7:30 PM Academy of Natural Sciences (BEES)
Meeting called by President Martin Dellwo. Minutes from last meeting approved by members.
Vice President: George Armistead
Secretary: substitute – Barb Bassett
Attendees: 30
Guests: Steven Samuels
Opening Remarks Martin Dellwo
Marty Dellwo calls the meeting to order and welcomes members and guests.
A Thank you card was received from John Heinz NWR for participating in the Fall Nature Fest.
Thank You Letter from Heinz NWR
Reports of Council
Nominations – Art McMorris
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
Art asked for other nominations from the floor. None were offered.
Membership Committee: Phil Witmer
Record number of new members in November. Bonnie is expanding role of membership committee to reach out to new members. Let Phil know if interested.
New Bins For New Birders (NB4NB): Paul Guris
Marty read Paul’s email:”The NB4NB Committee is happy to announce the approval of two grants of binoculars through DVOC’s New Bins for New Birders program.
The first grant will go to Girard College – Lower School in Philadelphia, PA which services economically disadvantaged students in the 1st to 6th grades. They are looking to be able to offer more birding focus in their non-academic activities such as feeder observations, local walks, and field trips to sites such as John Heinz NWR and Hawk Mountain Preserve. The grant consists for 12 pair of compact binoculars suitable for children with smaller hands and a need for a shorter interpupillary distance.
The second grant will go to Silver Lake Nature Center in Bristol, PA. The provide a strong schedule of year-round activities for youth and families including summer camp programs and walks for adults with preschoolers. Due to the more mixed nature of observers they’ll be serving the grant consists of 8 pair of compact binoculars as well as 6 pair of full-sized binoculars.
We have reached out to the contact of a third grant request which was from Hunterdon Central Regional High School in Flemington, NJ. So far attempts to contact this person have gone unanswered. If no reply is received in the next few weeks we will review the balance NB4NB funds against any pending requests to determine if we are in a position to give another award.”
Full information on the NB4NB Program is available at http://dvoc.org/about/committees/nb4nb/
Cassinia: Matt Halley
Latest issue of Cassinia is at the publisher and will be ready to read soon! Matt asks members to submit ideas for articles in the next issue.
Field Trips: Martin Dellwo
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
Dec 21, 2017 – DVOC Photography Night
Come out to the annual DVOC photography night. Martin Dellwo will host the show and announce winners. Club members always produce exceptional photographs of birds, fauna, flora, landscapes and other birders.
Judges for this year: Patty Rehn, Steve Mattan, Martin Dellwo
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
Photo contest on 12/21. Judges Martin Dellwo, Patty Rehn and Steve Mattan. Compiler Paul Guris. Deadline for submission was Dec 5th. Categories: Birds, Flora, Fauna, Landscape and Birders. Contest information can be found at http://dvoc.org/activities/photo-contest/
Marty to send out email extending the deadline by one week.
Several CBCs were mentioned:
● Rick Mellon – southern Bucks & Cape May
● Art McMorris – Cape May CBC area 6, Stone Harbor & Cape May Courthouse
Matt Halley – published paper with Jason Weckstein on splitting species of thrushes. The split of the thrushes was accepted. Congratulations!
Tony Croasdale had a private meeting with Philadelphia Animal Control to discuss control of feral cat colonies in Green spaces. They need support for wildlife.
Judy Stepanaskie passed out information on Arctic NWR. Judy asks members to contact your representative to stop oil drilling.
Local Notes
Several snowy owls have been reported in the area.
A large group of black vultures were seen roosting on Conewingo dam.
A grey kingbird was located in Cape May and seen by several in the club. Barb bassett and Bert Filmeyr noted that Tom Johnson ID’d it from photographs, including Bert’s, that it was the same bird that was in Maryland for multiple days.
Black headed gull and tundra swan is still being seen at Heinz NWR in Philadelphia.
Program: Laurie Goodrich: Chasing Broadwings to Brazil and Back
The speaker Laurie Goodrich was introduced by George Armistead.
Join us as we track the amazing journey of the broad-winged hawk from space using satellite telemetry technology, and together we’ll trace the movements of this long-distance migrant from Pennsylvania to Central and South America, and back. This study marks the first time a telemetry unit has ever been placed on a juvenile broadwing. Hawk Mountain is grateful to the Pennsylvania Game Commission for its State Wildlife Grant, and support from ATAS International, the East Stroudsburg University Research Grant, Pennsylvania Audubon, and other private donors and supporters on Indiegogo for making this work possible.
Hawk migration map
Adjournment
Martin Dellwo Adjourns the meeting at 9:00 PM. About a dozen members gathered at Cherry Street Tavern to continue the discussion.
