Welcome to the Hampton Roads Bird Club website!
If you're interested in learning more about birding in the Hampton Roads area, you've come to the right place!
Whether you're an experienced birder or just enjoy watching the birds in your own backyard, we'd love to have you join the Hampton Road Bird Club!
Our monthly meetings and field trips provide wonderful learning opportunities and a chance to get to know some really great people! This website introduces you to the Club and provides information about birding in our area.
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NEW! Get the latest news in our MAY-JUNE newsletter!
Read past issues of the newsletter. |
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Club member George Boyles took this photo of a Surf Scoter during the Hampton Roads Bird Club field trip to the Chesepeake Bay Bridge Tunnel Islands on February 9, 2013. Full report and more photos are HERE.
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Upcoming HRBC activities
MEETINGS - Sandy Bottom Nature Park
Thursday, MAY 9, 2013 - 7:00 PM
Erin Heller - "Ticks" - Get details.
FIELD TRIPS
Saturday - MAY 11, 2013, 8:00 AM
Richmond's Belle Isle and James River Park System - Get details HERE.
Sunday Walks in Newport News Park, 7:00 AM, 1st & 3rd Sunday every month, in the parking lot behind the Ranger Station. READ REPORTS from recent Sunday Walks!
Save the dates!
Spring Bird Count will be Saturday, MAY 4, 2013. Contact Nancy Gruttman-Tyler at 757-850-3861 or gruttmantyler@gmail.com if you would like to participate.
Details for our summer picnic - NEW LOCATION:
The picnic has been scheduled for SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2013 at Newport News Park. We have shelter #3 reserved for the day. It is located off the parking lot where we begin Sunday walks, and is near the overlook off the path. There is a paved path from the parking lot out to the shelter. We will enjoy a bird walk at 8:00 a.m. lead by Meredith and Lee Bell, so we urge that you plan to come early. We hope to eat about noon, and (to assure variety) a sheet will be available at the May meeting for you to sign up for the dish you plan to bring. The Club will provide burgers and hot dogs, with the trimmings, and paper products, so appetizers, side dishes, and desserts will be needed.
There are picnic tables in the shelter, but you might bring folding chairs for relaxing, cheering on the horseshoes, and visiting. Don't miss this chance to celebrate the fantastic year we've had with the club, before we take the summer off.
If you have questions, or won't be at the May meeting to sign-up for a side dish, contact Virginia Boyles at (757) 867-8857.
2012 Go Green Expo
On 22 September, several club members participated in the 2012 Go Green Expo. The Expo has grown significantly over the years, and our professionally engineered exhibit drew a good number of visitors. Our club had the opportunity to inform attendees about our field trips, Sunday morning walks, conservation activities, and about the fun we have getting together and sharing birding adventures.
Special thanks to Jane Frigo and Hilary Propst for sharing their birding enthusiasm with the many visitors.
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Western Shore Marshes IBA Report - Dave Youker
On Saturday 19 May, 22 people participated in the latest event in support of the Western Shore Marshes IBA. This bird survey and clean-up was held at Gosnold's Hope Park and was a joint venture between our two bird clubs and the City of Hampton through their Hampton Clean City Commission. Other participants included master naturalist and 9 members from Scout Troop 18.
The day was divided into two 2-hour segments. We conducted a bird survey during the first segment, and we identified 51 different species. Highlights included a nice view of a male and female Blue Grosbeak and several views of Brown-headed Nuthatches, which is a species of interest for this IBA.
The remaining participants showed for the second segment, and we canvassed the entire park. To be expected, the majority of the litter was found along the shoreline which is subjected to tidal and storm surges. With the litter disposed of and species tallied, the members departed leaving this portion of the IBA in better condition.
Thanks to the following bird club/naturalist members, pictured below, who were able to support this event: Bill Ferris, Cheryl Jacobson, Jan Lockwood, Jane Frigo, Betty Peterson, Sharon Burton, Bryan Barmore, Brent Slaughter, Laura Slaughter, Tom Charlock, and Ken Lipshy.
Get more information about our Western Shore Marshes IBA.
Upcoming VSO Events - Get details HERE.
June 7-9 - Highland County
Other news from the VSO: The Virginia Society of
Ornithology's (VSO) Principles of Birding Ethics were adopted at the
November 1, 2008 Board of Directors meeting. You can read the two-page Code of Birding Ethics HERE.
Creating a Backyard Habitat - Resources from Steve Living
Steve Living, our guest speaker in April 2010, gave a great presentation onf creating a habitat for wildlife in your yard. Here are the four resources he sent. All are PDF files you can download and print:
"Habitat at Home" (8-page booklet)
Native Perennials and Annuals
Native Trees and Shrubs
Native Plant Online Resources
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