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.   – Marilyn Nash