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> September 20, 2012 Minutes
Minutes of the DVOC
September 20, 2012
President Art McMorris called the meeting to order at 7:30
PM. Twenty-two members and one guest were present.
The minutes of the 7 June 2012 meeting were approved as submitted.
Committees:
Membership:
Chairperson Bonnie Witmer read the membership applications for Eric Houser,
Reed Hennessy, Ed Mittinger and Janice Chorba.
Cassinia:
President Art McMorris reported on the progress of Cassinia. The next issue
is targeted to go to the printer by fall of this year. The issue will be a combined
issue to help Cassinia catch up. Barbara Granger has joined the Cassinia Committee
and aids Editor Dave Long with proofreading articles. Currently, the Cassinia
Committee and DVOC Council are seeking solutions for creating a layout for Cassinia.
Previously, club members with access to software that would allow layout design
had volunteered their time to set up the layout. Due to changes in computer
operating systems the old software can no longer be used, and the club is without
the former volunteered resources. Editor Dave Long requested a quote from the
publisher for layout services, but the quoted price was much higher than expected.
As such, any club member with expertise, resources, advice or suggestions on
how to achieve the formatting of Cassinia should contact Editor Dave Long or
President Art McMorris with such information.
Website:
Webmaster and Committee Chairperson Bert Filemyr announced that the DVOC website
has been updated to allow charitable donations and membership payments to be
made directly on-line via PayPal® or credit card.
Conservation:
Chairperson Phil Witmer presented to the club a copy of the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary
American Kestrel Program’s American Kestrel nest box and conservation
color brochure, the printing of which was accomplished through the DVOC Loons
World Series of Birding Team and the DVOC’s World Series of Birding fundraising
effort. The brochure is designed to help landowners participate in the Hawk
Mountain Sanctuary American Kestrel Conservation Program. Phil also briefly
outlined the results of a past World Series of Birding conservation effort:
the installation of Ornilux glass and a display about bird-friendly glass at
the John Heinz NWR at Tinicum.
Debbie Beer announced that an artistic light show program has
been scheduled to occur in Philadelphia during fall migration. Pennsylvania
Audubon alerted the DVOC to this problem, and is mobilizing a monitoring program,
including radar tracking and volunteers on the ground. DVOC is acting as the
official organizing body for volunteers monitoring the light display to detect
birds captured in the beams of light. If birds become trapped in the light display,
the artist has committed to shutting down the display briefly to allow the birds
to escape. The DVOC and PA Audubon desperately need volunteers to monitor the
display from Sep 20 through Oct 14, and gather information on the effects that
the light display has on migrating birds. Please contact Debbie Beer, Phil Witmer
or Keith Russell if you can help with this important monitoring effort. Additional
information can be found here:
http://pa.audubon.org/birds-and-light-shows
Art McMorris announced that the DVOC is donating $300 in support
of PA Audubon’s monitoring efforts, including the use of military grade
radar that will allow tracking of individual birds migrating through the city.
PA Audubon is seeking $15,000 to fund these emergency efforts and welcomes individual
donors to contribute.
Donations to PA Audubon in support of the monitoring project can be made here:
http://pa.audubon.org/action-items/birds-and-light-shows
Debbie Beer announced that the Friends of Heinz Refuge and
Eastwick Friends and Neighbors Coalition are fighting to ensure that any development
in Eastwick proceeds in a fashion that promotes a sustainable, environmentally
healthy community, including protections for the lands buffering John Heinz
NWR at Tinicum. On Oct 9, there will be a hearing with City Council to discuss
how Eastwick matters to the community and how development might adversely affect
the ecology and community of Eastwick and the 128 acres of filled wetland surrounding
the area. These proceedings will be seminal in determining how the city treats
communities when planning development. Eastwick Friends and Neighbors Coalition
and the Friends of Heinz Refuge hope that all who enjoy John Heinz NWR and its
surrounding countryside will come to show their support for the Eastwick community
and its surrounding natural lands. Contact Debbie Beer for more information
on how to help. Online sources of information about this important urban conservation
program can be found here:
http://eastwickfriends.wordpress.com/
http://www.gridphilly.com/digital-edition/ (Page 19)
Field Trips:
Marty Dellwo conducted the trip reports and trip announcements:
Trip Reports:
Sep 8 – Fort Washington State Park, a joint DVOC/Wyncote Audubon Field
Trip led by Jane Henderson. Marty reported that a field trip report for this
trip, available on-line, noted many participants but not too many migrants.
Trip Announcements:
Oct 7 – Sharp-tailed Sparrows at Tuckerton Marshes. Leader is Frank Windfelder.
A trip to the Tuckerton Marshes for Nelson’s Sparrows and Saltmarsh Sparrows
as well as other typical species and migrants. Bring high boots or wellies and
pack a lunch if you’ll be continuing on to the Brigantine Division of
Edwin B Forsythe NWR afterwards. The trip meets at the end of 7 Bridges Road
(Great Bay Blvd) at 7:00AM sharp.
Ornithological Moments:
No report.
Programs:
Vice President Phil Witmer announced the upcoming programs.
On Oct 4, Sue Killeen will present “Birding Cuba for Cuban Endemics.”
On Oct 18, Derek Lovitch will present “How to be a Better Birder.”
On Nov 1, Bob Curry will update the club on his chickadee research.
On Nov 15, the DVOC Banquet speaker will be Stephen Kress, the director of Project
Puffin will present “Restoring Endangered Seabirds: Lessons from Puffins
and Terns.”
On Dec 6, the DVOC Members’ Photography Night will take place.
On Dec 20, Robert DeCandido and Deborah Allen will present “Raptor Migration
in South-east Asia.”
Announcements:
Edie Parnum announced that on Sep 22, the American Birding Association (ABA)
would be holding the ABA Mid-Atlantic Young Birder Conference at the Ashland
Nature Center in Hockessin, DE. The DVOC will have a table at the event, and
Cindy Ahern is organizing a raffle. Four volunteers will man the table, and
Edie mentioned that additional members interested in volunteering should contact
Cindy Ahern. One hundred and sixteen young birders from eight states have signed
up for the conference, some from as far away as North Carolina and Tennessee.
Also in attendance will be various members of the Delmarva Ornithological Society
(DOS) and the ABA, including Bill Stewart, Jeff & Liz Gordon, the Delaware
Dunlins and Derek Stoner. The conference includes workshops, field trips and
speakers. More information is available on-line: http://www.aba.org/events/MAYBC12/
Mike O’Brien announced that the John James Audubon Center
at Mill Grove would be celebrating its 250th Anniversary on Sunday September
23. To celebrate, Mill Grove will be holding a Plant Walk and a Bird Talk.
Mike O’Brien announced that the seniors of Holy Family Home Nursing Home
are selling bluebird houses. The bluebird houses are high quality and cost $35
each with a discounted price of $20 for individuals or nature centers that would
like to purchase six or more, allowing nature centers to put them up for sale
at a profit. The birdhouses are all handmade by seniors at the nursing home.
Barbara Granger announced that the Annual DVOC Banquet would take place on November
15, and that the Banquet Reservation Form was available on the DVOC website.
In addition to the speaker, the banquet will feature information tables that
attendees may browse during the cocktail hour, including a table bearing the
display designed for the Bird Month event at the Academy of Natural Sciences.
A slide show of DVOC members’ photos will take place, and Barbara is requesting
members submit photos for the slide show (preferred resolution is 1024 X 768).
An official mailing about the banquet will be mailed by next week. More information
can be found here: http://www.dvoc.org/Banquet/Banquet.htm
Dino Fiabane announced that the 2012 ABA Membership Meeting will take place
on Sep 23 at the DuPont Environmental Education Center. The meeting will include
the results of a non-binding referendum on the boundaries of the ABA Area, the
election of new members to the Board of Directors of the American Birding Association
and other business of the ABA. DVOC Members, especially those who are also members
of the ABA, are encouraged to attend this meeting. More information is available
on-line: http://aba.org/proxy12/
Local Notes:
Sandra Keller noted that there had been good warbler migration lately, with
John Heinz NWR at Tinicum being productive for fall birding. In addition, Riverwinds
had good flycatcher diversity including a late Willow Flycatcher (identification
confirmed by call).
Phil Witmer mentioned that several Connecticut Warblers had been banded at the
Powdermill Banding Station.
Mike O’Brien noted that a Great Crested Flycatcher appeared at 300 Chester
Ave, which was unusual for that site. Eastern Kingbirds, however, are known
to nest there.
Art McMorris added that Eastern Kingbirds nest near Citizens Bank Park.
Marty Dellwo mentioned that Broad St and Washington Ave has had Eastern Kingbird.
Marty reported that a Connecticut Warbler was at Palmyra Cove Nature Park last
weekend, and that an Olive-sided Flycatcher was at the Cox Hall Creek WMA (The
Villas WMA, “Ponderlodge”) on Sunday Sep 9.
Steve Kacir reported that the Flourtown Day-Use Area of Fort Washington State
Park had a good number of migrants on Sep 16 including three Philadelphia Vireos,
at least 9 Swainson’s Thrushes, 2 Blackburnian Warblers, Canada Warbler
and other warblers.
Tom Bailey noted that Palmyra Cove Nature Park had a Connecticut Warbler and
19 species of warblers along with many Red-eyed Vireos. Tom said that the Elegant
Tern was still at Sandy Hook, and that an Anhinga was spotted over the Raccoon
Ridge Hawk Watch.
\Ornithological Moment:
No Ornithological Moment.
Main Program:
Vice President Phil Witmer introduced tonight’s speaker, Bert Filemyr
who presented “Birding Oregon.”
Adjournment:
The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Stephen E.T. Kacir, Secretary