Three Rivers Birding Club
Bi-monthly Membership Meeting
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
6:30 - 9:45 PM
Phipps Garden Center, Shady Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA

President Jim Valimont welcomed the 56 people in attendance, recognized one new attendee, reminded people to help themselves to the free literature available, and then shared some sad news with the audience. Ron Byrom, a birding enthusiast, noted storyteller, and CBC legend, passed away in early December while on a birding trip to Panama, where he was struck by a taxi. Those who attended the Christmas Bird Count dinner at Beechwood had the opportunity to reminisce and share stories about their experiences with Ron. He will be missed.

Vice President Bob VanNewkirk handled the business agenda and asked for announcements. Don Gibbon and Ryan Tomazin discussed projects in which they have recently been involved. Don Gibbon solicited help from anyone interested in encouraging minority participation in outdoor activities, a project dear to him. He mentioned that the Sierra Club, Venture Outdoors, and REI are also working on ideas along these lines. One plan is to work with the Pittsburgh School Board to offer teachers services and opportunities to spark interest in their students. Donating bird feeders to schools, taking a spotting scope into a classroom and showing the students birding at close range, and working with other organizations that set up events to share information about 3RBC with city residents are three ways to get involved. To help, contact Don. Ryan Tomazin, editor of the Brooks Bird Club newsletter, is working on digitizing and cataloging 76 years worth of The Redstart, the club's scientific publication in West Virginia. He will share details at our next meeting.

Bob reminded everyone about the Great Backyard Bird Count, a joint project of Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Audubon. The four-day event will be on February 13-16. Information can be found at www.birdsource.org; also check the activities for children. Datasheets will be available at Beechwood and everyone is encouraged to enjoy ASWP's trails. Bob will lead outings at Sewickley Heights Park on Saturday, February 14, one from 9-11 AM and one from 1-3 PM.

Program Co-Director Ian Haigh announced that Master Falconer Jeff Finch will describe the art of falconry at our April meeting. Outings Director Steve Thomas reminded everyone to check the 3RBC newsletter and website to learn about "lots of outings to come."

Bird Reports Editor Mike Fialkovich summarized local bird sightings. The list included Greater White-fronted, Snow, and Cackling Geese; a Surf Scoter, Long-tailed Ducks, and a Red-necked Grebe; Bald Eagles, Rough-legged Hawks, and Merlins; Bonaparte's, Iceland, and Great Black-backed Gulls; a Rufous Hummingbird; Short-eared Owls, Northern Shrikes, Fish Crows, Ravens, and Rusty Blackbirds. The highlights for most members of the audience were the White-winged Crossbills that have been sighted in many, many cemeteries around the area and in a few backyards and parks, the Pine Siskins that have been seen in large numbers, and a few Common Redpolls that have returned this year.

Once again, the artistry and mastery of our photographers dazzled and delighted attendees as "oohs" and "aahs" resonated around the room. Donna Foyle showed a plethora of Atlantic Puffins sitting on the roof and rocks surrounding a viewing blind on Machias Seal Island near Maine. She captured the perfect picture every photographer desires of a puffin posing with a mouthful of smelt.

Mike Fialkovich showed the fine feathering on the plumpest and most rufous of Rufous Hummingbirds, in Pennsylvania no less. After hearing his crossbill reports and viewing his gorgeous photos, everyone will be searching local cemeteries for flocks of crossbills in the conifers.

Scott Kinzey's Sandhill Cranes photo was published in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. A Kirtland's Warbler perched on an open branch with all of its identifying markings beautifully displayed. A Common Nighthawk and her nestlings in a parking lot amazed the audience. A brilliantly red Common Redpoll on a birch tree in the snow would make Hallmark jealous.

Photos often come with stories, and Don Gibbon is a great storyteller. One involved a robin that built a nest atop a truck tire each day between the time the truck owner arrived at work and left in the afternoon. Don also showed photographs by Doug Brown, a photographer Don met in British Columbia, whose Hooded Mergansers looked extremely regal.

Geoff Malosh's exquisite compositions of Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese at Bosque del Apache illustrated the use of both sunset and sunrise lighting. His head-on-view of a Ring-necked Duck, whose eyeballs looked like push pins squeezing the head into fat cheeks below an extremely high and narrow crown, will make birders study their next Ring-necked Ducks very carefully. Short-eared Owls flying straight toward the lens gave the appearance that the photographer was the intended prey. The high-key effect of white shades and dark markings on the owls flying against an almost white sky was stunning.

Cris Hamilton presented beautiful arrangements of Sandhill Cranes, Pine Siskins, White-winged Crossbills, and a Wood Duck among others. She set up twigs outside a window to get fabulous close shots of backyard birds. A stop-action shot of a Hummingbird Moth showed the amazingly graceful curl of the proboscis. Several photos lovingly recorded Ralph Bell's banding of his young Kestrels.

Tom Moeller's photos from backyards and a variety of local parks provided a marvelous assortment of fall and winter birds from warblers to ducks to turkeys. He assured the audience that the pathetically bald Blue Jay would be fine after molting. His image of 165 Snow Buntings in a tree reminded birders not to look only on the ground for these beautiful visitors.

Jim thanked our magnificent seven for their wonderful presentations and also those who brought treats. Door prize winners went home with nature books, a mug, an ornament, and a birdhouse. Attendees enjoyed staying to talk with the photographers and with one another.

Submitted by Pat and Sherron Lynch
Co-secretaries of Three Rivers Birding Club