State College Bird Club
October 25, 2017
State College Bird Club Meeting, October 25, 2017
Presiding: Doug Wentzel
Recording: Debra Grim
Attendees: 31 at new location, Millbrook Marsh
Checklist: 152 species reported since September 27, including Sandhill
Crane, Black-bellied Plover, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Marsh Wren,
Orange-crowned Warbler, Connecticut Warbler, and Mourning Warbler.
Treasurer report (Jean Miller): $675 received, $185.52 spent.
Lederer Park has no eBird data for the third week of November.
Nick Kerlin has requested that someone replace him as compiler for the
Pennsylvania Migration Count. Centre County has had the top number of
species and the top number of individuals reported for this count.
November 15 meeting speaker will be Chad Kauffman.
Doug asked how members felt about meeting at Millbrook Marsh. Some had
misgivings about the dark parts of the walkway from the parking lot and
about how good winter maintenance will be. Members also wondered if the
room was really big enough.
October Speaker: Jerry Regan
Jerry Regan is president of the Wildlife for Everyone Endowment
Foundation. This group is dedicated to aiding all Pennsylvania wildlife
where need is the greatest and where private support will make a
difference. Previously, he was the President of Hawk Mountain
Sanctuary, executive director of the Ned Smith Center for Nature and
Art, Deputy Director of the Johnson Museum of Art and Major Gifts
Officer at Cornell University, and Financial Director of Penn State
Berks. He and his organization have played a big role in two of our
best wetland bird hotspots—Tom Ridge and Julian wetlands.
Jerry reminisced about his time at Ned Smith Center and at Hawk
Mountain Sanctuary and told stories about the diverse pioneers whose
generous support and leadership were important in establishing and
guiding these programs. He is a promoter of accessibility and is
especially proud of the handicapped-access trail that was built at Hawk
Mountain.
Wildlife for Everyone Endowment Foundation, founded 12 years ago, has a
mission to be “the leading advocate for wildlife conservation in
Pennsylvania.” Objects of the organization include educating youth,
conserving wild places, engaging urban communities, expanding
membership, and raising $20 million in endowments. Jerry is the first
full-time leader and hopes to make the Foundation more widely known.
Jerry is very enthusiastic about collaboration and partnership. Board
members include personnel from Pennsylvania agencies that relate to the
environment. The Foundation has begun publishing a journal,
Pennsylvania Wildlife. They are hoping to begin awarding $250,000 in
scholarships and internships in spring 2018. They participate in the
Seedlings for Schools program, which got 300,000 students from 966
schools outside to plant seedlings.
Jerry has plans for the Tom Ridge and Julian wetlands, and he hopes the
State College Bird Club will partner on this. He displayed an artist’s
conception of a mile-long accessible boardwalk to be built there, also
an accessible bird blind and an outdoor classroom with fireplace
similar to the one at Shaver’s Creek.
Jerry mentioned these upcoming events:
April 6 -- Pennsylvania First Wildlife Gala at the Nittany Lion Inn in State College.
April 7 – Bird walk at Tom Ridge and Julian wetlands led by Richard
Crossley, followed by a reception and signing for his new waterfowl
guide.
Minutes by Debra Grim