September 10, 2010

“Birding the Forests and Prairies of Minnesota and North Dakota” with Bert Filemyr

Bert Filemyr is an active birder in the Delaware Valley and throughout North America. He has birded in 49 of the 50 states in the U.S. as well as in many Canadian provinces. Although he is retired from his teaching career, Bert has plenty to keep him busy. He is the current treasurer and webmaster of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club and a member of the Nikon/DVOC World Series of Birding Team, the Lagerhead Shrikes. He is also co-author of "The Composite Prints of Audubon's Birds of America"

In the spring of 2009, Bert was part of a group of local birders who enjoyed ten days exploring the forests and prairies of Minnesota and North Dakota. He will join us to share his experiences birding this region, which attracts a rich variety of breeding birds. Join us for a glimpse at this interesting but seldom-traveled birding route.

October 15, 2010

“An Evening of Bird Photography” with Howard Eskin

Howard started photographing birds in February of 2005 and has amassed a collection of extraordinary photos. Join us for an exciting evening.

November 19, 2010

“Birding the Appalachian Trail” with Win Shafer

Win Shafer, teacher and DVOC member, and his son Blake (AKA Birdman and Li’l Wayne) spent 4 ½ months in 2009 hiking the entire 2175 miles of the Appalachian Trail from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mt. Katahdin, Maine. Being in the mountains and woods in many different life zones during spring migration afforded incomparable opportunities for bird observation. Win’s program is a travelogue of his unique adventure and birding experience.

December 5, 2010 ....
ANNUAL BANQUET

“Golden Wings – Roger Tory Peterson Goes to Heaven”
with Pete Dunne

“Pete Dunne” has become a household name in American birdwatching. He has been responsible for introducing more Americans to bird watching than perhaps any other individual in recent times. The original director of the Cape May Bird observatory (CMBO), Pete has been credited with popularizing Cape May and making it an international birding destination. He was the founder of the World Series of Birding, an annual May event. The Wall Street Journal dubbed Pete “Bard of American Birdwatchers.” Among the books Pete has authored are: Feather Quest, Tales of a Low Rent Birder, The Small-headed Flycatcher, The Wind Masters, and, most recently, Pete Dunne’s Essential Field Guide Companion.

Once there was a boy who climbed Sweed Hill who found a bird he thought was dead that sprang to life at the touch of a finger--an encounter between two living things that changed the earth.

But what about Heaven?

Join us as master story teller Pete Dunne tells the story of Roger Tory Peterson's ascent to Heaven and the unexpected complications that follow. Be warned and be careful what you wish for. Heaven knows that it is Eternity that is at stake.

January 21, 2011

“Antarctic Autumn” Kevin Loughlin

Kevin was raised to appreciate nature. At age six, during one of many family trips through the American West, Kevin became fascinated with photography as well seeing the new and different birds across North America.

During a life-changing vacation to Belize in 1993, he felt a need to share his experiences with others--he came home and founded Wildside Nature Tours. He continued to lead birding and photo tours, expanding Wildside Nature Tours to include locations throughout North, Central and South America.

Along with leading birding tours, Kevin currently teaches many different photography courses--including nature photography and digiscoping--and offers many presentations on birding and photography to organizations nationwide. Kevin’s photographs and articles have appeared in many publications such as WildBird, Audubon and Philadelphia Magazines, and on the National Geographic/WWF educational web site.

Most recently Kevin founded the PA Young Birders Club , a non-profit organization to bring like-minded kids together, outside, to see, experience and learn about birds and nature.

The waters surrounding the Frozen Continent are at their richest in March, the South Polar Autumn. The seas are teeming with sea mammals! Leopard seals patrol the rocky shoreline waiting for young penguins to make their first forays. Whales gather, feeding on abundant krill and herring. Pelagic seabirds are numerous in the open seas between South America and the Antarctic Peninsula. Join Kevin Loughlin of Wildside Nature Tours for this spectacular photographic journey!

February 18, 2011

“The Eagle Experience” with Michael Kuriga, Master Falconer – Eagle Educator

For close to thirty years, Michael has been training and hunting with a variety of raptors. Practicing the ancient art of falconry has been his passion that has taken him all over the world in pursuit of this noble art form.

Michael has lectured to thousands of people throughout Pennsylvania and has given talks in the United Kingdom, The Czech Republic, and in many states.

During his presentation, he will share some of his many adventures concerning Eagles, their ecology, physiology, and the current Eagle he is handling, as well as the birds that he has flown and stories of the many interesting individuals that share his love of raptors.

Cameras with flash are allowed and encouraged.

March 18, 2011

"Birding Trinidad and Tobago" with Cliff Hence

The islands of Trinidad and Tobago are located off the northeast coast of Venezuela. Their species list is impressive: 460 birds; 108 mammals; 55 reptiles; 25 amphibians and 617 butterflies. No other area in the West Indies, and few areas of comparable size in tropical America, can match this species diversity. The highlight of a visit to Trinidad is the famous ASA Wright Nature Center. It is located at 1,200 feet in the mountains of the Northern Range. The center is known for its verandah, which overlooks a beautiful jungle valley where many of the species in Trinidad can be seen. The feeders at the center are famous for producing numerous lifers for first time visitors. It is also the site of the most accessible colony of the rare Oilbird, as well as two manakin lecs and Bearded Bell-birds. The Caroni Swamp is also located in Trinidad where thousands of Scarlet Ibis come to roost at dusk.

Tobago is located 25 miles off the northeast coast of Trinidad and is home to the Tobago Forest Reserve the oldest protected forest in the Western World. The small nearby island of Little Tobago supports important seabird nesting colonies including Red-Billed Tropic-bird, Magnificent Frigatebird and Audubon’s Shearwater.

April 15, 2011

“Peregrine Falcons: The Saga of Recovery”
with Art McMorris

After being completely extirpated from eastern North America, Peregrine Falcons are making a remarkable comeback. Art will talk about the natural history of Peregrine Falcons, the population history in Pennsylvania and North America, the reasons for the population decline, and the re-introduction and management efforts that have led to one of the most remarkable recoveries of any endangered species anywhere. Come and hear about these magnificent birds, the fastest animals on earth.

Art fell in love with the natural world practically from the moment he was able to stand up and walk. After a childhood of hiking, fishing, collecting insects and tadpoles and studying the stars and planets, he moved on to a B.A. and Ph.D. in biology and then spent his first career, ironically, studying molecules indoors. Now retired from molecular neuroscience, he has moved back outdoors where, among other things, he coordinates the Peregrine Falcon Recovery and Management Program for the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

May 20, 2011 – ANNUAL
MEMBERS MEETING
and Election of Officers

“Warblers and Neotropical Migrants of Eastern North America” with Sam Fried

Sam's newest program takes us on a journey through warbler land, with a close look at all 36 species of eastern wood warblers, as well as some other neotropical migrants we have come to know and love. We’ll explore life histories, migration routes, wintering grounds and breeding locations throughout the western hemisphere. This will be a fun and fascinating look at these tiny jewels of the birding kingdom!

He has had hundreds of photographs and over 40 feature articles published in field guides, books, newspapers and magazines worldwide. He is founder of Flights of Fancy Adventures, Inc., a birding, photography, natural history and golf travel company offering small group trips to North, Central and South American destinations.