Three Rivers Birding Club
Bi-monthly Membership Meeting
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Phipps Garden Center, Shady Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA

Forty members and visitors were in attendance. It was noted that some members may have stayed home to watch a certain hockey game.

Jack Solomon called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM. First time visitor Susan Salis was introduced and welcomed. Jack acknowledged the hard work of many and Sharon Lynch in particular, who made the PSO meeting the "best ever".

Election of officers followed. The nominating committee, comprised of Mike Fialkovich, Randi and Sarah Gerrish, presented the following candidates for election: Jim Valimont, President, Bob VanNewkirk, Vice-president. There were no additional nominations from the floor. Paul Hess moved that nominations be closed. Nominees were unanimously elected. Jack turned the gavel over to Jim Valimont.

Paul Hess noted that in 2001 the club began with 40 members. Members now number over 200. On behalf of the club, Paul thanked Jack for his years of service. In appreciation, Jack was given a beautiful framed photo of an American Kestrel (Jack's favorite bird). Sue Solomon was recognized for her contributions and for keeping Jack on track. Jim Valimont also thanked Jack for his leadership.

Neil Hodelman announced the date for the next meeting will be Wednesday, August 1st. The speaker will be Sheila Thorp. Her presentation will be "Birds of the Ecuadorian Cloud Forest."

Outings Director Steve Thomas, mentioned the June 28th outing to Boyce Park. Mike Fialkovich will lead this Breeding Bird Atlas survey of the park. Steve encouraged others to become trip leaders, noting help is always available from more experienced members.

Bird Reports Editor Mike Fialkovich, noted a lackluster spring migration due in part to cold temperatures and a persistent northerly wind. Noteworthy sightings included: Summer and Western Tanagers in several locations, a Mourning Warbler in Frick Park, and a Henslow Sparrow at Imperial, both on PSO outings. Cerulean warblers were abundant in Sewickley Heights Park. Kentucky Warblers were sighted at Harrison Hills, as was a nesting Worm Eating Warbler taking food to its nest site. Also of note were a red Necked Phalarope at Imperial Marsh and a Black-crowned Night Heron at Boyce/Mayview Park.

A discussion followed concerning the lack of Black-billed Cuckoos. Jack Solomon described the grotesqueness of watching a tiny Blue Grey Gnat- catcher feed a baby cowbird on the Bells Farm outing. Mike Fialkovich shared his successful and satisfying rescue of a baby Killdeer from a sewer grate. Rescue tools included rebar, shop towels and duct tape.

The evening's program was a "slide slam" presented by the talented photographers of 3RBC. Special thanks to Joan Tague for co-coordinating an assortment of disks and drives.

Joan showed Music of Nature, a beautiful program highlighting birds and their songs, that she put together (using Chuck Tague's photos) at the request of the Pittsburgh Symphony, for a Fiddlesticks concert at Heinz Hall.

Mike Fialkovich shared his Digiscoped Photos. Mike commented that he had "no camera like the big guys". He then showed amazing photos, many taken from Piney Tract in Clarion County, others on local rivers. Highlights were an American Avocet, Harlequin Duck, Horned Grebes and Ross' Geese. His final image was the Pennsylvania cake, made by Sharon Lynch for the PSO meeting.

Brian Herman's action photos were admired by all. His sharp images included Flickers flying from a nest site, a kiting Bald Eagle, Canada Geese landing on water, and Bluebirds and Swallows in flight approaching nest boxes. Brian's comment after the meeting was that he goes a lot of places and always takes his camera. If only it were that easy!

Neil Hodelman's photos taken at several locations in Florida included a refreshing variety of species: birds, crocodiles, alligators, flowers, butterflies and beautiful dragonflies. Of special interest were his photos of the Red Mangrove Swamps

Donald Gibbon's trip to Southern Louisiana provided photos of a very large Egret rookery. Don highlighted his trip route with a map and then showed photos of nesting Ibises.

Walt Schaffer's shorebird images were captured at Conneaut Marsh and Brigantine, New Jersey. They included Red Knots, Juvenile Sanderlings, feeding Whimbrels and the Red-necked Phalarope sighted this spring at Imperial Marsh.

Ian Haight, originally from Portsmouth England, provided a comparison of Birds of England versus birds of North American. His lovely costal images included a bittern, avocets, oystercatchers and a Long-eared owl. Ian thanked Jack and 3RBC birding members for the warm welcome extended to him and his wife on their arrival to this country.

Thomas Moeller's photos were organized by habitat and included backyard, woodland and shorebirds. Especially attractive were the close-up warbler shots from Crane Creek.

Steve Gosser's photos provided the perfect ending to a great "slide slam." His images included Sandhill Cranes, Short Eared Owls, and Warblers, as well as beautiful shots of a Red Breasted Merganser and Green Heron reflected in water. Enjoyed by all was his photo of a Marsh Wren straddling two reeds.

Meeting was adjourned at 9:45 pm.

Submitted by Virginia McQuown,
(Specially appointed as Assistant Secretary for the Wednesday June 4, 2008 meeting)

Nominating Committee Report

Randi thanked Sarah Gerrish and Mike Fialkovich for their work on the nominating committee. The nominating committee contacted each committee chair and all steering committee members to determine who was willing to continue to serve. The nominating committee ascertained that the following steering committee members would be resigning effective today:
Eric Marchbein
Carol & Fred McCullough
Walt & Dana Shaffer
Claire Staples
Becky Byerly has resigned as Hospitality Chair. Sue & Jack Solomon have agreed to be Hospitality Co-Chairs for one year effective today.

The current steering committee consists of: Becky Byerly, Pam Ferkett, Mike Fialkovich, Sarah & Randi Gerrish, Paul Hess, Sherron & Pat Lynch, Bob Machesney, Niel Nodelman, Julia Pahountis-Opacic, Brian Shema, Jack & Sue Solomon, Steve Thomas, Jim Valimont, Bob VanNewkirk. The steering committee, at the direction of the President, selects steering committee members, as and when deemed necessary the nominating committee recommends the following slate of officers:
President - Jim Valimont
Vice-President - Bob VanNewkirk
Secretary - Sherron & Pat Lynch
Treasurer - Bob Machesney

Nominations of any member in good standing may be made from the floor provided that the nominees have agreed to serve if elected. There being no nominations from the floor, Randi turned the meeting over to Jack to take action on the recommendation/motion of the nominating committee.