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DVOC Minutes for April 17, 2003
40
members and 8 guests took their seats as President Colin Campbell called the
meeting to order.
The prior meeting's minutes were approved with one correction.
Cliff Hence was elected to membership, and Anita Guris announced five new membership
candidates: Andy Urquhart, Alison Ellicott, Scott Henderson, Sandra Keller,
and John Goschke.
Committees:
Jan
Gordon, for Conservation, announced two upcoming Philadelphia bird walks at
Bartram's Gardens.
Chuck Hetzel, for Ornithological Studies, announced that the DVOC website will
soon list key pieces of ornithological literature. Colin Campbell then enlivened
our proceedings with a series of laughable press reports on birds and birding
misadventures.
Field Trips:
Frank Windfelder's April 5th trip to Salem County found two Ross' Geese "up close and personal", plus Bald Eagles, Snipe, Rusty Blackbird and many spring arrivals.
Upcoming field trips include Pea Patch Heronry April 27 (Colin Campbell leading), Ft. Washington State Park May 4 (Bill Murphy leader), the 3-day Delmarva/Pokomoke trip May 2-4 (Colin Campbell leading), Carpenter's Woods May 17 (Erica Brendel presiding), and Hawkins Road/Brightview Farm May 18 (Don Jones in charge).
Programs:
Paul Kerlinger of CMBO fame will visit May 1 and tell us how birds intersect
with wind power and wind turbines.
May
15 will be our speaker from Israel, Amir Balaban, all about the Jerusalem Bird
Observatory.
And on June 5, we have many mini-speakers - our own members - recounting their
May Big Days to our audience of skeptical listeners.
Announcements:
Paul Guris will lead a pelagic on April 26 out of Belmar, NJ searching for Skuas.
Local Notes:
An adult Little Gull appeared April 11 at Lake Nockamixon. Brady and Hart Rufe
reporting.
Jones and Driscoll had Stilt Sandpiper yesterday at Tuckerton, NJ.
Many members have witnessed the spring arrival of Purple Martins and Louisiana
Waterthrushes, while Steve Kerr had Hooded Warbler, Indigo Bunting, and hordes
of Double-crested Cormorants at Cape May last Saturday. Steve also had Black-throated
Green Warbler last week at the Gwynnd Preserve in Pennsylvania.
Walt Peoples reported on raptor migration this week at Sandy Hook, NJ. More
than 100 accipiters and more than 50 falcons - but no Broad-winged Hawks - passed
by moving north on the day of Walt's visit.
Visitor Mick Jeitner reported second-hand on the 12,000 Greater and Lesser Snow
Geese - plus intermediate forms of Canada Geese - in Salem County April 6.
In Delaware April 13, Colin Campbell had Razorbill at Dewey Beach, adult Little
Gull at Kitts Hummock, and a pair of Ruffs plus a Stilt Sandpiper at Bombay
Hook NWR.
Finally, a second-hand report was received from Skip Conant, that a pair of
Sandhill Cranes arrived March 25 to nest in farmfields in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania.
Featured Program
Dr. Bob Curry, Associate Professor of Biology at Villanova University, presented
a power point program on Chickadee hybridization. Despite the advances in DNA
research, much remains unknown as the hybrid belt (between Black-capped and
Carolina Chickadees) continues to march north.
Respectfully submitted,
Christopher
K. Walters
Secretary
DVOC Main Page > Meetings / Programs > April 17, 2003 Minutes