Three Rivers Birding Club
Bi-monthly Membership Meeting
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
6:30 - 10:15 PM
Botany Hall, Schenley Drive, Pittsburgh, PA
President Jim Valimont called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM with 51 people in attendance. Four people were attending their first meeting.
Jim made a special announcement concerning the Pittsburgh Christmas Bird Count to be held on December 27. Because ASWP will be sponsoring four CBC's this year, field participants will pay $2.50, half of the $5.00 fee. Birders should make their checks payable to ASWP.
Vice President Bob VanNewkirk handled the business agenda and asked for announcements. Don Gibbon described the October 8 Dudley Edmondson nature photography presentation and the following panel discussion concerning increasing minority involvement in outdoor activities as inspiring and heartwarming. You will be able to see complete details on the 3RBC website. If anyone wishes to help improve minority participation in outdoor activities, contact Don at Don Gibbon or at www.alleghenysc.org.
Bob's request for audience members to raise their hands if they had participated in a Christmas Bird Count produced a very impressive response, as did the show of hands for those interested in becoming new participants. Bob asked people to join in the CBC tradition.
Our Vice President also announced that ASWP is planning to create a "Birding Trail Guide to Western Pennsylvania" similar to the Susquehanna birding trail guide for much of eastern PA. Birders can nominate their favorite little-known birding areas by visiting the ASWP website and choosing Trail Guide. Include details pertaining to habitat, water, what birds appear in various seasons, handicap access, restaurants, other users, etc.
Ian Haigh, Program Co-Director, stated that a members' slide show will be our program at the February meeting.
After reporting that he had seen a life bird, the Monk Parakeet, in Chicago, Bird Reports Editor Mike Fialkovich summarized the recent local bird sightings. Key sightings included the Robin roost near Carnegie, American Pipit reports, Tundra Swans, the Brant at Duck Hollow, Surf Scoters, a Golden Eagle, a Barred Owl in Schenley Park, a Rufous Hummingbird, a Northern Shrike, a Lapland Longspur, Redpolls at Beechwood, and large flocks of Pine Siskins. There was also a Black-headed Gull at Moraine.
Steve Thomas, Outings Director, announced a January 4 outing to Presque Isle with Jack and Sue Solomon, January-February trips to Lawrence County farm country with Jim Valimont, and the February 14 Backyard Bird Count with Bob VanNewkirk at Sewickley Heights Park.
After Jim introduced speaker Larry Barth, the world famous woodcarver of birds who works from his study near Stahlstown, Larry provided a fascinating behind-the-scenes account of his methodology and the development of an idea into a work of art. Larry inherited a love of birds from his mother and his aunts and a talent for carving from his father. These interests combine with Larry's artistic inclinations to create his passion for woodcarving of birds. He drew birds at an early age and submitted a crayon drawing of an Ostrich to Romper Room. Being isolated from other bird carvers allowed Larry to create his own methodology. A book by Wendell Gilley on bird carving helped in his development.
Larry discovered that bird carving could be a viable career when he attended a Ward World Championship Wildfowl Carving Competition during a college break. He was able to define his own design major at Carnegie Mellon University and take courses he believed would assist in his carving artistry. As his senior project Larry painstakingly created the Great Horned Owl family now on display at Beechwood Farms. He chewed balsa wood to create the appearance of fluffy feathers on the chicks. Larry's Great Horned Owl entry took a controversial second prize at the Ward World Championship in 1979 where many thought the carving deserved first prize. He eventually won the Ward World Championship Wildfowl Carving Competition twelve times.
Larry illustrated his process through the different stages of a project. His first slide, the Great Horned Owl, was particularly impressive. He gathers all his research, examines skins, sketches, and then creates a clay model. Using clay, he believes, is vital in creating a design and working out problems. His favorite medium is basswood. Larry utilizes colored pencils to lay out feather lines for carving. He prefers to work in a dark room with one adjustable, directional light and no overhead light. Next, Larry uses a wood burner to create texture and a grinder for finer details. Painting is the most difficult stage because a mistake could ruin months of work
Using slides of competition entries, Larry explained how he employs double helixes, repetition, and other devises to develop artistic compositions. Visiting Powdermill and holding birds in his hands stimulates his creativity and understanding of birds. The Eastern Kingbird on Goldenrod demonstrates Larry's attention to habitat. A concern is that "time wounds all heals"; total integrity under the paint is essential. He now employs a blowtorch instead of glue. Using metal allows Larry to create delicate habitat. His terns in flight and his Parasitic Jaegers chasing an Artic Tern are excellent examples of his use of metal to create a greater sense of movement.
Larry considers the Black-and-white Warbler's color pattern to be more striking than any brightly colored warblers; hence, it is his favorite bird. His proudest achievement was winning the Master Wildlife Artist Award presented by the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wisconsin.
After his slide presentation Larry displayed some of his sketchbooks, clay models, illustrations of his Ward World Championship winning entries, and some of his carvings. Larry generously answered many questions.
Submitted by Pat and Sherron Lynch
Co-secretaries of Three Rivers Birding Club
