State College Bird Club Meeting
January 22, 2025


Presiding: Doug Wentzel

Recording: Kathy Bechdel (substituting for Peggy Wagoner)
 
Attendance: 20 in-person / 14 on Zoom

Meeting Format: Hybrid: In-person at Millbrook Marsh Nature Center) and Zoom

Thank you to Mandy Maguffey and Millbrook Marsh Nature Center for the use of the room and the hot tea.  Treats were provided by members.  It appeared to be a unanimous decision to continue with Tea and Treats for meetings in the cold months of the year.

New attendees to in-person meeting introduced themselves.

Treasurers Report: (Karen Kottlowski)

SCBC account balances: checking: $5,106.02 and Savings:  $5,579.35

A Holiday Card was received from Centre Foundation. A Thank-you note was received from Centre Wildlife Care for the grant they received in Summer 2024.

Field Trip Report from Kathy Bechdel:
    
Joe Gyekis will be leading three Arboretum walks on the January 30, February 27, and March 27.  Meet at the Overlook Pavilion at 8 am.
 
Five spring walks have been scheduled. 
 
Sunday, March 30 at Bald Eagle State Park with Bob Snyder
Saturday, April 19 at Chicory Lane Farm with Joe Gyekis
Saturday, April 26 at Tudek Park with Coty Ehrenhaus
Wednesday, May 14 at Lower Trail with Nick Bolgiano (originally announced at meeting with incorrect date)
Sunday, May 18 at Plummer's Hollow with Eric Oliver (originally announced at meeting on May 3, but changed since that is Birding Cup weekend)
 
An additional field trip is being scheduled for June.
 
All information will be posted on our website soon.

Announcements:
 
February 5 is State College Reads Program at State College Area High School from 6 - 8 pm.  Our Bird Club will partner with Shavers Creek to have tables at the event.  Anyone interested in participating contact Doug.
 
February 14 - 17 is Great Backyard Bird Count
 
PA Birding Atlas - Amber Wiewel presenting information regarding participation in the PA Atlas during winter.  Pennsylvania is currently in the process of a five-year Birding Atlas.  This is Pennsylvania's third Atlas.  The results of the Atlas are used to identify conservation needs for birds in the state.  Everyone is welcome to contribute data through eBird.  The winter season is being added for the first time. During this time some of the blocks have been identified as "priority", although data from all blocks will be accepted through the PA Atlas portal in eBird.
 
Millbrook Marsh Nature Center will commence with Spring Bird walks on Tuesdays beginning April 1 until May 6.
 
Shaver's Creek Environmental Center will commence with Spring Bird walks on Wednesdays beginning April 2 until May 7.

New Business:
 
Eric Oliver shared information about an event on Sunday, March 9.  Ethan Tapper, author of How to Love a Forest will be giving a presentation of his book at Shaver's Creek at 1pm.  Registration is required and there is a maximum of 75 participants.  In the morning on March 9, there will be a bird walk at Shaver's Creek and that will be by invitation only. 
 
Doug announced a workshop at Schlow Library on Sunday January 26 at 2 pm, presented by the PA Native Plant Society.  The workshop will discuss the benefits of native plants and how to introduce them into your backyard.

Speaker: Brady Thomas introduced Ryan Hamilton, Land Conservation Manager, from Clearwater Conservancy.

Ryan presented the goals of Clearwater Conservancy, the process used to obtain conservation easements, and some of their success stories.
 
Ryan highlighted the history of Land Conservation through federal legislation that eventually led to the establishment of Clearwater Conservancy.  Allowing tax deductions for donating land was instrumental in the process of acquiring land for conservation easements and land trusts.
 
The process that leads to land conservation takes several years and uses many strategies. These include ownership of the property, acquiring property and then transferring to another natural resource agency, and conservation easements. 
 
There are many benefits to landowners including tax benefits, estate planning, land management and environmental stewardship.  The conservation easements create open space and natural resource protection that benefits all of the public.
 
Ryan outlined a typical process from start to finish in acquiring a conservation easement.  The steps include identifying a landowner, obtaining funding, researching the property/surveying, developing baseline documentation, creating a stewardship endowment, real estate closing and annual monitoring.
 
Ryan pointed out that he believes the process in acquiring more land in Pennsylvania is important because of the significant role our state plays in the migratory path of many birds. 
 
Some of the success stories of Clearwater Conservancy include Rhoneymeade, Spring Creek Watershed, Spring Creek Canyon, Scotia Barrens, Grayswoods Preserve, Egg Hill (Joel's Woods), Stone Valley, and Slab Cabin Run
 
Ryan concluded his presentation by emphasizing that many partners, tools and strategies are needed to continue the work of Clearwater Conservancy.  There is a Volunteer Page on their website, www.clearwaterconservancy.org.
 
To view Ryan's presentation on Zoom click the link below.
 
https://psu.zoom.us/rec/share/CqzEHdvyFRnSK4f5e2f-A-Jfng0xRgfVuNZvfc-saQAmE11UxMOSP_gtCZ5MUd1x.QTREdmlPHHRsGCSL
 
Brady announced the next meeting will be February 26.  Guest speaker is Carl Engstrom who will present his research on Cerulean Warblers.
 
Doug concluded the meeting.