This was a hybrid meeting, broadcast on Zoom.
Call to Order: Navin Sasikumar
Call to Order: 7:30 PM
Attendees: 19 on Zoom
In person: 14
The last meeting’s minutes were approved unanimously.
Committee Reports
Membership – Patrick McGill for Rebecca Reicherter
We had 1 new application since the last meeting.
Field Trips – Peter Hamner for Linda Widdop
Fall migration is heating up and there are a lot of walks available. If you wish to lead a field trip, contact Linda: linda@techimpact.org.
| DATE | TIME | TRIP | LEADER |
| Oct. 22 | 8:00 am – 9:30 am | Thursday Bird Walks at Harriet Wetherill Park | Martin Selzer |
| Oct. 22 | 4:45 pm – 6:30 pm | Pennypack Park with Holmesburg Library | Holger Pflicke |
| Oct. 24 | 8:00 am – 10:00 am | Bird Walk at The Discovery Center | Jessica Oxenberg |
| Oct. 24 | 10:30 am – 11:30 am | Penn Treaty Park with Fishtown Community Library | Holger Pflicke |
| Oct. 25 | 8:30 am – 10:00 am | Robert A. Borski Jr. Park | Holger Pflicke |
| Oct. 28 | 7:30 am – 9:00 am | Wednesday Mornings at Lorimer Park/Fox Chase Farm | Linda Widdop |
| Oct. 28 | 8:00 am – 9:30 am | Thursday Bird Walks at Harriet Wetherill Park | Martin Selzer |
| Dec. 5 | 8:00 am – 10:00 am | Bird Walk at The Discovery Center | Navin Sasikumar |
Conservation – Navin for Rob Karchnyak
City residents should contact the three City Council members Nina Ahmad, Jeffery Young, and Rue Landau for their support in replicating the recent ordinance in Hoboken, NJ, to prevent bird collisions.
Cassinia – Holger Pflicke
No report
Billings – Art McMorris
Go birding!
Announcements
Patrick McGill announced that there will be a BirdPhilly weekend with lots of events Oct. 9, 10th, and 11th. And there will be the Big Sit that same weekend at John Heinz.
The Annual Banquet will be October 23rd with guest speaker Aaron Coolman at 6:30 pm discussing Northern Saw-whet Owls. Tickets are available online and please register beforehand.
Debbie Beer announced that there is a special referendum in Delaware County regarding a tax increase for protecting land and water resources.
Member Jesse Grantham and his wife have offered to sell two prints by Pennsylvania artist A.J. Rudisill through the club, with the proceeds going to DVOC Bird Conservation projects. More information is available in the Weekly Digest.
The Wild Bird Research Group is running their second annual Wings Over Mercer competition event October 3rd in Mercer County, NJ.
The Club is currently trying to determine where future meetings will take place if the Academy is closed. They will continue at the Academy for the time being.
Patrick stated that the members’ photo contest will take place at the December 17th meeting and the bird of the year is the Cedar Waxwing.
Local Notes
Martin Dellwo announced that Will Salmon found a Sedge Wren at Pennypack on the Delaware.
Peter Hamner noted that there was a Philadelphia Vireo and Connecticut Warbler seen at FDR park.
Bob Horton had Buff–breasted Sandpipers at the Sod Farms in New Jersey.
Martin Dellwo stated that a Common Ringed Plover was at 2 mile Landing in Cape May, NJ.
Linda Rowan had two Common Ravens fly over their yard in Levittown, Bucks County, PA.
Sean Bradley heard a brown thrasher at The Discovery Center. He also saw four warbler species, including American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, and Northern Parula, as well as heard a Golden-crowned Kinglet and a Swainson’s Thrush. On Sep. 29th, he saw 2 Common Nighthawks fly over near the intersection of Henry Avenue and Walnut Street. He also heard a raven at The Discovery Center.
Stan Kozakowski reported a Nelson’s Sparrow at Wissahickon Waterfowl Preserve in Ambler, PA.
Manny Dominguez had about 300 Brown-headed Cowbirds and over 200 Common Grackles this morning at the navy yard.
Marty also had a Hooded Warbler at the Houston Meadow retention pond, as well as a Gray-cheeked Thrush.
Programs – Patrick McGill
The Annual Banquet will take place October 23rd. Guest speaker Aaron Coolman will be giving a talk on the life history of Northern Saw-whet Owls and guide us through his ongoing saw-whet research.
Evening Program
Dr. Louise Moncla (In person) – Reconstructing the ecology & evolution of North American avian influenza viruses.
Dr. Moncla gave a talk on how the North American avian influenza viruses have evolved, how the viruses transmit across populations, and how their research can improve surveillance and public health responses.
Gallery
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 9:10PM.