The AUGUSTA BIRD CLUB was founded in 1966 and currently has about 190 members from Augusta County, Staunton and Waynesboro, Virginia, as well as nearby areas. Monthly meetings are conducted Sep-May in Staunton that includes a Program by an invited speaker. Our members organize frequent field trips and other events throughout the year. We are also active in various educational programs and conservation efforts as well as a variety of citizen-science projects such as the Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch, Christmas Bird Counts, and Winter Raptor Surveys. Anyone interested in joining are welcome to attend one of our meetings! Contact us with any inquiries you may have.

RECENT NEWS:    Augusta County Library Pollinator Garden – Ann Cline, Co-Chair of the Conservation Committee, has recently built a new Pollinator Garden at the Fishersville Branch of the Augusta County Library. Learn more about this newest project HERE!

RECENT NEWS:    Augusta Bird Club Receives Wildlife Grant – The Augusta Bird Club is excited to announce that we recently were awarded a 2025 Wildlife Grant from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. The $2,300 grant was used to purchase 15 new pairs of binoculars that can be loaned out to participants on our field trips, school programs and birding workshops. We also want to focus on increasing birding opportunities for our underserved populations. You can watch a recent WHSV news video that featured our grant award HERE.

Remembering Jim Hill.  One of our club members, Jim Hill, passed away on May 17, 2025. His obituary can be found HERE. Jim loved his family. He loved birds and nature and loved capturing the beauty of both through the lens of his camera. Jim’s legacy will live on through every bluebird that fledges out each spring, and with the many stunning photos he snapped over the years. I had the pleasure of having many conversations with Jim, especially when I learned he was originally from my home state of Pennsylvania. It goes without saying what a wonderful, friendly person Jim was and how supportive of Augusta Bird Club, and all its activities, he was. But it was his dedication to whatever he set his mind to, that I admired most; whether it was his nature photography, or his willingness to step up and volunteer to take on club projects such as restoring the kiosk on Bells Lane or embracing the task of monitoring bluebird boxes. Jim didn’t do these things to impress. He did them because he enjoyed doing them, and simply thought it was the right thing to do.
       I thoroughly enjoyed hearing his stories and natural history information he learned about. He had a gentle way of sharing his passions to connect with others. We would chat about books he had read, important bird research being done, and reminisced about our home state of Pennsylvania. His detailed descriptions, mixed with humor, was evident in my talks with him and even in his posts on Facebook. Maybe it was rooted in him from his many years as an investigative reporter and editor for the York Daily Record, back in York, PA, or maybe he just enjoyed sharing his adventures and amazing photos with people.
       Over the past few years, Jim also took his passion for Bluebird Conservation and put it into action. In addition to monitoring bluebird boxes on his property, he began volunteering to help monitor at the Frontier Culture Museum and Bessie Weller Elementary School, as well as using his talented carpentry skills to build many new nest boxes. Our local Eastern Bluebird population is much higher because of his many hours of dedicated bird conservation.
        Jim and his wife Wendy also had a love for the Eastern Shore, making many trips to their house in Wachapreague to see/photograph birds and nature, and enjoy the slower pace of life in that region. After each trip, I looked forward to hearing about his sightings and seeing his fantastic photos. Jim Hill was a warm, gracious person who was always willing to lend a hand, share his knowledge and photos, and listen to what you had to say. We will miss him. Our thoughts and prayers are with Wendy and his entire family. Rest in peace my friend.  – Rich Wood

Remembering Bill Roberson.  One of our long time club members, Bill Roberson, passed away on December 12, 2024 at Augusta Health after a brief illness. His obituary can be found HERE. Bill taught high school mathematics at Robert E. Lee High School (now Staunton High) for 37 years and later at area colleges. One of our club members remembers having “Mr. Roberson” for geometry and described him as being soft spoken and “a true Virginia Gentleman”. This writer happened upon a group of men from the Lee High class of 1967 celebrating the holidays in an area restaurant. Upon learning of Bills’ death, they said Bill taught all of them math and remembered him fondly. One of the things they remember most was his love and appreciation of the land and nature around him in Swoope, VA. Bill helped with our annual bird club holiday parties by cooking the turkey and after the party, you would find Bill and his wife Peggy, cleaning in the kitchen. After the bird club meeting in November, Bill said he was so excited to learn about Merlin and was looking forward to downloading the app and using it. Bill was a kind, thoughtful and gentle man and will be missed by all.

Join us as we work together to protect our birds and environment. Contact the AUGUSTA BIRD CLUB for more information and learn about volunteer opportunities. We graciously accept gifts via cash, check, credit card, or PayPal.