The meeting was called to order at 7:02 pm by Vice President Vic Laubach.
Membership: Mona Bearor reported we have 1 new member which puts our total membership at 220.
Recent Sightings: Lots of movement coming and going – sparrows including White-crowned, White-throated, and Swamp. Warblers including Blackburnian, Palm, Tennessee, Nashville, Common Yellow, Prairie, Wilson, Cape May, Yellow-rumped, and Bay Breasted. Large groups moving about such as Blue Jays, Fish Crows, and Red-headed Woodpeckers. A Rough-legged Hawk was seen recently along Guthrie Rd in Stuarts Draft.
Seed Sale: Crista Cabe reported that ordering information is now on our website. Paper forms are also available. Ordering deadline is November 3. Pickup at Expo is November 14. Volunteers are needed and Linda Matkins will be coordinating assignments.
Field Trips: (1) McCormick’s Farm is upcoming on 10/14 with Jo King leading. (2) The recent trip to Springdale Water Gardens with Tish Folsom found 56 species including a Yellow-breasted Chat and Peregrine Falcon. (3) Allen Larner led a group to Augusta Springs where highlights were many Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Swamp Sparrows, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Red-breasted Nuthatch.
Birds and Brews: The next gathering will be at Alpine Goat on 10/15 at 5:30 pm.
Barn Owl Project: The first phase of the project is completed with the erection of the 18 nest boxes. The next phase is monitoring them for activity. Volunteers are being recruited. The TV news station WHSV3 did a special report on the project on 9/24/26 which can still be viewed on their website.
Nature Camp: Sarah Foster reported that our 8 sponsored campers had a very successful experience. Camper Thomas Anderson came to our meeting and graciously expressed his appreciation for our support.
Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch: The weather has affected the Broad-winged Hawk numbers seen coming through Rockfish Gap. Normally approximately 25,000 would be counted but this year only 7,000 have been seen so far. But many other birds are coming through, with a recent highlight of 2 immature Goshawks. The count continues until November 30. Reminders of the gate protocol to the HW site were reviewed.
Christmas Bird Counts: The Augusta County count will be on Sunday, December 20 and coordinated by Allen Larner. The Waynesboro count will be Sunday, January 3, 2027 and coordinated by Crista Cabe.
Upcoming Program: Next month’s program will be given by Tom Benzing who will talk about wildlife corridors.
Program: Chris Bolgiano presented “Forest Forensics: Finding Clues to the Past in Our Woods Today”.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm. Submitted by, Marilyn Nash, Secretary