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Photo credits: Anonymous photographers.
Welcome to the BBC Website!
Our website is loaded with current 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 current 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.
Find a BBC chapter or a BBC affiliate in your area!
BBC members are also affiliated with both WV Audubon Chapters ~ Mountaineer and Potomac Valley
BBC members are also affiliated with both WV Audubon Chapters ~ Mountaineer and Potomac Valley
Let's Go Birding!
Newsletter ~ Journal
We have all of The Redstarts available on our website for reading, reference and research (1933 - current issue).
WV Bird Records Committee
Printable 2022 WV Bird Checklist available here!
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 mating starts in late August with egg-laying from September - November or until the first killing freeze. Hatching begins in May, so smash those eggs before they hatch! Learn how to scout for those egg cases. Learn your Wildflowers
WV Bird Banding Station re-opened!The Allegheny Front Migratory Observatory (AFMO) reopened in the fall 2023 after a short hiatus. AFMO is located across from the Red Creek Campground in the Dolly Sods Wilderness.
The AFMO banding station typically opens the last weekend of August. Once opened, it will be in operation seven days a week through the first week of October (weather permitting). Banding takes place in the mornings, generally from dawn to noon. Neotropical MigrantsBird 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! WV Wild Yards ProgramLearn how to get your West Virginia yard officially certified through the WV Backyard Habitat Certification Program.
Wild Yards Manual ~ Apply Online ~ Printable Application 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)
AFMO banding station season will be closing soon! The AFMO banding station typically opens the last weekend of August. Once opened, it will be in operation seven days a week through the first week of October (weather permitting). Banding takes place in the mornings, generally from dawn to noon.
To learn more about the banding station history, past seasonal data, or donate, go to our AFMO Page.
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.
Bird Tongues
BBC Helping Chimney SwiftsThe BBC funded construction of Chimney Swift (CHSW) towers in WV. Learn about The BBC Chimney Swift Project!
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! WV Butterfly HouseThe Schrader Environmental Education Center (SEEC) is constructing a premier butterfly enclosure in WV next to the SEEC in Wheeling's Oglebay Park.
If you are interested in helping with funding, or being involved on this wonderful project, please contact the SEEC Director Ramsey Core [email protected] 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. Past Events |
2024 ~ Upcoming Special EventsThe 2024 BBC Calendar of Events has many new outings and events recently posted!
2024 BBC Bird Banding at AFMO! Bird banding will begin in late August at the Allegheny Front Migratory Observatory (AFMO). 2024 BBC Fall Retreat Weekend The 2024 BBC Fall Weekend will be October 18th - 20th at Tygart Lake State Park. The Friday and Saturday night speakers will be Cynthia Mullens and Orion Metheny. Come enjoy a weekend of interesting programs, birding, and fellowship with the beautiful background of fall colors. Learn more or sign up online. Canaan/Blackwater Area Outings/EventsCanaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Saturdays, Sept. 14th and Oct. 12th, 2024. Meet at 8am at the Beall parking lot off Cortland Road. Bird/nature walk: An easy 2–3-mile stroll on packed trails. Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, 6PM, Canaan Valley NWR Visitor Center, Saturday night lecture: “Primeval Baths: Bison in WV” with Dr. Melissa Thomas-Van Gundy. Blackwater Falls State Park Astronomy Weekend Sept. 12th - 14th, 2024. Kanawha Valley Astronomical Society annual meeting, and many events are open to the public. Saturday, Oct. 5th, 2024. Meet at 8am at the Park's Nature Center for a nature walk. Nature walks are an easy 1–2-mile stroll on pavement and packed trails. Visit the BWF State Park Foundation’s page at WVSPF.org for more activities from spiders to trees to bears. For information about current outings & events check out these links Canaan Valley NWR ~ Blackwater Falls State Park. Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge Newsletter
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 Events55th Annual Nature Wonder Weekend
North Bend State Park September 20th - 22nd. Grow your bond with nature in West Virginia at the 55th Annual Nature Wonder Weekend, hosted by the National Wild Foods Association. At this event, you’ll learn how to identify and forage wild edible foods and prepare them after they are harvested. Each participant must be registered to participate in weekend activities. BBC Bonus Birding Weekend The BBC will be offering a Bonus Birding Weekend at Blackwater Falls State Park August 30th - September 2nd. Learn more here and on our Calendar of Events. 2024 BBC July Bonus Bird Weekend The Brooks Bird Club is having a Bonus Bird Weekend at the Cranberry Mountain Lodge in Hillsboro, WV. July 4th -7th. BBC July BBW details! Dr Tom Pauly presents 'Cheat Mountain Salamander' Dr. Tom Pauley has been studying amphibians and reptiles in West Virginia since 1966. His major research species in high elevations is the Cheat Mountain Salamander (Plethodon nettingi), surveying over 1,300 sites. MORE INFO HERE Canaan NWR Visitor Center. Tuesday July 2nd, 6:30 PM 2024 Brooks Bird Club Nature Foray The BBC 83rd Annual Nature Foray June 15th ~ 22nd. Learn all about this year's 2024 Nature Foray. To sign up online go to our Nature Foray application page. 2024 WV Mountain Bird Discovery Weekend The WV Mountain Bird Discovery Weekend at Blackwater Falls State Park will take place May 31st – June 2nd. Learn more about this exciting weekend, 2024 MBDW. 2024 Ralph K. Bell Memorial Walk Saturday May 25th was the annual Ralph K. Bell Farm outing. Long time BBC member Ralph Bell led this annual walk for more than 50 years before his passing in May of 2014 at the age of 99! The Ralph Bell Bird Club of Greene County continues to lead the walk every May, along with Bell family members, in honor of Ralph and his love of birds. The walk started at the Bell family farm in Jefferson PA. 2024 WV Wildflower Pilgrimage The 62nd Annual WV Wildflower Pilgrimage was held Mother's Day weekend May 9th ~ 12th. To learn all about this year's tours go to our WV WFP Page! National Audubon Society's 124th Christmas Bird Count Christmas Bird Counts (CBC) are conducted throughout the Western Hemisphere. West Virginia currently conducts twenty-two counts in 24 counties, that's more CBC circles than we ever had historically in WV! Thank you to all our dedicated CBC compilers and participants. The 124th CBC ~ WV final reports are now posted! Map of the WV Christmas Bird Count Circles. NAS CBC is the longest running avian censes in the world!
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! Just click the donate button above! WV Second Breeding Bird Atlas
The WV Second Breeding Bird Atlas is now available!
The WV atlas features information on 170 bird species. BBC members are eligible for a 30% discount on the atlas. 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 2nd Atlas possible. Fall!Shorebirds, songbirds and hawks are heading southward. Visit a banding station and a hawk watch.
Brush up on your migrating birds, download the Merlin app it's from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and it's free! In June 2021, the Cornell Lab added the bird sound identifier! Have you renewed your BBC membership? Join or renew your BBC Membership here on the website! The new 2024 - 2025 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.
Rare 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 Bird Records Committee page also includes: The submitted rare bird reports submitted yearly to the WV Bird Records Committee. Recently submitted reports. To see past reports submitted, go to the WVBRC Archives Page.
Some of the rare birds seen in WV!
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. |
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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 a Northern Pintail, is available now! Read more about them & buy yours HERE. |
2024-2025 Federal Duck Stamp, featuring a Northern Pintail painted by artist Chuck Black.
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