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. – Marilyn Nash, Secretary
February 10, 2025 Minutes, Covenant Presbyterian Church
February 28, 2025