Three Rivers Birding Club
Bi-monthly Membership Meeting
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
6:30 - 10:00 PM
Phipps Garden Center, Shady Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA
The warm spring evening, the fascinating topic of falconry, and live birds only an arm's length away brought out a larger than usual crowd of 88 members and visitors. Eleven adults attended their first 3RBC meeting, and at least six children were in the audience. Everyone had an opportunity to socialize, snack, and talk to two falconers. Many used the first hour to photograph the birds, while others just stood as close to the birds as they dared and admired the vivid colors and intricate details not visible in the wild.
Vice President Bob VanNewkirk called the meeting to order at 7:30. He welcomed the visitors; thanked some members for providing snacks and encouraged others to do the same; reminded everyone to help themselves to the free magazines and other bird-related donations; and asked for announcements from the audience.
Jack Solomon announced 3RBC's yearly birding trip to Magee Marsh-Crane Creek, Ohio, from May 7-14. Joan Tague will blog highlights each day at www.3RBC.org. It is especially important to reserve motel rooms early this year because this coincides with International Migratory Bird Day. Please send Jack your cell phone number if you are coming to facilitate coordinating activities.
Jack asked for volunteers to help during the WOS/AFO conference at the Hilton on April 9-12--an excellent birder to assist at the Frick outing on Thursday, someone for the registration table on Saturday, and a van driver on Sunday.
Don Gibbon announced a Sierra Club Environmental Film Festival on Wednesday, April 8, 6-10 PM and Saturday, April 18, 6-10 PM at the Imagine Environmental Charter School, 829 Milton Ave., Pittsburgh. Posters were available.
Program Co-Director Ian Haigh announced that Chuck Tague will present "Birds in Action" at our next club meeting on June 3, and Outings Director Steve Thomas promised "action packed birding" trips in April and May. Check the 3RBC newsletter and website for more information.
Bird Reports Editor Mike Fialkovich informed the audience that the PSO's Annual Meeting has been switched to Morgantown, Berks County, near Reading. See www.pabirds.org for details. The big news, of course, was the Snowy Owl that was perched on the Calvary Methodist Church in Pittsburgh's North Side. A number of local birders took this great opportunity to see it. Mike then summarized local bird sightings. A few White-winged Crossbills are still present; groups of Pine Siskins persist. Other birds included: Snow Goose, White-winged Scoters, Long-tailed Ducks, Red-necked Grebes, a flock of 33 Northern Pintails, Bald Eagles, Rough-legged Hawks, Great Black-backed Gull, Barred Owl, Northern Shrike, Brown Thrasher, Common Raven adding to a nest, Louisiana Waterthrushes, Rusty Blackbirds, and Common Redpolls.
Audience members added sightings of a Ross's Goose, a Great Blue Heron rookery near Kirwin Heights, a Winter Wren, a Green-winged Teal, and Eastern Meadowlarks. One Pine Siskin was seen feeding a begging Pine Siskin; Mike urged the audience to watch for signs of siskins nesting. Bob VanNewkirk reported that the recent Pymatuning outing was a great success with many Bald Eagles, 19 species of waterfowl, and a Sandhill Crane. Jack stated that Tommy Byrnes's Woodcock walk was outstanding and provided the best views of Woodcocks and their mating sounds that he has experienced. Jack and Sue Solomon will document the sighting of two Sprague's Pipits near Imperial, which would likely be a state record, if accepted.
Ian asked, "What is the fascination that humans have with falcons and the sport of kings?" He introduced Jeff Finch, our speaker of the evening, to explain. Jeff is the President of the Pennsylvania Falconry and Hawk Trust (PFHT). Jeff's presentation included a history of the sport, hunting techniques, an explanation of the strict regulations, the need for dedication and responsibility, and the positive contributions by falconers to conservation.
Jeff stated that although its origins are unknown, falconry can be traced back to 2,200 BC in China. It is linked with the Middle East, Greeks, Romans, and Germanic tribes, but many of us associate it with the Middle Ages in Europe. He introduced his friend Richie Guadagno, who was his sponsor during Jeff's apprenticeship. Throughout Jeff's presentation, he was enthusiastic and answered many questions. The American Kestrel, Harris's Hawk, and Northern Goshawk also kept the audience riveted. The bird and the falconer read one another's body language. Jeff emphasized trusting the bird; it doesn't lie.
Until 1976 anyone could get a permit to own raptors. Listing the Peregrine Falcon as endangered in 1972 led the US Fish and Wildlife Service to establish strict regulations. A person must serve a two-year apprenticeship and have a sponsor who is a falconer. The PA Game Commission inspects the falconer's facilities each year. The falconer needs to care for his birds every day and take them hunting. This requires a great amount of dedication.
Jeff ably dispelled misconceptions about falconry. Some people think that the birds are starved before hunting, but a bird must be fed and healthy in order to hunt. Falconers don't harm raptor populations by capturing and keeping too many birds; most falconers can only take two birds a year and may not keep more than two raptors at a time. As a Master Falconer, Jeff may have three birds. Only a small percentage of raptors in the wild survive their first year, but falconers capture first year birds and release the more confident and capable birds in a few years. A number of falconers are banders and help with scientific research. Some of these banders also assist the bird by checking for mite damage, cleaning wounds, and replacing damaged or lost feathers. Jeff believes that falconers were instrumental in the Peregrine's recovery by breeding and releasing them. They have helped with the PA Breeding Bird Atlas, and made contributions to conservation groups such as the Peregrine Fund.
After the program, Sue Solomon conducted the door prize drawing and Jeff and Richie graciously answered many questions.
Submitted by Pat and Sherron Lynch
Co-secretaries of Three Rivers Birding Club
