Three Rivers Birding Club
Bi-monthly Membership Meeting
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
6:30-10:00PM
Phipps Garden Center, Shady Avenue

The social gathering from 6:30 to 7:30 PM gave members a chance to catch up on each other's spring birding experiences. Becky Byerly greeted members at the door, made sure that they picked up name tags, and directed them to the door prize sign-up box and the treats table. Thanks go to those who brought the treats. Members had the opportunity to select free birding brochures and magazines to take home. Those who provide freebies should check the table after the meeting and take home any of their remaining items. About sixty enthusiastic birders attended despite the winds and torrential rains which made driving challenging in parts of the Pittsburgh area.

President Jack Solomon called the meeting to order. Jack recognized five people who were attending a club meeting for the first time. Several of these newcomers were familiar faces because they have participated in 3RBC outings or have been involved in birding in the past. Jack endorsed the new PA birds book written by Frank Haas and mentioned that Bernie Conley had a copy in case anyone wanted to see it.

Bird Reports Editor Mike Fialkovich chaired the business meeting. He reported that BBA shirts can still be ordered and some were ready to be picked up. Mike also had BBA materials for anyone who needed them. The PSO meeting will be held at Clarion from May 20 through May 22, and reservations are still being accepted. Check the PSO website if you are interested in the latest checklist of birds of PA. Mike polled the audience to find that eight members had taken birding classes taught by Joyce Hoffmann. Mike acknowledged her contributions to birding. Sue Solomon asked each of these people to e-mail to Jack a few lines about their experiences birding with Joyce.

Treasurer Bob Machesney reported that the club now has 220 members and a cash balance of $4,239.29. Bob also took this opportunity to present Mike with a beautifully framed print of the Greater White-fronted Goose, a nemesis bird, which Mike finally saw for PA life list bird number 321.

Carole Borek represented 3RBC at a Venture Outdoors event. Carole passed around a sample of a logo with a Peregrine Falcon which she plans to have made on a table cover for use at future club events.

Program Director Neil Nodelman listed several future programs. Volunteers were asked to bring slides for the July 6 Slide Slam. Ted Floyd will be the speaker on September 19. Scott Shalaway will present the November 2 program, and Tom Pawlesh will either work with Scott or present a January program. Neil also asked for suggestions for future guest speakers.

Carol McCullough discussed the Pennsylvania Migration Count scheduled for May 14. Bill Etter will publish the results in Pennsylvania Birds. Volunteers interested in helping with this project should contact Carol or Fred McCullough.

In a few other items of business, Walt Shaffer invited members to attend the Westmoreland Bird Club meeting on April 28 to hear his talk about peeps. Don Gibbon invited everyone to attend the May 11 Sierra Club meeting to view a showing of the movie Pale Male, the Red-tailed Hawk in Central Park. Sue reminded people to take the free magazines donated by club members; she pointed out that one of the magazines contained an article about Pale Male. Jack mentioned that the club's officers had approved a contribution of about $100 to Ross Gallardy and his team for their participation in the World Series of Birding. This benefits the Buffalo Creek IBA and the Allegheny Front Hawkwatch. A form for contributions is in the latest Peregrine newsletter.

Mike then chaired the bird sightings segment of the meeting. He started by mentioning the Blackburnian Warbler in his yard. Carole and Al Borek reported that they had last seen the Red-headed Woodpecker in Lawrenceville on the day before Easter. Jack said that the way to find an owl at PISP is to find Dave Darney. Dave pointed out the location of the Long-eared Owl. Sue encouraged members to join her and Jack at Frick Park; they know where to find nests of Pileated Woodpeckers, Red-tailed Hawks, and Cooper's Hawks. Linda Bazan was thrilled to see a Northern Hawk Owl at Bend, Oregon. An unusual county bird was the Common Moorhen at Bald Knob reported by Dave Wilton. He also told of a Green Heron in Mt. Lebanon. Bob Machesney saw a very early Gray Catbird. Several people reported seeing Purple Finches. Pat Lynch told the story of a female Wild Turkey laying an egg near the feeders in his yard. Walt said that the turkey which he saw in November with an arrow in its back has been seen again recently. Other local sightings included warblers and woodcocks. During an exploratory trip to Crane Creek, Ohio, Bill Parker saw several shorebirds, including American Golden Plover. Bill also mentioned that Chris Knoll is the naturalist at Magee Marsh. Ryan Tomazin found a Ruffed Grouse sitting on a roof in Bridgeville. Ryan also stated that Steve Carbol, formerly associated with the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, has an article in the March/April 2005 issue of Birding magazine.

Door prizes were donated by several officers and by the Audubon Society of Western PA. The winners this month were Linda Bazan, Betty Guidish, and Louise Jencik.

Fred McCullough introduced Bill Beatty of West Liberty, West Virginia, the guest speaker for the evening. Fred, speaking from personal experience, assured the audience that Bill's presentation would keep them wide awake. And was he ever right.

Bill's fascinating presentation entitled Screech-Owl Studies was enthusiastically received by the audience. Bill is a naturalist, wildlife photographer, and wildlife rehabilitator. During the 29 years that Bill had monitored up to 30 Eastern Screech-Owl boxes in Ohio County, West Virginia, he helped to change ornithologists' opinions concerning the effectiveness of using taped owl calls. He assisted one of his daughters with a science project that determined the size of the range (a square quarter mile) of an Eastern Screech-Owl. Bill's Christmas Bird Counts of Eastern Screech-Owls were usually the highest in the country. In 1990 Bill and his assistants recorded 170 screech-owls for the CBC. Bill regaled his audience with humorous anecdotes including one about Archie, the screech-owl that was afraid of mice and heights! Excellent slides such as showing the size of day-old, fuzzy screech-owls, the egg-tooth of an owl before being fully hatched, and a screech-owl nuzzling on a child's shoulder entranced attendees. Many of Bill's slides were taken inside his studio. Bill's enthusiasm was contagious and provoked many questions. Practical advice included searching for the owls on dark nights since they are secretive and how to monitor owl boxes.


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