The Lake Erie Bird Club will meet Monday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. at BOCES, Fredonia-Stockton Road, Fredonia. Dr. Twan Leenders, Roger Tory Peterson Institute President, will present the evening program. He will provide information on the RTPI’s international efforts involving tropical bird banding studies in Central America to help increase understanding of our migratory birds. RTPI brings expertise to tropical biology courses for high school and college students who not only help with bird banding and amphibian research, but are exposed to a variety of other relevant topics during their stay in Costa Rica or Panama.

A collection will be taken at the meeting to help fund the club’s purchase of bird magazine subscriptions to area libraries. All those attending are asked to please bring a small plate of cookies or snacks to share. All are welcome.

Lake Erie Bird Club members will participate in the annual National Audubon Christmas Bird Count on Sunday, Jan. 1. They will cover assigned areas in Northern Chautauqua County. Joanne Goetz serves as compiler.

Thirty-one members attended the November meeting conducted by John Ruska. Members shared recent bird sightings including White-throated, White-crowned, American Tree and Fox Sparrows. Other birds included Red-winged Blackbirds, Bald Eagles, Eastern Bluebirds and Red-breasted Nuthatches. David and Lucy Bryant presented the program for the evening on their guided tour of Cuba. Audrey Schafer, Margaret Braun and Tom Goetz provided refreshments for the meeting.

For more information about the Lake Erie Bird Club, call John and Bev Ruska at 679-9676.