxwell-PGC and Deb Freed- SRAS
Photo provided by the PA Game Commission