Mengel Natural History Society 2009-2010 Berks County, Pennsylvania

(2/4/10)

NEXT EVENT .Friday, February 26, 2010    7:30  PM    PROGRAM “The Honey Bee’s Navigational Toolkit", a review of their navigational mechanisms and research on honey bee orientation by Dr. William Towne, Professor of Biology, Genetics,  Animal Behavior and Evolution at Kutztown University” All welcome. Free.

The Mengel Natural History Society originated as the Natural History Hikers in the 1930's, was renamed the Mengel Natural History Society in 1941, and incorporated as a non profit organization in 1956.

The By-Laws state: "The purposes of the Society are the stimulation of interest and study in natural history in all its branches, the promotion and diffusion of scientific knowledge, and the creation of the scientific spirit."
 

The Society meets once a month from September though April at Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center. Usually the fourth Friday of the month. In November we meet jointly with the Berks Mineralogical Society (on a Tuesday) and in December we meet jointly with the Baird Ornithological Club (on the second Friday). In May we meet at a local restaurant for a dinner meeting. Joint meetings may be held at another location. We also sponsor field trips.

The public is welcome at any of the activities.
All lectures and field trips are free.  (Except one special field trip reserved for members only as noted.)

If you are interested in joining the Society, you may pay dues at any meeting or mail them in.
Download dues form (2009-2010) as PDF (20 KB).

A two page brochure of Mengel information and programs for 2009-2010 is available in PDF format at:
Download 2009-2010 Mengel page 1 as pdf. (48 KB)
Download 2009-2010 Mengel page 2 as pdf. (88 KB)
 
 

. Friday,  September 25, 2009           7:30 PM      PROGRAM
"Ghost of the Woods and other Summer Wildflowers" by Frank Plucinsky. As the tree canopy thickens the progression of woodland wildflowers continues with interesting and some unusual flowers.  The program will look at fascinating wild flowers of woods and meadows. All welcome. Free.

. Sunday,  October 4, 2009            1:00 PM       FIELD TRIP
Gentian walk near Natural Lands Trust   Approximately 2 miles of easy walking then a bit of weedy bushwhacking. Wear foot wear for wet meadow walking. Meet at Maple Springs Swim Club on Rt. 345 in Birdsboro. From Exon in Birdsboro, go east on 724, turn South on 345 towards French Creek State Park. Swim club parking area is on left before entrance to D. Boone High School, carpool from there.  Limited parking at our access point.  Leader is Rich Bonnett 610-582-8656. You must be a Mengel member or join ($10) at trip. Fringed Gentian photo by Mike  Slater. 

. Friday, October 23, 2009          7:30 PM     PROGRAM
"United States Highpointing: The Quest for the Highest Elev. of each the 50 States" by Bill Wentzel
See a view (or no view) and enjoy a challenging hike.  All are unique and off the beaten path. Bill Wentzel has achieved 42 hps; Diane Paxson, 36.  As long time hikers, they became focused on the state high points beginning 12 years ago and joined the Highpointers Club, national org. The PowerPoint lecture will be followed by our annual Wildflower Seed Exchange and Giveaway. Bring native wildflower seeds or plants to exchange (first) and to give to members and attendees. Past exchanges have all had many extras to give away. All welcome. Free..

. Tuesday, November 10, 2010                   7:30 PM     PROGRAM
"The Complete Works of Charles Darwin, Abridged" by Dr. Barton Smith. An in-depth look at Darwin’s life and work, including the prominent people he associated with and influenced. Dr. Smith has been practicing medicine at the Reading Hospital for 31 years. A Darwin admirer since his youth, he became a serious student of Darwin's life and works after he started collecting autograph material related to Darwin 30 years ago. Joint meeting with the Berks Mineralogical Club and held at the Auditorium of the READING PUBLIC MUSEUM. All welcome. Free

.Friday, December 11, 2009       7:30 PM  PROGRAM
"Enraptured by Re-Captures" by Paul Karner
Back by popular demand! Paul will be presenting a program on all recaptures and returns from all species of his banded birds. The data is remarkable since he live traps hawks all fall, maintains one of the few spring Saw Whet banding stations, and spends all his waking hours in May banding migrating passerines. Joint meeting with Baird Ornithological Club. All welcome. Free.

.Friday, January 22, 2010        7:30  PM PROGRAM
"Member’s Night "   Short programs by members of the Society.  Your chance to participate and share your interests with fellow members. Members night is a good opportunity for members to experiment with a 5-15 minute presentation. Many of our regular presenters started at Members Night.  Who will be next? All welcome. Free.

. Friday, February 26, 2010    7:30  PM    PROGRAM
“The Honey Bee’s Navigational Toolkit", a review of their navigational mechanisms and  esearch on honey bee orientation by Dr. William Towne, Professor of Biology, Genetics,  Animal Behavior and Evolution at Kutztown University”  All welcome. Free.

.  Early March, 2010   FIELD TRIP
Vernal Herps  French Creek State Park.
Date will be emailed as weather permits vernal herps to emerge. If you are interested in the best local natural event of early spring but are not on Lori Soraparu’s Herp Helper email update, contact her at  and put ‘herp helper’ in the subject line.

.  Friday, March 26, 2009     7:30  PM   PROGRAM
"Florida"  by Ken Lebo.  Lebo's family trip to Florida, including the Everglades, Keys and Dry Tortugas. Beach, butterflies, birds and bugs. Ken is a birder, butterfly and dragonfly watcher, and nature photographer. His program last year was on damselflies. All welcome. Free.

. Friday, April 23, 2010      7:30  PM  PROGRAM
“The Regal Fritillary” by Mark Swartz, Monitoring Biologist and Virginia Tilden, Conservation Biologist,  at Fort Indiantown Gap.  Learn about this rare butterfly and the efforts to improve its habitat and population at the “Gap” and about reintroduction plans. The Regal Fritillary at Fort Indiantown Gap is the largest of three known colonies east of the Great Plains. Lecture followed by our annual Wildflower Exchange and Giveaway. All welcome. Free.

. Saturday, April 24, 2010      10:00 AM   FIELD TRIP
"Butterfly, Bird, and Botany Walk" on Neversink Mountain. Butterflies, birds and plants. We will view at a distance and for a good look we will capture some butterflies and put them in viewing jars so you can get a close look before releasing them. Meet at S. 10th and South Street Reading. Park on South Street. Joint walk with  Baird Ornithological Club. Leaders: Karl Gardner, 610-987-3281, Ryan Woolwine 610 777-2333, and Ken Lebo 610 856-1413. The public is welcome. Free. 

.Sunday , April 25, 2010      1:00 PM      FIELD TRIP
"Nodding Trillium Walk in French Creek State Park" Meet at Maple Springs Swim Club Parking Lot on 345 just south of Birdsboro Rich Bonnett 610-582-8656. This is a lovely 3 mile round trip hike into a hidden glen within the park. We will look at many spring ephemerals and a small group of Nodding Trillium. Bring your binoculars for deep forest migrants arriving..

    ***      .Friday, May 21, 2010      6:30 PM    Dinner Meeting
Annual Mengel Dinner at Chef Alan's American Bistro at Fairgrounds Mall,   Gathering at 6:30, dinner at 7. Program to be announced. Program will follow dinner and election of officers at about 7:30 PM.

. Saturday, July 10, 2010      6:30 PM  to  ?
Picnic and Moth Night at Nolde Environmental Edu Center.  A joint event with the Baird Ornithological Club.   Bring a picnic dinner and enjoy the Katy-dids with friends and family as our leaders bait trees and hang sheets to bring in the night insects. A flashlight would be helpful. Who knows what will turn up.  Meet at picnic area behind Nolde Headquarters. Soft drinks will be provided. Leaders are Ryan Woolwine 610-777-2333 and Ken Lebo 610-856-1413.

  Saturday, August 7, 2010      10:00 AM FIELD TRIP
"Butterfly Identification Walk" near Lake Ontelaunee. We will view at a distance and for a good look we will capture some butterflies and put them in viewing jars so you can get a close look before releasing them. Meet at Dam Breast on RT-73. Joint walk with Baird Ornithological Club. Leaders: Karl Gardner, 610-987-3281 and Ken Lebo, 610-856-1413. The public is welcome. Free.

. Saturday,  September 4, 2010  10 AM   FIELD TRIP
“Butterfly Identification Walk”  We will view at a distance and for a good look we will capture some butterflies and put them in viewing jars so you can get a close look before releasing them. From Reading Museum go west on Parkside Drive South to Old Mill Rd. Turn right and continue a few blocks. Park on left in gravel lot near creek. Joint walk with Baird Ornithological Club. Leaders: Karl Gardner (610-987-3281), Ken Lebo, and Ryan Woolwine (610-777-2333). Bad weather will cancel (or reschedule). The public is welcome. Free. 

To receive email notices of programs and field trips sponsored by the Mengel Natural History Society send an email request to