There are some great field trips scheduled to find late autumn birds such as sparrows and waterfowl, and a special speaker program regarding the latest reports on the ospreys in the Chesapeake Bay and mid Atlantic region. Please make a note of our upcoming activities, and pre-register where required! We do have extra binoculars for anyone who needs to borrow a pair for our field trips.
Thursday, December 4, at 5:30 pm at the Great Room of the Workforce Development Building of the Eastern Shore Community College, 29316 Lankford Highway, Melfa, VA. Doors will open at 5:00 pm. We will hear from Dr. Bryan Watts from the Center for Conservation Biology at the College of William and Mary, and from Ben Wurst, who leads the New Jersey Osprey Project for Conserve Wildlife New Jersey. After rebounding from near extinction in the DDT era, why are the Chesapeake Bay and mid-Atlantic coast ospreys experiencing such a high percentage of nest failure due to starvation of chicks? The articles referenced below provide some of the details – attend this important science forum to learn more from the biologists who are witnessing the tragedy first hand.
FIELD TRIP, Thursday, November 13 meet at 9:00 am.Edward S. Brinkley Preserve, 20190 Seaside Road, at Cobbs Station Road. Explore the diverse habitats with Maggie Long and Joette Borzik to look for late migrants and wintering passerines, as well as wintering waterfowl and shorebirds. Meet at the parking lot of the Preserve. Register with Maggie at: 610-500-9971
FIELD TRIP, Monday, November 24:8:30 am, Mutton Hunk Fen Natural Area Preserve, 28583 Baker Road, Parksley. Owned by Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Mutton Hunk Fen protects a globally rare sea-level fen along with hundreds of acres of migratory bird habitat. Join Maggie Long on a trek through the preserve to look for wintering passerines and late migrating raptors. Register with Maggie at 610-500-9971
FIELD TRIP, Thursday, December 4, 8:30 am, Onancock Parks and Marina. Join Paul Anderson and Maggie Long for a birding tour of the Town of Onancock. Park and meet at the Town Marina where the walk will begin and end. Register with Maggie at 610-500-9971.
FIELD TRIP, Saturday, December 6, 8:00 am to 11:00 am, Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Join leader Mario Balitbit to observe winter waterfowl, shorebirds, and gulls from the unique vantage point of CBBT Island 4. Last year, we even saw a whale! Cost is $15 per person (for cost of mandatory police escort) and payment and registration form are required by November 15 to be sent to Roberta Kellam at PO Box 193, Franktown, VA 23354. Cost is nonrefundable after November 15. Please dress warmly for cold and windy conditions. We meet at the CBBT Police Office Building next to the southbound toll booths at 7:45 am. Send (1) your email address, (2) your check made out to Birding Eastern Shore, and (3) your CBBT security form to: Roberta Kellam, Birding Eastern Shore, PO Box 193, Franktown, VA 23354. Download your CBBT security form here: https://www.cbbt.com/birding/ – print it out and send it as described above.
SAVE THE DATES FOR THE 2025 CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS
1. Wachapreague, Sunday, December 14: Compiler Mario Balitbit, mariobalitbit@gmail.com
2. Nassawadox, Saturday, December 20: Compiler Joette Borzik, vabirdmom@gmail.com
3. Chincoteague, Sunday, December 28: Compiler Kevin Holcomb, kevin_holcomb@fws.gov
4. Cape Charles, Tuesday, December 30: Compiler Ellison Orcutt, Mr.ellyo@gmail.com
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You would have to be a complete idiot to walk around with a tie around your neck in the first…
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The Eastern Shore is very easy to see on that ugly necktie.
Good overview and clear summary. Do you know if the commission provided regional breakdowns of the quota cuts and how…