[DVOC] Weekly Digest - Number 08-36 - 8/31/08

Sun Aug 31 15:55:25 PDT 2008

The Delaware Valley Ornithological Club  (DVOC) Weekly Digest 

Upcoming Meeting (Details and directions at  <http://www.dvoc.org/>
www.dvoc.org)

This Thursday September 4, 2008 - 7:30 pm 
Informal Summer Meeting
Held at the Silver Lake Nature Center, Bristol, PA 
Directions and a map are on the club website
There will be an informal 6:00 pm dinner gathering at the Golden Eagle Diner
Agenda: (Additional presentations are still being sought. Contact
<http://www.dvoc.org/Personnel/Windfelder.htm> Frank Windfelder if you are
interested.)
1. 20 minute presentation: Frank Windfelder, "What I did this summer - this
will bug you!"
2. Come to the meeting and tell us about your adventures over the summer -
everyone will get a turn - if you want to submit a couple of digital photos
to amplify your stories, send them to
<http://www.dvoc.org/../../Personnel/Windfelder.htm> Frank Windfelder - save
some shots for the DVOC Photo Contest in December
Club member Linda Rowan is willing to walk with people on the trails at
Silver Lake on Thursday night before the meeting, weather permitting.  

Anyone who is interested to contact Linda by email at lrowan at localnet.com or
215-785-3632 - home.  She will have her cell on that evening.  That number
is 215-518-4464.

There are picnic tables under a roof behind the garage for anyone who would
like to bring something to eat before the walk.

2008 Conservation Funds

At the February 1, 2008 Council meeting Debbie Beer moved, and Bert Filemyr
seconded, the following motion:

(1) That the first $400 raised be committed to Tom Bailey and Hannah Suthers
($200 each) for their banding projects,

(2) That the next $1,000 be committed to the Academy to support a second
summer intern for the Bird Department for the summer of 2008, and

(3) That all remaining funds raised by the 2008 WSB team be committed to
Scott Weidensaul and the Ned Smith Center for their Saw-whet Owl project.

The motion passed unanimously

As of August 25, 2008, $3607.55 has been donated by members and non members

To fulfill item #1

$200 was distributed to Tom Bailey on 8/12/08

$200 was distributed to Hannah Suthers on 8/12/08

To fulfill item #2

On 8/13/08 Nate Rice reported that he cannot use the funds this year.
(Comment: This was a one year commitment. The Academy's inability to use
this year's commitment does not affect the 2007 commitment of $1000 for each
of three years. One of these years has been distributed and the club is
holding the other $2000 until the Academy can use the monies)

To fulfill item #3

                $3207.55 was distributed to the Ned Smith Center for Nature
and Art in support of their Saw-whet Owl research

Note

(a) Any additional 2008 conservation monies that are received will be
forwarded to the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art

Interesting Link

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/26/science/26crow.html?_r=3
<http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/26/science/26crow.html?_r=3&oref=slogin&oref
=slogin&oref=slogin> &oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin  - Submitted by
Scott Fraiser

DVOC Hats!

There have been no DVOC hats for sale for some time now. But...a new supply
is being ordered! Yea!

Upcoming Event at Tinicum
The Fifth Annual "Cradle of Birding" Wildlife & Conservation Festival will
be held at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum on Saturday,
September 20th, 2008.  The featured speaker is Paul Baicich, the former
editor of Birding magazine.  Several DVOC members are leading workshops and
a bird-a-thon.

Details at
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/heinz/Cradle%20of%20Birding%202008-Full%20Agend
a.htm 

Website Access Issues

You might have experienced a problem accessing our club website this past
Wednesday. There was an issue with the host server that has been resolved.
People accessing the start page http://www.dvoc.org  (the page with one
rotating picture and the word Enter") probably experienced the problem. If
you access the main page (the one with the meetings, field trips, etc) you
probably did not experience the problem. If you are still having problems,
clear your browser's cache of temp files. That should fix things.

Upcoming Field Trips
September 8 (Monday) - Manayunk Swift Roost - Philadelphia, PA

In autumn migration, huge numbers of Chimney Swifts roost in chimneys of
certain schools in the Roxborough/Manayunk area. The best site this year
seems to be the chimney of John Story Jenks School at 8310 Germantown Avenue
in Philadelphia (Germantown and Southampton Avenues in Chestnut Hill). The
birds have been going down the chimney just before dark, so people should
get there around 6:45 PM when the birds begin to gather. There is some
street parking behind the school, as well as a parking lot (free in the
evening) next to the Verizon building across Germantown Avenue from the
school. Swifts can be viewed from the rear of the school playground or from
across Germantown Avenue near Southampton. Jane will be in the playground.

This is a joint field trip with the Wyncote Audubon Society

Location of the John Story Jenks Elementary School

Check the website for reports from previous years and an Ornithological
Study about Chimney Swifts

September 14 (Sunday) - John Heinz NWR at Tinicum , PA

For Bald Eagle, lingering shorebirds, Blue-winged Teal, Bobolink and fall
warblers - Northern Parula, Yellow Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Black-throated
Blue Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Palm Warbler, Black and White
Warbler, Redstart...... Meet at 8 AM at the Cusano Environmental Education
Center 

Leader: Denis Brennan

Check the website for reports from previous years

A New and Special Field Trip!
Birding and Sailing in the Antilles:

In the footsteps of James Bond (former DVOC member)

Bob Horton and Vincent Nichnadowicz will lead a ten-day birding by sail trip
to the Caribbean in mid-January, 2009. Using a chartered boat from either
Antigua or St. Vincent to explore several islands such as Barbuda, Nevis,
Guadeloupe, St. Lucia and/or Montserrat. The boat will be either a sloop or
a catamaran depending on the size of the group and will be our home as we
travel. Days will be a mix of sailing, sea and land bird watching and
snorkeling. Emphasis will be on endemic Caribbean birds as well as wintering
birds. A good field guide is Herbert Raffaele's Birds of the West Indies.
Costs will be approximately $1,000.00 plus airfare and food for self
catering.

Bob is a former US Coast Guard member who spent a lot of time sailing his
Corinthian in the NY/NJ area. Vincent has sailed and captained boats in the
Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Group will be limited to four to eight people and will determine boat size
and itinerary. Sailing experience is not needed but a desire for adventure
is. Please contact Bob at (609)865-9941.

Items Available for Purchase at DVOC Meetings

DVOC car window stickers - $1 each
"Birders Conservation Handbook: 100 North American Birds at Risk" by Dr.
Jeff Wells - only $25 (limited supply)

"Song of the Blue Ocean" by Dr. Carl Safina - signed by author - A $17 value
now only $12 (limited supply)

____________________________________________________________________________
________________________
Report Your Sightings to the Delaware Valley RBA
The Delaware Valley RBA is posted on Thursday evenings at
<http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm>
http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm
It is also available at 215 240 7547
Report your sightings to  <mailto:rba at dvoc.com> rba at dvoc.com or 215 240 7547
The general guidelines of what to report are on the Delaware Valley Rare
Bird Alert Page -  <http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm>
http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm

Merchandise Available!
Both DVOC merchandise and Nikon/DVOC Lagerhead Shrikes merchandise are
available at our on-line store. 
 <http://www.cafepress.com/nikondvoc> http://www.cafepress.com/nikondvoc
 <http://www.cafepress.com/dvoc> http://www.cafepress.com/dvoc

Information on the Club and Club activities are at  <http://www.dvoc.org>
www.dvoc.org

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