7:30 PM Academy of Natural Sciences (Commons)
Meeting called by President Martin Dellwo. Minutes from last meeting approved by members.
Vice President: George Armistead
Secretary: Linda Widdop
Attendees: 28
Guests: Sarah Busch, Cannie Shafer
Opening Remarks Martin Dellwo
Marty Dellwo calls the meeting to order and welcomes members and guests.
Reports of Council
Nominations – Barbara Granger
Our nominees for the election which will be held at the first January meeting (our “Annual Meeting”) on Jan. 4 2018:
Officers (for 1-year terms):
President: George Armistead
VP: Linda Widdop
Secretary: Gregg Gorton
Treasurer: Bert Filemyr
Councilors (for 3-year terms, to replace retiring councilors Annie Reeves and Patty Rehn):
Lauren Diamond, Rob Bierregaard
Barbara asked for other nominations from the floor. None were offered.
Membership Committee: Bonnie Witmer
New Applicant Richard Welch
Bob Billings Big Year: Martin Dellwo
Please submit lists by Jan 31st. Marty asks members to participate in 2018
Field Trips: Linda Widdop
Winter Birds I – Wissahickon Environmental Center
December 29, 2017 @ 8:30 am – 10:00 am
Wissahickon Environmental Center- Tree House, 300 W Northwestern Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19118, USA
Meet Martin Selzer at 8:30 a.m. at the Wissahickon Environmental Center’s Tree House at 8:30am. The morning will begin by enjoying the activity at the Tree House’s feeders before exploring Andorra Meadow and Forbidden Drive as the conditions per permit.
Winter Birds II – Wissahickon Environmental Center
January 14, 2018 @ 8:30 am – 10:00 am
Wissahickon Environmental Center- Tree House, 300 W Northwestern Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19118, USA
Meet Martin Selzer at 8:30 a.m. at the Wissahickon Environmental Center’s Tree House at 8:30am. The morning will begin by enjoying the activity at the Tree House’s feeders before exploring Andorra Meadow and Forbidden Drive as the conditions per permit.
Details can be found at http://dvoc.org/activities/field-trips/
Upcoming Meetings: George Armistead
Since the founding of our club in 1890, the first meeting of every year has been the “Members’ Meeting.” The meeting on January 4, 2018 (snow date on January 11th) will feature the Annual Election of Officers and Council members, election of Fellows and Honorary Members, reports by the Treasurer and by the Trustees, and other matters of interest.
Bert Filemyr will do a short presentation on The Early Years of DVOC.
Feel free to gather at Jenkins before the meeting time and have some hors d’oeuvres and drinks. The formal meeting will start at 7:30 PM. Following the meeting, we will enjoy a Pot-Luck meal. Our hosts are Bonnie and Phil Witmer, who will provide the entree. While it is not necessary to do so, signing up at the following link will give us a general idea of who is attending and bringing food.
More details, including deadlines and rules, are at this link http://dvoc.org/activities/photo-contest/
Meeting schedule and details can be found at http://dvoc.org/wp/activities/meetings/
Announcements
Phil Witmer announces Annual Member Meeting at Jenkins Arboretum on Jan 4th with snow date Jan 11th. Set up and appetizers/drinks starting at 6:30 PM. Meeting starts at 7:30 PM. New form on DVOC website for potluck. You can sign up to help set up or clean up too.
Local Notes
George Armistead – lower Bucks CBC found 50,000 Herring Gulls, 15 Iceland, 3 Glaucous and many other hybrid gulls
Barb Bassett – Gloucester CBC had Raven and Bald Eagle fighting over deer carcass. Day after the CBC, Debbie Beer, Marty Dellwo and Barb chased empid that was ID as Least Flycatcher and found Cape May Warbler in Cape May.
Marty reports that others found Western Tanager and Summer Tanager, BG Gnatcatcher, OCWA were also found at the same location near Sunset and Lighthouse Rds in Cape May.
Debbie Beer saw MacGillavery’s warbler in Monmouth County.
Frank Winfelder reports OCWA at water treatment plant and another along bike path in Philadelphia during CBC plus 2 American Pipits and Tundra Swan.
Win Shafer reports Berks county had 3 Snowy Owls
Program: Members Photography Night
Hosted by Marty Dellwo. Marty presented a slide show of photographs submitted by members for the annual contest. Thanks to Marty Dellwo, Patty Rehn and Steve Mattan for judging the photos. Thanks to Paul Guris for coordinating photo submission for judging. Prizes were awarded as follows. Winners received Richard Crossley guides, Amazon gift cards and Wawa gift cards.
Grand Prize Steve Kacir Memorial Award for Photographic Achievement
Todd Fellenbaum – White-tailed Ptarmigan, Loveland Pass, CO
Avocet Award for Artistic Achievement
Bo Hopkins – Great Gray Owl / Winterscape, Newport, NH
Birds
1st: Todd Fellenbaum – Greater Sage Grouse, Coalmont, CO
2nd: Bo Hopkins – Hoopee-Larks, Qatar
3rd: Todd Fellenbaum – Northern Parula, Octorara Lake, PA
Honorable Mentions:
– Todd Fellenbaum – American Woodcock, Princeton Woods, NJ
– FrankWindfelder – Least Bittern (adult), Heinz NWR, Philadelphia, PA
– Bo Hopkins – Herring Gull, Greenwich, CT
– Linda Widdop – Acorn Woodpecker, AZ
– Rob Hynson – Blue Petrel, Eaglehawk Neck, Tasmania, Australia
Fauna
1st: Rob Hynson – White-tipped Tree Frog, Iron Range National Park, Queensland, Australia
2nd: Frank Windfelder – Cabbage White, Philadelphia, PA
3rd: Anne Bekker – Dolomedes vittatus (spider), Philadelphia, PA
Honorable Mention:
– Todd Fellenbaum – American Badger, Valle Caldera National Monument, NM
Flora
1st: Anne Bekker – Field of Allium, Rt. 40, NJ
2nd: Anne Bekker – Turkey Tail fungus, Philadelphia, PA
3rd: Frank Windfelder – pink wildflowers, Philadelphia, PA
Scenery
1st: Judith Stepenaskie – White Out, Okanogen Plateau, WA
2nd: Anne Bekker – Shenandoah, VA
3rd: Anne Bekker – Kolob Plateau
Birders
1st: George Armistead – Storm’s Brewing, Cape May Meadows, West Cape May, NJ
2nd: Linda Widdop – Barb Bassett with Northern Bobwhite, West Cape May, NJ
3rd: Rob Hynson – Emerging from the rainforest (Tony Croasdale and friend), Iron Range National Park, Queensland, Australia
Congratulations to all winners. The complete slide show will be posted to the website shortly. Marty announces that we need new judges for next year. Please contact Marty if you are interested.
http://dvoc.org/activities/photo-contest/
Adjournment
Martin Dellwo Adjourns the meeting at 8:45 PM. About a dozen members gathered at Cherry Street Tavern to continue the discussion.