Monthly Meetings and Programs
PIAS holds meetings on the third Friday of each month (except for holidays) from September through June, excluding December and January. Our Annual Banquet is the third Friday of September. The meetings are held at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center, Room 112, 301 Peninsula Drive in Erie. They begin with a social gathering at 7 p.m., followed by a 7:30 program. Everyone is invited; you need not be a member to attend PIAS meetings and enjoy the informative, educational and fun programs.
2010 Meetings
"Sri Lanka"
March 19, 2010
Joao and Dolores Tavares were invited to Sri Lanka for a wedding. They stayed for three weeks as guests of the family and, while there, enjoyed the friendly people, the food, beaches, wildlife, scenery and ancient cities. They would like to share their sights and experiences with you at our monthly meeting. Joao's slide presentation will include an elephant orphanage, a tea plantation, the Royal Botanical Garden, the Sacred Relic Temple, the Rock Temple in Dambulla, the Lion Rock Fortress of Sigiriya and the ancient capital of Polannaruwa.
Joao Tavares, a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon, is a graduate of the Lisbon University Medical School in Portugal. Semi retired, he still works at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Erie. He and wife Delores have been in charge of the PIAS Hospitality Committee for the last five years.
Come early to visit and then enjoy delving into another culture in a far away land.
Place: Tom Ridge Environmental Center
Address: 301 Peninsula Drive, Room 112
Social: 7:00 pm
Program: 7:30 pm
FREE and open to the public.
Ornithology at Hog island
This summer, enjoy world-class ornithology sessions at Audubon's spectacular Hog Island, located in Maine's Muscongus Bay. Taught by some of the country's leading birders and ornithologists, these dynamic sessions are for both beginners and experienced bird enthusiasts who seek field experience to learn more about the remarkable lives of wild birds. Two of these programs provide opportunities to work directly in the field with Project Puffin biologists on important seabird colony islands. Hog Island is an ideal home for sessions where learning, camaraderie, and great meals all come together in a beautiful setting.
Go to http://www.projectpuffin.org/OrnithCamps.html for further information.
Field Trips and Activities
Field trip at ENWR Muddy Creek Holly Trail
Presque Isle Audubon Society offers a variety of field trips which provide individuals with recreational and educational experiences throughout the year. In addition, PIAS sponsors other activities including the Presque Isle Christmas Bird Count, a Great Backyard Bird Count workshop, Hawk Watch in the spring, and the Festival of the Birds in May. Details for upcoming trips and activities will be published below and in our newsletter, Tern of Events. Unless otherwise indicated, these activities are free and open to the public. Bring a friend!
2010 Trips and Activities
Festival of the Birds at Presque Isle
May 7, 8, and 9, 2010
The Festival of the Birds hosted by the Presque Isle Audubon Society will be held this year on May 7-9 at Presque Isle State Park and the Tom Ridge Environmental Center. It is not too soon to be thinking about registering for this special spring birding event. To find out all about it go to the festival web page at:
www.presqueisleaudubon.org/festival
Allegany Nature Pilgrimage
June 4, 5 and 6, 2010
The Nature Pilgrmage has been providing a nature retreat in Allegany State Park, NY for over 50 years. Members, their families and friends from Buffalo, Jamestown, and Presque Isle Audubon Societies and Burroughs Nature Club in Rochester gather to enjoy the outdoors and discover more about the world we live in. There is something for all ages and interests. Over 90 different field trips, adventures and classes will be held. There will be evening programs and speakers and a chicken barbecue on Saturday evening.
Allegany State park consists of over 60,000 acres of forested hillsides and lakes. There are bike paths and over 70 miles of hiking trails. There are hundreds of cabins and campsites to stay in. The park abounds with wildlife, and it is not uncommon to see deer, beavers, porcupines, raccoons and an occasional black bear. There are incredible numbers of wildflowers, ferns, birds, butterflies and trees. Differences in habitat and altitude provide great birding.
For more information and to pre-register for the weekend see the Allegany Nature Pilgrimage website at:
www.alleganynaturepilgrimage.com or
contact Lisa at lsdanko@hotmail.com or 814-898-0284.
Walk-ins are also welcome at Camp Allegany (our headquarters)in the Red House Area. To reserve a cabin or tent site in Allegany State Park call 1-800-456-CAMP (2267) or visit the reservation system on line at www.ReserveAmerica.com.