Contents
Richard Brouse called the Executive Meeting to order at 7:15 p.m. Members absent were President, David Prosser and Program Chairman, Jerry LeTendre. Members in attendance were Catherine Martin, Irene Mazzocchi, Dick Brouse, Marion Brouse, Rena Young and Judi Sullivan.
Carolyn Bevins of JRC presented a proposal to the Executive Board that JRC is looking for jobs to help businesses, clubs, and the general public by getting out into the community on a volunteer basis. Carolyn had heard that the North Country Bird Club was looking for help putting the Plover (newsletter) together. She said they would be glad to print labels, assemble newsletters, staple and even mail out for the club if we would like. We thanked Carolyn for her kind offer and told her we would definitely be in touch after talking with Debbie Litwhiler.
Judi Sullivan asked about the possibility of purchasing a banner for the North Country Bird Club to be used at such events as our table at Fragile Wilderness. The members agreed that this would be a worthwhile purchase.
Marion Brouse is going to check on a date for the picnic in July after checking to be sure all members wanted to have the picnic again this year.
The regular membership meeting began at 7:36 p.m with 18 people in attendance. Dick Brouse read the treasurer's report that Dave Prosser had dropped off. Rena Young made a motion that the report be accepted. Marion Brouse seconded the motion and the motion was passed.
Dick made an announcement that the Lake Ontario 5th Annual Birding Festival is being held on Sunday, May 6th, 2001, at Yogi Bear Jellystone Park Resort, County Rt. 16, Mexico, New York. There will be field trips to Happy Valley Wildlife Management Area, Lake Ontario Shoreline, Selkirk Shores and Derby Hill. Irene Mazzocchi asked if the North Country Bird Club would have a table at the festival and discussion was tabled until the April 18th meeting due to lack of club member attendance to discuss it.
Dick announced two field trips that are coming up for the North Country Bird Club. One on March 24th, Saturday to Point Peninsula, with a meeting time of 9:00 a.m. at Porky's Restaurant on Route 12 E (weather permitting). The second trip will be Saturday, April 21st to Derby Hill, with a meeting time of 8:00 a.m. at Walmart parking lot in Watertown. Bringing a lunch is optional.
Jeff Bolsinger announced that Fort Drum would like to have an event celebrating International Migratory Bird Day. Since a large number of NCBC members will be at Pt. Pelee on May 12th, a May 19th date was suggested. This day would include field trips. Jeff said he would bring maps to the April 18th bird club meeting. It was brought up that May 19th is Armed Forces Day and Jeff will check to see if that presents a problem and get back to the club.
Irene Mazzocchi announced that she will be doing a black tern count again this year for the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation, and asked for any volunteers that would like to help counting nest sites this year to please get in touch with her at (315) 785-2261.
Dick Brouse discussed the 138 acre sanctuary, stating that it is a shame no one uses it and he would like to make it accessible for boy scouts and girl scouts. Dick reiterated that keeping the sanctuary up and clearing trails since the ice storm and storms thereafter is a lot of work.
Dick introduced Bob Long as our guest speaker to discuss the Breeding Bird Atlas Project for the upcoming season. Bob reminded atlas participants they should be out now confirming owls and promised to get tapes to the members as soon as possible of owls and rails. Bob showed some charts he had made showing the progress of last season. He talked about a meeting he had in Albany and the fact that coverage is more important at this point than numbers of species. He suggested if an atlas participant has 60 species in a block, please move on to another block. Albany has already hired "block busters" to help cover St. Lawrence County, where there is a big need for volunteers. Bob talked about the complexity of the "notable species" forms and it had been decided to forget those forms and just mark an "x" on the map instead of using this form. Bob asked if participants observe any rare birds, such as warblers, to please give him or Jerry LeTendre a phone call. Bob also announced that atlas participants will be receiving a summary of the 2000 work in their blocks, and if there are more species than they remember counting, it is because another atlas participant also counted in your block.
A discussion followed on the field cards. Bob suggested using the same field cards for two years and just using a different color of ink or put 2001 on them. He also said keeping track of dates you observe birds is very important. There is a new form "Effort Continuation Form" for those participants putting in a lot of time and running out of room, and they were also passed out at the meeting. Bob announced that he is going to have one (possibly two) field trips in May in Lewis County for beginners in the atlas project. He will make dates available as soon as he knows when they are. Anyone is welcome.
Dick Brouse introduced Eve Sweatman, Weaver Road, Chaumont. Eve had some photographs of a northern shrike she was observing at her house. Dick had gone to Eve's house to help identify the bird for her.
A big thank you to June Walker for providing some very tasty refreshments. The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Judi Sullivan - Secretary
President David Prosser called the Executive Board Meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Board members in attendance were Irene Mazzocchi, Catherine Martin, David Prosser, Jerry LeTendre, Kathy Luther, Dick Brouse, Marion Brouse, Rena Young and Judi Sullivan. Dave Prosser gave a treasurer's report and also discussed the need for election of new officers at the upcoming May 9, 2001 meeting. Catherine Martin stated that it would be fine to have the next year's bird club meetings at the church.
The regular meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. with 18 people in attendance. Dave Prosser stated that he will be in Arizona on a Wings birdwatching trip and will not be attending the May meeting. Dave appointed a committee consisting of Dick Brouse, Jerry LeTendre and Kathy Luther to work on nominations for officers for the upcoming elections. Dave also announced that there will be a field trip to Derby Hill on April 21 (weather permitting) meeting at Walmart at 8:00 a.m.
Dave Prosser reported on a lark sparrow being seen at Derby Hill in April. He also had observed 3 snow geese that were banded and reported it to D.E.C. Carol Kohinke reported seeing many cardinals and they are singing. Irene Mazzocchi reported on Egyptian geese being seen at Perch River (she has a tape if there is any interest). Jeff Bolsinger stated he confirmed pine siskins at Fort Drum in the conifer stands and also saw white-winged crossbills in 2 spots on Ft. Drum. Jerry LeTendre stated there are great blue herons nesting on Ironsides Island and a bald eagle has taken over an osprey nesting site on Grenadier Island. Jeff Bolsinger stated that Fort Drum is still having a migratory bird day and it is scheduled for May 19th.
Kathy Luther announced that Bob Long is conducting a field trip for people involved in the breeding bird atlas project that want to work on their birdwatching skills at Whetstone Gulf on May 26th. Anyone is invited.
Dave Prosser thanked everyone for cards and flowers sent to his wife Betty during her hospital stay.
The speaker for the meeting was Jerry LeTendre giving a very informative talk about his birdwatching trip to Mexico February 28 - March 15. Jerry traveled to Puerto Vallarta, San Blas, Colima and Barre de Navidad. He lifed 106 life birds in Mexico. The trip included land birding and pelagic trips. Jerry showed several slides of birds, books and maps of the various places he traveled. He answered several questions by bird club members and definitely generated some interest for a future trip to Mexico by bird club members.
The meeting adjourned at 8:37 p.m. and refreshments were provided by Kathy Luther.
Respectfully submitted,
Judi Sullivan, Secretary
I was fortunate to be invited to fill in an 8th and final spot on an organized birding trip to the west coast of Mexico from March 1 to March 14. The trip was organized by a couple from Iowa (Ric and Betty Zarwell) that had met NCBC members on other trips. It was special because I didn't have to plan or drive, but it would have been much better if I spoke a little Spanish!
Everyone found their own way to the airport at Puerto Vallarta. In my case, I flew from Hartford, Connecticut (my brother lives there) to Houston - to Puerto Vallarta. My roommate (Jim Berry) arrived shortly after I did and we birded together until the next day when everyone else arrived. Since four people were only staying for the first week of our two week trip, we ended up with two 4-door sedans.
Lodging was well-organized. We stayed in Puerto Vallarta for two nights; San Blas for five nights (at the birder friendly Hotel Garza Canella), Barra de Navidad for three nights; and Colima for four nights. The Wisconsinites spent their whole time birding in the San Blas area.
One of this other group formerly scheduled bird watching trips to this area and the four of them had been to the same hotel last year. Their experience, knowledge of birds and Spanish and willingness to help us was a real plus for week one. The second week was much more challenging, but both weeks were highly enjoyable and very successful. I got nearly 300 birds total and over 100 were lifers. I now have two bird lists - ABA (includes Continental U.S., Alaska and Canada) and AOU (includes all of above and Hawaii and Mexico).
The birding consisted of long hours (up to 14 hours in the field) many miles of hiking and four trips on the water. Each day we brought food for breakfast and for the first week out of Garza Canella we had coffee, juice, fruit, hard boiled eggs, sweet breads and sometimes sandwiches all ready for us. The last week we shopped for breakfast items the day before which wasn't as good or as easy. We quickly learned that a big lunch was the way to go. Birding slowed around lunch time and we were too tired to care about supper most nights. We always ate well, but never better than the spots picked out for us by the first week crew.
The birding:
This was an excellent birding location to finish our trip. We paid a per person fee to enter and I got golden vireo, lesser roadrunner, yellow-throated euphonia and rusty sparrow. I ended up with 106 life species.
Anyone for a Mexico trip?