May Meeting Minutes

Cayuga Bird Club, May 9, 2016

President Jody Enck called the meeting to order at 7:30. He had two things to hand out: a stack of tote bags from an old NYSOA meeting and bird seed eggs which had been made by the Cornell service fraternity.

Upcoming events:

May 14, 15: Chris Tessaglia-Hymes will lead bird trips to Hawthorn Orchard. Meet at 8am behind the polo barn.  Check the calendar for more information and for other bird trips.

May 14 is eBird Global Big Day.  Everyone can participate by submitting ebird lists.

June 15:  annual club picnic. Myers Point. 6:30pm.  Bring a dish to pass and binoculars for a short bird walk.

Memorial Day weekend: Mark Chao will lead his Spring Bird Quest walks to benefit the Finger Lakes Land Trust.  Information about this has been posted on the listserv or can be found on the land trust website.

May 19, 7 pm: Sarah Blodgett will give a lecture to the Chemung Audubon Society.

Susan Danskin, treasurer, presented the budget.  This budget incorporated input which arose following last month's budget presentation. Susan asked for a vote on this budget.  Donna Scott seconded the motion and it was passed.

Dave Nutter read the list of the birds of the Cayuga Basin.

There were two speakers for the evening: Rick Manning, Executive Director & Founder of the Friends of Stewart Park and the Coordinator & Founder of the Cayuga Waterfront Trail Initiative, and Josephine Martell, Councilwoman in the City of Ithaca, who is the city’s point person for management of the Canada goose population at Stewart Park.  Rick Manning spoke about plans being discussed by the city of Ithaca for making Stewart Park a bird- and birder-friendly place. Josephine Martell talked about ideas being considered to manage the Canada geese in the park.

Respectfully submitted,

Becky Hansen, recording secretary