Minutes of the DVOC
May 15, 2014

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

President Phil Witmer called the meeting to order at 7:31 PM.
A total of 26 people were present including 8 guests.

The minutes from the 3 April and the 25 April meetings were approved as submitted.

Committee Reports

Membership:
No report.

Cassinia:
No report.

Website:
No report.

Youth Birding:
No report.

Orn Studies:
No report.

New Bins for New Birders (NB4NB):
No report.

Bob Billings Big Year:
No report.

Conservation:
No report.

Field Trips:
No report.

Programs:
Vice president Steve Kacir noted that at the next meeting on June 5th Doug Goodell would speak on “Costa Rica –Nature’s Paradise”. After that we’d go into our Summer hiatus, with informal meetings until the fall. June 21st is the DVOC picnic at Guris’s house. The July 10th Summer meeting will be at Schuylkill Center, and will focus on Cassinia.

Trip Reports:
Tony Croasdale noted that upcoming this weekend we have field trips at Ridley Creek State Park on Saturday lead by Win Shafer, and also on Saturday Martin Seltzer will lead a field trip at Brandywine Creek State Park. On Sat. May 31 Cindy Ahern will lead a trip to the Tannersville Cranberry Bog, and on June 15 Steve Kacir will lead a trip to search for booming Nighthawks.
June 13-15 is the Camp Susquehanna weekend led by Win Shafer.

Phil Witmer noted that DVOC will be participating in a trip to Reed’s Beach for Crab-flipping on June 7th. This is a trip to try and help Horseshoe Crabs that have turned over in the surf while laying eggs and need reorientation, and otherwise are stranded and die.

Announcements
President Phil Witmer noted that he will miss the next meeting, and in his absence Steve Kacir will preside. He also noted that member Al Bilheimer’s wife Nancy is dealing with a serious illness, and recommended reaching out to her, to extend best wishes. He passed on info from Debbie Beer about an opportunity to volunteer on marsh bird surveys in PA (ask Phil for more details).
The complete protocol and details on how to participate can be found here:
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/birding_and_bird_conservation/21066/marsh_bird_survey?qid=81806114&rank=4. Contact information can be found through the link provided, or feel free send any questions to [email protected].

Local Notes:
Marty Dellwo stated that on the PA Migration count on Sat. May 10th coordinator Doris McGovern had totaled over 134 species of birds from all the participants. The following Sunday at least 20 warblers were at Heinz, and the Red-necked Grebe is still hanging around at Tinicum.

Steve Kacir also had a great PAMC day in Montgomery County that included singing Nelson’s Sparrow and a Mississippi Kite, and a good assortment of grassland birds.

Matt Halley solicited information on Wood Thrush territories within the city of Philadelphia, as he’s doing research on them.
George Armistead passed on word that Bill Reaume had another Whip-poor-will at Awbury, which prompted Matt Halley to note that one also continued along Cresheim Creek.

Barbara Granger was birding on the NJ side of the Delaware River, and had a great sighting of Kentucky Warbler.
A guest noted that the Peregrine Falcon pair at HUP had 4 eggs, but that the female had gone missing, and that no one is sure what happened, but the nest has been abandoned.

Trustee’s Report
No report.

Main Program
Martin Selzer: Tanzania Birding and Wildlife

Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 858pm. The usual suspects then assembled at Cherry Street Tavern.

Respectfully submitted,
George L. Armistead, Secretary