-President Doug Rogers opened the meeting by welcoming the thirty members and guests present.
-Several members shared recent birding experiences. John Holden talked about the magical experience of being on a trail in the Aidorondacks and having a cheeky Gray Jay land on his food-laden hand. John also described his amazing boat trip to the Eastern Shore with the Williamsburg Bird Club, where they saw thirty species. Stauffer Miller will be going to Louisiana to see Yellow Rails. Lou and Stephanie Tanner saw Golden Eagles during their trip to the British Isles last summer. They also saw a King Fisher and sea birds such as Gannets and Puffins off the Benton Cliff on the North Sea Coast. Another member saw about sixty Canada Geese lifting off Smith Mountain Lake one morning and also saw two mature Bald Eagles fishing. Mary Ann Kirkpatrick recently saw a Hooded Crow during her trip to Ireland.
-MBC will continue providing a scholarship for members of the Blue Ridge Young Birders Club to any conservation program in the country. MBC will also provide a scholarship for the PVCC Field Ornithology course, taught by Dan Bieker. Applications and essays must be submitted by December 15.
-Susan Babineau has volunteered to become MBC’s Field Trips Coordinator. November trips include Penn Park with Leah Surdukowski on the 11th; and a trip to Bellair Farm in southern Albemarle County on November 18. There will be a weekend excursion to the North Carolina Outer Banks, led by John Holden, March 9-11, 2018, which will include visits to Mattamuskeet and Pea Island National Wildlife Refuges.
-Dan Bieker discussed the club’s latest community outreach initiative to provide programs on birds and birding to area schools. At the recent workshop at Ivy Creek for prospective outreach teachers, MBC members were well-represented. Stay-tuned for updates about this exciting educational initiative.
-Maynard Davis reported on the bird seed sale, which has been an unprecedented success with over $14,000 in sales. Our goal was $12,000. This year we had 148 customers, which included eighty-four non-members and thirty first-time customers. Pick up is November 11 at the Forestry Department warehouse.
-Myrlene Staten reported that we have 133 members to date. We manned a table at the City Market to solicit new members. The photos from the photo contest are on exhibit in the main library. Myrlene would like to do an order from Land’s End with the MBC logo. A number of members were interested.
-Doug announced that fifty people have already signed up for the Chesapeake Bay boat trip to see Gannets, Harlequins, Eiders, Long-tailed Ducks, and seals.
-Patty Kalbfleisch reminded everyone that the December meeting is our Christmas party. Bring something for the pot luck and/or a small gift for the door prizes.
-The Charlottesville area Christmas Bird Count will be Sunday, December 17.
-Lou Tanner introduced the evening program, featuring Max Nootbar sharing his experiences at Hog Island Audubon Teen Camp this past summer.
