Three Rivers Birding Club
Bi-monthly Membership Meeting
Monday, September 13, 2004
7:00 PM - 9:20 PM
Phipps Garden Center, Shady Avenue

A social gathering was held for thirty minutes before the meeting began.  Members had the opportunity to select from a large assortment of free birding brochures and magazines, including the latest issue of The Peregrine. Forty-five birders were in attendance.

Vice-president Jim Valimont, in the absence of President Jack Solomon, called the meeting to order. Jim thanked everyone who brought refreshments. He asked new members and visitors attending their first meeting to give their names and home towns. Florida and West Virginia were represented.

Announcements included information about T-shirt sales, an art exhibit, and Canada Geese. Mike Fialkovich had T-shirts from the Pennsylvania Breeding Bird Atlas available for all who had ordered them and was taking orders from anyone else who was interested. Shirts cost $13.50. Checks should be made payable to 3RBC and sent to Bob Machesney, our treasurer. Mabel Matteson provided information about the Robert Bateman art exhibit at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute in Jamestown, New York. Paul Hess gave an update about the split in the Canada Goose species recently announced by the American Ornithologists' Union. The larger, Canada species is the one we are familiar with in this area. The smaller, Cackling species may be difficult to find in Pennsylvania. Watch for more details in the October issue of The Peregrine.

Several upcoming 3RBC outings will include trips to the Allegheny Front, Harrison Hills Park, and Fox Chapel parks. A special outing to the City Theater production of Outlying Islands will take place on October 20. Check the 3RBC website for all of the details.

Leaders provided reports about recent outings. Jim listed Olive-sided Flycatcher and Pine and Wilson's Warblers as highlights of the trip to Presque Isle on September 11 which netted 56 species. Pat and Sherron Lynch stated that they had seven warbler species, including late Yellow Warblers, among the 36 species at the Madjaric Property on September 12. Larry Helgerman led the outing at Lower Buffalo Creek Watershed on September 5. Warblers were scarce, but White-eyed Vireos, Green Herons, and Indigo Buntings were among the 56 species tallied.

Members described recent bird sightings. Dave Wilton exclaimed that Harrison Hills had 25 species of warblers this week, including Connecticut and Mourning. Paul impressed the audience with his sighting of a Summer Tanager at Harrison Hills. Pat added that Ted Floyd and a small group of birders had also observed a Summer Tanager at Frick Park. Allen Janis mentioned the re-introduced Trumpeter Swans he had seen and heard at Ottawa NWR in Ohio. Bob found three Pine Siskins at Deep Creek in Maryland. Evening Grosbeaks have been sighted in eastern PA. Mike heard probable Swainson's Thrushes calling before dawn as they poured over Harmar Township. Dave joined the frenzy in Massachusetts to observe the Red-footed Falcon, a bird which was declared Person-of-the-Week by Peter Jennings. Eighty Bobolinks were sighted above Greencove Wetlands. Neil Nodelman reported that a shrike spent part of the summer near Rennerdale and spiked insects and mammals on a Honey Locust tree. Neil mentioned a White Admiral butterfly he saw in Settlers' Cabin Park, and Bob suggested another name for it. Ryan Tomazin was happy to find his first Pectoral Sandpiper at Bald Knob.

Door prizes were donated by Schenley Park Visitors' Center and a 3RBC member. Ursula Kopp selected the fifth edition of Petersonıs A Field Guide to the Birds. Larry won free tickets to the National Aviary.

Members Mike Fialkovich and Pat and Sherron Lynch presented some of their recent slides. Mike's slides of the clubıs trip to Delaware and New Jersey in May included Frostweed, Common Tern, Laughing Gull, Boat-tailed Grackle, Purple Martin, fledgling Mockingbirds, Southern Leopard Frog, and Eastern Mud Turtle. Sherron also showed slides from that outing. She included photos of birders, Ruddy Turnstones, Black-necked Stilt, Laughing Gulls, and Ring-necked Pheasant. Pat's slides illustrated work with the Breeding Bird Atlas project with an emphasis upon Pileated Woodpeckers. Sherron concluded with slides displaying the behavior of Wild Turkeys.

The next meeting will be The Birds and Beauty of Arizona by Bob Schutsky, owner of BIRD TREKS tour firm.

After the program birders enjoyed more munchies and conversation.

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