This was a hybrid meeting, broadcast on Zoom.
Call to Order: Navin Sasikumar
Call to Order: 7:30 PM
Attendees: 25 on Zoom
In person: 20
The last meeting’s minutes were approved unanimously.
Committee Reports
Membership – Rebecca Reicherter
No report.
Field Trips – Linda Widdop
If you wish to lead a field trip, contact Linda: linda@techimpact.org
Upcoming field trips:
| DATE | TIME | TRIP | LEADER |
| March 7 | 10:30am – 12:00pm | Winter Gulls at Glen Foerd | Holger Pflicke |
| March 15 | 8:30 pm – 10:30 pm | Pennypack on the Delaware | Holger Pflicke |
| March 21 | 8:30am – 11:00 am | Tacony Creek Park | Holger Pflicke |
| March 25 | 4:45am – 6:45am | Pennypack Park with NE Regional Library | Holger Pflicke |
Conservation – Perri Strawn
Rob Karchnyak, Jason Hall and Keith Russell met with City Councilmember Cindy Bass to advocate that Philly become a Bird Town, which helps with conservation efforts. They are planning to meet again next month.
The FDR Park case is set for trial in April and this may stop the construction at the park.
Bird Safe Philly is being recognized for its work and is receiving money to be used for retrofitting buildings through a three-year National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant. Please reach out to Perri Strawn if you know of buildings that are bird killers. It is also a matching grant against volunteer hours.
Billings – Art McMorris
Art McMorris stated a date is being worked out for Christian Shiebe to give a presentation to the club.
Cassinia – Holger Pflicke
No report.
Announcements
George announced the American Birding Association community weekend will take place from May 22-25 in Philadelphia with gathering points, social happy hour and bird walks.
Navin Sasikumar reported that the City Nature Challenge will be April 24-27th and that it is “not a competition this year ”. The challenge is a bioblitz and the local area includes Philadelphia and its bordering counties. This is a worldwide challenge with hundreds of cities across the globe participating.
Local Notes
Linda Widdop had a Dickcissel at her patio feeder on the 13th.
George Armistead has had an influx of Purple Finch the last couple days at his house.
Manny Dominguez reported a Tufted Duck and Common Chaffinch in Montgomery County.
Peter Hamner had two Sandhill Cranes fly over the parking lot at Heinz.
Programs – Patrick McGill
The March 5th meeting will be a hybrid meeting with Ian Gray giving a talk on the work of the Wild Bird Research Group.
Evening Program
George Armistead (in-person) – Real Birds Eat Squid: The Spirit of Seabirds
George Armistead discussed the awe-inspiring seabirds that feed at night on squid, detailing their lives and habits. The talk also included information and stories from George’s pelagic birding experiences.
Gallery
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 PM.