Minutes
Springfield Naturalists’ Club
October 19, 2005
7:30 pm  Tolman Auditorium, Springfield Science Museum
Attendance:  54


Sightings reported from this last month include:  brown thrasher, Bobcat (in Huntington), Fischer, wild turkeys, lots of black walnuts this year, Oystercatchers in Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel in Virginia, Snow geese at Lake Champlain.   Ed Dzelinski promoted a few programs, including the Dec. 11th Quarry trip, Shattarack Mountain hike and gave a flooding report at Fannie Stebbins.

Members were invited to help themselves to a bag of “critter crunch” after the meeting provided by The Zoo in Forest Park & Education Center.  Dave Gallup read a thank you letter from the Zoo for the $200 provided them from the club for an educational program.  A brief review of recent trips were reported on.

Treasurer Dave Lovejoy reported “$1,500 or so” in the treasury.  The minutes of the September meeting were read by recording secretary Nancy Condon.

Nancy Condon introduced tonight’s speakers, Ted and Barbara Hebert, world travelers and community supporters.  Teddy commenced to provide us an animated and intriguing program on “The Land of no Bears” – Antarctica.

200,000 people have been to Antarctica.  There have been whaling stations and research stations, but no permanent settlements.  The continent is not owned by any nation, no military represented there.  Surprisingly it is the driest continent, receiving only 6” of precipitation/year.  

Ted and Barbara’s trip took them to Ushuaia, the southern-most city in the world.  It used to be a penal colony.  Crossing the Drake passage via boat brings passengers to Antarctica.  The Heberts took passage on the Polar Star Ice Breaker for their excursion.  This was during the Antarctic summer, from November to February, when light pervades the whole day long.

Ted reviewed the amazing Shackleton Expedition, explorers whose ship got stuck and eventually crushed in the encroaching ice of Antarctica’s waters.  An incredible feat of navigation in a small boat by a few of them rendered their rescue and amazingly, no members died during any part of the ordeal.  Recommended reading by Ted.

Animals seen: Petrel, Albatross, Fin Whale, chin strap penguin, Weddell Seal, Leopard seal, Fur seal, Adelie penguin, Elephant seal, Gentoo penguin, Humpback whale, Emperor penguin, Crab-eating seal, Blue-eyed shag, Snow sheathbill.  People could get very close to many animals since they do not see humans as threatening.  In that tone, visitors are strictly forbidden to touch pet or feed any animal.

We also saw ice bergs and the smaller “burggie bits”, common in the waters.  Average life span of an iceberg is 4 years.

Bundle up and go see it for yourself.