April 2021 Meeting Minutes

Cayuga Bird Club

Virtual Meeting on Zoom

12 April 2021

7:30 pm

Presentation by Dr. Anusha Shankar

Hot & Cold Energy Ninjas: How Hummingbirds Survive the Night

recorded - https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/fJZsnnv-LfyLWun59psdDoaJR9M5WFOILtKU9LqAWS6EnDMT9SIGhUD0owQsM67rg5dJyl8AY7z4Fb0v.IyhDU_6HmKZOEsKR

Next Month’s Club Meeting

Monday, May 10, 2021

Webinar/Presentation by Jeff Wells

Boreal birds and Indigenous-led Conservation

Cayuga Bird Club Zoom Social Hour

* Monday, May 3, 2021, 7:30 pm

* Monday, June 7, 2021

CBC Field Trips: Stay tuned via CBC website, Facebook, the listserv and newsletters.

June Picnic at Myers Park

Monday, June 14, 6 pm

We may try a distanced gathering at Myers Park [byo lawn chair and food]. Final decision will be made at the end of May and announced in June newsletter.

Business:

Buying a Club Spotting Scope ?

* $700 - Vortex Viper HD 15-45x65 Spotting Scope (angled)

* $70 - Vanguard Alta CA 233AO Aluminum Tripod with PH-30 Pan/Tilt head

Proposal: Allocate $800 to buy scope and tripod

Additional info: if other tripod recommendations contact Suan Yong or Bob McGuire (~$100 range)

- scope comes w/$50 gift card (use towards tripod)

- used for field trips as a 2nd scope

- lets participants try out an affordable scope (Diane Morton)

- money in the bank

- angled scope better for all heights and sharing the scope

Motion made for a vote by Donna Scott and seconded by Paul Anderson

Vote: unanimous (34-0)

BirdNET [Bird sound identification]

Stefan Kahl

* now available on iOS, while on Android since last year

- similar to Merlin for sightings

- some logistics possible since a new technology

- remember, people can self-filter sounds better than cell phones!

Greensprings Natural Cemetary in Newfield seeking burial crew volunteer

* burials occur 9am-3pm (~4 hours, including prep and closing)

* help with prep and closing work

* details in newsletter

Suan Yong noted that this area was used for SFO field trips in the past. Near Arnot Forest and good location for bobolinks!!

Still looking for someone to read and do a book review of:

The Glitter in the Green - In Search of Hummingbirds by Jon Dunn

* contact Suan Yong

Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge - Wildlife Drive is open!

Opened discussion for future issues

1) Money uses

- add’l motus tower

- Conservation Action Committee budget increase

- possibility of binocs for Jeff Wells’ directed group

2) question raised re: development of Salt Pt into an urban park

- several not happy with changes of add’l paved pathways, etc.

- perhaps more details in May newsletter (someone to write article?)