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Photo credits: Anonymous photographers.
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 have all of The Redstarts available on our website for reading, reference and research (1933 - current issue).
Report Spotted Lanternflies!West Virginians should continue to be on the lookout for a new invasive insect pest, the spotted lanternfly. Learn more.
Spotted lanternfly will be hatching soon, smash those eggs! Learn how to scout for those eggs cases. Learn your WildflowersWV Bird Banding Station to re-openThe Allegheny Front Migratory Observatory (AFMO), located across from the Red Creek Campground on Dolly Sods, is reopening this August 2023. AFMO station is now OPEN.
BBC Helping Chimney SwiftsThe BBC funding construction of Chimney Swift (CHSW) towers. Learn about The BBC Chimney Swift Project!
Bird NoteBird Note ~ Stories about birds, the environment and more!
Bird FeedersLearn about different types of seed and how they attract birds and 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" Bird SchoolBroaden your understanding of birds. Free premium content for all knowledge levels. Learn everything—from birding basics to comprehensive ornithology. The Cornell Lab Bird Academy
Bird FeathersFinding 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)
Big changes happened in 2022 for the AFMO banding station. The station reopened in August 2023. AFMO banding station now OPEN! The BBC now oversees the AFMO banding station. If you would like to contribute to the banding station and its continued success, you can by donating to our new BBC AFMO Fund. To learn more about the banding station history and to see some of the past seasonal data, go to AFMO Data. 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 MAPS Banding Program: (MAPS) Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship 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 the MAPS link above to learn more about this bird banding program. Alpha Bird 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
Please protect clean air, clean water, and public health and conserve working farms, forests, and natural lands here in WV.
Past EventsTo see past events that our BBC members enjoyed, click below!
Past events by year: 2023 ~ 2020 ~ 2019 ~ 2018 ~ 2017 ~ 2016 Past BBC Homepage Articles with Links. Archives BooksThroughout 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. WV Christmas Bird CountsThousands of CBC's are conducted over the Western Hemisphere. Locally here in WV, we now have twenty-two counts located in various counties throughout the state.
See the map of our WV CBC Circles! To see the WV CBC results, go to our WV CBC Results page. The NAS CBC is the longest running bird census on the planet! Neotropical MigrantsBird Tongues
Now more than ever, we all need to be involved in conservation in one form or another. Whether it's helping on a Christmas Bird Count, the Breeding Bird Survey or just counting birds at your feeders for The Great Backyard Bird Count.
You can make a difference... Please help where you can! |
2023 ~ Upcoming Special Events2023 WV Bird Banding at AFMO!
The Allegheny Front Migratory Observatory (AFMO) is located in the Monongahela National Forest in Grant County WV. The banding station is across from the Red Creek Campground on Forest Road 75 in the Dolly Sods Wilderness. The station has reopened this August 2023! AFMO banding station now OPEN! The BBC now oversees the AFMO banding station. If you would like to contribute to the banding station and its continued success, you can by donating to our new
2023 BBC Fall Retreat at Chief Logan State Park!
The Brooks Bird Club's annual Fall Retreat will be held this coming fall at Chief Logan State Park, October 20th - 22nd. Reservation deadline is September 29, 2023 For more information and to sign up online go to our 2023 BBC Fall Retreat Page! 2023 Eastern Shore Trip by Cindy Slater Cindy Slater's Eastern Shore Trip will be November 8th - 12th. For more information go to our Eastern Shore Page. Reservation deadline is October 28th, 2023 WV Butterfly HouseThe Schrader Environmental Education Center (SEEC) is constructing a premier butterfly enclosure in WV next to the SEEC in Oglebay Park, Wheeling.
If you are interested in helping with funding, or being involved on this wonderful project, please contact the acting SEEC Director Joelle Bensie jbensie@oionline.com or 304-242-6855 Butterflies' native to WV will be raised and released within the enclosure. After the construction is completed Lepidoptera programs geared to all ages will ensue. Native plants for caterpillars and butterflies of West Virginia. Gardeners Wanted! The SEEC is looking for volunteer gardeners of all ages and skill levels to help with the plantings in the butterfly garden 304-242-6855. You can help migratory birds! Create habitat and provide food sources by planting native trees, shrubs and flowering plants; leave snag trees as potential nesting sites.
Recent Past EventsBBC Labor Day Birding Weekend at Terra Alta
The Brooks Bird Club is having a Bonus Bird Weekend in Terra Alta WV September 1st - 4th. The first 90 years of the BBC! The history of the Brooks Bird Clubs first ninety years will be presented by BBC President Ryan Tomazin Tuesday, July 25th, 2023, at the WVU Core Arboretum amphitheater. 2023 Mountain Nature Camp! Oglebay Institute's Mountain Nature Camp (MNC) was held June 18th ~ 24th. Based in Terra Alta WV, this camp for adult nature enthusiasts has been running for over 90 years! Go to our MNC page to learn more about this wonderful event! 2023 BBC Nature Foray! The BBC 2023 Foray was held June 2nd - 10th. We will be based at Camp Horseshoe in Tucker County WV. Foray speakers announced. The 59th WV Wildflower Pilgrimage 2023: The West Virginia Wildflower Pilgrimage May 11th ~ 14th. To learn about this wonderful event or to register go to our WV Wildflower Pilgrimage Page! New: WVWP Friday and Saturday tours. The National Audubon Society's Christmas Bird Count Was held from December 14th - January 5th. Learn More: Go to our WV CBC Page to find all the details about where our Christmas Bird Counts are conducted. Recent WV CBC Data Page ~ Archived WV CBC Data Page. NEW: Map of all the WV Christmas Bird Count Circles! We now have 22 Christmas Bird Count circles in West Virginia, that's more CBC circles than we ever had historically in WV! Thank you to all our dedicated CBC compilers and participants. WV Second Breeding Bird AtlasThe WV Second Breeding Bird Atlas is finally completed and published, book orders are now available on Amazon.
The atlas features information on 170 bird species. All BBC members are eligible for a 30% discount on the atlas! This 30% BBC membership discount is on a first come first served basis, for up to 200 members. One discounted copy per member please. For your discount code, contact the webmaster. After receiving your code, order your copy here. Thanks to all the volunteers who made the Atlas possible. FallBrush up on your migrating birds, download the Merlin app it's from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, it's free!
In June 2021, the Cornell Lab added the bird sound identifier! Neotropical migrants are on the move south! Fall wildflowers are starting to bloom! Learn your Wildflowers. WV Spring Wildflowers WV Mid -Summer Wildflowers WV Wildflower Trails Have you renewed your BBC membership? Join or renew your BBC Membership here on the website! The new 2023 - 2024 Federal Duck Stamp is now available! For more information go to the bottom of our Home Page! *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 InterestMonongahela National Forest: Designated Wilderness Areas
WV Christmas Bird Count Results: Want to know what species were found, and how many birds were counted here in WV? Check out our WV CBC Archives page! West Virginia eBird: Explore current WV eBird data. WV Nature Conservancy: Learn about the Nature Conservancy's West Virginia Protected Preserves and Landscapes. WV Natural Area: The Forks of Coal Natural Area. Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge: Visit the new Canaan Valley NWR visitor center! WV Hiking: Many WV State Parks have organized hiking events. Get out and enjoy all that our parks have to offer! 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. Sorry our Birding Guide to WV is currently sold out. WV Rare Bird SpeciesRare birds are found in West Virginia every year.
If you see a bird that you believe is not normally seen in WV, take photos if possible, make notes on what you see and hear, call other friends/birders, and let others know quickly. Then report it to the WV Bird Records Committee. 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 on the WV Review List here! Download a Rare Bird Report Form here on our website. The WV Records page also includes: The list of submitted rare bird reports that the WV Bird Records Committee received and voted on in 2021. Updated 3/05/21 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 2023-2024 duck stamp featuring Tundra Swans, is available now! Read more about them & buy yours here. |
2023-2024 Federal Duck Stamp, featuring Tundra Swans painted by artist Joseph Hautman.
Used with permission by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Used with permission by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
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