State College Bird Club

11 Nov. 2008

The State College Bird Club met at Foxdale Village on 11 Nov. 2008.  Thirty-one members and guests attended; Debra Grim presided.

Business

Nan Butkovich read the October meeting minutes, which were approved.  Dorothy Bordner read the treasurer's report and checklist.  Attendees reported 96 species within a 25-mile radius of Old Main since 22 October.  Species of note included Snow Goose, Merlin, and Northern Shrike.

Upcoming events

• 10 Dec.: Holiday meeting of Christmas Bird Count planning, favorite bird photos

Presentation

Mike and Laura Jackson presented a program entitled Vera Cruz, Mexico – River of Raptors.  Near Vera Cruz, Mexico, the Gulf of Mexico and the Sierra Madre Orientale Mtns.  Bracket a narrow band of land that acts like a funnel for migrating raptors.  The numbers seen each year are staggering – in the 2003 season, 1.5 million raptors were reported in one day.

The Jacksons were participating in an ecotourism trip co-sponsored by Hawk Mountain and Pro Natura.  They were in Vera Cruz during the height of the Swainson’s Hawk migration.  Because of the wide variety of habitats present, they also got to see many non-raptors.

 A few of the birds seen during their trip included Laughing Falcon, Azure-crowned Hummingbird, Black-and-white Owl, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Keeled-billed Toucan, Black Hawk Eagle, and Tiger Heron.

Recorded by

Nan Butkovich, Secretary