Bimonthly Membership Meeting
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
7:30 PM -- 9:30 PM
Hybrid Meeting Originating from Beechwood Farms in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Fifty members were in attendance in-person at 3RBC's October membership meeting, held in the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania's Beechwood Farms auditorium. In addition to those attending in-person, 31 computers were logged on to the meeting via Zoom, with some shared by more than one person. In total, more than 81 individuals viewed the meeting, which featured 3RBC member, Dave Brooke, whose presentation detailed his experiences and photos of the Sandhill Cranes (and other birds) found in New Mexico's Bosque del Apache.
Before President Mike Fialkovich called the meeting to order, the new Executive Director of the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania (ASWP), Chris Bason, addressed the members. He began by saying that he wished to say hello and introduce himself, and, especially, to tell us that he is a birder, but, when he got the job, he didn't realize that he would be working with an expert birder of Brian Shema's caliber! Chris comes from Delaware and spent a long time working for an organization that protected shorebird habitat and worked to restore horseshoe crab populations. He thanked the club's members for their partnership with ASWP and told us that if there was anything that AWSP could do to support the club, they would be happy to do it. He also introduced an ASWP board member in the audience, who is also a member of 3RBC. He concluded by thanking us once again for "doing what we do, and supporting bird watching."
President Mike Fialkovich next called the meeting to order at approximately 7:40 pm. His first order of business was to turn the meeting over to club vice president, Adrian Fenton, who conducted the club's first-ever election of members of the Board of Directors.
Vice President Fenton called the Annual Meeting portion of the membership meeting to order and asked Nominating Committee chair, Dave Brooke, if he had a slate of qualified individuals to be considered for election. Dave stated that he did, and that the individuals were these: Christine Best, Sheree Daugherty, Adrian Fenton, Mike Fialkovich, Carol McCullough, Dan Mendenhall, Tom Moeller, Frank Moone, Claire Staples, Steve Thomas, and Suzanne Thomas. Adrian then asked for a motion to accept and elect these individuals to the 3RBC board for the two-year period 2026-2027. Jack Solomon made the motion, which was subsequently seconded by several individuals. There being no discussion, the slate of nominees received unanimous approval from both those in the room and those attending via Zoom. Adrian then asked for a motion to adjourn the annual meeting portion of the membership meeting. Frank Moone made the motion to adjourn, which was seconded by several individuals. There being no discussion, the annual meeting portion of the membership meeting was adjourned.
President Mike Fialkovich then resumed the membership meeting. He congratulated the new board, and noted the addition of two new faces, Christine Best and Dan Mendenhall.
He and other club officers, directors and members next made the following announcements and reports.
- Mike informed the members that the American Birding Association's Community Weekend took place on the weekend of September 21-22. Approximately 60 registrants birded together at Hartwood Acres Park and Frick Park and attended presentations at Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve.
- President Fialkovich next told the members that the Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology (PSO) hosted its 2025 PSO Birding Festival in Lehigh County, September 26-28, 2025. More than 150 registrants enjoyed great birding trips, learned from experts, and met or re-connected with birding friends. This year's event – the PSO's 34th gathering – was the first in Lehigh County and featured an impressive line-up of field trips, speakers, and vendors.
- The Peregrine editor Bob Mulvihill was not present, so Tom Moeller offered the members a brief preview of the upcoming Peregrine. He began by telling us that submissions of articles for the November/December issue should be submitted to either him or Bob by October 11. The upcoming issue's lead article is about our annual Slide-Slam; Mike's President's Message has fun with obscure bird names; there are at least five Outings Revisited reports; Tom's "Observations" column features a bird conservation area in Southern California, San Joaquin Marsh; and, of course, Mike's bird report. Tom noted that there is still space, so anyone with appropriate content should contact him or Bob.
- Treasurer Tom Moeller relayed that the club's membership has grown to 335 total memberships, which translates to about 450 individuals in our club. We are still attempting to reduce the number of paper copies of The Peregrine which are mailed. We have had some success, and, to date, 45% of our members have opted to receive the newsletter digitally. Tom encouraged more members to make the switch to the emailed version. As always, Tom extended his thanks to new members who have chosen to join us, and to our loyal ongoing members for their continued support and generosity. He especially noted that many members have increased their financial support of the club. Kudos, and thanks to them!
- Webmaster Tom told the members that the website is up to date, and that the club's new Facebook editor, John Drake, is doing a great job. Thanks again, John!
- Outings Director, Steve Thomas, relayed a summary of the club's upcoming outings.
- October 18 – Frick Park Family-oriented Bird Walk
- November 1 – Yellow Creek State Park
- November 22 – Panhandle Trail Midway (Midway-Bulger)
Outing participants must follow club guidelines. When appropriate, social distancing is recommended; equipment sharing is discouraged; wear a mask when appropriate. Each outing leader may set additional restrictions and requirements: some leaders require pre-registration, and numbers of participants may be limited. Each leader may discontinue the outing at any time if conditions warrant such an action. Attendees should also note that pets are not permitted on 3RBC outings. Please see the full outing listing on the website for all restrictions and requirements that may apply! As always, check the club's website and Facebook page for details, directions, and possible last minute changes or cancellations. - President Mike Fialkovich next gave his recap of highlights of recent bird sightings: Blue-winged Teal at Imperial; large flock of Common Nighthawks at North Park; large flock of Chimney Swifts in Oakland; Great-crested Flycatchers in Sewickley Heights Park, Frick Park, and Wingfield Pines; Golden-crowned Kinglet at Sewickley Heights Park; Swainson's Thrush at Sewickley Heights Park; Fox Sparrow in West Deer Township; Golden-winged Warbler at Sewickley Heights Park and Hartwood Acres; Mourning Warblers at Beechwood Farms and Homewood Cemetery; Cape May Warbler at Beechwood Farms and Sewickley Heights Park; Yellow Warbler in Aspinwall Riverfront Park; Prairie Warbler at Hartwood Acres; Lesser Black-backed Gull at Chapel Harbor; American Avocets at Dashields Dam; American Golden Plover at Aspinwall Riverfront Park; Sanderling at Dashields Dam; Baird's Sandpiper at Dashields Dam; Northern Bobwhites at North Park and Bridgeville; Caspian Terns at Imperial; Virginia Rail at Wingfield Pines; Sora at North Park; Swallow-tailed Kite over southern Allegheny County/northern Washington County; Black Vulture at Plum, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, Penn Hills Exit on Parkway East, and Beechwood Farms; Merlins at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery and Squirrel Hill; Red-headed Woodpeckers at North Park and Highland Park; Fish Crow in Squirrel Hill; Olive-sided Flycatchers widely reported; Yellow-bellied Flycatchers widely reported; Marsh Wrens at Wingfield Pines; Clay-colored Sparrow at Beechwood Farms; Northern Waterthrush at Schenley Park, Peter's Creek, Wingfield Pines, and Chapel Harbor; Connecticut Warbler at North Park and Thornburg Conservation Park; and, Summer Tanager at Frick Park.
- Program Director Carol McCullough announced that our next meeting will be held on December 3 and will feature the club's perennial and ever-popular Slide-Slam, featuring images from several of the club's talented photographers. The meeting will be held on Zoom only. Those interested in showing their work should contact Dave Brooke (davbrooke@gmail.com).
Carol next introduced the evening's speaker, Dave Brooke, who presented a fascinating look at the birds he experienced over the course of several visits to New Mexico's enchanting Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge. Needing little introduction, Dave has been a 3RBC stalwart for several years. In addition to being a fine photographer and excellent birder, Dave oversees the club's annual Zoom-hosted Slide-Slam program.
Dave began his presentation with a series of photos of New Mexico's Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. His spectacular photos highlighted the bird-filled skies and the dramatic mountains that form the background of this wetland located on the Rio Grande, south of Albuquerque. The preserve sits in the Chihuahuan Desert, with the Magdalena and Chupadera Mountains to the west and the San Pascual Mountains to the east.
He explained that the Bosque (the word bosque is Spanish for swamp or wetland) was first established in 1939 by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. At that time, 57,191 acres were set aside to be permanently protected. In the winter of 1941, on-site staff documented 17 cranes! Since then the numbers have grown, and now tens of thousands of cranes frequent the refuge.
In the early days, habitat and food were provided for the migrating birds by means of a partnership with local farmers, who were allowed to farm the area rent-free, harvesting a percentage of what they grew while leaving the rest for the wildlife. As time wore on, the Bosque's operators learned that they couldn't rely on those farmers to give the same attention to the refuge farmland that they gave to their own land. Consequently, in 2017 refuge staff took over farming duties. At first they grew corn, winter wheat, and alfalfa, but later eliminated corn because of its large water requirements. It was replaced by a cereal grain – triticale – which is much more suited to the arid climate.
Like many wild rivers that have been diverted, drained, and overused, the Rio Grande once flooded wide areas of the valley each spring, creating vast pools that attracted wildlife and fostered native plant growth.
Today, the Bosque is carefully managed to recreate those annual cycles. Plantings and crops are rotated, so that varied habitats are always available. Dry impoundments are lightly plowed or burned, then re-flooded to allow natural marsh plants to grow. When mature marsh conditions are reached, the cycle is repeated.
Common in New Mexico agriculture, irrigation ditches, gates, and dams are utilized to flood and drain wetlands on seasonal schedules, with water levels in some ponds lowered to allow the growth of marsh grasses, such as millets, chufa, bulrush, and sedges. Salt cedar – a non-native invasive – is being cleared, replaced by cottonwood, black willow, and understory plants to restore the native bosque habitat.
The care and upkeep of Bosque del Apache is greatly aided by the indispensable, non-profit group, The Friends of Bosque del Apache. Each year this dedicated group of volunteers raises hundreds of thousands of dollars, making possible many improvements, including remote-controlled gate valves for the water control system and necessary farming equipment. The group's mission becomes even more critical in light of the current administration's devastating funding cuts.
Today, tens of thousands of Sandhill Cranes stop over annually. These birds are an ancient species. Fossil records in Nebraska indicate that they were there at least 2.5 million years ago during the Pliocene period. Sandhill Cranes have a body plumage characterized by various shaded of grey, with a forehead and crown covered in reddish skin. Adults have a white cheek patch, with black legs and toes. Males tend to be slighter larger, but are otherwise indistinguishable from females. Juvenile plumage changes from cinnamon brown to grey during the first year, with brown crowns.
Living as long as 35 years, Sandhill Cranes are perennially monogamous. Breeding begins when they reach 2 to 7 years of age, with reproduction success occurring as early as five years of age. Family groups typically stay together through the first year, but the parent birds drive off last year's colts when they arrive on breeding territory. In the evenings, Sandhill Cranes roost in 4 to 8 inches of water for protection from predators. Nest are built on piles of aquatic plants, grass, and mud raised above water level. The birds usually lay 2-egg clutches, and incubation takes place in 28 to 31 days. Young cranes fledge at 67 to 75 days. Frequently only a single colt survives to maturity.
There are Sandhill Crane sub-species:
- Greater Sandhill Cranes stand 4 1/2 to 5 feet tall and weigh from 10 to 14 pounds.
- Lesser Sandhill Cranes stand 3 to 3 1/2 feet tall and weigh from 6 to 7 pounds.
- Canadian Sandhill Cranes have been merged into the Greater Sandhill Cranes family.
- Florida, Cuban, and Mississippi Sandhill Crane are all non-migratory.
Sandhill Cranes numbers are mostly stable, with some populations far exceeding goals set by conservation managers.
The birds found in Bosque del Apache are almost exclusively Greater Sandhills, that nest in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and Colorado (Gray's Lake in Idaho is a major breeding area). They migrate south through Colorado's San Luis Valley and winter in New Mexico's Middle Rio Grande Valley. A few mid-continent cranes also winter in New Mexico.
The cranes arrive at pre-migration staging areas in mid-August, and make their way to the San Luis Valley in late September where the entire population remains until late October. They begin arriving in the Middle Rio Grande Valley in November.
These striking birds dance to attract mates, when they are excited, or just for fun. The unique crane dance is characterized by stretching of the wings, bowing, leaping, and head pumping.
Sandhill Crane mates communicate frequently – a single note call by the male, made with his head pointing up, and a two-note call by the female with her head held at a forty-five degree angle. Cranes make use of up to twenty different calls to communicate with each other, including a 'guard call' and a 'contact call. '
Family groups join up with other families and 'bachelor' groups to form larger survival groups.
New Mexico is not the only place to find these unique birds. Pennsylvania has a small population – a 2022 survey counted 272 in the Commonwealth, with Crawford and Lawrence Counties having the greatest number. There have also been reports of nesting pairs in Butler County.
There are unanswered questions regarding Pennsylvania crane migration:
- Do they overwinter here or are northern migrants replacing them in December thru February?
- Do those that migrate go to the Gulf Coast or Tennessee?
- Will they nest more frequently here, if the eastern population expands?
Throughout his very informative presentation, Dave showed us in excess of one hundred amazing photos of these birds and many other species that frequent Bosque del Apache and New Mexico as well as other areas.
After his informative presentation, Dave took several questions from the audience.
President Fialkovich thanked Dave and the members and adjourned the meeting.
— prepared by Frank Moone on November 1, 2025
