This was a hybrid meeting, broadcast on Zoom. We had a speaker and a live audience in the BEES classroom and the meeting was broadcast on Zoom.
Call to Order: President Barb Bassett
Call to Order: 7:31 PM
Attendees: In person – 9 On Zoom – 11
The minutes from the last meeting were approved.
Committee Reports
Field Trips – Linda Widdop
If you wish to lead a field trip, contact Linda: linda@techimpact.org
Upcoming field trips:
| DATE | TIME | TRIP | LEADER |
| Mar 9 | 8:30 – 10:30 | Pennypack on the Delaware | Holger Pflicke |
| Mar 23 | 8:00 – 10:30 | Tacony Creek Park | Holger Pflicke |
| Apr 2 | 7:30 – 9:00 | Wednesday Spring Bird Walks at Lorimer Park & Fox Chase Farm | Linda Widdop |
| Apr 3 | 8:00 – 10:00 | Thursday Mornings at Wetherill Park (Montco) | Martin Selzer |
| Apr 9 | 7:30 – 9:00 | Wednesday Spring Bird Walks at Lorimer Park & Fox Chase Farm | Linda Widdop |
| Apr 10 | 8:00 – 10:00 | Thursday Mornings at Wetherill Park (Montco) | Martin Selzer |
| Apr 16 | 7:30 – 9:00 | Wednesday Spring Bird Walks at Lorimer Park & Fox Chase Farm | Linda Widdop |
| Apr 17 | 8:00 – 10:00 | Thursday Mornings at Wetherill Park (Montco) | Martin Selzer |
| Apr 17 | 7:00 – 8:30 | Independence Hall Spring Bird Walks | George Armistead |
| Apr 22 | 3:00 – 5:30 | Birding for Wellness: Forest Bathing with Birds | Holly Merker |
| Apr 23 | 7:30 – 9:00 | Wednesday Spring Bird Walks at Lorimer Park & Fox Chase Farm | Linda Widdop |
| Apr 24 | 8:00 – 10:00 | Thursday Mornings at Wetherill Park (Montco) | Martin Selzer |
| Apr 24 | 7:00 – 8:30 | Independence Hall Spring Bird Walks | George Armistead |
| Apr 30 | 7:30 – 9:00 | Wednesday Spring Bird Walks at Lorimer Park & Fox Chase Farm | Linda Widdop |
| May 1 | 7:30 – 10:00 | Thursday Mornings at Wetherill Park (Montco) | Martin Selzer |
| May 1 | 7:00 – 8:30 | Independence Hall Spring Bird Walks | George Armistead |
| May 7 | 7:30 – 9:00 | Wednesday Spring Bird Walks at Lorimer Park & Fox Chase Farm | Linda Widdop |
| May 8 | 7:30 – 10:00 | Thursday Mornings at Wetherill Park (Montco) | Martin Selzer |
| May 14 | 7:30 – 9:00 | Wednesday Spring Bird Walks at Lorimer Park & Fox Chase Farm | Linda Widdop |
| May 15 | 7:30 – 10:00 | Thursday Mornings at Wetherill Park (Montco) | Martin Selzer |
| May 21 | 7:30 – 9:00 | Wednesday Spring Bird Walks at Lorimer Park & Fox Chase Farm | Linda Widdop |
| May 22 | 7:30 – 10:00 | Thursday Mornings at Wetherill Park (Montco) | Martin Selzer |
| May 28 | 7:30 – 9:00 | Wednesday Spring Bird Walks at Lorimer Park & Fox Chase Farm | Linda Widdop |
Membership – Barb Bassett for Rebecca Reicherter
4 new members
Conservation – Perri Strawn and Robert Karchnyak
Rob and Perri spoke about the tree plan hearing with the new chair of the Committee on the Environment, Jamie Gauthier. DVOC submitted written statements, and Rob was there in person, presenting a statement on the benefits of trees and birds. He invited Councilperson Jamie Gauthier to join DVOC on a bird walk and she accepted. The main takeaways from the hearing were that the promised budget had been rescinded by the new administration, but they were still hopeful to get funds in other ways. Rob mentioned that Councilperson Gauthier seemed genuinely concerned about trees and the equity of the tree canopy around the city.
Billings – Art McMorris
DVOC congratulates Manny Dominguez, the winner of the 2024 Bob Billings Big Year Award. Manny saw 283 species of birds in the DVOC program area in 2024, including three species new to the count. The award will be presented to Manny at a DVOC meeting on March 20, with members of Bob Billings’s family present, and Manny will give us a brief talk about his big year effort. Art asked for a good turnout for the dinner and the meeting.
Art also mentioned that a new Composite Bird List is available. A composite of the PA, NJ and DE official state bird lists, updated with the most recent changes in the official state lists, has been posted on the Bob Billings Big Year page of the DVOC Website. The list is provided as a convenience for people participating in the Bob Billings Big Year competition and for anyone interested in having the three states’ official lists in one place.
Cassinia – Holger Pflicke
No report.
Communications – Navin Sasikumar
No report.
Announcements
Barb Bassett announced that the recent Dinos After Dark at the Academy was a success. Rob, Perri, Barb, Navin and Manny worked the table and spoke to many attendees about the club.
Navin Sasikumar announced City Nature Challenge is happening on April 25 – 28th,
Rob Karchnyak announced that he will be at The Woodlands on April 26 for a bioblitz sponsored by Green Philly.
Linda Rowan announced Silver Lake Nature Center at 1306 Bath Rd. in Bristol, Bucks County, PA has started their spring bird walks. The walks meet Saturday at 7:30 AM weather permitting at the Nature Center parking lot.
Holly Merker reminded folks about the Birding for Wellness Series starting in April, Accessible Mindful Birding on Sunday the 13th and Forest Bathing with Birds on Earth Day – details on the DVOC field trips page!
Manny Dominguez announced that the Pennsylvania Bird Atlas recently revised the breeding/migration dates for 17 species.
Local Notes
Barb Bassett at Green Lane Park in Montgomery County had a male Canvasback (Walt Rd), 4 male Redheads (Knight/Deep Creek Lakes). She also mentioned Scoters, Northern Gannets, Long-tailed Ducks, and Red-throated Loons moving off Cape May.
Rob Karchnyak had fighting Common Ravens up in Warrington, Bucks County.
Linda Widdop had American Kestrel at Fox Chase Farms and is hoping they will breed there.
Martin Dellwo had Tufted Titmice singing in Rittenhouse Square. He also had White-breasted Nuthatches, and had not recently seen the adult or immature Cooper’s Hawks.
Bert Filemyr noted that at Bombay Hook, Wick’s Potato Farm he had a rough count of 120 Tundra Swan.
New member April Marinell noted that she had an American Kestrel in the Pennsport area near 3rd and Moyamensing in Philadelphia.
Programs – Navin Sasikumar
Next meeting will be on March 20, featuring Maria Andreina Pacheco & Violet Lange – giving a talk on “The Evolution of Haemosporidian Parasites in Birds and the Timing of Radiation of Passeriformes”
Evening Program
Nicole Jackson (remote) From Birds to Balance: Finding Peace in Nature
Nicole Jackson gave a splendid talk about her personal journey in birding. Starting with how she got interested in birds to what brought her to working on field research projects. She spoke about how birds reminded her of herself in how they are adaptable and how they create their own paths through the world.
Nicole spoke about how she uses birding to escape into nature, as well her passion for getting people from underserved communities connected to the wonders of the natural world. She also discussed how important representation is in birding, whether you are studying birds as a profession or as a hobby.
At the end of her talk, she showcased some of her bird and nature photography.
Adjournment
After the presentation and some questions, the meeting was adjourned at 9:00pm.