Three Rivers Birding Club Meeting Minutes
Bi-monthly Membership Meeting
Wednesday, November 20, 2002 (6:45pm - 10:15 pm)
Botany Hall at Phipps Conservatory

A social gathering was held for 45 minutes in the lobby of Botany Hall before the meeting began. The lobby and entrance to the hall were crowded with birders anxious to catch up on news and friendships. Jack Solomon, Ed Kwater, and a few assistants had the opportunity to set up Ed's program and to figure out the sophisticated electronics except for the microphone which remained a mystery.

Jack opened the meeting with a few comments on the upcoming January and March meetings. The January meting with Steve Hoffman discussing IBA's will be held at Botany Hall at a cost of $200 to $300. A location has not been chosen for the March meeting. Alternate sites being considered include Phipps Garden Center (formerly the Pittsburgh Civic Garden Center), South Avenue United Methodist Church in Wilkinsburg, and the Mayernik Center in the North Hills. Jack also welcomed four new members/visitors attending their first 3RBC meeting.

Jim Valimont announced that Susan Sunseri will not be able to continue as secretary of the club and that Pat and Sherron Lynch have been acting in that capacity. Jim asked for a motion, Fred McCullough so moved, and Mabel Matteson seconded the motion to elect Pat and Sherron as co-secretaries. The motion was approved by the members present.

In other business, Paul Hess announced that the next issue of "The Peregrine" will arrive next week. Mabel Matteson thanked members for bringing treats. Jim said how much he enjoys reading the stories and looking at the photos on the 3RBC website. He thanked Donna Foyle for contributing her excellent digital pictures to the site. Bob Machesney announced that so far the club has a renewal rate of 85%, and more renewal information will be in the next newsletter. Jim thanked Pam Ferkett for her records keeping on the sign-up lists for recent out-of-state birding trips.

Future outings include: Sunday, November 24, to Lake Arthur with Carol and Fred McCullough; Monday, December 2, to Pymatuning with Scott Kinzey; and Sunday, December 8 to Lake Arthur with Jim Valimont. Jim also reported on the success of Bob's outing on November 10 to Pennsy Swamp, Lake Arthur, and Grove City after the rain abated.

Mike Fialkovich reported recent bird sightings from Presque Isle State Park, and Dave Wilton added more recent details. One bird of special interest was a California Gull observed by Ben Coulter and Dave Wilton. Ben photographed the gull; this should be the first documented Pennsylvania record of the bird. Dave Rieger told of a Peregrine Falcon which was involved in two accidents in downtown Pittsburgh. The bird apparently recovered and flew away. Paul Hess reported a Fox Sparrow.

Jim announced that Anthony Cook of the Cook Forest family will be speaking and showing slides at the Audubon meeting at Beechwood Farms on Wednesday, November 27. The public is invited to attend.

Terry Laux from Freeport presented the idea that the 3RBC adopt the Buffalo Creek area as an IBA for the purpose of monitoring and inventorying the bird population there. Terry is working with Steve Hoffman and came to the meeting to "break the ice" on the topic; more information will come out at the January meeting. Jim pointed out that we have also been asked to monitor the Raccoon Creek area.

Nancy Paige, working with the Upper St. Clair Citizens for Land Stewardship, invited birders to help with the Christmas Bird Count in the Pittsburgh South Hills circle. More leaders are needed and a pre-count meeting will be held on December 17 at 7 pm at the Upper St. Clair municipal building. The count will be held on December 21 from 8 am to 4 pm and will be followed by a chili dinner. The Pittsburgh circle CBC will be held on the Saturday after Christmas.

Mike introduced the guest speaker, Ed Kwater, as an expert at identifying shorebirds and gulls. He related some experiences while birding in Pennsylvania, Texas, California, and Arizona with Ed. Mike recommended reading Shorebirds by Peter Hayman and Grant Gulls by P.J. Grant for additional identification help.

Ed began his program by relating that Jack had requested a "technical and grueling" presentation on gull identification. Gulls are a complex group because they go through so many different plumages before reaching maturity. Ed made a few generalizations about sizes and ages of gulls to try to help the "lariphobes" who hate gulls sort out some of the technical information and then began his excellent slide show.

The slides and Ed's narrative presented precise details to look for when identifying the many gulls commonly found in North America and a few rarities to sort out of the crowd. His photos of each species at many different ages gave opportunities to follow the birds through molts from juvenile to adult plumage. The photos of birds in flight were used to point out subtle details not seen on gulls sitting on the beach. The members of the audience are now ready to watch for mirrors, windows, carpal bars, gonys, fleshy orbital rings, scapular crescents, sub-terminal bands, tips, and sun and sand bleaching and wear on every gull they see. Where's the beach? Thanks to Ed we're ready; bring on the gulls!

Following a few questions about molting gulls, pink casts on gull feathers, and Ed's next tour to Texas, the members had the opportunity to socialize a little longer, pick up some free birding literature, and eat more desserts before heading home.

Submitted by Pat and Sherron Lynch
Co-secretaries of Three Rivers Birding Club