The Gannett. From the VBAS President

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1 Virginia Beach Audubon Society Feb-Mar-Apr 2017 Volume 2017 Iss 1 The Gannett Photo by Steve Coari From the VBAS President A new administration has moved into Washington and unlike past administrations over the last 50 years it appears that the environment will be constantly under attack in the name of business growth. One of the first directives was a blow to air and water pollution so that it does not put a burden on business that wants to dump toxic elements into the water or burn coal. We have a new Secretary of the Interior that believes that the National Wildlife Preserves and Parks should be available for logging, exploring gas and mineral rights as well as drilling for oil. I am sure that we will see offshore drilling rights in the Atlantic put back on the table since it will lessen our dependence on foreign oil. The EPA will be challenged as well as the Corp of Army Engineers to approve projects that will detrimental to the environment and wildlife. National Audubon over the years has moved from a birding group to a more responsive conservation organization. So, we may need your help at time to time to let our representatives know that we believe in the environment and our wildlife friends. Audubon 2016 Winner Photo by Keith Roberts INSIDE THIS ISSUE Field Trip. 2,3,4 GBBC....5 Meetings..6 Officers....7 Pledge to Fledge...8 Join VBAS,,.9 SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST Field Trips to Pleasure House Point will be run by Audubon Leaders for Lynnhaven River Now from April till July. Sign up on their website Bob

2 Field Trips Contact Steve Coari via at or February 18th Bodie Island & Pea Island NWR Home of the 130 year old Bodie Island Lighthouse 20 miles south of Nags Head, NC. The Lighthouse is surrounded by multiple ponds and the Sound which offers an abundance of duck species. From here we move across Oregon Inlet and down to the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. In the past we have seen hundreds of migrating ducks, swans and pelicans. With a little luck we may even catch an American Bittern. Meet at the Bodie Lighthouse off of Highway 12 at 9:30 am. From here we will go south on Highway 12, first stopping at the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center to see if there is anything interesting there and then to Pea Island NWR. Once finished there we will return north to southern side of the Bonner Bridge. March 18th Back Bay NWR Just south of Sandbridge in VB we will visit the Back Bay NWR. Migratory Waterfowl, Shorebirds on the beach and lots of other wildlife can be seen on the boardwalks and beach areas of Back Bay. We will be looking for sparrows, late migrant waterfowl and early Spring migrants. This is a walking trip thru the salt marsh and beach areas. Bring a scope if you have one! 2

3 Field Trips continued... April 22nd Merchants Millpond State Park Gates, NC Here a coastal pond and southern swamp forest mingle creating one of North Carolina s rarest ecological communities. Together with upland forests, these environments create a haven for wildlife and humanity alike. Expect to see Prothonotary warblers, Northern Parulas, Gnatcatchers and many of Floyd s other friends. Drive time from Va Beach is about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Directions: 1. Take exit 219B (17S Elizabeth City) from I-64 east toward Suffolk 2. Follow the US 17 South into NC about 20 miles 3. Turn right on US 158 West 4. Go west on US 158 till you see County Road (Rte 1403/Millpond Rd) 5. Meet at the Canoe Launch (not the visitor center) at 8:00 am 6. For your GPS: Merchants Millpond State Park, 176 Millpond Rd, Gatesville, NC

4 Field Trips continued... Warbler Rd Blue Ridge Parkway Bedford Date to be set in May Over the last four years VBAS has had some outstanding trips to the Blue Ridge Parkway near Bedford VA. It is known as Warbler Road and is near the Peaks of Otter. We have observed over 60 bird species with at least 10 warblers (Cerulean, Canada, Hooded, Chestnut Sided, Black and White, etc.). We have also seen Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Blue-headed Vireos. It is about a 4.5 hour trip from Virginia Beach up US 460. We usually drive up Friday, leave the hotel on Saturday morning at 6:00 am up to the Peaks of Otter hotel and up to Warbler Rd. On Sunday we head north on the Blue Ridge Parkway to the James River and spend time looking for Orioles, Warblers, Vireos and Swallows at the Trail of Trees visitor center near the James River Canal. More information about Warbler Rd can be found at: Recommended hotel: Super 8 Bedford Va 842 Sword Beach Lane Bedford, Va Plan on a two night trip Friday & Saturday Additional details are on our vbaudubon.org website under Field Trips 4 Keith Roberts Pam Monahan

5 The 2017 Audubon Photography Awards is underway. Submit your best bird photos by February 20th for the chance to win great prizes. Go to Audubon.org/photoawards-entry for full details. It is the Great Backyard Bird Count again. This year it is from February 17th through 20th. Full details can be found on the website gbbc.birdcount.org. This is a joint effort by Cornell Labs, Audubon and Bird Studies of Canada. Just spend a minimum of 15 minutes at one or many locations, write down all the difference species of bird you see and how many, submit your count online. Bob at President@vbaududbon.org if you need assistance. 5

6 February 13th, 2017 This month s meeting will center on injured wildlife and their rehabilitation. Our guest speaker will be Karen Roberts, VBSPCA Wildlife Rescuer, and special guest Dana Lusher with one of the owls that can not be rereleased. March 13th, 2017 Steve Coari will have a slideshow presentation on all of the VBAS Fieldtrips year to date. April 10th, 2017 The program has not been determined yet. However before and during the meeting we will have a silent auction of birding gifts, photos, prints and a few other goodies. May 8th, 2017 Expanding our horizon we will have a presentation by Frank Walker on Bee Keeping and the importance to the environment and our food supply. June 12th, 2017 We will hold our annual Potluck Picnic this day. Bring a side dish, dessert or salad. We will provide the main courses. Contact Hospitality Chair Julie Coari at to participate. 6

7 Bird Boxes for Sale Its not to late to get a nesting box up for the spring migration! Purchase that new home for our feathered friends. Works well with Bluebirds, Chickadees, Sparrows, Wrens, Nuthatches, etc. For the low price of $25.00 you can have a custom built all cedar birdhouse built by Bob Loomis that will make you a great landlord. Check with Bob Loomis to order yours now and pick it up at the next meeting. Call Bob at or kabobloomis@verizon.net. Officer Elections for 2017/2018 We are looking for members to step up and fill in the roles of officers, directors and committee chairpersons for the 2017/2018 VB Audubon year. Contact Bob via , president@vbaudubon.org. 2016/2017 Officers & Directors President Bob Zabot president@vbaudubon.org Vice President Pam Monahan vicepresident@vbaudubon.org Treasurer Marc Hines treasurer@vbaududbuon.org Secretary Marion Zabot secretary@vbaududbon.org Past President Andrea Bell pastpresident@vbaududbon.org Director Linda Anderson director1@vbaududbon.org Kathy Loomis Jim Marcum Ed Richmond director4@vbaududbon.org director5@vbaududbon.org director2@vbaududbon.org Keith Roberts director3@vbaududbon.org Website: Facebook: National: 7

8 Full details on the website 8

9 National Audubon Society & Chapter Membership Application Virginia Beach Chapter Membership Code: C7ZX52GT Please Check membership desired: Introductory Offer: 1 year $20.00 or 2 years $35.00 Membership includes 6 issues of the National Audubon Magazine and Electronic issues of the local Chapter s newsletter, The Gannett. Name: Street: City: State: Zip: Phone: Please make all checks for membership to the National Audubon Society. Please include the code C7ZX52GT on your check or membership application and send to: Virginia Beach Audubon Society, P.O.Box 1066, Virginia Beach, VA VB Audubon Meeting Location VIRGINIA BEACH CHAPTER NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY P.O.BOX 1066 VIRGINIA BEACH, VA INFO@vbaudubon.org