[DVOC] Weekly Digest - Number 08-37 - 9/7/08

Sun Sep 7 15:34:24 PDT 2008

The Delaware Valley Ornithological Club  (DVOC) Weekly Digest 

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. The field trip leader, Jane
Henderson will be in the playground from about 6:30 on. Lawn chairs are
recommended

This is a joint field trip with the Wyncote Audubon Society

Location of the John Story Jenks Elementary School -
http://www.phila.k12.pa.us/schools/jsjenks/about.htm 

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

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

Thursday September 18, 2008 - 7:30 pm at the Academy of Natural Sciences in
Philadelphia

Program - Lillian Armstrong, "New Jersey Birding and Wildlife Trail Guides
Project"

A peek inside the creation of New Jersey's Birding and Wildlife Trails. 

After nearly 20 years on Wall Street, the last 14 of which were on San
Francisco's version of it -- Montgomery Street, primarily in financial
communications, Lillian Armstrong was ready for a change. Her passion for
birds and the environment was nurtured through her volunteer efforts at the
Golden Gate Raptor Observatory, and semi-annual trips to Cape May to visit
her birder-parents. It was through sheer luck and serendipity that the
fledgling NJ Birding and Wildlife Trails program had a brand new position
open just as she resigned and turned over the reins of the practice she had
built to one of her colleagues. She started with NJAS August 1, 2004, and
the last four years have flown by.

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

Follow-up to the August Informal Meeting

At the August meeting Liz Rosenthal spoke about her book on Roger Tory
Peterson. Here is a link to a website about that book

http://www.petersonbird.com 

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                      

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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