SALEM AUDUBON BIRDER'S NIGHT POTPOURRI
Eugenia M. Becker
Salem Audubon Birder's Night
Tuesday, January 12, 2021 – 6:30 PM via ZOOM
Annual "Photo-Sharing Night"
Salem Audubon Birder’s
Night on Tuesday, January 12, will be our annual
"Photo-Sharing Night". As usual, we will have a number of
SAS members sharing their best birding pictures and
experiences. As is our practice during COVID, the program
will be held at 6:30 pm via a Zoom Webinar. (Instructions
for joining follow the description of the programs.
)
“Cozumel, a Caribbean
Paradise”: Cozumel is
located on the world's second largest
barrier reef system, known as the Mesoamerican Reef.
Stretching nearly 700 miles, this reef system reaches
from Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula to the Honduran Bay
Islands. Cozumel is an island located 12 miles west of
the Yucatán Peninsula. There
are 14 bird species that are endemic or near-endemic to
the Yucatan Peninsula and three endemics
specific to Cozumel. Tim
Johnson and his wife Carol spent 9
days exploring this island paradise just prior to the
Pandemic. His
presentation will offer a peek at the
natural beauty of this Caribbean Island. Tim has
been birding for 30 years. Currently he is president of
Salem Audubon, co-compiler of the Salem Christmas Bird
Count and an avid fly fisherman.
“Exploring the Eight Continents”: Cynthia Donald says: “This short program will explore animals in what I am calling the eight continents. But wait, you know there are only seven recognized continents and right you are! The first seven are in alphabetical order with the remaining one a biological mini-continent.” Cynthia is relatively new to Oregon, but she has traveled much of the world and is fascinated by our diverse planet and all its inhabitants. Although not a photographer, every once in a while you are at the right spot at the right time and can get an adequate photo! When not traveling the world, Cynthia stays busy in Salem by serving on the SAS Board and the Friends of the Willamette Valley Refuge Complex Board and leading the SAS Field Trip Committee.
“Jamaica - Exotic Birding On A
Caribbean Island”: Jamaica is one of the hotbeds of avian endemism in
the West Indies with 27 species found nowhere else. Add to
those a host of regional specialties and numerous wintering
wood-warblers and Jamaica is an irresistible birding
destination close to the United States. Bruce and Kathy Patterson spent a week with Field
Guides at the Green Castle Estate eco-retreat lodge. They saw many of the
endemics and will share them with you. Kathy is a long-time member of Salem Audubon,
served on the Board twice, teaches the Owl elementary
school program, and serves on the Birder’s Night Committee. When
Kathy retired from the Salem Public Schools as a reading
specialist, she wanted to “see the world through her
binoculars” and she has done so, birding throughout the United States and extensively
overseas.
“On the Move – Lighter
than Air?”: This presentation
features numerous action shots of Oregon birds taken around the state as Harry Fuller birds and guides birding
trips. Harry has
lived in Oregon since 2007. Before retirement he managed TV
and Internet newsrooms in San Francisco and London. He has written three natural
history books, including Great Gray Owl in California, Oregon and
Washington, and San Francisco’s Natural History, Sand Dunes to
Streetcars. He also contributed the chapter on Common Nighthawks to Edge
of Awe,
an anthology of essays about Malheur and the Steens. He has
been leading bird trips and teaching birding classes since
the 1990s. Currently he leads birding trips for Malheur Field Station,
the Klamath Bird Observatory, and Salem Audubon, and provides private guiding service. His
birding journal is online: atowhee.blog.
“Highlights of a Pandemic Year”: Beth and Dick Aften became interested in birding and bird photography about 14 years ago when they bought a cabin in Camp Sherman, near the Metolius River. They met a neighbor, Doug Beall, an amazing bird photographer well known to SAS members as the creator of beautiful calendars for Turkey Ridge Wildlife Center and for providing many of the bird pictures used in Mike Unger’s birding seminars. Doug Beall became their mentor and they’ve taken wing. Learning a new hobby at age 70 was a challenge, but capturing a photo of a bird was a Thrill. They will share pictures taken during this Pandemic Year while restrictions brought on the COVID Blues, but birding helped to counteract them. You will see pictures of life birds, beautiful shots of common and uncommon birds, and their record of a mother Rufous Hummingbird raising two fledglings in their yard.
How to Join Our ZOOM Webinar:
1. As an audience member, you do not need any special software or hardware.
2. All participants will need to “Pre-Register” in advance of the event by clicking on a link which will be provided in the Kestrel, on the Salem Audubon Society website, and on the SAS Facebook page. The link for pre-registering for the January 12th Birder's Night is: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kgI4B4L0QEKrmrLo6R8pMw
3. Once registered, you will immediately receive a confirmation email which will include your personal link to use to join the meeting. Please keep track of it and do not use another person’s link. You will receive a reminder email on the day of the program which will also have your link. A few minutes before the program’s start time, pull up your invitation on a PC, Mac or smart device, click on the meeting link and enter the Zoom session.
4. As an audience member/participant, your microphone will be muted during the program and your camera disabled to avoid background noise and distractions. During the program, Tim Johnson and Mike Unger, will be available through the “Chat” function to help you with any technical problems: Click the “chat button” on your computer screen and type in a description of your problem. In addition, use “Chat” to type in questions for the speakers during the program. Questions submitted for the presenters will be read to them by a Birder’s Night Committee member during the “Q and A” after each talk.