Three Rivers Birding Club
Bi-monthly Membership Meeting
Monday, November 8, 2004
7:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Phipps Garden Center, Shady Avenue

A social gathering was held for thirty minutes before the meeting began; refreshments were available. Members had the opportunity to select free birding brochures and magazines to take home. Members who provide freebies should check the table after the meeting and take home any of their remaining items. About seventy enthusiastic birders attended.

President Jack Solomon called the meeting to order. President Solomon announced that scheduled speaker Bob Schutsky was unable to attend due to health reasons, but that Tom Pawlesh would provide a program about the Monarch Butterfly. Jack recognized three people who were attending a club meeting for the first time.

Vice-president and Outings Chairman Jim Valimont mentioned a previous outing to Yellow Creek with the Todd Bird Club and a very successful visit to the Allegheny Front Hawk Watch which tabulated over 1,600 hawks. Jim referred to future outings to Lake Arthur, Pymatuning, and the Lower Buffalo Creek Watershed. See the Current Outings section of the web site  for details.

Jim enthusiastically thanked people for providing a great selection of food for the meeting. 

Neil Nodelman listed programs for 2005. Tentative plans include Paul Hess and pelagic birds in January, Earl Schriver and hawks and eagles in March, photographer Bill Beatty in April, naturalist Scott Shalaway in July or November, ABA Birding magazine editor Ted Floyd in September, and a rescheduled meeting with Bob Schutsky.

Paul Hess, The Peregrine editor, encouraged members to submit trip reports for publication. Paul announced that the ASWP will have Richard Whiteford discussing IMAP concerning mammals at its November 17 meeting. Paul recommended the book, "An Obsession with Butterflies" by Sharman Apt Russell. Paul also provided free ornithology journals to any interested members.

Treasurer Bob Machesney summarized the financial status of the club for the year which ended September 30, our third year of operation. Membership dues totaled about $3,800. Some of the expenses include The Peregrine, guest speakers, room rental, the website, and brochures. A membership renewal notice for some members will be included with the next newsletter.

Bird Reports Chairman Mike Fialkovich reminded members of the opportunity to order Breeding Bird Atlas T-shirts and to pick up BBA materials. Recent bird sightings around the state included Redpolls at Powdermill and Sunset Point, Rufous Hummingbirds with the nearest one at Erie, Harrisıs Sparrow in northeastern PA, and a record number of Red-throated Loons at Sunset Point. Closer to home, Pine Siskins and Red-breasted Nuthatches have appeared in a few backyards. A Great White Heron was reported at Pymatuning. Redheads and Northern Pintails have been spotted at Lake Arthur. A Little Blue Heron was at Yellow Creek.

Sherron Lynch stated that the ASWP had provided a calendar and two books to be awarded at meetings as door prizes. Linda Sporrer chose the squirrel baffle donated by Mike. Bob VanNewkirk won the Audubon calendar for 2005.

Jack introduced the evening's speaker, Tom Pawlesh, a pilot for US Airways and a nature photographer. Tom did an admirable job filling in for Bob Schutsky by presenting his outstanding slide program on Monarch Butterflies. Tom's photographs of butterflies have appeared in single photographer butterfly calendars. Tom used slides to illustrate Monarch identification, life cycle, migration, and habitat. He used pictures of his work at home raising and tagging Monarchs. Tom and his family traveled to the wintering grounds of the Monarchs at El Rosario in Mexico. Over ten million of them were there during Tom's visit. Many of Tom's dazzling slides showed thousands of the butterflies clustered in the fir trees. Tom also discussed the importance of the butterflies to the local residents and their economy. Many members of the appreciative audience asked questions.

Jack thanked Tom for his excellent presentation and encouraged people to stay and socialize, which many did.

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