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PIAS Monthly Programs:PIAS holds programs on the third Friday of each month (except for holidays) from September through June, excluding December and January. The meetings are held at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center, Room 112, 301 Peninsula Drive in Erie. They begin with the program at 7 p.m., followed by a social gathering. Everyone is invited; you need not be a member to attend and enjoy the informative, educational and fun programs.
For past Zoom Programs visit our YouTube Channel
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PIAS Monthly Programs
Finch Superflight: Tracking the Mysterious Movements of Evening Grosbeaks October 15, 2021 Zoom: 7:00m pm Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89076893311?pwd=QkEzNUNEUFVDU3V2TVZGeXZGZTFZZz09 Meeting ID: 890 7689 3311 Passcode: 227108 Join David Yeany, Avian Ecologist in the PA Natural Heritage Program at the Western PA Conservancy, to learn about this past winter’s finch superflight and how they are using new technology to track winter and migration movements of Evening Grosbeaks and inform conservation actions to help protect this species. In the past 50 years, we have lost three billion birds across North America. At more than a 90% decline, Evening Grosbeak is the most steeply declining land bird species. Since 2017, ornithologists in the PA Natural Heritage Program at the Western PA Conservancy (WPC) and from the Powdermill Avian Research Center at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History have been researching wintering Evening Grosbeak populations in western PA. Evening Grosbeaks follow an irruptive migration with sudden mass movements in response to changes winter food availability. During this past winter (2020-21), there was a widespread irruption of boreal finches, including Evening Grosbeaks, in numbers not seen in decades. With an abundance of grosbeaks in PA, this provided a valuable opportunity to further advance this research project. Using new tracking technology and the power of the Motus Wildlife Tracking System they aim to urgently learn more about Evening Grosbeak migration movements, ecology, and fill-in data gaps – all to help develop strategies for conservation of the species. |
Biography
David Yeany II is the Avian Ecologist for the PA Natural Heritage Program at the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC). David joined WPC in 2011 and has 16 years of professional experience in conservation biology, with bird conservation work throughout Maryland and Pennsylvania. His current work includes avian ecology and monitoring, wildlife-habitat relationship studies, rare species surveys, spatial analysis in GIS, and conservation projects for Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN), particularly birds. Some of his projects included shale gas impacts assessments on forest interior birds, bird habitat relationships in the PA Wilds region, statewide surveys and monitoring for rare, threatened, and endangered bird species, co-founding the Allegheny Bird Conservation Alliance, and collaborating on tracking studies of wintering evening grosbeaks and breeding Swainson’s thrush using nanotag technology and the Motus Wildlife Tracking System. David represents PNHP on the Pennsylvania Biological Survey (PABS) Ornithological Technical Committee. He is Chair of the Pennsylvania Ornithological Records Committee (PORC) and a member of the Pennsylvania Ornithological Society (PSO) board of directors. David holds a Master of Science degree in Applied Ecology and Conservation Biology from Frostburg State University (2009) and Bachelors of Science in Biology from Messiah University (2006). David grew up in Forest County and currently lives in Allegheny County with his wife, Colleen, and three-year-old son, Drake.
David Yeany II is the Avian Ecologist for the PA Natural Heritage Program at the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC). David joined WPC in 2011 and has 16 years of professional experience in conservation biology, with bird conservation work throughout Maryland and Pennsylvania. His current work includes avian ecology and monitoring, wildlife-habitat relationship studies, rare species surveys, spatial analysis in GIS, and conservation projects for Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN), particularly birds. Some of his projects included shale gas impacts assessments on forest interior birds, bird habitat relationships in the PA Wilds region, statewide surveys and monitoring for rare, threatened, and endangered bird species, co-founding the Allegheny Bird Conservation Alliance, and collaborating on tracking studies of wintering evening grosbeaks and breeding Swainson’s thrush using nanotag technology and the Motus Wildlife Tracking System. David represents PNHP on the Pennsylvania Biological Survey (PABS) Ornithological Technical Committee. He is Chair of the Pennsylvania Ornithological Records Committee (PORC) and a member of the Pennsylvania Ornithological Society (PSO) board of directors. David holds a Master of Science degree in Applied Ecology and Conservation Biology from Frostburg State University (2009) and Bachelors of Science in Biology from Messiah University (2006). David grew up in Forest County and currently lives in Allegheny County with his wife, Colleen, and three-year-old son, Drake.
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Plover Palooza!
November 19, 2021 Zoom: 7:00 pm Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89741275222?pwd=dGRzRHdiVnZzRDRrOXpQaUh2TlI0dz09 Meeting ID: 897 4127 5222 Passcode: 736093 Join Mary Birdsong, Lead Shorebird Monitor for the Erie Bird Observatory as she recaps the 2021 Piping Plover season at Gull Point. From April to August (and into September this year!), Piping Plovers gave us some remarkable thrills and chills as one male attempted to nest with three different females. Learn about the intrigue as he chased down every female, and also the hazards of this nesting methodology. But also join us to celebrate the ultimate success of two new chicks fledged into the population. It was an extraordinary season! Biography Mary Birdsong is the Lead Shorebird Monitor for Erie Bird Observatory. She has been monitoring shorebirds, particularly Piping Plovers since 2015. She is also the Program Chair for Presque Isle Audubon, a freelance writer and artist. She shares her home with her husband Mike Plyler and two tabby cats, and is the proud Busia to two whip-smart granddaughters. |
Allegany Nature Pilgrimage
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THE 63nd ANNUAL ALLEGANY PILGRIMAGE WILL BE HELD
June 4, 5, 6, 2021 CANCELLED see notification For more information and to register go to www.alleganynaturepilgrimage.com All participants for the event must secure their own lodging and the reservation window for cabins and campsites is now open!
The pilgrimage has been made possible through the efforts of volunteers from these organizations since 1959:
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Notification:
Allegany Nature Pilgrimage Beyond the Park for 2021 Although Covid regulations do not allow an Allegany Nature Pilgrimage gathering within the park this year, the ANP committee has created alternative programming for 2021. We are calling it Allegany Nature Pilgrimage Beyond the Park for 2021. Many of the program offerings are by the wonderful leaders of past events, as well as new programs from new leaders. Please click on the attached pdf document to download it and find out all the programs and places to choose from! You can also go to the website at www.alleganynaturepilgrimage.com or the Allegany Nature Pilgrimage Facebook page. They will have the program information too. 
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