This was a hybrid meeting, broadcast on Zoom.
Call to Order: Patrick McGill
Call to Order: 7:35 PM
Attendees: 21 on Zoom
In person: 26
The last meeting’s minutes were approved unanimously.
Committee Reports
Membership – Patrick McGill for Rebecca Reicherter
We had 3 new applications in July.
Field Trips – 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
Upcoming field trips:
| DATE | TIME | TRIP | LEADER |
| Sept. 19 | 8:30 am – 11:30 am | FDR Park | Robert Karchnyak |
| Sept. 20 | 8:30 am – 11:00 am | Morris Park | Sean Bradley |
| Sept. 20 | 9:00 am – 11:00 am | Schuylkill River Park | Robert Karchnyak |
| Sept. 21 | 10:30 am – 11:30 am | Pastorius Park with Chestnut Hill Library | Sean Bradley |
| Sept. 21 | 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm | Swift Watch at Mifflin School | Sean Bradley |
| Sept. 23 | 7:30 am – 9:00 am | Wednesday Mornings at Lorimer Park / Fox Chase Farm | Linda Widdop |
| Sept. 24 | 8:00 am – 9:30 am | Thursday Bird Walks at Harriet Wetherill Park | Martin Selzer |
| Sept. 26 | 8:00 am – 10:00 am | Bird Walk at The Discovery Center | Robert Karchnyak |
| Sept. 26 | 10:30 am – 12:00 pm | Lovett Memorial Library and Garden | Holger Pflicke |
| Sept. 30 | 7:30 am – 9:00 am | Wednesday Mornings at Lorimer Park / Fox Chase Farm | Linda Widdop |
| Sept. 30 | 4:45 pm – 6:30 pm | Pennypack with NE Regional Library | Holger Pflicke |
| Oct. 1 | 8:00 am – 9:30 am | Thursday Bird Walks at Harriet Wetherill Park | Martin Selzer |
| Oct. 7 | 7:30 am – 9:00 am | Wednesday Mornings at Lorimer Park / Fox Chase Farm | Linda Widdop |
| Oct. 8 | 8:00 am – 9:30 am | Thursday Bird Walks at Harriet Wetherill Park | Martin Selzer |
| Oct. 14 | 7:30 am – 9:00 am | Wednesday Mornings at Lorimer Park / Fox Chase Farm | Linda Widdop |
| Oct. 15 | 8:00 am – 9:30 am | Thursday Bird Walks at Harriet Wetherill Park | Martin Selzer |
| Oct. 21 | 7:30 am – 9:00 am | Wednesday Mornings at Lorimer Park / Fox Chase Farm | Linda Widdop |
| Oct. 22 | 8:00 am – 9:30 am | Thursday Bird Walks at Harriet Wetherill Park | Martin Selzer |
| Oct. 24 | 8:00 am – 10:00 am | Bird Walk at The Discovery Center | Jessica Oxenberg |
| Oct. 28 | 8:00 am – 9:30 am | Thursday Bird Walks at Harriet Wetherill Park | Martin Selzer |
| Oct. 29 | 8:00 am – 10:00 am | Bird Walk at The Discovery Center | Jessica Oxenberg |
Conservation – Patrick for Rob Karchnyak
Reach out to Rob with nominations for the Rosalie Edge Conservation Award. This award goes to one or more non-members of the Club who have made a significant contribution to conservation of the environment.
National Audubon and the American Bird Conservancy have links to sign petitions to prevent the rescinding of the Roadless Rule.
Also the American Bird Conservancy as a link to urge the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to adopt reforms on Menhaden fishing to help Osprey conservation.
Cassinia – Holger Pflicke
No report
Billings – Art McMorris
Go birding!
Announcements
Patrick 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. Reach out to Gregg Gorton with nominations for the Witmer Stone Award. This award goes to one or more DVOC members for the best publication which embodies the results of ornithological research not undertaken in the course of professional duties.The Nominations for the Julian K. Potter Award go to Matt Halley. This award goes to one or more DVOC members who have made an outstanding contribution to field ornithology. The deadline for nominations is September 25th.
Linda Widdop announced that Bird Safe Philly monitors are patrolling the streets for injured/dead birds. The organization received a grant to retrofit buildings across five counties. They are looking for volunteers to help with the retrofitting and if you are aware of a building that could use retrofitting you can reach out to Linda or Bird Safe Philly. It is also cosponsoring a conference regarding the McCormick Building in Chicago.
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.
Local Notes
Martin Dellwo reported that the 51st Street pond near Bartram’s Garden had a Red-necked Phalarope and a Red Knot this summer, along with a nice variety of other shorebirds including Baird’s Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, and Pectoral Sandpiper.
Martin also reported that there was a nightjar hawking insects near 38th and Hamilton in West Philadelphia the night before. The bird made some vocalizations that may point towards it being a Chuck-will’s-widow.
Manny Dominguez had a Connecticut Warbler at Pennypack on the Delaware on Sept. 17th.
Debbie Beer stated that there have been several Bobolinks at Heinz due to the draining of the impoundment. At 51st and Grays Ferry there is an old smokestack with several hundred Chimney Swifts roosting.
Judy Stepenaskie reported seeing Chimney Swifts at the Dobson School.
Martin stated that Anne Becker had Common Merganser with babies in Manayunk.
Programs – Patrick McGill
Dr. Louise Moncla (In person) – Reconstructing the ecology & evolution of North American avian influenza viruses.
Evening Program
Dr. Lorna Gibson (Remote) – Fantastic Feathers: Form and Function
Dr. Lorna Gibson gave a presentation on her latest book Birds Up Close: An Engineer Explores Their Hidden Wonders, describing how birds work from an engineering perspective. She discussed the physical properties of feathers including how colors are displayed on the micro level, and how they insulate against cold temperatures and repel water.
Gallery
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 9:10PM.