February 2021 Meeting Minutes
Cayuga Bird Club
Virtual Meeting on Zoom
8 February 2021
7:30 pm
Presentation by Sandy Padulka
Jaguars to Jacamars: Exploring the Wildlife of the Pantanal
Next Month’s Club Meeting
Monday, March 8, 2021
Webinar/Presentation by Steve Kress
Seabird Restoration around the World
Wednesday, February 17, 2021
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Free Virtual Event with Dr. Stephen Kress
Hosted by Birds of Stewart Park
https://www.friendsofstewartpark.org/events
Spring Ornithology Course with Steve Kress 2021
Begins soon!
Tuesdays, March 30-May 8 (Eight Weeks),
7:00-9:00 pm via Zoom
$125/household
See the club’s website for more information
http://www.cayugabirdclub.org/
Monday, March 1, 2021, 7:30pm
Cayuga Bird Club Zoom Social Hour
Club Meetings are scheduled as follows:
First Monday of the Month - Zoom Social Hour
Second Monday of the Month - Webinar/Presentation followed by Meeting
After the presentation, the meeting is opened to all attending.
COVID update
The Lab of Ornithology Visitor Center will be closed through summer 2021. It will potentially reopen in the fall of 2021
CBC Field Trips are still being negotiated and discussed with leaders about safety and liability due to COVID. Stay tuned via CBC website, Facebook, the listserv and newsletters.
The Myers Park Motus tower currently detects 166 MHz NanoTags, want to upgrade to support 433 MHz LifeTags.
Estimated price is $100 for LifeTag dongle, $88 for antenna, $39 for cables.
Bryant Dossman will perform the upgrade.
The club unanimously approved allocating $250 towards upgrading Myers Park Motus tower.
Great Backyard Bird Count
Friday-Monday (February 12-15)
See: Birdcount.org
Zoom Webinar on Tuesday, February 23, 7pm
by Dr. Leann Kanda
A Real Live Game of Frogger:
Amphibian Breeding Migrations at Thomas Road
hosted by Town of Caroline Watershed Committee Program
http://www.townofcaroline.org/watershed-committee.html
Dryden Lake Update
There has been some confusion and lack of information on listserv.
What we have learned: the Dam is leaking and failed inspection, DEC must address this by law.
Options include repairing/replacing, which is expensive, or possibly destroying.
Latest Update:
DEC removed two boards to alleviate pressure
Currently not an emergency or priority
DEC is evaluating (w/ outside expertise) before reporting to community
An informal poll was taken: should the club take an official position (advocate for keeping the dam, neutral, or advocate to remove the dam)?
Arguments for keeping include: continuity, waterfowl migration, bald eagle nest.
Arguments for destroying: dams have been ecologically questionable.
Most favored keeping the dam with some saying we should be neutral.
Meanwhile, members were asked to keep an eye and ear out for DEC announcements and comment periods.
Open Chat was brief due to the late hour.