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Photo credits: Neal J. Hohman, Matt Orsie and Jim Triplet
Welcome to the BBC Website!
Our website is loaded with present and past information about the Brooks Bird Club, birds & nature, and birding in West Virginia!
Please use the dropdown tabs above for event information, photos, books, checklists, chapters, affiliates and so much more!
Our website is loaded with present and past information about the Brooks Bird Club, birds & nature, and birding in West Virginia!
Please use the dropdown tabs above for event information, photos, books, checklists, chapters, affiliates and so much more!
What is the Brooks Bird Club?
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The club symbol is the American Redstart. The male Redstart is a black and orange wood warbler. American Redstarts migrate from South America to nest in West Virginia and other surrounding states. The male sings a beautiful high pitched variable song.
Let's Go Birding!
Newsletter ~ Journal
We now have all 85 years (1933 - 2018) of The Redstart available on our website for reading, reference and research.
BBC Helping Chimney SwiftsThe BBC is funding the construction of five Chimney Swift (CHSW) towers. Learn about The BBC Chimney Swift Project!
Make your own SuetFall and winter is a great time to put out suet for birds such as woodpeckers, wrens, chickadees, nuthatches, and titmice.
Find out how to make your own suet on our Feed the Birds Page! Create your own Wildlife Sanctuary!Did you know the BBC has a Wildlife Sanctuary program?
Learn how to have your own personal Wildlife Sanctuary! WV conservation begins with you.
You can make a difference... Please help where you can! Wanted: Birders!The Brooks Bird Club is always looking for new birders.
Are you new to birding? Do you enjoy the outdoors and nature? Have you been watching and enjoying birds for years? Come join us, we cater to all nature enthusiasts! Already a BBC Member? Now it's easier than ever to renew your membership or become our newest member, just click "How to Join" John James Audubon PrintsJohn James Audubon's Birds of America is a portal into the natural world. Printed between 1827 and 1838. Nearly 200 years later, the Audubon prints are coming to life once again, thanks to a vibrant digital library. Get your Audubon Prints.
Each print is available as a free high-resolution download. Bird School
Broaden your understanding of birds. Free premium content for all knowledge levels. Learn everything—from birding basics to comprehensive ornithology. The Cornell Lab Bird Academy
New: Be a better birder! Warbler Identification Course Bird Feathers
Finding a feather always sparks interest. What bird was it from?
Learn about feather forensics, check out the Feather Atlas! WV Bird Banding StationsAllegheny Front Migratory Observatory: (AFMO)
To learn more about the banding station history and the seasonal data, click on the AFMO link above. The 2018 Allegheny Front data is posted. Northern Saw-whet Owl Bird Banding: (NSWO) To see photos and the seasonal data from the Valley Falls State Park banding station, click on the NSWO link above. The 2018 Valley Falls data is posted. The MAPS Banding Program: (MAPS) The MAPS program is a continent-wide collaborative effort to assist the conservation of birds and their habitats through demographic monitoring. Since 1989, more than 1,200 MAPS stations were started across North America. We currently have 3 stations in West Virginia. Click on MAPS link to learn more. Alpha Codes: What are Alpha Codes? It's the 4 or 6 letter code for all birds. Alpha Codes by common name or taxonomic order. WV State ParksThe state parks here in WV are a great place to find birds and explore nature. Explore all the West Virginia State Parks
Past EventsTo see past events that our BBC members enjoyed, click below!
Past events by year: 2018 ~ 2017 ~ 2016 Past BBC Homepage Articles with Links. Archives Neotropical MigrantsBooksThroughout the history of the Brooks Bird Club a number of our members have written or co-written nature related books.
Here are a few recent books that are available. |
2019 ~ Upcoming Special EventsWinter Eagle Surveys 2019:
Two of the BBC affiliates, The Bibbee Nature Club (BNC) and The Mountwood Bird Club (MBC) are conducting Winter Eagle Surveys in January and March. The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) 2019: The 22st annual GBBC will be held Friday, February 15, through Monday, February 18, 2019. Brooks Bird Club Early Spring Meeting 2019: The BBC Early Spring Meeting will be March 8th ~ 10th We will be based at North Bend State Park again this year. Speakers for the weekend will be, Cullen Hanks from the Cornell Lab, plus naturalist and photographer Jim McCormac! To learn about our speakers, evening programs, and field trips, go to our Early Spring Meeting Page. You can sign up for this event on our website. It's EASY! Deadline to sign up was January 31st. For a possible late submission contact Dick Esker. WV Wildflower Pilgrimage 2019: The 58th WV Wildflower Pilgrimage will be May 9th-12th. Learn all about this wonderful event here! FebruaryAs the cold weather freezes the northern Great Lakes, watch for more diving ducks and rarer gulls on our lakes and rivers.
Great Horned Owls are on the nest! Look for Red-breasted Nuthatch and Evening Grosbeaks. Winter raptors: Check out open grasslands and reclaimed strip mined areas for Northern Harriers, Rough-legged Hawks, and Short-eared Owls. Along with Bald Eagles, a few Golden Eagles winter here in WV. Watch closely for an eagle flying with wings in a slight dihedral (upward angle). Spring will be here before you know it, get ready for all those warblers! Download the Merlin app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, it's free! Have you renewed your BBC membership yet? Join or renew your BBC Membership here on the website! *Our Redstart Editor Casey Rucker is always looking for interesting observations. It's always a great time to get out and observe nature. Write a nature related article for The Redstart. Bird Nest Boxes and StructuresHere's a great year-round project from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Learn how to make perfect nest boxes & structures.
Just pick the bird species you're interested in and the Cornell Lab will give you the building plans. The information includes how and where to place the bird box/structure to be successful! Other Items of InterestFull Moon: February 19th ~ New Moon: March 6th
WV Christmas Bird Count Results: Want to know what birds were seen and how many birds were found last season in WV? Check out our WV CBC Results Page! West Virginia eBird: Explore current WV eBird data. Mountain Nature Camp: MNC is Oglebay Institutes nature camp established in 1929 for adults, located in Terra Alta WV. MNC will be celebrating its 90th anniversary next year! Learn about Mountain Nature Camp Oglebay Nature News: The Schrader Environmental Education Center (Oglebay Park) Fall Newsletter 2018 ~ Just released Winter Newsletter 2018 WV Nature Conservancy: Learn about the Nature Conservancy's West Virginia Protected Preserves and Landscapes. Monongahela National Forest: Designated Wilderness Areas WV Natural Area: The Forks of Coal Natural Area. Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge: The Canaan Valley NWR has programs and outings year round! WV Hiking: Many WV State Parks have organized hiking events. Get out and enjoy all that our parks have to offer! WV Christmas Bird Count Results: Want to know what birds were seen and how many birds were found last season in WV? Check out our WV CBC Results Page! Looking for new places to bird in WV? Check the WVDNR list. You can also buy our Birding Guide to WV here on our website! Birding for Beginner's Are you a new birder? Do you want to learn more about birding? We have a new page dedicated to you, it was suggested by a young student who found it while working on a bird migration project. The page is loaded with information for new birders of all ages! Here it is Birding for Beginner's thanks to Hayley!
WV Rare Bird SpeciesRare birds are often found in West Virginia.
If you see a bird that is not normally found in WV report it to the WV Bird Records Committee. Get a picture, take notes on what you see and hear, call other birders and let others know quickly. Rare birds are defined as birds never or rarely seen in the state. Keep updated of rare birds being reported in WV, learn what birds are on the WV state list and check out the review list here! Download a Rare Bird report form here on our website. The WV Records page also includes: The list of submitted reports that the WV Bird Records Committee voted on in 2017. To see past reports submitted, go to the WVBRC Archives Page.
Some of the rare birds seen in WV!
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Are you planning a bird or nature related outing? Let us know and we will post it on our Calendar of Events or Home Page.
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Federal Duck StampSupport bird habitat conservation! The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offers Duck Stamps for purchase. 98% of the price goes towards the National Wildlife Refuge Service.
The new 2018-2019 Mallards stamp is available now! Read more about them & buy yours here. |
2018-2019 Federal Duck Stamp, featuring a pair of mallards, art by Robert Hautman of Delano, Minnesota. Credit: USFWS
Birding is Year Round!
Winter: Check out the rivers, lakes and ponds. Look for waterfowl and gulls. Help on a Christmas Bird Count.
Spring: Look for returning swallows, warblers, flycatchers, orioles and other birds migrating north.
Summer: Breeding birds are everywhere, look for nests and fledglings. Shorebirds begin migrating south.
Fall: The southward migration; look for shorebirds, songbirds and hawks. Visit a banding station and a hawk watch.
Spring: Look for returning swallows, warblers, flycatchers, orioles and other birds migrating north.
Summer: Breeding birds are everywhere, look for nests and fledglings. Shorebirds begin migrating south.
Fall: The southward migration; look for shorebirds, songbirds and hawks. Visit a banding station and a hawk watch.
~ Wheeling-Charleston-Parkersburg-Pipestem-Marlinton and beyond we are birding West Virginia ~
Find a BBC chapter or a BBC affiliate in your area!
BBC members are also affiliated with both local WV Audubon Chapters ~ Mountaineer and Potomac Valley
Find a BBC chapter or a BBC affiliate in your area!
BBC members are also affiliated with both local WV Audubon Chapters ~ Mountaineer and Potomac Valley