STATE COLLEGE BIRD CLUB

14 Nov. 2007

The State College Bird Club met at Foxdale Village on 14 Nov. 2007.  31 members and guests attended; Deborah Grove presided. 

Business

Nan Butkovich read the October meeting minutes, which were approved.  Dorothy Bordner read the treasurer’s report and checklist.  Attendees reported 95 species within a 25 mile radius of Old Main since 24 Oct.  Species of note included Northern Goshawk, Merlin, and Pectoral Sandpiper. 

New Business

Dorothy Bordner reported a check for $300 from three years ago has never been cashed.  Members voted to allow her to void the check.

Upcoming events

Several local Christmas Bird Counts have been announced:

•  15 December:
• Lewistown (contact Chad Kauffman at chadkauffman at earthlink.net
• Culp-Canoe Creek (contact Heidi Boyle at hboyle at state.pa.us)
• 16 December
• State College (contact Jim Dunn at jwd6 at psu.edu or Bob Fowles at rbf at psu.edu)
• Huntingdon (contact Dave Kyler at davidkyler at verizon.net)
• Lock Haven (contact Wayne Laubscher at wlaubsch at kcnet.org)
• 22 December
• Lake Raystown (contact Greg Grove at gwg2 at psu.edu)
• 30 December
• Bald Eagle (contact Bob Snyder at rhs2 at psu.edu)

Presentation

Mark Banker, Wildlife Biologist for the Ruffed Grouse Society, spoke on the ecology and management of Ruffed Grouse and American Woodcock.  The speaker discussed the habitat needs of both species.  To manage these species, you need to manage light and stem growth.  The best habitat is young to 20 year old forests.  However, in 2004 only about 10% of Pennsylvania forests fell in this range.  This parallels similar declines throughout the eastern US.  Commercial timber harvesting is the most effective method of creating suitable habitat. 

Recorded by

Nan Butkovich, Secretary