Cayuga Bird Club Meeting
7:30 pm via Zoom
October 11, 2021

Participants: 59

Presentation by Matt Young: From Finches to the Launching of the Finch Research Network (FiRN)

Next month’s Webinar: Monday, November 8, 2021
  Speaker: Karan J. Odom (UMCP postdoc),
  Female Bird Songs cayugabirdclub.org/webinars

Membership dues are due
  $15 per family
  $10 for students
  Paypal from our website, or mail to our new PO Box:
    Cayuga Bird Club
    PO Box 6564
    Ithaca NY 14851-9997 

Field Trips
  Sun, Oct 17, 8am. Bob McGuire, registration required (bmcguire@clarityconnect.com)
  Sun, Nov 7, 6:32am-8:32am: Loon Watch Suan Yong, Taughannock Park, north parking lot
    [clarification: northernmost point south of creek]
  Dec 4-5 (Sat-Sun): overnight to Conowingo Dam (MD) for Congregation of Bald Eagles,
    Must be vaccinated, contact Carl Steckler for details

Budget Proposal presented at last meeting to be approved by membership:
  Diane Morton Motioned to pass the budget
  Donna Scott seconded
  Motion is passed with unanimous vote.

Annual Report By Suan Yong
  A. First full year of Zoom webinars, plus Zoom social hour
  B. Breeding Bird Atlas Sponsor a Species: Osprey
  C. Christmas Bird Count:
      181 participants (new record)
      89 species, plus 10 count week species
      15 species with record high, 2 tied (record number of record highs)
  D. Club purchased a Vortex spotting scope
  E. Field Trips resumed in March after Zoom break
  F. Myers Motus Station:
      Upgraded hardware
      Detected White-throated Sparrow, 2 Rusty Blackbirds, American Pipit, Ruddy Turnstone
  G. Spring Ornithology with Steve Kress: 142 students, including 12 scholarships
  H. June Picnic: first in-person gathering since lockdown
  I. Montezuma Muckrace: sponsored two teams
      Arrogant Bustards: 3rd place Rec (96 species), raised $1575 (total $11,800)
      Montezuma Mud Hens
  J. Conservation Action Committee
      Habitat Restoration led by Jody Enck:
        2020 focus: Jetty Woods
        2021 focus: Renwick Woods
      Worked with various partners (CCE, New Roots, IC students)
  K. Advocacy re Cornell grassland mowing (Bluegrass Lane)
  L. Bell Station, impending auction by NYSEG
      Club engaged in letter-writing Campaign
      RESULT: AUCTION HAS BEEN CANCELLED

Officer Elections
  Slate of Nominees (*incumbents)
    *Suan Yong, president
    *Joshua Snodgrass, vice-president
    *Ken Kemphues, treasurer
    *Poppy Singer, recording secretary
    *Colleen Richards, corresponding secretary
    Susan Danskin, director
Motion to vote for slate of officers
  Donna Scott Motioned
  Laura Stenzler Seconded
  Slate is voted in unanimously

Programs for Next Year
  Beginner Bird Walks at Sapsucker Woods have resumed
    Every Saturday 8:30am (hoping to start Sunday walks also)
  Second Motus tower at Mt. Pleasant, pending Cornell approval
  Spring Ornithology with Steve Kress will be offered again
    Matt del Buono, new coordinator
    Looking for volunteer to record and upload videos
  Conservation Action Committee
    Myers landscaping concerns, update signage, clear area where shorebirds forage, talk to Park supervisors?
  Youth bird club (with CCE)?

Reminder: Hunting Season has started.
  October 1 - November 12: Bowhunting and Crossbow
  November 20 - December 12: Regular Hunting
  December 13-21, December 26 - January 1: Bowhunting

Stewart Park Clean up
  Saturday, October 16, 10am-12pm (rain date Oct 23)
  Tasks include: trimming lakeshore vegetation; adding playground fibar surfacing; shoveling, sweeping and raking the sand play area, and litter and brush cleanup.
  Wear boots & bring gloves, hand loppers, pruners and hedge trimmers, wheelbarrows, pitchforks, yard rakes and iron rakes, depending on the type of work you'd like to do!

DEC Greenidge
  Should DEC allow bitcoin mining near Seneca Lake?
  Virtual Hearing this Wednesday, October 13
  Written Comments accepted by October 22
    FMI: https://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/123728.html
    or google “DEC Greenidge”

Floor Open

Chat Time