Wednesday, April 8: The eBird Review Process - A Peek Behind the Curtain

Ever wondered what happens after you hit "submit" on an eBird report? Join us for a look behind the scenes at the eBird Review process from automated filters to the human touch of regional reviewers.

Bio: Patrick Belardo has been active in the birding community for over 25 years. He's volunteered as an eBird reviewer since the early days of eBird. He is also a volunteer associate naturalist with NJ Audubon, a past editor of NJ Birds, a former CBC compiler, and an annual competitor in the World Series of Birding.

Wednesday, May 13: Fierce and Fastest

Peregrine falcon. Photo: Michael Sheldon.

Jim Wright, author of the acclaimed new book The Peregrine Falcon, tells all about these incredible raptors in this lavishly illustrated talk: how they can travel at 200 mph, why they nearly went extinct, how they were saved (in the unlikeliest way), and how they became an internet superstar. Even if you think you know a lot about peregrines, prepare to be surprised.

About the speaker

In addition to this go-to book on peregrine falcons, Jim wrote The Screech Owl Companion and The Real James Bond. He monitors nesting peregrines for the state of New Jersey in the spring, coordinates the State Line Hawk Watch this fall, and writes a birding column for The Record in Northern New Jersey every two weeks.

The Peregrine Falcon: The Epic Life and Times of the World’s Fastest Creature

September, 2028: Birding South Africa with Rick Wright and VENT

Interested in birding South Africa with Rick Wright and VENT?

In September 2028, our very own Rick Wright is offering MBC members a chance to travel to South Africa with Victor Emanuel Nature Tours (VENT). The preliminary plan for this trip is as follows:

• 2 weeks of travel (exclusive of international travel time).

• Starting in Cape Town with visits to West Cape National Park (NP), Kirstenbosch, False Bay, Stellenbosch, and the Bot Valley, among other local sites, topped off with a whale watch and pelagic trip.

• Internal flight to Skukuza and then on to Sabi Sands for several days at Kruger NP.

• Ending with visits to Soweto and the Johannesburg Apartheid Museum.

  
  

Details:

• Estimated cost around $15,000, which would include the internal (but not international) flight, all meals, ground transportation, accommodations, and the usual high-quality VENT services.

• Arrival location: Cape Town. Departure location: Johannesburg.

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  Two leaders: Rick Wright and Geoff Lockwood.

To express interest, please email mbcoutings@gmail.com  An expression of interest is just that, an expression of interest, not a firm commitment. VENT is assessing whether enough MBC members would be interested or if this opportunity should be offered to another club.