Want to add something special to your birding life list? Then the Game Commission suggests that you head to Oakland Mills, just outside of Mifflintown, Juniata County, to see a Bullock oriole, a neotropical songbird not normally found in Pennsylvania at any time that has made itself at home here.

The buzz began on November 23, when Steven Troyer, an avid 13-year-old birdwatcher told his grandfather, Aden Troyer, "Pap, come look at this Bullock oriole."

Steven Troyer was excited and wanted to share the news because he knew that this particular species is rarely seen in this part of the United States.

According to "The Birds of Pennsylvania," the Bullock oriole - which is a close cousin of the more famous Baltimore, or northern, oriole – breeds in southern Canada from British Columbia to Saskatchewan and south along the Pacific Coast and east to the Dakotas, Kansas and Texas.

"They winter primarily in Mexico and Central American, and a few winter along the Gulf Coast region to Georgia to Florida," said Game Commission Wildlife Diversity Section Supervisor Dan Brauning, who - along with Gerald M. McWilliams - authored "The Birds of Pennsylvania" in 2000. "They show up occasionally in northeastern North America, and strays are occasionally reported in Pennsylvania. All those reported here have been immature or female orioles at bird feeding stations. In fact, prior to this sighting in Juniata County, there have only been three accepted records of this bird in the Commonwealth."

Aden Troyer and his son, David Troyer, welcome visitors to where they can view and photograph the Bullock oriole, which has been regularly visiting three areas within 150 yards of their store. The Lost Creek Shoe Shop, which also is a retail store for bird watching equipment, is open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays, and from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The store is closed on Sundays, but visitors still are welcomed to visit the site.

So far, more than 100 visitors from as far away as Pittsburgh, Wilkes-Barre and Scranton, as well as a few from Maryland, have come to the area and signed the visitor book at the viewing locations.

"On behalf of the state's wildlife management agency, I offer heart-felt thanks to the Troyer family for sharing this tremendous opportunity with bird enthusiasts," said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director.

1/11/2008