Category Archives: Duncannon Outdoors Club

Get outside and learn about the nature surrounding us all.

Duncannon Outdoor Club December Hike

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Duncannon Outdoor Club LogoThe DOC had great weather for a great day.  It was warm but not so warm that the snow melted. Consequently, we got to learn about and identify a number of different animal tracks.

Prior to our start a hunter warned us to keep an eye out for a mother bear with two cubs. Apparently, momma bear was not happy with him and approached him earlier in the week. We found no bear tracks, but then we did make a lot of noise as we sang Jingle Bells while climbing the mountain.

We did see a lot of tracks: turkey, fox, deer, squirrel, raccoon, and voles ( We scooped the snow off the top of the vole tunnels to see their tracks.).  We also saw a number of tracking clues such as scats , digs, debarking, trails, and hair.  The debarking was more likely caused by a porcupine since it was high up in the tree, higher than if a rabbit had done it.  The deer hair and snow markings were indicative of a hunter who was dragging out his or her kill.

Three out of the four basic animal tracking gaits were observed: Straight Walker, Hopper, and Waddler.  We did not see any Bounders.  Straight Walker is the most common gait for Continue reading →

Duncannon Outdoor Club January Hike

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Duncannon Outdoor Club LogoOn Jan. 18th join the DOC and learn about the Great Horned Owl.  Bushwhack the Takach property for signs of the great bird.  Afterwards, try your hand at dissecting STERILIZED owl pellets at the Cornerstone Christian Church.  It is an average paced 2 mile hike on moderate terrain.   Bring water and a snack.  Dress accordingly and wear orange.  Meet at 9:00 am. at the Duncannon Family Health Center.  This hike is limited to 16 hikers and the cost is 6 dollars to cover the cost of the pellets.  Call 834-9216 or email dtakach@duncannonatc.org to register.

Duncannon Outdoor Club November Hike to Flat Rock

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The weather was beautiful for the Flat Rock Hike at Colonel Denning State Park. It was a tough climb but well worth it when we got to see the view. Unfortunately we did not see any Black Vultures since they had already migrated. We did see one Turkey Vulture in migration mode.
On the way back, Sean suggested we loop down the Tuscarora Trail to the Lehman Trail to the wheel where the trails intersect with the Flat Rock Trail down to the trail head. It proved a nice return trip. We also heard Santa’s sleigh bells in the woods which turned out to be a labrador with a bell for hunting season. The dog and its owner were both very friendly.

When at the top of Flat Rock we took a few minutes to discuss the differences between the Black Vulture and Turkey Vulture.  The Turkey Vulture being about 30 inches in length, with wingspans up to 6 feet while the Black Vulture is approximately 24  inches in length, with a wingspan less than 5 feet.  The Turkey Vulture has a long tail and the Black Vulture has a shorter tail.  These differences allow the Turkey Vulture to soar the thermals better than the Black Vulture.  A Turkey Vulture holds its wings in a “V” during flight, rarely flaps and wobbles while soaring.  The Black Vulture will flap its wings more, does not wobble and Continue reading →