[DVOC] Weekly Digest - Number 09-15 - 4/12/09

Sun Apr 12 17:25:40 PDT 2009

The Delaware Valley Ornithological Club  (DVOC) Weekly Digest 

Upcoming Meeting

This Thursday April 16, 7:30 pm at the Academy of Natural Sciences

Program - Andy Smith, "Ten Million Years and Still Going: Sandhill Cranes on
the Platte River and Elsewhere."

Each year 500,000 Sandhill Cranes or eighty percent of the North American
population gather on the Platte River in Nebraska before heading North to
breeding grounds. The spectacle of their leaving the river at dawn to go to
the surrounding corn fields and returning at dusk is amazing to behold as
thousands of birds fill the sky. Millions of waterfowl and at times Whooping
Cranes also use the region as a stopping point during migration.

Ornithological Study - "Glass: Reducing Bird Strikes" - Phil Witmer

Upcoming Field Trips  

April 18 (Saturday) - COASTAL DELAWARE

Looking for early migrants and lingering winter visitors. We will begin in
new Castle County and head south into Kent County. Bring lunch and scopes.
Contact leader the week before for meeting time and place.
lynnjackson at comcast.net 

This is a joint field trip with Wyncote Audubon. 

Leader: Lynn Jackson 

April 19 (Sunday) - 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

April 25 (Saturday) - BOMBAY HOOK NWR PHOTOGRAPHY FIELD TRIP

New in 2009

This field trip will focus on photographing early breeders, overwintering
birds and early migrants at Bombay Hook NWR. All data accumulated will be
entered in the Delaware Breeding Bird Atlas project, but we'll focus a lot
of time on photographing the refuge and its wildlife. We won't necessarily
look for any specific species, but will try to find wildlife engaged in
interesting behaviors at distances that will allow us to compose some good
photographs. Whether you're new to photography or a pro, you're welcome on
this trip. I will be shooting almost exclusively with a Digital SLR and
300mm lens. Digiscopers and more traditional photographers are both welcome,
and we'll do our best to find some subjects for everyone. If interested,
contact Steve Kacir and let him know whether you'll be digiscoping or just
using a camera. Some information about your lens will also help in planning
our approach to this trip. In case of foul weather the trip will be
rescheduled. The trip will run all day, but we'll probably break for a hot
lunch.

Field Trip meeting place: Refuge Headquarters Parking Lot

Meeting Time: 7:30am

Leader: Steve Kacir

2008 Conservation/World Series of Birding Fundraising

DVOC is pleased to support the "Willistown Conservation Trust Bird Banding
Station in Rushton Preserve" as our 2009 Conservation project.  The proceeds
from our World Series of Birding team fundraising will be donated to WCT for
this project.  See our Conservation section for more details, and send in
your pledge form now.  Our winning DVOC team Nikon/Lagerhead Shrikes has
begun preparing for the big event, and we appreciate your support!

More information is at http://www.dvoc.org/Misc/Donating.htm

The 2009 Pledge/Donation form is at
http://www.dvoc.org/WSB/WSB2009/2009WSB_PledgeForm.pdf 

Call for Larus Articles

Larus Editor Jason Loghry needs timely articles as he is putting together
the upcoming edition of our newsletter. If you have material, please contact
him at jasonloghry at gmail.com He is looking for columns, reports, bulletins,
stories, news, bios, Q&A, etc

Franklin Institute Red-tailed Hawk Webcam

At the last meeting it was mentioned that a webcam has been set up at the
Franklin Institute to show a nesting pair of Red-tailed Hawks. The address
of this web cam is http://www2.fi.edu/hawknest.php (There is no artificial
lighting on the nest so if you check this at night you will not see
anything)

News From Club Member Win Shafer as He Hikes and Birds the Appalachian Trail

Win Shafer is hiking the Appalachian Trail from Springer Mountain, Georgia
to Mount Katahdin, Maine.  He left with his son in early March, and hopes to
finish thru-hiking the A.T. this summer - crossing 14 states, covering 2,175
miles.  Win reports on, April 6, "We just passed the 400-mile mark this
morning.  Weather has been great overall, but today we hiked through rain,
sleet and snow in temps falling through the 30's with high winds.
Fortunately tonight we are warm and cozy in a motel in Elizabethton, TN,
waiting to watch the basketball game.  Birds are starting to pick up as
migration begins.  Had my first migrant warbler a few days ago
(Black-throated Green Warbler) and a pair of Vesper Sparrows yesterday.
Lots of juncos, winter wrens, and brown creepers (all singing).  Also lots
of woodpeckers.  Amazingly only 3 species of raptors (Bald Eagle, 1
Red-tailed Hawk and lots of Cooper Hawks).  I am short on ducks and no Great
Blue Heron yet since we are at 3,000-6,000 ft. elevation most of the time."
Win looks forward to meeting-up with DVOC'ers when he reaches northeastern
PA in late Spring.  Debbie Beer will liaise with Win to coordinate a one-day
or overnight outing to join up with Win for some birding and/or hiking,
probably the end of May or early June, depending on Win's pace.  Cold beers
guaranteed for all hikers!

Check his blog at http://www.trailjournals.com/birdman 

Two New Field Trips

May 17 (Sunday) - CARPENTER'S WOODS FOR SPRING MIGRANTS, PHILADELPHIA, PA

We will meet at the bus stop at Sedgwick St. and Wayne Ave (W. Mt. Airy) at
6:30 AM. We'll look and listen in and around the Woods for newly arrived
and/or nesting warblers, thrushes, vireos, tanagers, flycatchers, etc. There
are two pairs of nesting Screech Owls in the Woods now who may or may not
put in an appearance. We usually run out of birds about noon.

Leaders: Erica Brendel and John Goschke, co-sponsored by Friends of
Carpenter's Woods.

January 6 - 16 - SPECIAL TRIP TO BELIZE FOR DVOC MEMBERS 

New in 2010

Club member Tony Croasdale and Wildside Nature Tour leader Kevin Loughlin
have combined their talents and connections to bring an incredible birding
opportunity in Belize and Guatemala to DVOC members. Kevin and Tony have put
together an 11 day birding trip to Belize and Guatemala. Glenn Crawford the
most renowned guide in Belize will be guiding this entire trip and will be
joined by resident guides at each location This trip will begin at Crooked
Tree which is on a lagoon of the New River and is famous for its
congregations of water birds notably Jabiru, Boat-billed and Agami Herons
and Black-collared Hawk. A guided boat trip will search for birds along the
New River and Spanish Creek. The surrounding pine savanna and galley forest
is home to Yucatan endemics like Olive-throated parakeet, Black Catbird and
of course Yucatan Jay, Yucatan Parrot and Yucatan Woodpecker. Next the trip
will head south to the Cockscomb Basin for birds like Crimson-collared and
Passerini's Tanagers, Green and Red-legged Honeycreepers and White-necked
Jacobin. The trip will then move on to the Cayo district on the other side
of the Maya Mountains in Western Belize. Black Rock Lodge, a true
"off-the-grid" eco-lodge located in a spectacular gorge on the Macal River
will be the base of operations as the trip explores this region. Besides
exploring Black Rock's extensive grounds for Emerald Toucanet, Tody Motmot,
Royal Flycatcher, Ornate Hawk Eagle and Sungrebe the trip will visit other
locations in Cayo District. Trips to Mountain Pine Ridge and Chiquibul
Forest Reserve will hopefully turn up rarities like Keel-billed Motmot and
Scarlet Macaw. Orange-breasted Falcon usually extremely rare and elusive
though out its range has its stronghold in this region. Night hikes and
rives will likely turn up Northern Pootoo and Vermiculated Screech Owl as
well as mammals like Kinkajou and Agouti. The tip will also spend two days
at the legendary Mayan ruin of Tikal in Guatemala. Tikal is surrounded by a
national park and is renowned for its abundant and confiding wildlife. Of
special note is the presence of big game birds like Occelated Turkey and
Great Curassow.

For more information go to http://www.wildsidetoursinc.com/dvoc/ 

Upcoming Schuykill Center

On Thursday May 7th The Schuylkill Center is hosting a Citizen Science
presentation on the recovery of bald eagles in Pennsylvania, in the
Philadelphia region in particular.  Doug Gross, endangered bird specialist
of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, is the featured speaker for this
program. He is a knowledgeable and truly passionate speaker on the topic of
endangered species, and it promises to be a wonderful evening!

Wyncote Audubon Meeting Cancelled

The Wyncote Audubon Society has asked us to announce that their April 17th
regular monthly meeting has been cancelled. The Wyncote Audubon website is
http://www.wyncoteaudubon.org/ 

DVOC Hats

Now that spring is here and we are out in the field more, remember that DVOC
hats are available for only $17 at meeting.

Save the Date
Get out your calendar now and mark Thursday November 19th. That is the date
of the club's annual banquet!

Change in Dues Beginning in 2010

On 4/5/09 Council, after considerable debate and thought, decided to change
the cost of an annual membership and a life membership beginning in 2010.
Full information is at http://www.dvoc.org/Membership/Membership.htm

Current members are encouraged to start a three year life membership payment
plan before the end of 2009. You can become a life member at the old cost.

World Series of Birding Scouting

The club's team, the Lagerhead Shrikes, is looking for birders to help scout
for this year's event. If you can spend a couple of hours on May 6,7,8
(Wednesday, Thursday, Friday) checking some locations in New Jersey, we
would love to have you involved. Remember the more species the team
identifies, the more money is raised for the DVOC's Conservation Fund.
Contact Bert Filemyr for further information.

Request for Photographs

Frank Windfelder is looking for photos of cormorants for an upcoming Orni
Study. He thanks all those who have contacted him. He still needs photos of
Neotropic Cormorants. Contact Frank if you have any photos that he could
use. fwindfelder at yahoo.com 

Interesting Link

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-purple-swamp-hen-b04
0509pnapr05,0,1616638.story - submitted by Hart Rufe

Recent Website Enhancements

(4/10/09) Cassinia XXXLX 1952-53

(4/8/09) Delaware Valley RBA

(4/7/09) Cassinia XXXVII 1947-48

Items Available for Purchase at DVOC Meetings

DVOC Hats - $17 each

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)

Information on the Birds of North America discount program is available at
http://www.dvoc.org/Membership/DVOC_BNA.htm 

Bert Filemyr and/or Jeff Holt will have copies of their book "The Composite
Prints of the Audubon's Birds of America" available at most meetings - $12
each

____________________________________________________________________________
________________________

DVOC is on Facebook. Check out
http://www.facebook.com/pages/DVOC-The-Delaware-Valley-Ornithological-Club/4
9975018421 

The DVOC has a discount program for Birds of North America Online. Check out
http://www.dvoc.org/Membership/DVOC_BNA.htm 

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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