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