[DVOC] Weekly Digest - Number 08-14 - 3/30/08

Sun Mar 30 13:33:17 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 April 4, 7:30 pm, at the Academy of Natural Sciences,
Philadelphia PA
Program - David Errol Pattemore, "On the brink: Conservation of Endemic New
Zealand Birds"
New Zealand has been long separated from other land masses and the bird
fauna evolved in the absence of ground-dwelling mammals. Since the arrival
of humans and associated mammal pests around 1000 years ago, 42% of endemic
bird species have become extinct and a further 26 species are currently
listed as 'Nationally Critical'. New Zealand's birds are largely unique and
exhibit several common curious features such as extreme longevity,
flightlessness and gigantism. The conservation of New Zealand's unique birds
has involved dramatic and innovative techniques to bring populations back
from the very brink of extinction. In this talk David will introduce you to
some of New Zealand's weird and wonderful birds (including detail on the
kakapo recovery program), describe the continued threats to their existence
and detail the steps that are being taken to ensure that someday, even you
may get a chance to see them. 
Ornithological Study - New North American Birds: Expert Predictions and
Actuality - Colin Campbell

Raising Money for the DVOC Conservation Fund - World Series of Birding
Donation/Pledge Form
The World Series of Birding is only 6 weeks away. The WSB is the Club's
fundraising activity for conservation funds. Information on what raised
money will be used for this year is available at
http://www.dvoc.org/Misc/Donating.htm
Download the Pledge/Donation form at
http://www.dvoc.org/WSB/WSB2008/2008WSBPledge.pdf
Information on DVOC's team - the Nikon/DVOC Lagerhead Shrikes is available
at http://www.dvoc.org/WSB/WSB.htm

Upcoming Field Trips: (Details and directions at  <http://www.dvoc.org>
www.dvoc.org under "Field Trips") 
Sunday April 13 - John Heinz NWR at Tinicum, PA
Highlights possible include Wood Duck, Northern Shoveler, Bufflehead, Great
Egret, Northern Harrier, Bald Eagle, Osprey, Great Horned Owl, Hairy
Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Tree Swallow, Rough-winged Swallow,
Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher,
Brown Thrasher, Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Warbler, Palm
Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Fox Sparrow, Field
Sparrow and Rusty Blackbird.
Meet at: Cusano Environmental Education Center at 8601 Lindbergh Blvd,
Philadelphia at 8AM 
Leader: Denis Brennan
Sunday April 20 - Riverwinds and National Park Dredge Spoils, NJ
A spring morning is planned at Riverwinds and later at the National Park Red
Bank Dredge Spoils, both adjacent to Philadelphia in Gloucester County. Jeff
has personally seen over 130 species at Riverwinds alone and the dredge
spoils is an excellent place for over wintering waterfowl and nesting marsh
species. Targets for the morning will be early migrants and nesting
bitterns, rails, Moorhen, Coot and Pied-billed Grebe. Meet at 7AM at
Riverwinds
Leader: Jeff Holt
Saturday April 26 - Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Rail Trip, DE
We'll be listening for night birds along Dutch Neck Rd from 3:30 am until
the birds stop calling. We'll spend the hours before sunrise listening for
calling Sora, Virginia Rail, King Rail, Marsh Wren and Sedge Wren at the
1000 Acre Marsh and Grier's Pond. Depending on our success, we may try some
additional night birding in the area. After the sun has risen, an optional
extension to the trip will involve birding our way south to Bombay Hook NWR
or hitting Salem County in NJ. Though not completely necessary, tall boots
may be good to have on hand. Please bring insect repellant, as Grier's Pond
is infested with Deer Ticks. Please make all efforts to contact Steve Kacir
if you plan on attending.
Leader: Steve Kacir

DVOC Website Page of the Week
http://www.dvoc.org/DelValBirding/MonthlyBirding/April.htm - April birding
recommendations

Interesting Link
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7314240.stm submitted by Colin
Campbell

Recent Website Enhancements 
Pedricktown Field Trip Report
Summary of Pedricktown Field Trips
Barnegat Photography Field Trip Report (new pictures)
Delaware Valley RBA
Gregg Gorton Personal Page (new member)
Mark Cary Personal Page (new member)
Kathleen Klusman Personal Page (new member)
Garr Novick Personal Page (new member)
Winter 1992-93 Larus
Fall 1993 Larus
Autumn 1999 Larus

Items Available for Purchase at DVOC Meetings
DVOC car window stickers - $1 each
DVOC patches - $1 each (limited supply)
"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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