Spring 2021 Meetings via zoom

 A ZOOM link has been emailed to all BOC members please contact us at membership@bairdornithological.club if you are a guest or a member who needs a link. 

Dr. Rob Fergus studied bird conservation at the University of Texas, where he received his PhD in 2008. He was the founding director of the Hornsby Bend (Texas) Bird Observatory and was the first executive director of the Travis Audubon Society in Austin, Texas. He worked for the National Audubon Society for nearly 5 years as their senior scientist for Urban Bird Conservation. Dr. Fergus is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography and the Environment at Rowan University, where he teaches cultural geography and environmental science. He also teaches urban ecology and biodiversity courses at Rosemont College in Philadelphia, and provides bird pest control consulting for BirdBGone, Inc. Rob recently moved from Bucks County, PA to a geothermal home in the wilds of Hunterdon County, NJ where he enjoys birding and exploring nature with his kids.

April 9, 2021 

A visit to Trinidad & Tobago -

Peter Wolfe

May 14, 2021? *

Scott Weidensaul

BOC 100TH ANNIVERSARY BANQUET PROGRAM

 Below is a press release from Scott’s publisher describing his latest book, which will be available for signing and sale 

A World on the Wing
The Global Odyssey of Migratory Birds
by Scott Weidensaul (Author)

An exhilarating exploration of the science and wonder of global bird migration.
In the past two decades, our understanding of the navigational and physiological feats that enable birds to cross immense oceans, fly above the highest mountains, or remain in unbroken flight for months at a stretch has exploded. Certain species, such as thrushes, avoid dehydration by “drinking” from their own muscles and organs, extending their flight range by more than two thousand miles; it now seems all but certain that birds orient themselves using Earth’s magnetic field through a form of quantum entanglement that made Einstein queasy.
These and other revelations convey both the wonder of bird migration and its global sweep, from the mudflats of the Yellow Sea in China to the remote mountains of northeastern India to the dusty hills of southern Cyprus. This breathtaking work of nature writing also introduces readers to those scientists, researchers, and bird lovers trying to preserve global migratory patterns in the face of climate change and other environmental challenges.
Scott Weidensaul is the author of nearly thirty books, including the Pulitzer Prize finalist Living on the Wind. A writer and re-searcher specializing in birds and bird migration, he is a native of Pennsylvania now living in New Hampshire.

    

* The status of the COVID-19 pandemic in spring of 2021 will determine whether or not BOC will be able to hold our traditional banquet. As of now, we intend to celebrate our 100th anniversary with a banquet, and Scott Weidensaul, our most popular speaker, has agreed to present the program.. Final banquet details will be published in the Spring, 2021 Distelfink. Save the date.

  Jan 8, 7:30 pm - Nicaragua Connection- A Wood Thrush's Journey from Nicaragua to Tinicum Township, Bucks County by Diane Allison

In 2011 a Wood Thrush that had been banded in Nicaragua died after striking a window in Tinicum Township Bucks County. Diane traveled to Nicaragua to visit the cloud forest where this Wood Thrush spent the winter and was banded. Through her photos she will share this bird's story and open the little known world of birds in Nicaragua to viewers. This land of many habitats has a treasure of unexplored bird life and is an important wintering ground for many of our summer breeders. Over 700 species of birds have been found in Nicaragua and the list grows every day. Join Diane in a visit to the cloud forests, wetlands and pine-oak forests of Nicaragua to see its amazing natural resources.
Diane has lived in Tinicum township, Bucks County for 40 years with her husband Dave. She has served on the board of Bucks County Audubon, and the Tinicum Conservancy. Her interest in birds has taken her to many places including all 50 states, Europe, Mexico, Central America, South America, the Galapagos Islands and the Caribbean. She is the compiler for the Central Bucks Audubon Christmas Bird Count and the compiler for all of Bucks County for the Pennsylvania Migration Count since 2001. Diane is on the speakers bureau for the North                      American Bluebird Society and has built over 2000 bluebird boxes with school children, community groups and scouts. She enjoys hiking, nature photography and introducing people to the wonders of birds and nature.

Photo by Peter Wolfe

 Feb. 12   “Broad-winged Hawk Migration Ecology: Flying from Pennsylvania to Peru” - Dr. Laurie Goodrich Sarkis Acopian Director of Conservation Science at Hawk Mt. Sanctuary  Hawk Mountain has tracked adult and juvenile Broad-winged Hawks throughout their life cycle from 2014 through 2019. Broad-winged Hawks have declined in southeastern Pennsylvania but remain common in more heavily forested regions. Hawk Mountain's study is only the second study to use satellite-telemetry with Broad-winged Hawks and the first to tag males. The talk will detail some of the key findings on range, migration ecology, stopover and wintering sites as well as emerging conservation threats. 

Photo-A Broadwinged-hawk perched on a palm tree stub in Ecuador by Mike Slater