[DVOC] Weekly Digest - Number 08-22 - 5/25/08

Sun May 25 16:56:53 PDT 2008

The Delaware Valley Ornithological Club  (DVOC) Weekly Digest

Interesting TV News Story

A report on Peregrine Falcons on area bridges featuring DVOC Secretary Art
McMorris

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local
<http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=6162388>
&id=6162388 

Upcoming Field Trips: (Details and directions at  <http://www.dvoc.org>
www.dvoc.org under "Field Trips")

May 29 - June 1 (Thursday - Sunday) –North Carolina “Surf & Turf
Specialties”, Manteo, NC 

New in 2008

Based out of Manteo, North Carolina, for 3 nights, we are lucky enough to be
within easy reach of barrier islands, southern swamps, pinelands and the
Gulf Stream. The idea of this trip is to take 2 pelagics (Friday May 30 and
Sunday June 1) at the peak of seabird migration and spend the day in between
taking advantage of the excellent nearby land birding at Alligator River NWR
and Palmetto Peartree Preserve. Here we’ll look for southern breeders such
as Prothonotary and Swainson’s Warbler, Brown-headed Nuthatch and
Red-cockaded Woodpecker. Commonly occurring seabirds include Black-caped
Petrel, Band-rumped and Leach’s Strom-Petrel, shearwaters and terns and this
is the best location to find a rare Herald, Fea’s or Bermuda Petrel. We will
also spend an evening listening for rails. 

Space is limited. Carpooling. Shared expenses. The cost of the 2 pelagics is
$270 ($135 each). Hotel rooms have been blocked out for us. 

To sign up: You must FIRST register for the pelagic May 30 and June 1 with
Paul Guris at info at paulagics.com ; then SECOND contact Adrian Binns at
wildlifeGd at aol.com to confirm that you will be joining the trip. Adrian will
then discuss travel and accommodation arrangements and send you all the trip
details. 

Leaders: Adrian Binns (land) and Paul Guris (sea) 

June 6-8 (Friday to Sunday) – Weekend at Camp Susquehannock in NE PA

New in 2008

This trip will stay in cabins at Camp Susquehannock (run by Win Shafer) and
will concentrate on birding the hot spots in Susquehanna County. We will be
based at the camp on 1100 acres and will also visit a number of locations in
the county possibly including Salt Spring State Park (only about 7 miles
away) that has a beautiful gorge with waterfalls and virgin hemlock forest;
Florence Shelly Preserve (in Wayne County to the east of camp about 25-30
miles); Woodbourne Forest Sanctuary (in Dimock about 18-20 miles) listed on
the PA Susquehanna River Birding Trail; and High Point Preserve at Silver
Lake. 

We will carpool up to the camp on Fri afternoon (about 2 ¾ hrs) and bird Sat
and Sun mornings with options for a variety of trips each afternoon
including possibly helping with some PA Breeding Bird Atlas block busting.
There is also an option for those who wish to stay on for an extra day or
two for additional block busting. Lodging and some meals will be provided by
the camp free of charge. 

Target birds include breeding Bobolinks, Winter Wrens, a good variety of
breeding warblers including Blackburnian and Magnolia and possibly
Grasshopper Sparrows. We may also do some evening owling. 

Full details on a flyer later. Please let Win Shafer know in advance if you
plan to attend. 

Leader: Win Shafer. Our guides for the weekend will be Nancy Wottrich and
Bruce McNaught. Nancy and Bruce are former members of Bucks County Audubon
and Bruce was the Director there for 25 years. 

Upcoming Meeting (Details and directions at  <http://www.dvoc.org/>
www.dvoc.org)
Thursday June 5, 7:30 pm, at the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia
PA

Program - Frank Windfelder -“My Philly Big Year in 2007”

Frank writes: "Late in 2006, I decided to do a Philadelphia Big Year in
2007. Boy, I didn’t know what I was getting into. Birding practically every
day in the city earned me 233 species, eight above Johnny Miller’s 1966
record. Along the way, I saw great birds and met a lot of wonderful people."

World Series/May Run reports (no Ornithological Study)

"Big Day/May Run Reports - this is a DVOC tradition - get your team
together, pick a date and location, and see how many birds you can find in a
24-hour period. 

Planning for the Meeting of June 5
Did you do a Big Day / May Run this month? This includes participation in
the NJ World Series of Birding or any other Big Day you may have undertaken,
including youth events.

Frank Windfelder take your results any way he can get them. But it would be
easier if you would fill out the attached spreadsheet and email it to Frank
(fwindfelder AT yahoo.com <mailto:fwindfelder at yahoo.com> ) as an attachment.

Results will be discussed at the beginning of the DVOC meeting on June 5th.

World Series / Conservation Pledges and Donations (this was sent as a
separate message on Saturday 5/24)

A message from Conservation Chairperson Debbie Beer

.

Now is the time to send in your donations and WSB pledges, to support DVOC's
annual conservation project.  The Nikon/DVOC Lagerhead Shrikes have done
their part, finding 229 species and winning first place in the 2008 World
Series of Birding. 

While the thrill of competition may have been the driving factor on the big
day, the ultimate satisfaction comes from raising money to support a local
conservation project.  This year DVOC is thrilled to support the SAW-WHET
OWL BANDING PROJECT on the Kittatiny Mountain Ridge, headed by Scott
Weidensaul and run through the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art in
Dauphin County, PA.  The project operates with over 100 volunteers
contributing 6,000 person-hours per year, banding 200-900 Saw-Whets each
season.  Many DVOC members are involved in the Saw-Whet Owl Banding project,
in different capacities.  In addition, WSB money will support a second
ornithological intern at the Academy of Natural Sciences.  Last but not
least, DVOC committed to purchasing mist nets with WSB conservation monies
for banders Tom Bailey and Hannah Struthers.

Your donations have a significant, positive impact on these Conservation
projects.  Please be generous, and spread the word to friends and
colleagues.  The WSB "Pledge" form can be downloaded from the DVOC website,
http://www.dvoc.com/WSB/WSB2008/2008WSBPledge.pdf, to accompany donations.
Or make a check payable to "DVOC," and mail to Bert Filemyr, DVOC Treasurer,
1314 Lenore Road, Meadowbrook, PA  19046. Contributions to the DVOC
Conservation Fund are tax-deductible as permitted by law.

Interesting Non-Club Field Trip

Field Trip Chairperson Adrian Binns calls our attention to

.

New Jersey Audubon's Sandy Hook Observatory is pleased to announce a special
field trip to Lakehurst Naval Air Engineering Station on Wednesday June 18,
2008 from 8 am to 1 pm.  The base hosts some of New Jersey’s rarest
grassland species and is normally off-limits to the public.  Breeding
species we can expect to see at Lakehurst include Upland Sandpiper, Horned
Lark, Grasshopper Sparrow, and Eastern Meadowlark.  In recent years very
rare breeders such as Vesper and Henslow's Sparrows have occurred.  The base
also hosts interesting botany and butterflies. The tour is limited to 25
people and strictly open only to U.S. Citizens with proper identification.
Cost is $20 per person.  Trip leaders are Pete Bacinski, Scott Barnes, Linda
Mack, and Rick Radis.  For more information and to register contact SHBO at
<mailto:shbo at njaudubon.org> shbo at njaudubon.org or 732-872-2500.

Website Enhancements This Week

December 1984 Interim Larus

Winter 1985 Larus

Fall 1985 Larus

Keller's Gloucester County Big Year

Southern Delaware Field Trip Report

Gloucester County Field Trip Report

Ridley Creek Field Trip Report 

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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