Meeting Minutes
Below are our monthly meeting minutes for the past 3 years:
April 13, 2026 Minutes, Covenant Presbyterian Church
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 by Vice-president Vic Laubach.
Membership: Four new members were announced. Current membership is 202.
Recent Sightings: White-throated Sparrows and Juncos are still here. Waterthrushes and warblers are starting to arrive. Also seen have been a Solitary Sandpiper, Bonaparte’s Gulls, a Eurasian Collared Dove, a Western Tanager, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. One Ruby-throated Hummingbird was seen in Greenville.
Field Trips: (1) McCormick Farm on April 22 with Jo King. (2) Augusta Springs on April 25 with Rich Wood. (3) Springdale Water Garden on May 8 with Tish Folsom. (4) Bells Lane on May 4 with Penny Warren. (5) Blue Ridge Parkway on May 2 with Andrew Clem.
Community Events: The ABC will have booths at Earth Day in Staunton on April 25 and Riverfest in Waynesboro on May 2.
Barn Owl Project: ABC members Antonio Martinez, Rich Wood and others are initiating a nesting box project to increase nesting habitat for Barn Owls. Antonio has made one box that was installed in a local barn in March. Discussion ensued about how to create more boxes and to work with local land owners to install them.
Packs and Tracks: This organization has 2 motorized trail chairs to loan to anyone wanting to go on hikes but has mobility issues. Rich Wood and Antonio Martinez tried one out on trails at Augusta Springs and found it easy to use and applicable to areas not too steep or with difficult obstacles. The club needs to advertise this service and make it available for appropriate hikes.
Birds and Brews: The next B and B will be at Ann C line’s house on April 29 at 5:30 pm. B and B will continue through the summer.
Our May meeting will be a hike and brunch at McCormick Farm on May 16.
Officer Elections: Andrew Clem made a motion and Allen Larner seconded to elect the following members to board positions for 1 year: Vic Laubach for vice-president, Marilyn Nash for secretary, Mona Bearor for treasurer. There were no nominees for president. The motion passed unanimously.
Program: Steven David Johnson gave a remarkable program, “River and Pond Conservation Photography”. Steven is a renowned wildlife photographer with a specialty in underwater photography.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm. Submitted by Marilyn Nash, Secretary
March 9, 2026 Minutes, Covenant Presbyterian Church
The meeting was called to order at 7:04 pm by Vice-president Vic Laubach.
Membership: Mona Bearor reported the club currently has 199 members. She was also asked about our January donation drive for the Wildlife Center of Virginia. Mona reported a very productive amount of cleaning products, pet food, seed, baby food, and monetary donations were collected and the WCV was very appreciative.
Sightings: Birds are starting to become more active. Sightings include Woodcock, Tundra Swan, Cormorant, Tree Swallows, Catbird, Pine Warblers, Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Chipping Sparrow, Wood Ducks, Eagles, Great Horned Owls, Goldfinches, and a Crested Caracara in Rockingham County.
Field Trips: Jo King will lead a hike at McCormick’s Farm on 3/11, Tish Folsom will lead a hike at Spring Dale Water Gardens on 3/13. Allen Larner will lead folks to Highland County on 3/21, and Andrew Clem will lead a hike to the Boy Scout Camp on 3/28.
Education and Conservation: ABC members have been assisting a veteran create bird/wildlife habitat at the newly established Veteran’s Community Garden near the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton.
The ABC will have booths at 2 upcoming community events: Earth Day in Staunton on 4/25 and Riverfest in Waynesboro on 5/2. Volunteer help is needed for Riverfest.
Program: Linda Matkins gave us a wonderful program on Sea Turtle Nest Monitoring in North Carolina.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Marilyn Nash, Secretary
February 9, 2026 Minutes, Covenant Presbyterian Church
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Vice-president Vic Laubach.
Former ABC President Jack Holt is doing well after surgery.
Antonio Martinez announced that Friends of the Middle River is inviting the ABC to a spring float/birding trip. Details will be forthcoming.
Field Trips: Jo King will lead a trip to McCormick’s Farm on 2/18/26. Penny Warren will lead a trip to Bells Lane in Staunton on 2/20/26. Three members took a pelagic trip to the Outer Banks and in spite of extremely cold weather found Dovekies, Razorbills,
Skuas, gulls, Gannets and more.
January 2026 Challenge: Robyn Puffenbarger reported that 10 ABC members accepted a challenge to find 100 species during the month of January in the Augusta County/Waynesboro/Staunton area. Seven members succeeded and found it to be a fun adventure that made the cold days of January go faster. Next year there will be more information for anyone that wants to participate.
Christmas Bird Counts: The Augusta CBC found 78 species with a highlight being a Tennessee Warbler. The Waynesboro CBC found 67 species with a Merlin and Peregrine Falcon being highlights. Weather was challenging and likely contributed to lower-than-normal numbers.
Programs: Lynne Parks and Marilyn Nash gave a beginner birding talk at the Staunton Public Library. Rich Wood gave a talk through the Augusta Parks and Rec Department on owls.
Nature Camp: Scholarships were awarded to 8 students for the camp this summer. These scholarships are made possible by funds raised through the fall annual seed sale.
Program: Andrew Rapp of the Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory shared information about several important and fascinating research projects being conducted. Among them are the Kiptopeke Hawk Watch, Sunset Beach Morning Flight (another migration count), College Creek Hawk Watch in the spring, Monarch Migration, Craney Island Waterbird Count, and a Pollinator Project.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm. Submitted by Marilyn Nash, Secretary
January 12, 2026 Minutes, Covenant Presbyterian Church
The evening began at 6:00 with a potluck hors d’oeuvre social. This took the place of our usual December holiday dinner which was cancelled due to weather. Door prizes were distributed by Linda Matkins to the delight of all. Donations were collected to deliver to The Wildlife Center of Virginia. The meeting was called to order at 6:53pm by Vice-president Vic Laubach.
Membership: Mona Bearor reported we currently have 234 members. Not all have renewed their membership and will be removed from the list in March if they don’t renew. To better understand why people don’t renew Rich Wood is going to prepare a letter seeking information from non-renewers.
Recent local sightings: Sandhill Cranes are at Bell’s Lane and a Peregrine Falcon was seen at Ridgeview Park in Waynesboro. Also seen locally are Short-eared Owls, a Snow Goose, Ross’s Goose and a Tennessee Warbler.
Field Trip: Jo King will lead a walk at McCormick’s Farm on January 21.
We still have a few “Birds of Augusta County”, edited by Allen Larner. See Mona if you want to purchase one.
The Virginia Society of Ornithology has completed the second Virginia Breeding Bird Survey. It is available on their website. The ABC contributed financially and with information to this survey.
Christmas Bird Counts: Data is still being tallied, but the Augusta count estimates seeing/hearing 68-70 species. Information from the Waynesboro count will be forthcoming.
Seed Sale: Profits from the very successful sale are approximately $9,000. This money will provide scholarships for Nature Camp.
Education: On 2/6 Rich Wood will give an Owl Program through the Augusta Parks and Recreation Department. On February 9, Lynne Parks and Marilyn Nash will give a beginner birding program at the Staunton Library.
Program: “When Birds Collide” was presented through zoom by Carla Dove from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Dr. Dove demonstrated how her department identifies birds that have collided with airplanes. Through this work airports are better able to decrease these dangerous collisions for both planes and birds. Methods include altering habitat around airports so birds are not attracted to the area, scheduling flights at times that decrease risk, employing dogs to clear runways, etc. A new book by Chris Sweeney, “The Feather Detective” explores the life of Roxie Laybourne, the pioneer in forensic ornithology and mentor to Dr. Dove.
The meeting adjourned at 8:20 pm. Submitted by: Marilyn Nash, Secretary
November 10, 2025 Minutes, Covenant Presbyterian Church
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Vice-president Vic Laubach.
New member Luanne Goodloe was welcomed.
Recent sightings: Six Cattle Egrets were seen in Verona, and a Rough-legged Hawk seen on Guthrie Rd. in Stuarts Draft. Hooded Mergansers, American Pipits, a Fox Sparrow, and Lapland Longspur have also been seen recently in the area. The Hawk Watch witnessed 220 Cormorants and 18 Bald Eagles in one day. They have also seen Ring-billed Gulls and 3 Herring Gulls.
Field Trips: A highlight this month was a trip to Highland Retreat banding station to see Northern Saw-whet Owls. Robyn Puffenbarger coordinated this event and hopes to make it an annual trip. Participants were treated to the banding of several of these charismatic little owls. Additional trips this month will be to McCormick Farm, Chimney Hollow, and Bells Lane.
Christmas Bird Counts: This year the Augusta CBC will be December 14 and coordinated by Allen Larner. The Waynesboro CBC will be January 4 and coordinated by Crista Cabe.
Bird Seed Sale: The sale was another huge success with over 9 tons of seed sold. The Expo pick-up site in Fishersville went very smoothly and in addition to ABC volunteers, there were several enthusiastic and very helpful Nature Camp scholarship recipients helping.
Holiday Party: The annual ABC holiday party will be December 8 at 6:30. Members are asked to bring side dishes and the club will provide meat and drinks. Door prizes are always a highlight of the evening. We will again be collecting items to donate to the Wildlife Center. More information will be forthcoming. The WC treats thousands of injured and orphaned birds every year and they appreciate our support.
Virginia Society of Ornithology – The second Breeding Bird Atlas has been completed and is now online. 203 species have been found to breed in Virginia.
Program: Bruce Beehler presented “Flight of the Godwit: Traveling in Search of the Hudsonian Godwit”. We learned that Godwits are “super migrators” traveling between northern Alaska / northwest territories of Canada all the way to Chile and Argentina. These amazing birds can live up to 25 years.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 pm. Submitted by Marilyn Nash, Secretary
October 13, 2025 Minutes, Covenant Presbyterian Church
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 by former president Rich Wood.
Field Trips: Recent trips have been to Madison Run, Augusta Springs, Route 610, and McCormick Farm. Sightings include a Yellow-breasted Chat, Least Flycatcher, Philadelphia Vireo and Bald Eagles. Lots of warblers are being seen including a Black-throated Blue. Linda Matkins had a Peregrine Falcon in her yard.
Seed Sale: Crista reported that the seed sale information is now on our website. The 10/31/25 deadline for ordering is earlier this year. Volunteers are needed the day of pickup on November 8th at Expo. Three Nature Camp Scholarship recipients will be there to help.
Birds of Augusta County: The updated Birds of Augusta County publication, edited by Allen Larner is now available for purchase for $14.00. Pre-sales were robust.
Membership: We now have 218 members. Everyone was encouraged to renew their membership when ordering seed.
Holiday Party: Our annual party will be December 8, 6:30 at Covenant Presbyterian Church. The club will provide drinks and main course and everyone is asked to bring a side dish or dessert. We will be collecting items to donate to The Wildlife Center. More details will be forthcoming.
Nature Camp: Applications are now being accepted for the 2026 camp sessions. The application and more information is on our website.
Birds and Brews will resume in the spring.
Program: Rich Wood gave the presentation, “A Trek Through the Canadian Rockies”. Rich and wife Theresa enjoyed a trip to Calgary, Alberta, and British Columbia. The scenery was spectacular. They learned that Canadians and visitors love their wild places and many of those places can be quite crowded, but well worth seeing.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 pm. Submitted by Marilyn Nash, Secretary
September 8, 2025 Minutes, Covenant Presbyterian Church
The meeting was called to order at 7:05 by Vice-President Vic Laubach.
Recent Sightings: A variety of birds are being seen locally, including a Golden Eagle. On Rt. 610 many warblers were seen including a Yellow-throated, Canada, Blackburnian, and Chestnut-sided. A Blue-winged warbler was seen at the hawk watch along with Blue Grosbeaks.
Field Trips: In August Jo King reported 44 species at McCormick Farm including 5 swallow species. Upcoming trips include Rt. 610, Augusta Springs, and Chimney Hollow. Information will be on the website.Membership: Ramona Bearor reports we are now up to 219 members, including 10 that joined over the summer.Hospitality: The next Birds and Brews will be at Plaza Antigua on 9/23.
Bird Seed Sale: Crista Cabe reported that the online store will be up and running soon. Seed pick-up will be on November 8th at Expo. Volunteers are needed to help.
Conservation: The native plant gardens at the Augusta County Library and Montgomery Hall Park are doing well due to hard work by Lynne Parks and Ann Cline. Lynne and husband Chris have been completing bird surveys at the Lyndhurst Ponds for the Department of Wildlife Resources in their efforts to improve habitat.
Education: (1) Nature Camp applications will be on our website soon. The application deadline is December 15th. (2) Rich Wood will be conducting a 4-week Beginning Birding Class in October through the Augusta County Parks Department. There will be 3 weeks of class and then a field trip. The club bought binoculars for anyone to borrow that needs a pair. (3) Rich is editor of our newsletter which will be published quarterly.
Hawk Watch: The Hawk Watch began August 15 and will continue through November 30th. 482 raptors have been counted so far with Ospreys and Bald Eagles doing well. Two Mississippi Kites, 1 Golden Eagle, and 1 Merlin have been counted. Vic shared that usually the third week of September brings the most birds, with a majority of those being Broad-winged Hawks. The most variety of birds is usually seen the first week of October.
Birds of Augusta County: The records for the 5th edition of the Birds of Augusta County has been compiled by Allen Larner and Mona Bearor is coordinating the printing. Pre-orders are being taken.
Blue Ridge Packs and Tracks: Paige French represented this non-profit organization that provides Track chairs for hiking, hunting, birding and other outdoor activities for those that have mobility issues and otherwise might not be able to be active outside. They are an all -volunteer organization and provide an attendant for those using the chairs. The chairs are suitable for a variety of ages. Paige brought one of their 2 chairs for all to see. The ABC gave a generous donation in support of this work.
Program: Flight Risk: Bird/Glass Collisions. Lynne Parks gave a sobering program on the 1 billion birds, primarily song birds during migration, that die every year from glass collisions. Surprisingly more die from low-rise buildings with 1-6 floors and our homes, rather than the high-rises that we might expect. 107 different species have been documented losing their lives for this reason. We learned that birds that are stunned, rather than die outright, might fly away but actually highly likely to die later due to injuries not readily evident. If you find a stunned bird, it’s important to get it to a wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible. Fortunately, there are things we can all do to decrease glass collisions: (1) Turn off outside lights between 10 pm and 6 am during migration season (2) Any outside lights that must be left on should face downward rather that up to the sky. Blue LED lights are worse for birds than warmer colored bulbs. (3) Use motion sensors to turn on outside lights so the lights aren’t on continually. (4) Place bird feeders either within 3 feet of a window or 30 feet away from the window. (5) There are a variety of ways to treat the outside of glass to prevent collisions, such as markings on the glass including decals and dots, Acopian BirdSavers (hanging cords) or other hanging objects, create patterns on the glass with soap or tempura paint, UV reflective glass, patterned film applications, and window screens. You can also close blinds and move plants away from the window. “Lights Out Baltimore”, StopBirdCollisions.org, The National Audubon Society, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, are all good resources for how to decrease bird/glass collisions.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 pm. Submitted by Marilyn Nash, Secretary
April 14, 2025 Minutes, Covenant Presbyterian Church
The meeting was called to order by President Rich Wood at 7:00pm.
Field Trips: March 22 at Nash property in Waynesboro. Five birders found 19 species with a highlight being a Brown Creeper.
Upcoming Field Trips:
(1) Natural Chimneys with leader Rich Wood on April 19.
(2) McCormick’s Farm on May 10 for the annual hike and potluck brunch.
(3) Bell’s Lane with Penny Warren on May 15.
(4) McCormick’s Farm with Jo King on May 21.
Upcoming Events:
4/24 – Birds and Brews at Pro Renata in Staunton
4/25 – Bell’s Lane Clean up. Andrew Clem leading.
4/26 – Earth Day in Staunton.
5/3 – Riverfest in Waynesboro. Volunteers needed.
Recent Sightings: Warblers are coming, Brown Thrasher, Kingbird, Common Yellowthroat, Grouse at Madison Run, Bobcat at Braley Pond!
eBird: Be responsible about listing on eBird and also believing what is reported there. There have been some recent unsubstantiated reportings that would be extremely unlikely for our area.
Grant: Rich Wood/ABC applied for and received a grant from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources which will enable the club to purchase a number of binoculars. These will be loaned to those wanting to participate in hikes and classes, etc. but might not have binoculars. Thank you, Rich!
Birds and Brews: The revival of a monthly Birds and Brews in March at Stable Craft Brewery was a big success with 19 people participating. The next one will be Thursday, April 24 at Pro Renata on Parkersburg Turnpike in Staunton. This is an opportunity to visit with new and old bird club friends. We will be trying to have a gathering once a month at different places around Waynesboro, Staunton and Augusta County.
Education and Conservation: Ann Cline will be co-chairing this committee with Lynne Parks. They are putting in a pollinator garden at the Staunton Library and are looking for donated plants. Contact them if you have some. Ann – anncline1443@yahoo.com or Lynne at v.lynneparks@gmail.com.
Program: Birds of Greater Rockbridge County was presented by Dick Rowe. Dick discussed some of his favorite birding spots around Rockbridge County including the Blueridge Parkway, Goshen Pass, McCormick’s Farm, Glen Maury Park, Boxerwood, Lake Robertson, and Cameron Pond. Several sites have sadly gone into private hands that do not welcome birders, among them Willow Lake, an old ABC favorite haunt.
Elections: Yearly elections were held. (1) For Vice-President, Vic Laubach was nominated by Rich Wood and seconded by Marilyn Nash. He was elected unanimously. (2) For Treasurer, Mona Bearor was nominated by Rich Wood and seconded by Ann Cline. She was elected unanimously. (3) For secretary Marilyn Nash was nominated by Rich Wood and seconded by Mona Bearor. She was elected unanimously. There was no nomination for president.
Therefore the 2025-2026 ABC Board is as follows:
President: Vacant
Vice-President: Vic Laubach
Secretary: Marilyn Nash
Treasurer: Mona Bearor
By-Laws: This year our by-laws were reviewed and tweaked to reflect current realities in job descriptions and committees. Allen Larner made a motion to accept the by-law changes. Barbara Holt seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Raptorthon: Vic Laubach reported that this is the 16th year our club has participated in the annual Raptorthon. He, Rich Wood, Robyn Puffenbarger, and Bill Benish will be this year’s team. On May 9th they will scout Highland County counting all birds including raptors, trying to beat their 111 species from last year. This is a fundraising project with donations divided between our club and HMA (Hawk Migration Association). Donations can be made online by going to the HMA website and click on the Rockfish Gap Hawkwatchers or contact Vic at laubach@virginia.edu.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 pm. Submitted by Marilyn Nash, Secretary
March 10, 2025 Minutes, Covenant Presbyterian Church
The meeting was called to order by President Rich Wood at 7:00pm.
Program: The meeting began promtly at 7:00 pm with a virtual presentation from Dr. Benjamin Van Doren – “How AI and Acoustics are Transforming our Understanding of Bird Migration (including recordings from Rockfish Gap).” Dr. Van Doren gave his program by zoom from his office in Illinois. The program was co-sponsored by the Virginia Society of Ornithology and made available to all, both live and through their website.
Dr. Van Doren shared that 20% of the world’s approximately 11,000 bird species migrate, including 70% of “our” US birds. Nocturnal migration is the most common with an estimated 4 billion birds migrating at night. Dr. Van Doren has been studying migration using tools such as thermal imagery, weather radar, and microphones placed strategically throughout the Appalachians. For 3 months he had a microphone on top of Afton Mountain. The research includes studying the significant ways light pollution affects migration and possible solutions. The BirdCast Migration Dashboard is a fascinating tool available to everyone that estimates the number of birds migrating each night at major migration periods during the year.
Board Nominations: All ABC board positions are for 1-year terms and will be voted on at the April monthly meeting. For the 2025-2026 year the following were nominated: President – No nomination, Vic-President – Vic Laubach, Secretary – Marilyn Nash, Treasurer – Mona Bearor.
By-Laws: The ABC By-Laws have been reviewed and revised. These revisions are on our website and all members are encouraged to review them. The revisions will be voted on at the April monthly meeting.
Hospitality: Birds and Brews/Wings and Wine is being revived so members will have an opportunity to socialize more. The March event is on March 19, 5:30pm at Stable
Craft Brewing, 375 Madrid Rd, Waynesboro.
Recent Sightings: Phoebes, Woodcocks, Wood Ducks, Sandhill Cranes. The Sangers Lane heron rookery is getting active.
Upcoming Field Trips: McCormick’s Mill on 3/12, Nash property on 3/22, and Natural Chimneys on 4/19.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 pm. Submitted by Marilyn Nash, Secretary
February 10, 2025 Minutes, Covenant Presbyterian Church
The meeting was called to order at 7:04 pm by Vice-President Vic Laubach.
Membership: Mona Bearor reported 10 new members this month for a total of 203 members.
Recent Sightings: Greater White-fronted Goose, 8 Sandhill Cranes at Cowbane Preserve, Tundra Swan, 36 Ring-billed Gulls, Purple Finches, Red-headed Ducks, Ring-necked Ducks, and a huge group of approximately 500 Robins in one flock.
Nature Camp: All 5 of our scholarship campers are registered and ready to go this summer.
Field Trips: January field trips were to McCormick’s Mill and Bells Lane.
Christmas Bird Counts: Participants in the Augusta County CBC reported 80 species with highlights being a Great Egret and Red-breasted Mergansers. The Waynesboro CBC is still being tallied.
The Great Backyard Bird Count is organized by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Audubon Society, and Birds Canada and will be held February 14-17. Everyone was encouraged to get out and bird those 4 days and report their findings through eBird. This is a great opportunity to participate in citizen science.
Volunteer Opportunities: The ABC will have an exhibit at Earth Day in Staunton on April 26 and Riverfest in Waynesboro on May 3. Club members are needed to staff these exhibits. It’s easy and fun.
Hospitality: Linda Matkins is organizing Birds and Brews/Warblers and Wine social events for the club. The first will be in March. Details will be forthcoming.
Board Position: A new ABC board president is needed. Everyone was encouraged to consider volunteering for this position and other roles within the club.
Program: Mike Hayslett presented, “Wild Life of Vernal Pool Wetlands”. We learned that vernal pools are ancient and ecologically unique environments, some persisting since the ice age. They are critically important habitats for many species and need to be preserved and enhanced.
Submitted by Marilyn Nash, Secretary
January 13, 2025 Minutes, Covenant Presbyterian Church
The meeting was called to order at 7 pm by President Rich Wood.
Upcoming Field Trips: Allen Larner will lead a trip to Highland County on Saturday, 1/18. Penny Warren will lead a trip on 1/27 to Bell’s Lane.
Recent Sightings: There are many interesting sightings reported including Short-eared Owls, Lapland Longspurs, a Rough-legged Hawk (Mt. Sidney), Eastern and Western Meadowlarks (Albemarle County), American Tree Sparrow and Virginia Rail (Lake Shenandoah), Fox Sparrows, Purple Finches, Grackles, Brown Thrashers, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Red-breasted Nuthatch, a Barn Owl, and Northern Harrier. At the Fishersville Quarry the following are being seen: Ring-necked Ducks, a Red-headed Duck, Gadwalls, Green-winged Teal, Coots. Two Bald Eagles are on a nest at Barren Ridge.
Membership: Mona reports we have 165 paid memberships with an additional 35 still to renew. We welcomed 6 new members over the past month.
Club Exhibits: Two important festivals are coming up in the spring at which the club has exhibits – Earth Day in Staunton on April 26 and Riverfest in Waynesboro on May 3. These are very well attended community events and our ABC exhibits get a lot of attention. Volunteers are needed for 2–4-hour shifts.
The Great Backyard Bird Count is February 14-19th. All are encouraged to participate in this count which is a collaboration between The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, The National Audubon Society, and Birds Canada. All you have to do is count birds wherever you choose, for a minimum of 15 minutes, any time over the 4 days. Then you report your findings through e-bird/Merlin. For more details go to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website. By participating you will be contributing important scientific data for bird conservation.
Hospitality: In order for members to have more opportunities to socialize, Linda Matkins suggested restarting Birds and Brews. Her idea was met with enthusiasm by all.
Program: “Gardening for Birds” presented by Dr. Robyn Puffenbarger. Some takeaways from this program: (1) Our homes are critically important ecosystems from the bottom to the top of the food chain. (2) Strive for 70-80% native plantings on your property. Be careful when determining what is a native. Some cultivars can be ok, but native is best. (3) Simply getting rid of invasives such as Bradford Pear, Autumn oOive, Privet, Multiflora Rose, Burning Bush, etc. allows natives the opportunity to return. Dead trees are good habitat. (4) Resources for what to plant include the book, Natures’s Best Hope, the Flora of Virginia app, Audubon Society website, Digital Atlas of Virginia, Plant Ridge and Valley Natives created by the Virginia Native Plant Society, and many more. (5) Examples of very beneficial plants/trees include Crabapples, Broom sedge, Serviceberry, native Willows, Juneberry, Hackberry, Red Mulberry, Fringe Tree, Beautyberry, native Honeysuckle, Trumpet vine, Black Haw Viburnum, Purple Top Grass, Mountain Mint, native Sunflowers, etc. It is very important to decrease your non-native grass lawns. Local resources for native plants include but are not limited to Hummingbird Hill Natives, Natural Garden, Blue Ridge Prism, 7 Bends Nursery, Center for Urban Habitats. The Augusta Bird Club will be creating a page on our website devoted to improving habitat for birds by planting native plants.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 pm. Submitted by Marilyn Nash, Secretary
November 11, 2024 Minutes, Covenant Presbyterian Church
The meeting was called to order at 7 pm by President Rich Wood.
Membership News: Mona Bearor reported that we currently have 205 members. Several new members were in attendance and introduced. Many members conveniently renewed their membership on the seed sale form but those who didn’t were encouraged to renew.
Field Trips: (1) Andrew Clem led a hike to Chimney Hollow and Braley Pond. They found Winter Wrens, a Brown Creeper, and Ruby-crowned Kinglet. (2) Jo King led a walk to McCormick’s Farm. They found a Gadwall, Rusty Blackbird, 3 Red-shouldered Hawks, a Red-tailed Hawk, and Kestrel. (3) Penny Warren led a walk at Bell’s Lane. They found Black Vultures, a Savannah Sparrow, and a Northern Harrier were among their findings.
Recent Sightings: Members reported finding Fox Sparrows, a Merlin, Woodcock, Hermit Thrushes, and a remaining Catbird.
Hawk Watch: Vic Laubach reported the HW is going well. In spite of periods of bad weather, they have had 370 hours of monitoring covered so far. Broad-winged Hawks, Merlin, Peregrine, and Bald Eagle numbers are up. The watch continues until November 30.
Seed Sale: Crista Cabe reported a good year with gross seed sales of more than $27,000. This is the first year the pickup was at Augusta Expo and it went smoothly. $1,000 worth of extra seed was sold that Saturday partly because of a large craft fair at Expo. Nature Campers and club members were enthusiastic volunteers. Parents of the Nature Campers told club members how important the scholarships have been for their children and all were very grateful for the support.
December Meeting: Our annual holiday party will take place December 9th at 6:30 pm, upstairs in this building. This is a potluck with the club providing drinks and meat, and members bringing side dishes and dessert.
Christmas Bird Counts: The Augusta County CBC will take place on December 15th with Allen Larner coordinating. The Waynesboro CBC will be January 5 and Crista Cabe will coordinate. Anyone wishing to participate should contact the coordinators.
Nature Camp: Sarah Foster reports that, thanks to profits from the seed sale, full and partial scholarships are available for Nature Camp 2025. She encouraged everyone to recruit campers. Applications can be found on our website and the deadline for submission is December 15.
Program: Jeff Wright gave a lively presentation entitled “Birds, Climate, and Citizen Science”. He discussed how climate change is affecting birds and how everyone can contribute to important research through programs such as the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s eBird and Merlin.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 pm. Submitted by Marilyn Nash, Secretary
October 14, 2024 Minutes, Covenant Presbyterian Church
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by President Rich Wood.
Recent Sightings: Most unusual was a rare endangered Kirtland’s Warbler at Coyner Springs Park in Waynesboro. White-throated Sparrows are back. Additionally seen have been a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Marsh Wren, and a Harrier at Bell’s Lane. A few Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and Catbirds remain. There was a large warbler fallout after Hurricane Helene (or Milton?). A Great Horned Owl has been regularly hooting near South River in Waynesboro.
Field Trips: On October 16 Jo King led a hike at McCormick’s Mill. 31 species were seen/heard including a Canada Warbler. Since Yulee Larner began these monthly field trips in 2003, 181 species have been recorded at McCormick’s Mill.
Seed Sale: The online store is up and running. Orders can be made through this store or mail in forms. Everyone was encouraged to order early and a lot! Profits from the sale go to scholarships for Nature Camp. The seed is of excellent quality, formulated for this area, and this year’s crop. Pick up date is November 9 and we have a new pick-up site at Expo in Fishersville. Club membership can be renewed at the same time you order seed. Help is needed the day of pick-up so contact Linda Matkins if you can assist.
Hawk Watch: Vic Laubach reported the watch is going well and they have had good counter/observer coverage. Total number of raptors is approaching 32,000. Several days have been rained out. Broad-winged Hawk numbers are approximately 29,000. Ospreys are doing better than last year. Good Sharp-shinned Hawk, Merlin, and Peregrine numbers. Thirteen Mississippi Kites, 1 Swallowtail Kite, 3 Golden Eagles, and a Swainson’s Hawk have been recorded.
Nature Camp: Sarah Foster reported that applications are being taken for 2025 Nature Camp in Vesuvius. Everyone is encouraged to recruit campers. The ABC seed sale profits provide scholarships every year for campers.
Donation: Marietta Beverage donated a number of birding books for members to take for free.
Mark Kosiewski reported a high number of bird/window collisions and deaths during the recent warbler fall out. Lynne Parks will be giving a program on this topic at an upcoming meeting. More education needs to reach the public on how to prevent this.
Mark also suggested a committee be formed to look at eBird hotspots in the area and make improvements to the reporting.
Program: “Birding at the Canopy Lodge and Tower in Panama”. ABC members Lisa Hamilton, Ann Cline, Linda Matkins, and Marilyn Nash reported on their most enjoyable trip to Panama in April 2024.
The meeting adjourned at 8:20 pm. – Submitted by Marilyn Nash, Secretary
September 9, 2024 Minutes, Covenant Presbyterian Church
The meeting was called to order at 7:01 by President Rich Wood.
New members were introduced.
Newsletter: The newsletter will now be published quarterly instead of monthly. For additional and updated information everyone is encouraged to go to our website, www.augustabirdclub.org, Each month a brief email will be sent to members reminding them of activities of the month and other important information.
Nature Camp: Sarah Foster reported that our Nature Campers had a successful camp this year. Applications are now being accepted for scholarships for the summer 2025 camp in Vesuvius. Applicants should be rising 5th-12th grade. All information is on our website. Our annual seed sale profits go to fund these scholarships. Please advertise the camp far and wide, and buy lots of bird seed!
Bird Seed Sale: Our annual bird seed sale is fast approaching. All information about this very important fundraising venture will be sent out soon. We have a new pickup site at Augusta Expo in Fishersville. Pickup is scheduled for November 9. Money raised from this sale goes to Nature Camp Scholarships. And the birds love it! Order a lot.
Field Trips: Trips in August included McCormick’s Mill with Jo King, Highland County, and Bell’s Lane with Allen Larner. Check our website for updated field trip information going forward. We’ve learned Staunton Parks and Rec are now offering bird walks.
Hawk Watch: This year marks the 49th year of officially counting hawks on Afton Mountain. This years’ Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch will continue through November. Eight Mississippi Kites and one Swallow-tailed Kite are early exciting sightings, along with an unusual Swainson’s Hawk. Broad-winged Hawk numbers will be increasing soon and peaking later this month. Everyone is encouraged to visit and look for hawks. Next year is the 50th anniversary year and the club is considering an organized celebration. The watch site on Afton Mountain is under consideration for redevelopment and the club will monitor this situation with the goal of continuing the watch there indefinitely.
Program: Vice-president Vic Laubach taught us about 2 important free birding apps, eBird and Merlin, created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Through eBird you can easily collect data both for your own birding records, but also as citizen scientists we can contribute to Cornell’s massive database which uses this data for research of all kinds. Merlin is an amazing tool that helps us learn to identify bird sounds. Vic also demonstrated another helpful app called The Warbler Guide which can be particularly useful at this time of year as warblers are migrating through our area. We were encouraged to take some time to explore the many facets of these apps and enjoy our birding even more.
The meeting adjourned at 8:20 pm.– Submitted by Marilyn Nash, Secretary
April 8, 2024 Minutes, Covenant Presbyterian Church.
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by President Rich Wood.
Recent Sightings: Brown Thrasher, nesting Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Purple Finches, Blue-headed Vireo, Louisiana Waterthrush, Great Egret at Augusta Springs, Green Heron, Pied-billed Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser, Virginia Rail at Cowbane, Hermit Thrush, Fox Sparrows, 50 Cedar Waxwings facing into the eclipse. The nest with 2 eaglets in New Hope is doing well. Sadly, the 2 Great Horned Owlets at the JMU Arboretum have disappeared. The Sangers Lane heron rookery is very active.
Field Trips: (1) Jo King will lead a trip to McCormick’s Mill on 4/10. (2) Allen Larner will lead a group to Honey Grove looking for Red-cockaded Woodpeckers on April 13.
Volunteer Opportunities: Earth Day Staunton is April 20 at Gypsy Hill Park. Riverfest is in Waynesboro on April 27. Volunteers are really needed to represent the club at our booths. These are important and well attended events and will be good publicity for our club. Please contact Rich Wood, beagleboy831@comcast.net to let him know you will help.
Education/Conservation: The Bluebird Trail boxes at Bessie Weller Elementary have been repaired and relocated for better use and monitoring by the students.
Website: Vic Laubach has spent considerable time and effort updating and revamping our website. We all appreciate this important component of our club. The URL is https://augustabirdclub.org. Everyone is encouraged to visit the site which contains a wide variety of information. Vic is looking for pictures of local birds so everyone is encouraged to send their favorite pictures to him. Please include the location and date taken.
May Meeting: McCormick’s Mill will be the site of our May meeting. Jo King will lead a bird walk followed by a potluck brunch. Meet in the parking area at 8:00 am?
Elections: The annual ABC board elections were held. All current board members were willing to serve another term. There were no nominations from the floor. The club unanimously elected Rich Wood as president, Vic Laubach as vice-president, Marilyn Nash as secretary, and Mona Beard as treasurer.
Program: Dr. Robin Puffenbarger, Chair of the Dept. of Biology at Bridgewater College, shared many bird specimens from their collection. Among many interesting facts presented was how we see the colors of bird feathers. Green and blue colors are actually not pigment in the feathers but rather a combination of light and the structure of the feather. The iridescence of hummingbird feathers is also structural, not pigment. Yellows, reds, and oranges come from carotenoids in the diet. Browns and chestnuts come from melanin in the feathers. We thank Robin for sharing these specimens with us.
The meeting adjourned at 8:20 pm. Submitted by Marilyn Nash, Secretary
March 11, 2024 Minutes, Covenant Presbyterian Church.
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by President Rich Wood.
New members Donna and Matt were welcomed. Rich encourages everyone to bring a friend and help grow our club. Meetings are open to the public.
Recent Sightings: Migrants are just starting to appear. Birds of note are Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds, Canvasbacks, Phoebes, Goldfinches, Fox Sparrows, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Towhees, Woodcocks, and Tree Swallows.
Field Trips: The February McCormick’s Mill field trip led by Jo King found 30 species. Her next trip there is 3/20/24. The Bell’s Lane field trip found a Bald Eagle and lots of Bluebirds. The Cowbane Prairie in Stuarts Draft where members frequently bird has construction going on around it and parking may be an issue. Weekends may be better.
Newsletter: We need a new newsletter editor. The newsletter is a very important way to communicate within our club and the public. It is not difficult to do and Rich will train you. You don’t need special knowledge or advanced computer skills. Please consider helping out in this manner – go ahead, just do it! Please let Rich know that you can help at Beagleboy831@comcast.net
Hospitality: The setting of our May brunch was discussed. The decision was made to hold it at McCormick’s Mill on May 11. Details will follow.
Education: Recent calculations indicate that since 2005 this club has contributed over $50,000 in scholarships to Nature Camp for 99 children. That is something to be very proud of.
Virginia Home Grown is a public television program whose mission is “….to enrich growers and gardeners of all levels by connecting to new voices and fresh ideas, to highlight the unique richness of gardens and natural ecosystems throughout Virginia, and serve as a resource for our community.” Our own Robyn Puffenbarger was recently featured on a program and is a regular contributor. Check it out on VPM.
Program: We learned how magical and extraordinary hummingbirds are from Bruce Peterjohn through his zoom program, “Everything You Wanted to Know About Hummingbirds But Were Afraid to Ask”. He has been banding hummingbirds and doing research on them for many years. Increasingly more hummingbirds are appearing in Virginia during winter months. If you find such a bird you can contact Bruce at b.peterjohn@verizon.net.
The program adjourned at 8:15 pm. Submitted by Marilyn Nash, Secretary
February 12, 2024 Minutes, Covenant Presbyterian Church.
The meeting was called to order at 7:03pm by President Rich Wood.
Upcoming Field Trips: (1) 2/19 Bell’s Ln, Staunton, 8:00 am, (2) 2/21 McCormick’s Farm, 9 am, (3) Highland County. Check website for details.
Recent Sightings: The heron rookery on Sangers Lane is starting to see arrivals. Approximately 200 American Pipits were seen on White Bridge Rd, and Eagles on Barren Ridge Rd. Woodcocks are dancing at Beagle Gap in Shenandoah National Park and Cowbane Prairie Preserve. Purple Finches and Shrike are on Livick Rd. The Gray-crowned Rosy Finch is still in Amherst. Pine Siskins, Fox Sparrows are also about.
Membership: Time to pay dues if you haven’t already.
General News: The Great Backyard Bird Count is scheduled for 2/16 to 2/19.This is a collaboration between the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Audubon, and Birds Canada. – Rich has created a survey asking members what programs they would like to see. Please fill one out. You can also make suggestions to Vic Laubach. – Volunteers are needed for the Earth Day exhibit on 4/20 in Staunton and Riverfest on 4/27 in Waynesboro. Let Rich Wood know. – The club is seeking a new newsletter editor. Newsletters are sent out by email from September through May. Training is available. Let Rich Wood know if you can help.
Conservation/Education: Lynne Parks reports DCR needs volunteers to conduct a bird survey in the spring on approximately 40 acres near Quillen’s Pond. They will be doing some restoration work there and want to know what birds are there prior to their work. Let Lynne know if you can help. – The Staunton Library is conducting 2 birding workshops, one on birding basics and one 2/17 on bird illustration.
Program: Leslie Sturges, founder of Bat Conservation and Rescue of Virginia, gave a program entitled “Bats: The Animals, the Myths, and Reality.” We learned about the beauty, magic, and critical importance of bats in Virginia and everywhere. We met Birch, a non-releasable Big Brown Bat and watched him gobble down mealworms. Leslie can be contacted at lsturges@virginiabats.org if you have questions or concerns about bats.
The meeting adjourned at 8:20 pm. Submitted by Marilyn Nash, Secretary
January 8, 2024 Minutes, Covenant Presbyterian Church.
The meeting was called to order by Vice-President Vic Laubach at 7:00 pm.
Donations: Several pieces of art by Ray Harm were donated as a fundraiser for the club. Also, several nature books were donated.
Recent sightings: Bell’s Lane provided great entertainment for a group of club members by a cooperative Barred Owl, as well as Short-eared Owls. A Bald Eagle was sighted bathing at Lake Moomaw, a Ruffed Grouse was at Braley Pond, Crossbills were at the Breast works, a Loggerhead Shrike was seen on Livick Rd, and Horned Larks were on Guthrie Rd.
Christmas Bird Counts: The Augusta County CBC was held December 17th. 78 species were found including 2 Cackling Geese. The Waynesboro Count was held December 30th. It was a windy, slow day for birding. Crista Cabe will compile a report.
Upcoming Field Trips: Allen Larner will lead a group to Highland County on January 20th. Jo King will lead her monthly field trip to McCormick’s Mill on January 17th.
Membership: We have 2 new members which places our membership at 195.
Nature Camp: Sarah Foster reported that we have 6 applicants for camp. Three will receive full scholarships and three will get partial scholarships.
Program: Vic Laubach gave a delightful presentation on his trip to the Galapagos in June, 2023.
Submitted by Marilyn Nash, Secretary
November 13, 2023 Minutes, Covenant Presbyterian Church.
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by President Rich Wood. He welcomed all and introduced board members and committee chairs.
Recent Sightings: Nashville Warbler, Cedar Waxwings, Ross’s Goose, Short-eared Owls, Purple Finches, Fox Sparrows, Red-breasted Nuthatch. A flock of approximately 300 American Pipits were located, as well as 34 Rusty Blackbirds. A Ruby-throated Hummingbird remains. It seems they are staying later every year.
Field Trip Reports: (1) 32 species were found at the recent McCormick’s Mill hike. (2) The Augusta Wetlands trip found 21 species, including a Winter Wren. (3) The Bell’s Lane hike found 42 species, including a rare White-winged Scoter. (4) The Boy Scout Camp hike was quiet but did find Catbirds, Palm Warblers, and Savannah Sparrows.
Bird Seed Sale: Crista Cabe reports 16,700 pounds of seed were sold. She thanked all the excellent volunteers. The final money results will be available soon. She reports the last 3 years have maintained excellent sales.
Christmas Bird Counts: The Augusta County CBC is December 17. Contact Allen Larner if you’d like to participate. The Waynesboro count is December 30, with a tally dinner following. Crista Cabe is coordinating this count.
December Holiday Party: Our annual potluck dinner will be December 11 at 6:30 pm upstairs at Covenant Presbyterian Church. Meat and drinks are provided. Bring a side dish to share.
Program: Bobby Whitescarver discussed “Environmental Issues in the Shenandoah Valley.”
Submitted by Marilyn Nash, Secretary
October 9, 2023 Minutes, Covenant Presbyterian Church.
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by President Rich Wood. He welcomed all and introduced board members and committee chairs.
Recent Sightings: Hummingbirds are still here in good numbers. Also seen are returning Juncos, a Nashville Warbler, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and both Kinglets. The Hawkwatch participants observed Double-crested Cormorants and a group of Great Egrets!
Field Trip Reports: Allen Larner led a trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway, where he was buzzed by a Screech Owl. The 9/30 hike on Bell’s Lane found 45 different species. Upcoming walks are (1) McCormick’s Farm with Jo King on 10/18, and (2) Andrew Clem will lead a walk at the Boy Scout Camp on 10/28.
Hawkwatch: Vic Laubach reports approximately 28,000 Broad-winged Hawks so far this year, with 8,600 in one day. Bald Eagles and Merlins are doing well at 100 and 32 respectively. Osprey and Harrier numbers are down so far. One Golden Eagle has been counted. The watch continues through November 30. Counters are needed. If you are interested in learning more about the Hawkwatch or how to become an observer or counter, go to the Rockfish Gap Hawkwatch link found on the Augusta Bird Club website, Augustabirdclub.org.
Birdseed Sale: Crista Cabe reported that the sale is ready for orders. You can order online through our website, pick up a printed order sheet at the meeting, or mail in your order from the form that will be mailed to all members and past participants. We were reminded that the proceeds from this sale go to Nature Camp scholarships, so everyone was encouraged to order a lot! The birds and Nature Campers thank you.
Bird Banding: John Spahr requests help next May and June during the banding of Kestrels and Screech Owls in Highland County. Anyone interested should let him know.
Project FeederWatch: The Cornell Lab of Ornithology conducts citizen science research on birds at feeders from November through April. If anyone wants to participate go to FeederWatch.org.
Christmas Bird Counts: Allen Larner will coordinate the Augusta County count on December 17. Crista Cabe will coordinate the Waynesboro count, with December 30 the probable date. Anyone wanting to participate can contact the coordinators.
Membership: We currently have 189 members.
Program: Megan Thomas from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources gave an amazing program entitled “Rebound of Virginia’s Peregrine Falcons and the History of the Richmond Falcon Cam.” The falcon cam follows a Peregrine nest on the Riverfront Plaza Hotel in Richmond from spring through fledging.
Submitted by Marilyn Nash, Secretary
September 11, 2023 Minutes, Covenant Presbyterian Church.
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by President Rich Wood.
Recent Sightings: Night Hawks, Chimney Swifts (775 at Stuart Hall in Staunton), hummingbirds, and many warblers.
Field Trip Reports: (1) On 9/2/23 Allen Larner led folks to the Blue Ridge Parkway, where they saw 30 different species, including a Screech Owl. (2) Andrew Clem led a hike to the Shenandoah Mountain Trail in Highland County where they saw a Black-throated Green Warbler, Redstart, Scarlet Tanager, Pewees, Pine Warbler, and Ruffed Grouse. Upcoming trips include Augusta Springs, Bells Lane, and McCormick’s Mill.
Newsletter and website: Rich Wood is our Newsletter Editor. Everyone is encouraged to read our monthly newsletter for a variety of interesting articles, field trip information, and much more. Anyone wanting to put something in the newsletter should contact Rich. Andrew Clem is in charge of the website. It is being redesigned and regularly updated for both our members and the general public. It will have the latest information on hikes, club contact information, the birdseed sale, and more. Past newsletters will be available on the website.
Hawkwatch: Vic Laubach is the Hawkwatch Coordinator. He reports that bird numbers are good and that they have a good number of volunteers to help with spotting and counting. Anyone interested in becoming a counter or observer should contact Vic. He will be giving a presentation on 9/12/23 at the Wayne Theatre in Waynesboro on the Watch. All are welcome. The site of the Hawkwatch, The Inn at Afton, continues to deteriorate, and its future is uncertain. The owners of the property have always liked the Hawkwatch, and Vic is going to talk with them about the future of this site for the Watch.
Birdseed Sale: Crista Cabe is coordinating the sale and working hard on negotiating prices and ordering seed. Order forms will be available by the end of September. Orders need to be received by 10/27. Pick up is 11/4 at the Government Center. This is our only fundraiser of the year and is so important because the money raised is used for Nature Camp Scholarships.
Conservation: Lynne Parks leads this committee and has been hard at work on several projects. (1) Hikes have been led at the Boy Scout Camp. (2) Work continues at the Montgomery Hall native plant garden. (3) The Bessie Weller Nature Trail is almost finished. Lynne is always looking for more help both from individuals and the community to work with these projects.
Christmas Bird Counts: The Augusta County CBC is scheduled for Sunday, December 17. Allen Larner is coordinating. Crista Cabe leads the Waynesboro count; its date is not yet decided.
Membership: We currently have 170 members.
Program: Sara Holberg gave the presentation on “Keeping Augusta County Bird Friendly: Perspectives from a Land-Use Planner.” She discussed land use and gave examples of good and bad. She stressed that partnerships are needed and encouraged everyone to get involved in preserving land for wildlife and all of us.
Submitted by Marilyn Nash, Secretary