[DVOC] Weekly Digest - Number 09-09 - 3/1/09

Sun Mar 1 15:05:18 PST 2009

The Delaware Valley Ornithological Club  (DVOC) Weekly Digest 

Upcoming Meeting

This Thursday March 5th, 7:30 pm at the Academy of Natural Sciences

Jeff Gordon, "Kingfishers and their Allies"

Nearly all of North America is blessed to have the Belted Kingfisher as a
resident, at least part of each year. Even non-birders recognize and
appreciate the distinctive behaviors, spectacular plumage, and unusual life
history of this unique species. But as wonderful as the Belted Kingfisher
is, it is just one of dozens of spectacular kingfishers to be found around
the world. Kingfishers include some of the world's most extravagantly
colorful and bizarre-looking birds. And if you broaden the scope to include
some of their allies in the Order Coraciformes, things get really wild:
bee-eaters, rollers, mot-mots, hornbills, hoopoes--these stout-billed birds
must surely rank high on any list of the world's most incredible animals,
feathered or not. Join us for a fun, informative survey of the kingfishers
and their brethren, from their role in mythology to their amazing natural
history, to an appreciation of their sumptuous coloration. 

Ornithological Study - "New Jersey Birds magazine: the past, present and
future of NJ’s journal of ornithological record.” - Don Frieday

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 

Revised Daily Field Checklist.

The DVOC's Field Checklist for the Delaware Valley has been revised to
reflect the latest Clement's taxonomy as used in the current version of the
Avisys birding software. The older version is still available. Check out
http://www.dvoc.org/Checklist/FieldChecklist/Default.htm

Spring Roundups (May Runs)

For many years one of the traditions of the DVOC was the "May Run" also
known as the "Spring Roundup"

Each year teams were formed and strategy was planned. There was no
restriction on number of team members or the geographic area to be covered.
After results were compiled a winner was declared. The prize - "bragging
rights" for the year!

Club member Ed Finkel has made some archival material from these events
available to the club. 

Check out http://www.dvoc.org/History/MayRuns.htm

The club is always on the lookout for such material. If you have any,
contact the webmaster webmaster at dvoc.org 

Summer Intern Opportunity

Using Conservation funds from previous years, the DVOC will again fund a
summer intern in the Ornithology Department at the Academy of Natural
Sciences. The Club Intern will work on the spread wing collection. Over the
last five years Nate Rice has actively made detached spread wings from
(primarily) waterbirds from around the world (east coast US, Alaska and west
coast, Europe, Australia, northern South America) and it will be great to
scan and post digital images online (with all location and identification
data). This would be useful to birders everywhere, artists, and museum
scientists. There are a very few such "collections" online, but nothing and
nothing compares to the diversity in the collection at the Academy. If you
know of a high school or college student who might be interested in a summer
internship, have them contact Nate Rice at the Academy. rice at acns.org 

Looking for Scaup Pictures

Club Vice President Frank Windfelder is putting together an Ornithological
Study on Scaup ID. He needs photos on scaup, either species, male or female,
in groups or by themselves, near or distant. If you can help him out,
contact him at windfelder at yahoo.com 

Upcoming Field Trips  

March 15 (Sunday) - BARNEGAT LIGHT, NEW JERSEY 

A ½ day field trip ideally suited to NEW MEMBERS and STUDENTS (but open to
all members) to the best location in Jersey to see Harlequin Duck and Purple
Sandpiper. Common Eider are regular here and we’ll look for King Eider. An
assortment of ducks and loons should be found in the inlet. The dunes hold
“Ipswich” Sparrow and usually Snow Buntings, and in good years longspurs.
Dress warm. Meet at the Lighthouse parking lot at 9:00AM

Leader: Chris Walters

MARCH 21 (Saturday) – BOMBAY HOOK NWR Delaware Breeding Bird Atlas Field
Trip, DE

New in 2009

This field trip will focus on confirming early breeders and scouting for
breeding birds at Bombay Hook NWR. All data accumulated will be entered in
the Delaware Breeding Bird Atlas project, and some effort will be made to
confirm Horned Lark breeding on the refuge among other things. We’ll also
have time to look for interesting lingering overwintering birds and early
migrants. Some target birds include: Cackling Goose, Eurasian Teal, Eurasian
Wigeon, Rusty Blackbird, early shorebirds, American Woodcock, Northern
Harrier and Bald Eagle. The trip will run all day, but we’ll probably break
for a hot lunch. This trip will run rain or shine.

Field Trip meeting place: Refuge Headquarters Parking Lot?

Meeting Time: 8:00am?

Leader: Steve Kacir

MARCH 28 (Saturday) – FRANKIN PARKER PRESERVE, NJ, Pinelands birding

New in 2009

Franklin Parker Preserve is a relatively new reserve made up of old
cranberry bogs and pinelands. New Jersey Conservation Foundation's Emile De
Vito will meet us in Chatsworth and guide us through this preserve, we will
actually be able to drive through the reserve instead of the usual very long
hike one needs to do to explore this gem. Franklin Parker Preserve is a
really unique piece of habitat. This location came to be known in birding
circles for its late summer gull-billed terns and a northern shrike that
spent a few weeks there two winters ago. The reserve hosts tundra swans,
rough-legged hawks, harriers and bald eagles in the winter, some of which
will hopefully still be around. We may also be treated to pipit, Savanna
sparrows and merlin. You never know what will turn up in a spot like this. 

We will meet at the Chatsworth Firehouse (corner of 563 and 532) at 9:00am
and carpool into the reserve. After we are done in Franklin Parker Preserve
we will try a reliable red-headed woodpecker location in the pinelands, or
even go to Tuckerton in time allows. 

Leader: Tony Croasdale

March 29 (Sunday) - SOUTHWEST NEW JERSEY (PEDRICKTOWN and MANNINGTON MARSH

For possible winter stragglers such as Ross' Goose, Eurasian Teal, Eurasian
Wigeon, Rusty, Brewer's and Yellow-headed Blackbirds, and any early migrants
(Ruffs have previously been seen on this trip) as well as being a good time
of the year for Cackling Goose, Sandhill Crane, Winter Wren, American
Woodcock, Fox Sparrow, Bald Eagle, and any early shorebirds.

Leader: Frank Windfelder

Interesting Links

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7905160.stm  submitted by Colin
Campbell

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090227/sc_nm/us_peru_bird_1 submitted by Dino
Fiabane

1948 Annual Meeting Picture

Club member Ed Finkel has provided the club with a copy of a picture taken
at the 1948 Annual Members Meeting. 

View it at  <http://www.dvoc.org/Archives/1948AnnualMeeting.htm>
http://www.dvoc.org/Archives/1948AnnualMeeting.htm

We would like to put more names to faces. If you can help, e-mail
<mailto:webmaster at dvoc.org> webmaster at dvoc.org

Thanks!

Recent Website Enhancements

(2/28/09) 2009 WSB Pledge/Contribution Form

(2/27/09) DVOC May Runs

(2/27/09) Final Report - Kacir Montgomery County 2009 Big Year

(2/27/09) Revised Field Checklist

(2/25/09) Delaware Valley RBA

(2/23/09) Manahawkin Field Trip Report

(2/23/09) Philadelphia Winter Census Field Trip Report

(2/23/09) Indian River Field Trip Report

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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