2017 BBC Past Events
Here are some of the BBC and non-BBC events, that took place in 2017 that various BBC members enjoyed.
2016-17 Christmas Bird Count Data:
*The WV 2016-17 CBC results are in, to see what birds were found and how many were tallied, go to our WV CBC Results.
Data from the 2015-16 season can be found on the same page.
The total analysis of the 2017 WV CBC data.
Thanks to all of our WV CBC compilers for your hard work organizing and thanks to all of the participants that came out to help!
Winter Eagle Surveys 2017:
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.
Here are the results of the January BNC survey.
Here are the results of the March BNC survey.
Here are the results of the January MBC survey.
You can find out more about the BBC Chapters and Affiliates by clicking the "Associations" button.
The Great Back Yard Bird Count (GBBC) 2017:
The count is complete for this year. The GBBC was February 17th - 20th.. Please enter your data as soon as possible GBBC.
BBC Early Spring Meeting 2017:
Field trips, keynote speakers, great food and accommodations!
The Brooks Bird Club Early Spring Meeting is March 3rd-5th.
The BBC 2017 Early Spring Meeting will be at North Bend State Park in Cairo WV.
The event starts on Friday March 3rd and runs through Sunday the 5th. Check in time on Friday starts at 3:00pm.
Friday night events start with dinner at 6:30 pm. The Friday night program will be all about the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy and will be presented by BBC member Cindy Ellis.
Saturday will begin with an early hot breakfast. Field trips will set out at 9:00am., there will be a choice of trips including one going to several of the Ohio River hotspots for waterfowl and the Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge.
Saturday evening activities will begin with our dinner banquet around 6:30pm.
The Saturday night program is titled "Vultures" and will be presented by author Katie Fallon and is based on her new book.
Sunday will begin with a hot breakfast, a membership meeting, more socializing, then a nice lunch to finish off the weekend.
Wildlife Diversity Conference 2017 March 7th:
This event is sponsored by Ohio DNR and is held in Columbus Ohio. Learn more about the Wildlife Diversity Conference 2017
Killbuck Marsh Field Trip 2017 March 9th-10th:
This event is being organized by the Mountwood Bird Club. Killbuck Marsh is located in northeastern OH.
BBC Seneca Lake Outing 2017 March 11th:
Trip Report:
What a great day at Seneca Lake! Scott and Janice Emrick, Larry Helgerman, and Ryan Tomazin braved the cold sunny weather and found 18 species of ducks, including 7 Black Scoters! There were hundreds of Red-breasted Mergansers, many Ruddy Ducks, Ring-necked Ducks, Gadwall, and Scaup. Pied-billed and Horned Grebes were present, as well as a couple Bald Eagles that soared overhead. Many Tree Swallows were seen flying over the lake, an Eastern Phoebe was also found, so spring is near. We enjoyed our lunch at a picnic table in the sun despite the cold! Over 50 species were found. Note: many trees are being removed by the campground/lake area for an upcoming project.
Enlow Fork Ecology Extravaganza 2017 April 30th:
Come and enjoy spring wildflowers and spring migrants in this hidden area of Greene County PA. This long running event features a 8:00 a.m. bird walk and a 10:00 a.m. flower walk.
Enlow Fork is the headwaters of Big Wheeling Creek. GPS coordinates are on our Calendar of Events.
WV Wildflower Pilgrimage 2017 May 4th-7th:
This event is sponsored by WV DNR and the WV Garden Club.
Learn more about the WV Wildflower Pilgrimage.
International Migratory Bird Day 2017 May 13th:
Learn more about International Migratory Bird Day.
Contact your local county compiler for more information.
Ralph K. Bell Memorial Bird Walk 2017 May 20th:
Former BBC member Ralph Bell held an annual spring bird walk at his farm in Greene County PA for over 50 years. Since his passing in 2014 the tradition continues as a memorial to Ralph. Event details can be found on our Calendar of Events.
WV Birding Festival 2017:
The 2017 Canaan Birding Festival runs June 1st-4th.
Check out the festival schedule.
Brooks Bird Club 78th Annual Foray:
The Brooks Bird Club announces their 78th annual Foray to be held at the Lost River Retreat in Hardy County WV. The Foray will begin on Friday June 9th and ends Saturday June 17th.
For more information about the 2017 Foray.
Legendary Birder Passes:
Long time BBC member, legendary birder and avian champion Chandler S. Robbins passes at 98.
Chan contributed greatly to the field of ornithology. Even after retiring from the USGS, he continued to be actively involved in avian conservation his entire life.
Chan will not only be missed by all the BBC members that knew him but by countless people from all over the world who knew of his work, accomplishments and him personally.
We will miss you Chan...
Memorial Service will be held June 23rd 2017 at the National Wildlife Visitor Center at the Patuxent Research Center.
Mountain Nature Camp 2017 June 18th -24th:
Mountain Nature Camp (MNC) is sponsored by the Brooks Bird Club this year. The MNC is located in Terra Alta WV.
Learn more about MNC and its history.
Breeding Bird Surveys:
June is the month for Breeding Bird Surveys (BBS).
BBS routes are 25 miles long, surveyors stop every half mile along the route (50 stops), take a three minute survey of all birds seen and heard at the stop. Learn more about the BBS Survey.
The Breeding Bird Survey is run by the USGS.
2017 Total Solar Eclipse: On Monday August 21st there was a total solar eclipse learn more from NASA.
Learn about our breeding Warblers and Vireos.
WV Highlands Conservancy 50th Anniversary:
Come celebrate the WV Highlands Conservancy's 50th anniversary at Canaan Valley State Park September 15th-17th.
Three days of non-stop events; outings, field trips, workshops, music, food and more.
Here's more information about the WVHC 50th Anniversary!
2017 Big Sit!
The Big Sit will be the weekend of October 7th and 8th.
So far two of the BBC affiliates the Bibbee Nature Club and Mountwood Bird Club have events planned.
Find out where they will be sitting on our Calendar of Events page. Join in the fun, sit down and bird!
Learn more about the Big Sit. Here's he Rules.
Brooks Bird Club 85th Anniversary:
The BBC will be celebrating its 85 anniversary at Oglebay Park in Wheeling WV. National keynote speakers also bird and nature related events. Speakers will include Bill Thompson III and Lang Elliot. Learn more about the BBC 85th Anniversary.
2017 BBC Eastern Shore Trip: November 8th -12th
Barnegat Lighthouse and other areas of interest on Long Beach Island. Stops at Brigantine and Edwin B. Forsythe Wildlife Refuge; the Avalon Sea Watch; Cape May and Rehoboth Beach. For more information check out the 2017 Eastern Shore Trip.
Bird Banding ~ Dolly Sods: September - October
Bird Banding ~ Northern Saw-whet Owls: October - November
The 2017 Northern Saw-whet Owl (NSWO) bird banding season will begin in October. BBC member Joey Herron will be banding NSWO at Valley Falls State Park through early November. Learn about NSWO banding in WV.
118th Christmas Bird Count:
The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) season runs December 14th - January 5th.
We have 20 CBC's in West Virginia that can use your help! Christmas Bird Counts are easy and don't require past CBC experience. We have great CBC compilers who run each count who can help you with all the details or questions you may have.
One of the ways you can participate is by counting the birds at your feeders or in your yard or farm, if you live in a count circle.
We just need birders to come out, have fun and find all the birds they can! Learn all about our WV Christmas Bird Counts - where they are and how you can help.
*The WV 2016-17 CBC results are in, to see what birds were found and how many were tallied, go to our WV CBC Results.
Data from the 2015-16 season can be found on the same page.
The total analysis of the 2017 WV CBC data.
Thanks to all of our WV CBC compilers for your hard work organizing and thanks to all of the participants that came out to help!
Winter Eagle Surveys 2017:
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.
Here are the results of the January BNC survey.
Here are the results of the March BNC survey.
Here are the results of the January MBC survey.
You can find out more about the BBC Chapters and Affiliates by clicking the "Associations" button.
The Great Back Yard Bird Count (GBBC) 2017:
The count is complete for this year. The GBBC was February 17th - 20th.. Please enter your data as soon as possible GBBC.
BBC Early Spring Meeting 2017:
Field trips, keynote speakers, great food and accommodations!
The Brooks Bird Club Early Spring Meeting is March 3rd-5th.
The BBC 2017 Early Spring Meeting will be at North Bend State Park in Cairo WV.
The event starts on Friday March 3rd and runs through Sunday the 5th. Check in time on Friday starts at 3:00pm.
Friday night events start with dinner at 6:30 pm. The Friday night program will be all about the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy and will be presented by BBC member Cindy Ellis.
Saturday will begin with an early hot breakfast. Field trips will set out at 9:00am., there will be a choice of trips including one going to several of the Ohio River hotspots for waterfowl and the Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge.
Saturday evening activities will begin with our dinner banquet around 6:30pm.
The Saturday night program is titled "Vultures" and will be presented by author Katie Fallon and is based on her new book.
Sunday will begin with a hot breakfast, a membership meeting, more socializing, then a nice lunch to finish off the weekend.
Wildlife Diversity Conference 2017 March 7th:
This event is sponsored by Ohio DNR and is held in Columbus Ohio. Learn more about the Wildlife Diversity Conference 2017
Killbuck Marsh Field Trip 2017 March 9th-10th:
This event is being organized by the Mountwood Bird Club. Killbuck Marsh is located in northeastern OH.
BBC Seneca Lake Outing 2017 March 11th:
Trip Report:
What a great day at Seneca Lake! Scott and Janice Emrick, Larry Helgerman, and Ryan Tomazin braved the cold sunny weather and found 18 species of ducks, including 7 Black Scoters! There were hundreds of Red-breasted Mergansers, many Ruddy Ducks, Ring-necked Ducks, Gadwall, and Scaup. Pied-billed and Horned Grebes were present, as well as a couple Bald Eagles that soared overhead. Many Tree Swallows were seen flying over the lake, an Eastern Phoebe was also found, so spring is near. We enjoyed our lunch at a picnic table in the sun despite the cold! Over 50 species were found. Note: many trees are being removed by the campground/lake area for an upcoming project.
Enlow Fork Ecology Extravaganza 2017 April 30th:
Come and enjoy spring wildflowers and spring migrants in this hidden area of Greene County PA. This long running event features a 8:00 a.m. bird walk and a 10:00 a.m. flower walk.
Enlow Fork is the headwaters of Big Wheeling Creek. GPS coordinates are on our Calendar of Events.
WV Wildflower Pilgrimage 2017 May 4th-7th:
This event is sponsored by WV DNR and the WV Garden Club.
Learn more about the WV Wildflower Pilgrimage.
International Migratory Bird Day 2017 May 13th:
Learn more about International Migratory Bird Day.
Contact your local county compiler for more information.
Ralph K. Bell Memorial Bird Walk 2017 May 20th:
Former BBC member Ralph Bell held an annual spring bird walk at his farm in Greene County PA for over 50 years. Since his passing in 2014 the tradition continues as a memorial to Ralph. Event details can be found on our Calendar of Events.
WV Birding Festival 2017:
The 2017 Canaan Birding Festival runs June 1st-4th.
Check out the festival schedule.
Brooks Bird Club 78th Annual Foray:
The Brooks Bird Club announces their 78th annual Foray to be held at the Lost River Retreat in Hardy County WV. The Foray will begin on Friday June 9th and ends Saturday June 17th.
For more information about the 2017 Foray.
Legendary Birder Passes:
Long time BBC member, legendary birder and avian champion Chandler S. Robbins passes at 98.
Chan contributed greatly to the field of ornithology. Even after retiring from the USGS, he continued to be actively involved in avian conservation his entire life.
Chan will not only be missed by all the BBC members that knew him but by countless people from all over the world who knew of his work, accomplishments and him personally.
We will miss you Chan...
Memorial Service will be held June 23rd 2017 at the National Wildlife Visitor Center at the Patuxent Research Center.
Mountain Nature Camp 2017 June 18th -24th:
Mountain Nature Camp (MNC) is sponsored by the Brooks Bird Club this year. The MNC is located in Terra Alta WV.
Learn more about MNC and its history.
Breeding Bird Surveys:
June is the month for Breeding Bird Surveys (BBS).
BBS routes are 25 miles long, surveyors stop every half mile along the route (50 stops), take a three minute survey of all birds seen and heard at the stop. Learn more about the BBS Survey.
The Breeding Bird Survey is run by the USGS.
2017 Total Solar Eclipse: On Monday August 21st there was a total solar eclipse learn more from NASA.
Learn about our breeding Warblers and Vireos.
WV Highlands Conservancy 50th Anniversary:
Come celebrate the WV Highlands Conservancy's 50th anniversary at Canaan Valley State Park September 15th-17th.
Three days of non-stop events; outings, field trips, workshops, music, food and more.
Here's more information about the WVHC 50th Anniversary!
2017 Big Sit!
The Big Sit will be the weekend of October 7th and 8th.
So far two of the BBC affiliates the Bibbee Nature Club and Mountwood Bird Club have events planned.
Find out where they will be sitting on our Calendar of Events page. Join in the fun, sit down and bird!
Learn more about the Big Sit. Here's he Rules.
Brooks Bird Club 85th Anniversary:
The BBC will be celebrating its 85 anniversary at Oglebay Park in Wheeling WV. National keynote speakers also bird and nature related events. Speakers will include Bill Thompson III and Lang Elliot. Learn more about the BBC 85th Anniversary.
2017 BBC Eastern Shore Trip: November 8th -12th
Barnegat Lighthouse and other areas of interest on Long Beach Island. Stops at Brigantine and Edwin B. Forsythe Wildlife Refuge; the Avalon Sea Watch; Cape May and Rehoboth Beach. For more information check out the 2017 Eastern Shore Trip.
Bird Banding ~ Dolly Sods: September - October
Bird Banding ~ Northern Saw-whet Owls: October - November
The 2017 Northern Saw-whet Owl (NSWO) bird banding season will begin in October. BBC member Joey Herron will be banding NSWO at Valley Falls State Park through early November. Learn about NSWO banding in WV.
118th Christmas Bird Count:
The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) season runs December 14th - January 5th.
We have 20 CBC's in West Virginia that can use your help! Christmas Bird Counts are easy and don't require past CBC experience. We have great CBC compilers who run each count who can help you with all the details or questions you may have.
One of the ways you can participate is by counting the birds at your feeders or in your yard or farm, if you live in a count circle.
We just need birders to come out, have fun and find all the birds they can! Learn all about our WV Christmas Bird Counts - where they are and how you can help.