Our Next Three Rivers Meeting
Rebecca Ralston
WE'LL LEARN THE LATEST
RESEARCH ON PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS
ON AUGUST 7
Becca Ralston is a current master's student in the School of Environment and Natural Resources at Ohio State University with a fascination for migration ecology and an interest in incorporating new methods and technologies to study avian movement. At our August 7, 2024 meeting, Becca will present: :"Migratory Timing and Environmental Conditions: When do Prothonotary Warblers Arrive in the Spring?" a look at the latest research on Prothonotary Warbler migration.
Her passion for avian research began in 2014 when she volunteered with the Pittsburgh Neighborhood Nestwatch and Project Owlnet programs. In 2020, she graduated from the University of Delaware with a BS in wildlife conservation and ecology and a BA in environmental humanities. During her undergraduate studies, Becca joined the UD's Blue Hen Birding club and participating in the 2017 World Series of Birding at Cape May.
Prior to beginning her graduate studies, Becca participated in projects studying Golden-cheeked Warblers, Common and Arctic Terns, and Nelson's Sparrows. She is also passionate about environmental education and has previously worked as a naturalist at Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory in Minnesota.
FUTURE PRORGRAMS:
- October 2, 2024: NICK LIADIS (BIRD LAB) - "Banding Spring and Fall Migration in Urban, Suburban, and Rural Sites"
- December 4, 2024: PHOTO SLIDE SLAM - Our annual showing of photographs by our talented members
Last Updated on 7/11/2024
Items of Interest
VIEW THE MAY/JUNE 2024 EDITION OF OUR NEWSLETTER -- THE PEREGRINE
Items of Interest
VIEW THE MAY/JUNE 2024 EDITION OF OUR NEWSLETTER -- THE PEREGRINE
The May/June edition of The Peregrine (in full color) is avaiable here: May/June 2024.
See also Tom Moeller's book-length photo gallery to accompany his "Observations" column:
Birds of Duck Hollow.
THE WRITTEN MINUTES AND THE VIDEO OF OUR JUNE 5, 2024 MEETING ARE AVAILABLE!
Read the Meeting Minutes for our June 5, 2024 hybrid in-person/Zoom membership meeting featuring Kate St. John's presentation "Peregrine Falcons: An Environmental Success Story" here: June Minutes.
BREEDING BIRD BLITZ FOR CONSERVATION RAISES FUNDS FOR PSO
Hello!
Each year the Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology (PSO) raises funds with its Breeding Bird Blitz for Conservation (B4C).
All of the money B4C raises is split evenly between three conservation projects across the state. This year, our very own local land conservancy, the Allegheny Land Trust (ALT), has been selected to be one of the worthy recipients.
ALT is well-deserving of the honor. They have protected thousands of acres of valuable bird habitat right here in Allegheny and Washington Counties, places where we all bird.
Here are all three groups and the projects which will receive this year's B4C funding:
- Allegheny Land Trust - Habitat restoration at Wingfield Pines (https://alleghenylandtrust.org)
- Rider Park, Lycoming County - Woodcock habitat improvement
- Pocono Environmental Education Center - PEEC is working with artist Eurhi Jones to conceptualize an art installation project in an effort to deter bird strikes at the Visitor Activity Center.
My team, the Pittsburgh Peregrines, will be birding for conservation. I'm asking that you please consider supporting these worthy organizations by supporting my team with a donation in any amount.
Or better yet, you may be interested in forming a team yourself and birding for conservation! The more the merrier!
The Birding Blitz runs from June 7 through 17 with donations accepted until July 15, 2024.
Donations can be made through PayPal directly from the link below (you do not need an account) or by check. (Information and address also in the link.)
Please help us protect and support birds, habitat and all wildlife. They need our help and we need them.
Thank you! Tell your friends too!
Pittsburgh Peregrines
- Sheree Daugherty, captain
- Frank Moone
- Virginia McQuown
WE HAD A FULL SCHEDULE IN 2023 AS COVID RESTRICTIONS ENDED
Our 2023 activities returned to normal with winter, spring, and fall outings and membership meetings becoming hybrid in-person/Zoom formats. Steve Thomas was able to compile the six meetings we had, the full sets of spring and fall migration outings, and other events in our full 2023 calendar. See the year's history here: 2023 Events.
LONGER ARTICLES ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR YOUR READING PLEASURE
Six longer articles and a photo gallery that members contributed have been assembled in this single compilation. We hope you enjoy them again:
Geoff Malosh pursued a different prize in 2017 - a solar eclipse - in this article A Different Kind of Chase: Not for Birds This Time.
Kathy Siebert traveled to Ecuador in 2017 to find rare birds in Take the "Sun Route" to Enjoy Ecuador's Avian Wealth.
David Yeany, Jr. and his friends took a side trip from Magee Marsh one rainy day in 2018 to find a Kirtland's Warbler in his narrative Saving the Best for Last: A Kirtland's Warbler Adventure.
Frank Izaguirre's adventure in exploring snowy Canada for winter birds in February 2020 was a two-part article in subsequent editions of The Peregrine. Here are the two parts as one: Frigid Canada's Birds Warmed a Pair of Birders.
Tom Moeller also had a two-part article in two issues of The Peregrine on Cedar Waxwings. Again, the two parts appear here as one: Here's the Background on a Backyard Beauty.
Frank Izaguirre wrote an article for the January 2021 edition of Birding magazine. With permission of the magazine and its editor Ted Floyd, we can present a PDF of the article at this link: Celebrating the Stumpbreaker of Squirrel Hill.
Plus, the stunning gallery of birds and scenery from Northwest Argentina, which is an adjunct to Claire Staples' article "A Very High Adventure: Birding to 15,000 Feet in Argentina's Andes" [The Peregrine Vol. 18, No. 2, March/April 2019], can still be enjoyed: Northwest Argentina.
Other Important Items
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK!
Be sure to visit our club's Facebook page for up-to-date news on happenings with the club, member photos, or links to other birding articles and sites.
WE'RE ON INSTAGRAM TOO!
Our social media presence has expanded. Thanks to member, Malcolm Kurtz, we now have a site on Instagram. You can check for developments on our website 3rbc.org, upload photos, or comment on bird sightings, photos, or outings. Check out our Instagram site here: https://www.instagram.com/3rbcpgh/.
BIRD WATCHER'S DIGEST HAS RETURNED!!
Bird Watcher's Digest, the birding magazine that suddenly closed in December 2021, resumed publication with its July/August 2022 edition under its new title BWD.
Two new publishers, Rich Luhr and Mike Sacopulos, have taken on the task of resurrecting BWD. Many of the magazine's former staff have returned to revamp the style and size of the publication. A welcome return of a vital birding publication.
PSO's PENNSYLVANIA BIRDS MAGAZINE: SEE WHAT YOU'VE BEEN MISSING
The Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology (PSO) publishes previews of the current issue of Pennsylvania Birds online, which consist of the cover, table of contents, and a featured article. Now anyone who does not subscribe or perhaps does not even know about PSO can actually see a little bit of what they've been missing, and hopefully be encouraged to join PSO! Click on the following link for an example of an article from the latest edition of Pennsylvania Birds: sample article.
Pennsylvania Birds is an all-volunteer effort, created and maintained by a group of Pennsylvania's most dedicated birders, but it is not an exclusive club. Anyone may contribute, whether a member of PSO or not, any original work related to birds or birding in Pennsylvania. If you have photos, article ideas, letters to the editor... as long as it is original work and related to birds or birding in Pennsylvania.
Consider joining PSO if you haven't already. They especially encourage the "beginners" out there, those of you who are just starting to discover the wonderful hobby of birding. In addition to being relatively inexpensive, membership buys you a year's subscription to Pennsylvania Birds and The Pileated, the PSO newsletter.
Find the Home page of the Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology here: PSO.
