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> April 1, 2010 Minutes
Minutes of the DVOC
April 1, 2010
President Frank Windfelder called the meeting to order at 7:33. Twenty-four members and eight guests were present. The minutes of the March 18th meeting were accepted as submitted.
Frank announced that the World Series of Birding pledge sheet was going to be circulated with the attendance book. Everyone was urged to pledge generously.
Committees:
Conservation:
Chair Phil Witmer reminded us that this year the club has chosen to support
a project in collaboration with the John Heinz NWR (Tinicum) PA, entitled “Bird
Safe Glass Demonstration and Public Education Display at John Heinz National
Wildlife Refuge.” The project is designed to educate the public about
bird barriers and bird-safe glass to prevent bird deaths by window strikes.
Field Trips:
Bob Horton conducted the trip reports and announcements:
Trip Reports:
March 7: Pinelands Birding, Franklin Park Preserve, NJ. Al Driscoll reported
that three pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers were seen on this trip. Frank Windfelder
said that 38 members and guests attended this trip.
March 8: Southwest New Jersey, including Pedricktown and Mannington Marsh, NJ.
Frank Windfelder reported that the group did observe American Woodcock at dawn
near Pedricktown. In addition, many Yellowlegs species and a Eurasian Wigeon
were observed.
Trip Announcements:
April 17: Coastal Delaware. Led by Lynn Jackson. Looking for early migrants
and lingering winter visitors. We will begin in New Castle County and head south
into Kent County
April 18: Riverwinds and National Park Dredge Spoils, NJ. Led by Jeff Holt.
A spring morning is planned at Riverwinds and later at the National Park Red
Bank Dredge Spoils, both adjacent to Philadelphia in Gloucester County. Jeff
has personally seen over 130 species at Riverwinds alone and the dredge spoils
is an excellent place for over wintering waterfowl and nesting marsh species.
April 18: Rails and nocturnal species, The C&D Canal, New Castle County,
DE. Led by Steve Kacir. We'll be listening for night birds along Dutch Neck
Rd from 3:30 am until the birds stop calling. We'll spend the hours before sunrise
listening for calling Sora, Virginia Rail, King Rail, Marsh Wren and Sedge Wren
at the 1000 Acre Marsh and Grier's Pond.
April 24: Fort Washington State Park, PA. Led by Jane Henderson. Fort Washington
State Park is an excellent place for spring migration. We have tallied up to
twenty-eight species in prior spring migration periods.
April 25: Birding, Banding and Brunch, Rushton Farms, Willistown, PA. Led by
Debbie Beer. DVOC members have been specially invited by Willistown Conservation
Trust to tour Rushton Farm Preserve, and witness in action their newly-established
Banding Station, the launching of which was significantly supported by DVOC's
2009 Conservation funds last year. DVOC members only. Please register with Debbie
Beer, 610-955-4098, by April 23.
April 30 – May 2: Birding Southern Delaware and into Maryland. Led by
Colin Campbell. This weekend trip starts at Bombay Hook NWR on Friday morning
and works south to Trap Pond State Park where you can camp or you can motel
nearby. Saturday we bird Nanticoke WMA and areas around Seaford before returning
to Trap Pond.
Rare Bird Alert:
Chair Steve Kacir is looking for additional members to join this committee to
assist in compiling and posting the alerts. He is also looking for members to
act as substitute compilers as well as preparing the voice recordings.
Programs:
Todd Fellenbaum announced the upcoming Ornithological Studies.
April 15: Paul Guris will present an ornithological study on an undisclosed topic.
Frank Windfelder announced the program for the next meeting:
The Program for April 15 will be Dyana Z. Furmansky presenting “Rosalie
Edge, Hawk of Mercy.” Most of us know Rosalie Edge as the fearless woman
who single-handedly saved Hawk Mountain from the gunners, but that is only the
tip of the iceberg. Ms. Furmansky will tell us more about this remarkable woman,
without whom nature and birding would not be what they are today. Our website
contains a link to a review on Dyana’s book.
Announcements:
Frank Windfelder announced that Colin Campbell has resigned as the Nominating Committee Chair. Frank has appointed Chris Walters to fill this position. Erica Brendel offered to join this committee and Frank accepted her offer.
Frank announced that Steve Kacir has joined the Witmer Stone
Committee.
He also announced that the Academy is looking for a high school student with
an interest in ornithology or biology to serve as an intern this summer. This
internship is funded by the club.
Erica Brendel announced an upcoming photo exhibit at the Allens Lane Art Center 601 W Allens Lane, Phila, PA from May 7 to June 11. The exhibit is “Carpenter’s Woods: Photos by Linda Fry Goschke”. Erica also requested any information on the history of Carpenter Woods that any member may have.
Paul Guris made three announcements.
He passed around some recent photos of a Black Brant taken on Lake Como, NJ
He provided Nikon and Bogen catalogs for any member that would like one.
He announced upcoming pelagic trips on the Searcher out of San Diego.
Local Notes:
Sarah Loughran reported the Osprey were building nests at the Brigantine (Forsythe NWR, NJ). Also observed were courting Ring-necked Ducks and American Oystercatchers.
Paul Guris reported on a recent trip to Barnegat Inlet, NJ. He observed Purple Sandpipers coming into breeding plumage, Long-tailed Ducks molting, Harlequin Ducks in various stages of molt, as well as a banded American Oystercatcher and a Black Brant at Lake Como, NJ.
Frank Windfelder reported a Brown Thrasher and Rusty Blackbirds at the John Heinz NWR (Tinicum) PA. He also commented on the very small numbers of sparrows he has seen throughout the winter.
Tom Bailey reported that the Spotted Towhee was still present at Palmyra.
Erica Brendel reported a Barred Owl was heard at Carpenter Woods, PA.
Ornithological Studies:
Chris Walters presented a study entitled "Nesting Strategies of the Little Guys with the Big Guys."
Main Program:
Bud Cook presented a program entitled “Birds of the Boreal Barrens of Northeast Pennsylvania.”
Adjournment:
The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Bob Horton, Secretary