Three Rivers Birding Club
Bi-monthly Membership Meeting
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
6:30 - 9:30 PM
Phipps Garden Center, Shady Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA
Fifty-six attendees chatted, snacked, and selected freebies from the huge selection of books (courtesy of Jack Solomon), magazines (many courtesy of Tim Manka), and other assorted birding items. President Jim Valimont called the meeting to order at 7:30 and welcomed everyone.
Vice President Bob VanNewkirk ran the business part of the meeting. Program Director Ian Haigh indicated that Ross Gallardy is scheduled to speak at the October meeting about birding in Australia, but Ross might choose a different topic. Steve Thomas, Outings Director, stated that there are trips scheduled for every weekend in September, there will be two outings at the Hawk Watch, and the 3RBC annual picnic will be on October 25 at Moraine State Park. Steve recommended that members check the newsletter and the website for details and a complete schedule of outings.
Mike Fialkovich, Bird Reports Editor, stated that the fieldwork for the new Breeding Bird Atlas is now complete after some additional research was done in June. There is now data entered in all 4,937 blocks. The organizers anticipate that the new atlas will be published in 2010.
Mike then listed significant local bird sightings. A Willet at Imperial and another flying over Beechwood were the rarest shorebirds seen. Other birds included both yellowlegs species, several species of sandpipers, Wilson's Snipe, breeding Herring Gulls, late Common Loons, a late Great Egret, an immature Black-crowned Night-Heron, Caspian, Common, and Forster's Terns, Rufous Hummingbird, Fish Crow, Common Raven, Purple Martin, and late Pine Siskins. Of special interest was a Brown Pelican in Lancaster County.
Jim found Horned Larks, Savannah Sparrow, and Meadowlarks at the county airport and saw White-throated Sparrow, Common Raven, Swamp Sparrow, and singing Henslow's Sparrows at other locations. Tom Kuehl located a Mourning Warbler north of Johnstown one day before the safe date. A Peregrine Falcon appeared in a yard in Pine Township. Don Gibbon related being careful not to talk while watching young Peregrine Falcons from the top floor of the Cathedral of Learning. Sue Solomon mentioned having a Bald Eagle and a possible Mourning Warbler in Somerset County.
Ian introduced our guest speaker, Tim Hoppe, Wildlife Diversity Biologist for the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Tim noted that the name nighthawk is misleading since it is a member of the nightjar family and is the size of a robin with long wings. Tim utilized personal anecdotes, photos, aerial maps, and charts for a powerful presentation about Common Nighthawks and their nesting habits.
Historically, Common Nighthawks nested in burned areas, woodland clearings, rock outcrops, and farmers' fields. Beginning in the late 1800's, the species switched to pea stone gravel rooftops, perhaps attracted by the abundance of insects lured by the bright lights. However, the nighthawk's numbers have drastically declined since 1966 in the East. Tim employed data from the two Pennsylvania Breeding Birding Atlases of 1984-1989 and 2004-2009 to illustrate this serious change.
Perhaps the widespread use of rubber roofing on roofs instead of the traditional pea stone gravel rooftops is a major factor. The black rubber mat is 10 degrees warmer than the gravel rooftop, endangering the eggs and potentially overheating the nesting birds. The female compensates with ruffled feathers, panting through an open mouth, and cupping the wings underneath the tail to prevent heat reflection. It faces away from the sun during the warmest hours and tries to nest in the shade when possible. Vincent Marzilli II placed gravel on a roof in 1986, but the nesting female disappeared, dooming the young.
Tim began his nighthawk initiative in the fall of 2006. He selected four northwestern Pennsylvania cities-Erie, Warren, Oil City, and Meadville-where breeding nighthawks existed. After much experimenting Tim chose a design that would utilize three-square meters of landscaping fabric, 375 pounds of gravel, and a 12-foot-long 2x4 tucked into a southwest corner of the building for shade. The gravel is cooler for the nesting bird and prevents the eggs from rolling. The fabric protects the roof (a major concern for building owners) and the 2x4 stops gravel from rolling into roof drains.
Tim explained some of the problems associated with his initiative. Trying to locate building owners and convince them to grant him access to their roofs was a major problem. There was a concern by some that a young man wearing a backpack might be a terrorist. Surprisingly, the vast majority allowed him access. The physical difficulty of hauling 375 pounds of gravel, etc. to each roof was another problem.
Despite his efforts, he did not detect any nesting on the 69 selected roofs in 2007. The audience shared Tim's elation with the discovery of a hatchling in 2008, and then his dejection after predation, probably by crows, had occurred. In 2009 Tim employed dead crow effigies in an attempt to warn crows away. He also used a trail camera for greater data gathering. More disappointment ensued, as there was no nesting on his patches during this breeding season.
Tim suggests several possible reasons for the decline of nighthawks nesting on rooftops. Perhaps the birds are returning to more natural areas since predation in cities might be easy as the nighthawks lack camouflage on the mostly black rooftops. Excessive rainfall in 2009, pesticides, and problems in wintering countries might also be factors. Tim believes that more monitoring of the Common Nighthawk's nesting is warranted. Audience members will surely be thinking about Tim's enlightening program the next time they see or hear a Common Nighthawk.
Submitted by Pat and Sherron Lynch
Co-secretaries of Three Rivers Birding Club
