This was a hybrid meeting, broadcast on Zoom.
Call to Order: President Barb Bassett
Call to Order: 7:30 PM
Attendees:
In person: 16
On Zoom: 15
Linda Widdop moved to approve minutes of the last meeting and Martin Dellwo seconded the motion. The minutes were approved unanimously.
Committee Reports
Membership – Barb Bassett for Rebecca Reicherter
2 new members, Curt Dunn and Stan Kozakowski
Field Trips – Linda Widdop
If you wish to lead a field trip, contact Linda: linda@techimpact.org
Upcoming field trips:
| DATE | TIME | TRIP | LEADER |
| January 10 | 1:00pm -2:30pm | Winter Gulls at Glen Foerd | Holger Pflicke |
| January 17 | 7:300am – 6:00pm | Parque Natural Metropolitano – Panama City and Surroundings – Panama | Tanya Burnett |
| February 7 | 11:30am – 1:00pm | Winter Gulls at Glen Foerd | Holger Pflicke |
| March 7 | 7:300am – 6:00pm | Winter Gulls at Glen Foerd | Holger Pflicke |
Conservation – Perri Strawn
Perri shared an update on FDR Park. Save the Meadows emailed to report that several hearings will begin on January 5th, aimed at stopping the lawsuit that was intended to halt further destruction of the park. More updates will be forthcoming.
Billings – Art McMorris
Go Birding!
Cassinia – Holger Pflicke
Holger mentioned he was waiting on some articles but still plans to publish next year.
Nominations – Art McMorris
Art McMorris announced the nominees for officer positions:
President – Navin Sasikumar
Vice President – Patrick McGill
Secretary – Peter Hamner
Treasurer – Martin Dellwo
Council at large nominees:
Katrina Clark
Stephanie Egger
Election will be held at first January meeting (January 8) – Members Meeting
Announcements
Patrick McGill announced the Pennypack CBC is on Saturday, December 20
Debbie Beer announced Glenolden CBC is also on Saturday, December 20
Art McMorris announced the passing of former member Barrie Ashby.
Local Notes
Ethan Kang had a Lapland Longspur along with a Horned Lark at Garnet Valley High School, Delaware County, on Monday.
Luc Jacobs had a light morph Rough-legged Hawk in Berks County.
Patrick McGill noted a Black-headed Gull and Hooded Warbler were spotted at the Northeast Water Treatment Plant in Philadelphia.
Barb Bassett participated in the Cape May CBC over the weekend and noted a massive number of Snow Geese, 62 Horned Larks and 10 Pipits, 30 Yellow-rumped Warblers, and 16 Eastern Meadowlarks.
Art McMorris also participated in the Cape May CBC and noted the cold temperatures were challenging, so numbers were down. He shared a story on a discussion he had with another birder on distinguishing Lesser Black-backed Gulls from Great Black-backed Gulls.
Victoria Sindlinger noted a pair of Common Ravens flying over the west end of Penn campus in Philadelphia on December 5
Martin Dellwo had 9 Horned Larks at Pennypack on the Delaware along with a Clay-colored Sparrow. He also had a Short-eared Owl at PHL Airport, which was his 7th Owl species of the year in Philadelphia County.
Debbie Beer noted Snow Buntings were seen on Hog Island Road, as well as Eastern Meadowlarks, and Savannah Sparrow, she also noted that Pennsylvania’s first state record of Garganey was found in Bedford County, PA.
Navin Sasikumar mentioned that a female-type Painted Bunting was seen at a feeder in Germantown, Philadelphia.
Programs
January 8th – Annual Member’s Meeting at the Discovery Center, Potluck, Elections, Raffle, and Bert Filemyr will be doing a talk: “DVOC The Early Years”]
Evening Program
Members’ Photo Night – Results were revealed by compiler Navin Sasikumar.
Birds:
1. Ed Norman – Peregrine Falcon Dives
2. Bill Kunze – Palawan Flowerpecker
3. Bill Kunze – Philippine Frogmouth
Fauna:
1. Ed Norman – Red Fox Kits Relax
2. Susan Jarnagin – Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth
3. Kristen Cooney – Inside Passage Breach
Honorable Mention – Manuel Dominguez, Jr. – Spot-winged Glider
Flora:
1. Kristen Cooney – Iris in the Rain
2. Judy Stepanaskie – Witch hazel Phila.
Scenery:
1. Patty Rehn – Tranquility
2. Kristen Cooney – Lunar Eclipse over the Salton Sea
3. Susan Jarnagin – Sunset from the Pelagic
Birders:
1. Brian Quindlen – A Good Day at the Office
2. Linda Widdop – Beach Babes
3. Tanya Burnett – BFFs
DVOC Area:
1. Kein Berkoff – Golden-winged Warbler
2. Christian Scheibe – Curious Junco
3. Doug Wechsler – Purple Sandpiper
Bird of the Year:
1. Doug Wechsler – Chimney Swifts
2. Ed Norman – Great Egret Displays
3. Manuel Dominguez, Jr. – Chimney Swifts in flight
Avocet Award for Artistic Excellence:
Kristen Cooney – Fisher in the Mist
The Steve Kacir Memorial Award for Photographic Achievement:
Martin Dellwo – Where’s the party?
Winner’s PDF: https://dvoc.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/DVOC-Photo-Contest-2025-WInners.pdf
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 PM.