Future Bird Counts
Spring Big Birding Day
Saturday, April 29, 2023
Leader: Dave Youker
Our Spring Big Birding Day will be on Saturday, 29 April this year. Spring migration should be in full force, so there should be plenty of birds to observe. The Dismal Swamp festival is also that weekend, so anyone attending those walks should be able to identify some nice species.
As with all our Big Days, just send me a list of your different species at the end of your birding day. I'll compile and put the list out to the club. Birding can be done anywhere in VA and for as long or short as you wish. Don't forget your feeders, as some nice species tend to drop into backyards. Last Spring we identified an impressive 141 different species.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
Best,
Dave Youker
2023 Spring Bird Count
Saturday, May 6, 2023.
The date for this year's Spring Bird Count (SBC) will be Saturday, May 6th. The HRBC has been conducting the SBC since 1995. Please join us in being part of this citizen science effort to support bird conservation (all observations are uploaded to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology via the eBird application). It’s great fun and a great way to be introduced to some of the best birding sites in our region, and you’ll be building your bird identification skills as well.
Participants count birds in the field or by feeder-watching. The field count is conducted within a 15 mile-radius circle divided into 13 sectors. The typical count spans most of the day, but some counts only go for a few hours; if you’re not able to stay for the entire count you are still welcome to participate. And don’t hesitate to join in because you don’t feel you’re proficient enough at identifying birds-field counts are led by our more experienced birders. You can contribute by adding more eyes and ears to help detect the birds for identification (and counting).
Since COVID is still with us, I must provide the Hampton Roads Bird Club’s COVID guidelines for field activities (such as the SBC): the club suggests everyone use caution to safeguard against potential exposure to COVID by practicing distancing, wearing masks and other established protocols for avoiding pathogen exposure. All members are encouraged limit unknown persons when carpooling. Most importantly any individuals feeling ill, with a fever, or any typical flu or cold-like symptoms should NOT participate in a field event.
If you are interested in participating, please email me how you’d like to participate (in the field or by feeder-watching) and if you have a preferred sector to work in (see the attached map).
NOTE: As you may have noticed, I’m using a new email address: phrogdolph@gmail.com. Please update your contact list accordingly.
Thanks,
Bill Boeh
Spring Bird Count Coordinator
Previous Bird Counts
2022 Winter Sector Bird Count in Newport News Park
Click here for results summary
2022 Christmas Bird Count
Click Here for results summary.
HRBC 2022 Spring Bird Count
Click Here for results summary
2021 Audubon Christmas Bird Count
Click Here for Audubon’s comprehensive Count Summary Report
Click Here for the Bill Boeh’s summary and comments
2021 Spring Big Day for Virginia Results
I believe I have all the checklists for those that participated in the May 15th Spring Big Day of birding. It was a gorgeous day for being out birding. We had 11 participants, and our total species count was 132. No surprise, the most common birds found were Northern Mockingbird and Northern Cardinal...found by virtually everyone. However, 40 species were found by only one person/team, and these species represented the full range of nocturnal birds, shorebirds, gulls, and passerines.
Hope all participants had fun, and look forward to our next birding adventure.
Dave Youker
2021 HRBC Spring Bird Count Results - Click Here
2021 Winter Bird Count in Newport News Park Results - Click Here
2020 Audubon Christmas Bird Count
Click here for Summary results
Fall 2020 "Virtual" Virginia Big Day Results
Leader: Dave Youker
The results are in for our first, virtual Big Day held on 7 Nov. If you haven't submitted your list, you can still forward it to me. I was impressed with the number of checklists, the diversity of species, and the resolve of some members to put in some long days birding. Birds from backyards to seagoing to every habitat in between were identified. Here are the results:
The weather for the Big Day was very pleasant, except many members had to contend with a heavy fog. Still, we had an impressive total of 36 club members participate! A total of 24 checklists were submitted, and the consolidated species list stands at 136! If anyone is interested in the overall list, I'd be happy to forward it.
Thanks to all the members that participated in this club activity. The feedback has been very positive, so maybe we can do it again next year.
Best,
Dave Youker
Results of 2019 Audubon Christmas Bird Count - Click Here
Results of 2019 HRBC Spring Bird Count - Click Here
Results of 2018 Audubon Christmas Bird Count - Click Here
Results of 2018 HRBC Spring Count - Click Here
Results of 2017 HRBC Spring Count - Click Here
Results of 2017 HRBC Winter Newport News Count - Click Here
Results of the 2016 Christmas Bird Count - Click Here
The efforts of 48 observers (the vast majority of which were HRBC members) resulted in the observation of 18,568 birds comprised of 123 species.