Three Rivers Birding Club Southwestern Pennsylvania

Bimonthly Membership Meeting
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
7:30 PM -- 9:30 PM
Zoom Meeting Originating in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Seventy-one computers were logged on to 3RBC's December membership meeting with several shared by more than one person. In total, approximately eighty-four individuals viewed the meeting, which featured the club's ever-popular Slide Slam.

President Mike Fialkovich called the meeting to order at approximately 7:30 pm. He and other club officers and members made the following announcements and reports.

• Mike thanked Vice President Adrian Fenton for chairing the October meeting in his absence.


• Club member Tom Kuehl, southwestern Pennsylvania regional coordinator for the upcoming third breeding bird atlas project, spoke to the club regarding winter atlas work. Tom told the membership that he and his wife, Janet, are also the atlas's Westmoreland County co-coordinators, and that he has also made his newly-retired life even more busy by assuming the duties of atlas coordinator for Beaver and Lawrence Counties. Tom told us that, for the first time, we will have winter atlasing this season. He reminded us that we are in the first year of a five year atlas project, and that the first two atlas projects did not have a winter atlasing component, but this, the third atlas, does. The winter component started on December 1, 2024, and is officially underway. The goal of the winter work is to create a baseline for the distribution and abundance of winter birds in Pennsylvania. Winter atlas work is easier than that done during the breeding season, since there are far fewer breeding codes to deal with. In general, users need only enter eBird checklists through the atlas portal. Users can enter and submit checklists anytime, provided they are within a single atlas block. Feeder-watch counts are also very useful. Tom said he is particularly interested in 1) completing early and late-season surveys in priority blocks, and 2) surveying all the water bodies in his areas of concern. He asked the members to consider getting involved and to contact him, especially if they are available to do work in the several surrounding counties that will need help: Washington, Fayette, Green, Butler and Mercer Counties.


• Mike announced that he and Brian Shema are the atlas's co-coordinators in Allegheny County, and that three priority blocks are in need of a volunteer in each to do surveying. If you can help, please contact Mike or Brian for more information. He reiterated that we can bird anywhere in any block at any time, and that any data gathering is a great help.


• The Peregrine editor, Bob Mulvihill was absent, so there was no preview of the upcoming January/February Peregrine.


• Treasurer Tom Moeller reported that the club has 337 memberships, translating into about 450 individuals. Tom also reminded us that, since the club is now a registered non-profit, donations and memberships a fully tax deductible. In other news, Treasurer Moeller told us that he had completed the voluminous paperwork necessary to obtain a Pennsylvania sales-tax exemption for the club, saving us at least $150 annually. Good job, Tom! He also reported that he has recruited volunteers to help with the folding and mailing of the newsletter, making that job much easier. Finally, he also extended his thanks to new members who have chosen to join us, and to our loyal, ongoing members for their continued support and generosity.


• Webmaster Tom Moeller reported that he made a change to the photos at the top of the webpage a few months back, inserting a photo of birds at San Padre Island.


• Outings Director Steve Thomas reminded us that the Christmas Bird Count is approaching and encouraged our participation. He then announced the following upcoming outing.
  
  
  • Saturday, January 18, 2025 – Dead of Winter Walk, Frick Park
  
  Outing participants must follow club guidelines. When appropriate, social distancing is recommended; equipment sharing is discouraged; wear a mask when appropriate. Each outing leader may set additional restrictions and requirements: some leaders require pre-registration, and numbers of participants may be limited. Each leader may discontinue the outing at any time if conditions warrant such an action. Attendees should also note that pets are not permitted on 3RBC outings. Please see the full outing listing on the website for all restrictions and requirements that may apply! As always, check the club's web site and Facebook page for details, directions, and possible last minute changes or cancellations.


• President Mike Fialkovich gave his recap of highlights of recent bird sightings: American Wigeon at Sharpsburg, North Park, and Oakmont; Blue-winged Teal at Wingfield Pines and Oakmont; Horned Grebe at Aspinwall; Killdeer in South Park and Hampton Township Community Park; Solitary Sandpiper at Peters Creek; Pectoral Sandpiper at Dashields Dam; Wilson's Snipe in North Park and Duck Hollow; American Woodcock at Hartwood Acres and Moon Township; American Pipits at Imperial and Indiana Township; Savannah Sparrow in West Deer Township, West Mifflin, Imperial, North Park, Duck Hollow, Homewood Cemetery; Glenwood, and Wingfield Pines; Baltimore Oriole in Dormont; very late Tennessee Warbler in Frick Park; Black-throated Green Warbler in North Park; Tundra Swan flying over Oakmont, Findlay Township, Penn Hills and South Park; Ross's Goose in North Park; Northern Pintail and Gadwall in Harmar Township; Northern Shoveler and Canvasback at Duck Hollow; Long-tailed Duck at Aspinwall; Surf Scoters at Sharpsburg and Herr's Island; Dunlin in Oakmont; Black Vultures at Hartwood Acres; Sora at Wingfield Pines; Red-headed Woodpeckers at North Park and Franklin Park; Northern Shrike at Imperial; Marsh Wren at North Park, Hartwood Acres and Wingfield Pines; Pine Siskin in Upper St. Claire, North Park and Beechwood Farms; Orange-crowned Warbler in Wilkinsburg, Gibsonia, North Park, Hampton, and Duck Hollow; Connecticut Warbler in Wingfield Pines; and Rusty Blackbirds in Wingfield Pines, Duck Hollow, Hartwood Acres, North Park, Alison Park and Frick Park. Going outside Allegheny County, Mike reported that a Crested Caracara was seen in Buck's County. It is thought that this same bird may have been spotted in Cape May as well. Mike also reported that a Black-legged Kittiwake may still be at Bald Eagle State Park in Center County. He finally told us about a Ross's Goose, a Greater White-fronted goose and two Snow Geese in Derry, Westmoreland County recently, as well as a flock of Greater White-fronted Geese in Butler County followed by a California Gull!


• Program Director Carol McCullough informed the members that the club's February 5, 2025, meeting will also be only on Zoom and will feature popular author Scott Weidensaul who will speak about his latest book on bird migration, A World on the Wing: The Global Odyssey of Migratory Birds. Members will remember that Scott, a club favorite, packed the house at a club meeting some years back. Be prepared for a fascinating evening featuring one of the nation's top bird authors!

Carol next turned the meeting over to Dave Brooke, who facilitated the Slide Slam program and hosted an impressive array of a dozen of the club's fine photographers who made the following presentations:


• Dan Mendenhall – Photos Taken While Atlasing at Beechwood Farms and Surrounds


• Ezra White – Birds in the Pittsburgh Area and Beyond This Year


• Amy Henrici – Amy and Pat's Costa Rica Birding Adventure to Celebrate Retirement


• Roger Higbee – Images from Costa Rica


• Mike Fialkovich – Photos from 2024


• Ron Burkert – Birding on Great Exuma in the Bahamas


• Ryan Tomazin – Mix of Birds from Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Minnesota and a Series of Amazing Moths Found Mostly in Hillman State Park


• Kraig Cawley – Photos from the Island of Lesbos, Greece


• Charity Kheshgi – Birds from Around the Area


• Conor Tompkins – Images from Pennsylvania and Travel in the US


• John Dzikiy – Images from Yucatan and Singapore


• Dave Brooke – Best Birds of 2024

After an amazing evening of photos, President Fialkovich thanked Dave for his work in organizing the evening's presentation. Thanks, Dave! Mike took a few questions and comments, thanked the members, and adjourned the meeting.

— prepared by Frank Moone on December 28, 2024