-President Guy Babineau opened the meeting by welcoming the 33 members and visitors attending.
-Myrlene Staten gave the membership report. We are at a record 181 members, including Tom and Caroline Daley, who are taking Dan Bieker’s Field Ornithology class at PVCC.
-Treasurer Maynard Davis reported the club has a $1,300 surplus to spend on club initiatives. Last year’s winning photographs of the photo contest are on display at C’ville Coffee and this year’s winning photos are being framed.
-Mary Ames reported on a Bright Stars pre-school program about hibernation and migration for children using puppets.
-Jenny Gaden is leading the Conservation Committee initiation to prevent bird strikes and deaths on windows. She reported on the meeting at C’ville Coffee and the progress made with the YMCA. There are several promising products that can be applied to the windows, but the $10,000 cost is still prohibitive. She is hoping that a second quote from Charlottesville Mirror and Glass, a local business, will be significantly less than the quote from the Richmond based company.
-Guy announced that we have filled open board seats except for the MBC News Reporter to replace Joanne Bricker. He thanked her for her exemplary service to the club.
-Susan Babineau gave the Field Trips report. Birding Before Work continues through the first week of May. The First Saturday Bird Walk at Ivy Creek on May 4 will be led by Baxter Beeman and Leigh Surdukowski will lead June 1. May 12 bird trip to Glenmore; May 18 to Pocosin Cabin in Shenandoah National Park led by Joe Coppock; May 26 trip will be the Warmup/Refresher field trip as part of the Virginia Breeding Bird Atlas survey in Southern Albemarle County; RSVP required.
-Bird sightings were shared. A Merlin was recently noted. Doug Rogers took an Australian birder to photograph a life bird: Northern Cardinal.
