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> April 7, 2011 Minutes
Minutes of the DVOC
April 7, 2011
President Frank Windfelder called the meeting to order at 7:30
PM. Thirty-six members and five guests were present.
The minutes of the March 17th meeting were approved as submitted.
Committees:
Conservation:
Chair Phil Witmer announced that the proceeds from the club’s World Series
of Birding team this year will go towards the publication of the Pennsylvania
Breeding Bird Atlas. The survey is completed but needs funding for printing
the information. Phil showed some sample sheets from the atlas.
Phil also reported that there is great pressure by the oil companies to allow
oil drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge.
Field Trips:
Chair Win Shafer conducted the trip reports and announcements:
Trip Reports:
Bert Filemyr reported on a recent trip to Panama organized by Jane Henderson.
During their 15-day visit, they saw 340 species of birds. The highlight of the
trip was the Harpy Eagle.
March 26 Pinelands Birding, including the Franklin Parker Preserve, NJ. Win
Shafer reported on this trip. The preserve has some great habitat, although
the birding was pretty sparse on this day.
Vincent Nichnadowicz reported on a recent trip of several club members to Cuba.
180 species were seen.
Trip Announcements:
April 16 Coastal Delaware. Looking for early migrants and lingering winter visitors.
Leader is Lynn Jackson
April 30 Fort Washington State Park, PA Looking for early spring migrants as
well as visiting the Militia Hill Hawk Watch. Leader is Jane Henderson
April 30 Or May 1 - Rails And Nocturnal Species at the C&D Canal, New Castle
County, DE.
We'll be listening for night birds along Dutch Neck Rd from 3:30 am until the
birds stop calling.
Leader is Steve Kacir.
April 29 - May 1 Birding Southern Delaware And Into Maryland. Please contact
Colin Campbell if interested. We will visit many of the various habitats in
this area.
May 7 Birding, Banding And Brunch - A Special Tour Of Rushton Farms, Willistown,
Pa.
DVOC members have been specially-invited by Willistown Conservation Trust (WCT)
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. Leader is Doris McGovern.
Programs:
Art McMorris announced the upcoming programs:
On Apr 21 Dan Kunkle will present “Superfund to Super Habitat.”
On May 5 Cathy Haffner will present “Birds, Bats and Wind Energy”
On May 19 Sam Fried will present “Warblers and Neotropical Migrants of
Eastern North America”
The banquet speaker this year will be Kevin Karlson presenting “The birds
of Cape May”. The date is November 17.
The annual picnic will again be hosted by the Guris’, at their home on
July 9.
Summer meetings will be at Palmyra Cove Nature Park, NJ on July 7 and August
4, and at John Heinz NWR, PA on September 1.
Announcements:
Doris McGovern is looking for help during her May 14th bird survey. Please contact
Doris.
Bob Horton announced that the John Heinz NWR is looking for two students as interns this summer.
Mike Zickler announced that the Taylor Refuge is holding a clean up this Saturday, April 9 from 1 to 4 PM
Yoav Chudnoff announced that he is selling raffle tickets to
support Bulgarian conservation and he will be pulling the winning raffle ticket
at our meeting on May 19.
Art McMorris heard from our recent speaker, Paulo Boute of Brazil. Paulo expressed
his thanks to all of the members that contributed birding equipment for the
birders of Brazil.
Scott McConnell mentioned the upcoming Witmer Stone weekend celebration at the Catoxen Cabin in Medford. It will be held September 30 to October 2.
Paul Guris announced an upcoming overnight pelagic trip sponsored
by the Cape May Bird Observatory on May 20 and 21.
He also mentioned a five day pelagic trip out of San Diego on September 5 to
9.
Rodney Platt talked about the Marcellus Shale drilling in Pennsylvania. He asked members to sign a petition to the Delaware River Basin Authority asking them to do further studies on the impact on this drilling on the environment.
Debbie Beer announced a cleanup on Darby Creek will be held on April 23 at the John Heinz NWR, PA. Also, on April 15, the judging of the Federal Duck Stamp entries will be held at John Heinz NWR.
Local Notes:
Al Bilheimer reported there are good views available of the Bald Eagle nest at Core Creek Park, PA.
Paul Guris reported on two successful pelagic trips in March, with over 100 Razorbills, along with Common Murre and Glaucous Gull. He also still has three Purple Finches and a Pine Siskin at his feeder.
Alan Brady reported a Golden Eagle in Lower Bucks County, PA.
Doris McGovern reported on a nesting pair of Peregrine Falcons at the Delaware Water Gap, PA.
Art McMorris commented that there are five pair of Peregrine Falcons in PA that are nesting on cliffs.
Debbie Beer reported that one of the Bald Eagle nests at John Heinz NWR has chicks, the first of which hatched on March 26.
Frank Windfelder observed that the Bald Eagle nest at Pennypack has not hatched a chick yet and he is concerned that the nest has failed.
Paul Guris reported a Black-headed Gull at Miami Avenue in Cape May, NJ as well as a Common Loon and Horned Grebe on Arrowood Lake, PA.
Bert Filemyr observed Pine Warblers, Yellow-throated Warblers and a Black and White Warbler at Belleplain State Park, NJ along with Eastern Phoebe, Pine Siskin and Red-breasted Nuthatch.
Ornithological Study
Art McMorris introduced Frank Windfelder. Frank presented “A DVOC Quiz."
Main Program
Art McMorris introduced Jack Hubley. Jack presented "Man and Raptor: The Falconry Story."
The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 PM
Respectfully submitted
Bob Horton, Secretary