March 2014 Meeting Minutes

Cayuga Bird Club Meeting Minutes

March 10, 2014

President Paul Anderson called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm. He thanked Colleen Richards and Becky Hansen for providing cookies and enlisted Erica Evans and Sara Jane Hymes for the next gathering. He welcomed any people new to the area or to the club and asked about any interesting recent bird sightings. People had seen many ducks including Red-breasted Mergansers, Red-breasted Grebes, and a Harlequin Duck and noted that early migrants were traveling now including Golden Eagles. 

Upcoming events: 

• March 17. The Warbler Guide: the overlooked ID points that make identifying warblers easy. Tom Stephenson and Scott Whittle

• April 14. Cayuga Bird Club. Saw-whet Owls: the cute factor aids science. John Confer. 

There have been three field trips since the last meeting: 

• Feb. 22. Ann Mitchell led 10 people up the east side of the lake seeing many ducks along the way including Longtailed, Wood, White-winged Scoters, Horned Grebe, and Red-necked Grebe.

• March 1. Suan Yong took 4 people up to Salt Point and Mill Pond. Highlights included a Cackling Goose and Glaucous Gull.

• March 9. John Confer took 7 people to look for owls. They saw Short-eared, Great-Horned, and heard Screech. 

Check the website for other events including the bird walks offered at the lab every Saturday and Sunday mornings. 

Paul also thanked Richard and Cyndy Tkachuck for the wonderful job they do on the newsletter. 

Work is continuing in planning for the NYSOA meeting in September and volunteers are needed. Please see Donna Scott to help. 

Larry Hymes read the list of the birds of the Cayuga Basin. 

Kevin McGowan was the speaker for the evening to a packed house! His talk was entitled Waterfowl ID, the most important things. He spoke about the history of online/distance learning at the lab and then gave a very enjoyable demonstration of one of his courses. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Becky Hansen