Three Rivers Birding Club
Bi-monthly Membership Meeting
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
6:30 PM - 9:45 PM
Phipps Garden Center, Shady Avenue
Jack reported that the Pittsburgh Symphony had requested a program with pictures and sounds of local birds to be shown in conjunction with the performance of Olivier Messiaen's music. In two days Chuck and Joan Tague created an impressive 11-minute computer program that entranced the symphony’s audience. Jack stated that the Tagues’ creation would be part of our member’s multi-media program.
Mabel Matteson reminded people to sign up for the door prize drawing. Mabel and Jack thanked the members of the hospitality committee for providing snacks.
Vice-President Jim Valimont conducted the rest of the business meeting. Steve Thomas, Outings Director, reminded members of the Laurel Mountain outing for June 9. Steve also requested that anyone interested in leading an outing in the fall contact him. Fred McCullough reported that the results of the local Pennsylvania Migration Count (PAMC) held on May 12 were very good. Two of the better birds were Common Moorhen and Swainson’s Warbler.
Bird Reports Editor Mike Fialkovich made a plea for help with the Breeding Bird Atlas in Washington County. Mike and Dave Wilton said that Dave had found Dickcissel, Sandhill Crane, Black-crowned Night-Heron, American Bittern, and Golden Eagle at Boyce-Mayview Park. Mike also reported Common Moorhen and Red-headed Woodpecker. Jack mentioned that Orchard Oriole and Warbling Vireo were at 9-Mile Run.
Sherron Lynch conducted the door prize drawing. Three lucky members chose their prizes.
Mike then introduced the members participating in the evening’s program. Joan Tague served as media technician. Chuck’s and Joan’s "Olivier Messiaen and Bird Sounds" combined his beautiful photos, Messiaen’s music, bird sounds from Cornell tapes, and information concerning the birds. These included thrushes, sparrows, warblers, owls, and hawks. The audience was delighted.
Although Walt Shaffer only started digital photography this year, he clearly enjoys it and has some excellent photos, especially of his favorites, the shorebirds. Walt used photos of Semi-palmated Sandpipers to illustrate feather wear and primary tip projection after declaring, "Now we get into the real birds."
Don Gibbon had two interesting segments combining great photos and insights on Red-tailed Hawks growing up in Pittsburgh and a pair of Mourning Doves raising a family across from Don’s window. Don also showed an impressive photo of a huge crow roost. Sue Solomon said that a researcher estimated that there are over 9.000 crows in the roost.
Neil Nodelman is also a recent convert to digital photography and uses the birds and butterflies of Florida as his subjects. Two photos of a Great Blue Heron leaving and arriving at a nest were stunning.
Mike Fialkovich had excellent photos, especially of this winter’s gull invasion of the Pittsburgh Point and the birders who studied the gulls. Two photos of Mike’s latest yard bird, a Swamp Sparrow, were nice additions.
Chuck showed "Migration Memories" featuring birds from Ohio, Point Pelee, and western PA. There were amazingly close shots of birds, such as the Chestnut-sided Warbler, from several angles.
The audience laughed when the birds in the computer animation "For the Birds" got themselves into a few unexpected predicaments.
Sherron Lynch showed slides that she and Pat took on recent trips to Texas and Louisiana. Among their favorite birds were the "blue" Green Jay and nest-building Yellow-crowned Night-Herons.
Members stayed to chat about the presentations and their own birding experiences.
Submitted by Pat and Sherron Lynch
Co-secretaries of Three Rivers Birding Club
