Handlan Past Events: 2023
2023 Past outings
Blackwater Falls State Park Bird Walks!
Check out the Blackwater Falls State Park bird walks that were just scheduled for 11/4 and 11/24 on the BBC calendar!
October at Meadowood Park
Meadowood Park Bird Walk with Linda R.
Thursday October 26, 2023
Meet at the visitor center parking lot at 8:30am.
October in Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge
8:00 a.m., Saturday, October 21st.
Meet in the Beall parking area, which is up Beall Lane (also called Coffman's Lane) from Cortland Drive, between Davis and the CVNWR office in Canaan Valley.
October Bird Walks with Rick Gregg & Bill Hall!
Bill and Rick are planning to lead two trips in October.
1. Thursday, October 12th at 08:30 a.m. at the Toyota Wildlife Area, Buffalo, WV.
2. Saturday, October 14th at 08:30 a.m. at the Marmet Locks, (BELLE side, not the Marmet side)
The directions & details are on the BBC Calendar!
Laura's Thursday Morning Bird Walks!
Thursday, June 29th. at 8:30am.
Hungry Beech Preserve. A couple groups visited the site in April, doing a good inventory of spring birds. Now I’d like to “re-bird” the area of summer birds, maybe see who’s got babies. Meet me at the gravel Park and Ride lot at the Mink Shoals exit (Exit 1 off I 79N, north of Charleston — the P&R is on the northwest corner of the interchange). Be prepared to share rides and/or caravan. We’ll be walking 2-3 miles in a meadow and maybe on a “remnant” forest trail that has NOT been maintained. We’ll probably be on the site 9.30 to noon, so bring snacks, water, and sunscreen, a chair if you’d like to do a “big sit” in the meadow.
HBP has been owned by The Nature Conservancy since the 1970’s, is open to the public, and has a mix of “old forest” and a ridge-top hayfield. TNC as asked for help surveying the bird species, especially those that are breeding. Below is information from the TNC website (nature.org), including maps and directions.
Also - even if you can’t join us on Thursday, I hope that you will visit the site this summer and contribute sightings on eBird (the preserve is a hotspot in eBird). TNC staff and folks from WVU treated the site in early May for autumn olive. Note the driving directions on TNC’s website are from the Clendenin exit (Exit 19 of I-79). These directions follow ridge tops and are much easier than the route that Maps, gives using the Elkview exit (#9) and involve going down a steep gravel road, a stream crossing, then up another steep road.
Thursday, June 1st. at 8:30am. Forks of Coal State Natural Area. We will be looking to add to the ebird sightings for this hotspot, especially breeding behavior for our resident birds. Check the weather before heading out and dress appropriately. Bring your binoculars, hat, sunscreen, water and snacks. Be prepared to walk 1-2 miles on pavement and dirt trails. All are welcome! Laura
Thursday, May 18, at 8.30am. Meadowood Park near Tornado. Meet at the park office/kiosk about 1/4 mile after turning onto Pettigrew Lane from Smith Creek Road. We’ll look for birds on the Coal River as well as spring migrants around the park. As always, check the weather before heading out, and dress appropriately. Bring binoculars (I’ll have a few to loan out too), sunscreen, snacks and water. Be prepared to walk 1-2 miles on pavement, dirt trails and grass. All are welcome! Laura
Many thanks for all who attended our International Migratory Bird Day yesterday at Ward Hollow in South Charleston. A highlight was 5 ducks in one single view - Canada Goose, Gadwall, Mallard, Wood Duck and Blue Wing Teal. I never appreciated how tiny those teal are, especially next to a goose! Also, a very handsome first-year Orchard Oriole and a Palm Warbler acting like a butterfly. 46 species!
53 species have been added to 8 different ebird hotspot records during our club’s Spring Count - from a turkey at Springhill Cemetery and a Philadelphia Vireo in KSF to loads of spring migrants at Polly Hollow, Rocky Ridge, Little Creek Park and Mammoth Preserve. At $2/species, that's $106 dollars to Three Rivers Avian. Thank you to those who participated. Remember to get your totals into Jim Waggy for the club’s count.
Thursday, May 11 at 8:30am. Join me at the Kanawha State Forest for 2-3 hours of birding. Drive several miles through the Forest, past the office and the campground, then drive up to the top of the ridge, park in the gravel lot on the left (turn around if you start down the hill towards Hernshaw). As always, dress appropriately for sun and or rain, and also poison ivy and ticks, etc. Bring snacks and water. We’ll walk 1-2 miles on gravel/dirt roads and trails, looking for Cerulean and Worm-eating Warblers plus tanagers. All are welcome! Laura
Saturday, April 29 - Sunday, May 14
The Handlan Chapter Spring Migration Count.
The goal is to see how many species of birds we can collectively identify during this time period.
These two weeks in May are a golden time for birders. It's a great chance to spend time outdoors and practice our birding skills.
For this count, you don't have to keep track of how many individuals, just keep track of the total species you are able to identify. All birds that you ID must be in WV.
At the end of this time period, please send me your results and I will compile our collective lists [email protected].
If you would prefer to mail your list, you can send it to 4304 Virginia Ave. SE, Charleston, WV 25304
When you send your results, you are welcome to include your complete list. Or to make it easier on you, you can assume that we will definitely have some of the most common birds (such as cardinals and robins) on the collective list, and you can send me your list of somewhat less common birds. Either way is fine. But do include a number for how many species you found in total. And for any of the hard-to-find birds that you come across, please mention where you found them (Kanawha State Forest, Greenbottom, etc.), as other bird club members will be interested in where the lesser common birds were found.
Let me know if you have any questions. Jim Waggy
Webster County Nature Tour 2023:
May 5th ~ 7th, 2023 Once again it is time to venture to the mountains of Webster County, WV for the Webster County Nature Tour. To learn more, see brochure.
The 59th WV Wildflower Pilgrimage 2023:
The West Virginia Wildflower Pilgrimage will be held this year from May 11th ~ 14th.
The Brooks Bird Club has had a long relationship with the WV Wildflower Pilgrimage. The event features numerous tour options on Friday 11th and Saturday 14th to beautiful destinations. Each tour has leaders to help identify the WV flora and fauna. In addition, some tours feature experts in geology and West Virginia natural history.
To learn more about this wonderful event go to our
WV Wildflower Pilgrimage Page! Downloadable 2023 WV WFP registration form.
This event fills up fast every year, so sign up early!
2023 BBC Nature Foray!
The BBC 2023 Foray will be held June 2nd - 10th.
We will be based at Camp Horseshoe in Tucker County WV.
May 8th, 2023:
5:00pm. Annual Picnic at Coonskin Park, Charleston.
Bird walk 5pm, meal 6-7pm, bring a covered dish to share and your BINOCULARS. End of the year business meeting will follow.
SHELTER #20 is in the upper park around the circle.
Thursday, May 4 at 8.30 am. Join us for a morning birding the Ester and Norman Walters Nature Park in Putnam County. This park is on the ridge above the Amherst/Plymouth WMA, and should have lots of spring migrants. Be prepared to walk 1-2 miles on a dirt trail (can be muddy). Check the weather and dress appropriately. Bring snacks, water and sun protection.
Directions. - From the intersection of Rt. 62 and 34, a mile “or so” east of the Winfield/Eleanor bridge (and look for the osprey nest as you cross the bridge), go up the hill on Rt. 34 for a few miles and turn right on to Wilkie Road, which looks like a driveway between two houses. Go a few hundred feet or so, pass the park sign on the right, go another quarter mile and turn into a gravel driveway/parking area on the left.
Russ Young's 2023 Spring Hill Cemetery Bird and Nature Walks April 23rd & 30th ~ May 7th & 14th
Mammoth Preserve Saturday April 29th. Birding in eastern Kanawha County on Saturday morning and early afternoon.
Mammoth is the area owned by the WV Land Trust that many of us visited last fall to learn about the project and also begin an inventory of birds.
Winfield Locks and Dam in Eleanor Thursday April 27th. 8.30am. Meet me in the Dam’s parking/picnic area after turning off Route 62. (Make sure you are on the Eleanor side of the river, across from Winfield.) I plan to walk into “Prairie Warbler City” up “on top, so be prepared to walk 1-2 miles on flat dirt tracts. Also looking for orioles, sparrows, and others. Bring binoculars, as well as sun block, snacks and water. Dress appropriate for the weather.
Osbra Eye Spring Nature Walks:
Saturday, April 22nd. Participants can choose from nine different walks and activities, all of them led by expert naturalists. Registration for the walks begins at 8:30 a.m. in front of the Nature Center (former swimming pool facility). The walks begin at 9:00 and continue until about noon. Cost is $7 for adults, $2 for ages 12 - 18, under 12 free.
Topics for the walks include Wildflowers; Birds; Geology; Aquatic Life; Birds and Blooms; Medicinal Plants; Insects/Pollinators; History of mining in Kan. St. Forest; and an Exercise Hike.
The Aquatic Life activity is interesting for all ages, but it's an especially good way to connect kids with nature. Participants will have the chance to get in the stream with nets and help collect life forms that will be identified by an aquatic biologist from the WV DEP. If you plan to get in the stream, bring clothes that you don't mind getting wet, or stay dry and see what others have found.
There will be some loaner binoculars available. There will also be a focus on identifying birds by their distinctive songs.
Some of the walks are slow and easy, with discussion stops along the way, and others involve steeper trails and more exertion. There should be a topic and difficulty level to suit everyone.
Hungry Beech Preserve. April 20th 8:30AM at the 'Park and Ride' lot at the Mink Shoals exit 1 off I-79, north of Charleston. The 'Park & Ride' lot is on the northwest corner of the interchange.
Be prepared to share a ride or caravan to the preserve.
Hungry Beech Preserve has been owned by The Nature Conservancy since the 1970’s, is open to the public, and has a mix of outstanding forest and meadows. The Conservancy has asked for help surveying bird species, especially breeding species.
We’ll be walking 2-3 miles in a meadow and also on a “remnant” forest trail that has NOT been maintained. We’ll probably be on the site 9:30AM - noon, so bring snacks, water, and sunscreen. Bring a chair if you’d like to sit in the meadow and bird. Bring pruners if you’d like to help do a little light clearing of the trail.
I hope that folks will visit the preserve this spring and summer to contribute their bird sightings to eBird. The main interest for this survey is the maintained fields, to see if our late season hay cutting is providing the habitat we are looking for. It would be good to plan additional late season surveys to make sure birds have fledged prior to hay cutting. If folks are interested in adding additional data in the forested area that would be fine.
Hungry Beech Preserve: Directions ~ Directions & Map
Marmet Locks & Dam. Thursday April 13th Rick Gregg will lead a walk, meet at the gazebos at 8:30am on the Belle side of the river. Weather permitting, we will make a mile loop around the proposed Mary Ingles Memorial Trail. The Ospreys are building a nest and seen daily. The eagles are seen from time to time.
Rattlesnake Hollow: April 6th 8.30 am. We’ll meet at Kanawha State Forest (where the DNR warehouse is) on the right about a mile from the park entrance. Check the weather before heading out (might be raining), dress appropriately, bring water and snacks and be prepared to walk/hike 3+/- miles on dirt tracks. All are welcomed. I’ll have a few binoculars to loan.
We’ll be looking for the “early birds”, LA Waterthrush, Yellow-throated Warbler, Blue-headed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. And lots of spring wildflowers. Laura
Ridenour Park in Nitro, join Laura and other members of the Handlan Chapter this Thursday, March 30 at 8.30 for a couple hours birding. Meet in the parking area across the dam. Dress appropriate for the weather, bring water and snacks, and be prepared to walk 1-2 miles on gravel and dirt trails (and a little mud) as we walk around the lake. All are welcome!
Meadowood Park near Tornado, March 23, at 8.30 am. Meet in the dirt parking area on the left of Pettigrew Lane just after turning off of Smith Creek Road. We’ll look for birds on the Coal River as well as early early spring migrants (i think it is actually spring today despite what the thermometer shows). As always, check the weather before heading out, and dress appropriately. Bring binoculars (I’ll have a few to loan out too), snacks and water. Be prepared to walk 1-2 miles on pavement, dirt trails and grass.
Winfield Locks and Dam in Eleanor, 8.30 am Thursday, March 16. Meet me in the Dam’s parking/picnic area after turning off Route 62. (Make sure you are on the Eleanor side of the river, across from Winfield.) Be prepared to walk 1-2 miles on flat pavement and dirt tracts. Bring binoculars and scopes, if you have them, as well as snacks and water. Dress appropriate for the weather. All are welcome to join me! Laura Ceperley
Forks of Coal State Natural Area looking for birds at 8.30 am, Saturday, March 11. We will be looking for our late winter visitors as well as any early “first of year” spring migrants. Check the weather before heading out and dress appropriately. Bring your binoculars, water and snacks. We’ll have a few bins to loan out too. Be prepared to walk 1-2 miles on pavement and dirt trails. All are welcome!
Rick Gregg is leading a walk 8:30am, Thursday, March 9th at Marmet Locks. Details on our Goggle Calendar.
Spring Beauties and Wood Frog eggs — must be early spring! Join Laura at 8.30 am this Thursday, March 2 at Little Creek Park, S. Charleston, for a few hours of birding, looking for winter wrens, kinglets and pine warblers. Meet at the first shelter — drive into the park, down and back up the “dip”, then pull into the parking area for the first shelter on the left. Be prepared to walk/hike 2-4 miles on trails and pavement (depends on the interest of the group). Check the weather and dress appropriately. Bring snacks, water and binoculars (I’ll have some loaners). All are welcomed.
Saturday, April 29 - Sunday, May 14
The Handlan Chapter Spring Migration Count.
The goal is to see how many species of birds we can collectively identify during this time period.
These two weeks in May are a golden time for birders. It's a great chance to spend time outdoors and practice our birding skills.
For this count, you don't have to keep track of how many individuals, just keep track of the total species you are able to identify. All birds that you ID must be in WV.
At the end of this time period, please send me your results and I will compile our collective lists [email protected].
If you would prefer to mail your list, you can send it to 4304 Virginia Ave. SE, Charleston, WV 25304
When you send your results, you are welcome to include your complete list. Or to make it easier on you, you can assume that we will definitely have some of the most common birds (such as cardinals and robins) on the collective list, and you can send me your list of somewhat less common birds. Either way is fine. But do include a number for how many species you found in total. And for any of the hard-to-find birds that you come across, please mention where you found them (Kanawha State Forest, Greenbottom, etc.), as other bird club members will be interested in where the lesser common birds were found.
Let me know if you have any questions. Jim Waggy
Webster County Nature Tour 2023:
May 5th ~ 7th, 2023 Once again it is time to venture to the mountains of Webster County, WV for the Webster County Nature Tour. To learn more, see brochure.
The 59th WV Wildflower Pilgrimage 2023:
The West Virginia Wildflower Pilgrimage will be held this year from May 11th ~ 14th.
The Brooks Bird Club has had a long relationship with the WV Wildflower Pilgrimage. The event features numerous tour options on Friday 11th and Saturday 14th to beautiful destinations. Each tour has leaders to help identify the WV flora and fauna. In addition, some tours feature experts in geology and West Virginia natural history.
To learn more about this wonderful event go to our
WV Wildflower Pilgrimage Page! Downloadable 2023 WV WFP registration form.
This event fills up fast every year, so sign up early!
2023 BBC Nature Foray!
The BBC 2023 Foray will be held June 2nd - 10th.
We will be based at Camp Horseshoe in Tucker County WV
Check out the Blackwater Falls State Park bird walks that were just scheduled for 11/4 and 11/24 on the BBC calendar!
October at Meadowood Park
Meadowood Park Bird Walk with Linda R.
Thursday October 26, 2023
Meet at the visitor center parking lot at 8:30am.
October in Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge
8:00 a.m., Saturday, October 21st.
Meet in the Beall parking area, which is up Beall Lane (also called Coffman's Lane) from Cortland Drive, between Davis and the CVNWR office in Canaan Valley.
October Bird Walks with Rick Gregg & Bill Hall!
Bill and Rick are planning to lead two trips in October.
1. Thursday, October 12th at 08:30 a.m. at the Toyota Wildlife Area, Buffalo, WV.
2. Saturday, October 14th at 08:30 a.m. at the Marmet Locks, (BELLE side, not the Marmet side)
The directions & details are on the BBC Calendar!
Laura's Thursday Morning Bird Walks!
Thursday, June 29th. at 8:30am.
Hungry Beech Preserve. A couple groups visited the site in April, doing a good inventory of spring birds. Now I’d like to “re-bird” the area of summer birds, maybe see who’s got babies. Meet me at the gravel Park and Ride lot at the Mink Shoals exit (Exit 1 off I 79N, north of Charleston — the P&R is on the northwest corner of the interchange). Be prepared to share rides and/or caravan. We’ll be walking 2-3 miles in a meadow and maybe on a “remnant” forest trail that has NOT been maintained. We’ll probably be on the site 9.30 to noon, so bring snacks, water, and sunscreen, a chair if you’d like to do a “big sit” in the meadow.
HBP has been owned by The Nature Conservancy since the 1970’s, is open to the public, and has a mix of “old forest” and a ridge-top hayfield. TNC as asked for help surveying the bird species, especially those that are breeding. Below is information from the TNC website (nature.org), including maps and directions.
Also - even if you can’t join us on Thursday, I hope that you will visit the site this summer and contribute sightings on eBird (the preserve is a hotspot in eBird). TNC staff and folks from WVU treated the site in early May for autumn olive. Note the driving directions on TNC’s website are from the Clendenin exit (Exit 19 of I-79). These directions follow ridge tops and are much easier than the route that Maps, gives using the Elkview exit (#9) and involve going down a steep gravel road, a stream crossing, then up another steep road.
Thursday, June 1st. at 8:30am. Forks of Coal State Natural Area. We will be looking to add to the ebird sightings for this hotspot, especially breeding behavior for our resident birds. Check the weather before heading out and dress appropriately. Bring your binoculars, hat, sunscreen, water and snacks. Be prepared to walk 1-2 miles on pavement and dirt trails. All are welcome! Laura
Thursday, May 18, at 8.30am. Meadowood Park near Tornado. Meet at the park office/kiosk about 1/4 mile after turning onto Pettigrew Lane from Smith Creek Road. We’ll look for birds on the Coal River as well as spring migrants around the park. As always, check the weather before heading out, and dress appropriately. Bring binoculars (I’ll have a few to loan out too), sunscreen, snacks and water. Be prepared to walk 1-2 miles on pavement, dirt trails and grass. All are welcome! Laura
Many thanks for all who attended our International Migratory Bird Day yesterday at Ward Hollow in South Charleston. A highlight was 5 ducks in one single view - Canada Goose, Gadwall, Mallard, Wood Duck and Blue Wing Teal. I never appreciated how tiny those teal are, especially next to a goose! Also, a very handsome first-year Orchard Oriole and a Palm Warbler acting like a butterfly. 46 species!
53 species have been added to 8 different ebird hotspot records during our club’s Spring Count - from a turkey at Springhill Cemetery and a Philadelphia Vireo in KSF to loads of spring migrants at Polly Hollow, Rocky Ridge, Little Creek Park and Mammoth Preserve. At $2/species, that's $106 dollars to Three Rivers Avian. Thank you to those who participated. Remember to get your totals into Jim Waggy for the club’s count.
Thursday, May 11 at 8:30am. Join me at the Kanawha State Forest for 2-3 hours of birding. Drive several miles through the Forest, past the office and the campground, then drive up to the top of the ridge, park in the gravel lot on the left (turn around if you start down the hill towards Hernshaw). As always, dress appropriately for sun and or rain, and also poison ivy and ticks, etc. Bring snacks and water. We’ll walk 1-2 miles on gravel/dirt roads and trails, looking for Cerulean and Worm-eating Warblers plus tanagers. All are welcome! Laura
Saturday, April 29 - Sunday, May 14
The Handlan Chapter Spring Migration Count.
The goal is to see how many species of birds we can collectively identify during this time period.
These two weeks in May are a golden time for birders. It's a great chance to spend time outdoors and practice our birding skills.
For this count, you don't have to keep track of how many individuals, just keep track of the total species you are able to identify. All birds that you ID must be in WV.
At the end of this time period, please send me your results and I will compile our collective lists [email protected].
If you would prefer to mail your list, you can send it to 4304 Virginia Ave. SE, Charleston, WV 25304
When you send your results, you are welcome to include your complete list. Or to make it easier on you, you can assume that we will definitely have some of the most common birds (such as cardinals and robins) on the collective list, and you can send me your list of somewhat less common birds. Either way is fine. But do include a number for how many species you found in total. And for any of the hard-to-find birds that you come across, please mention where you found them (Kanawha State Forest, Greenbottom, etc.), as other bird club members will be interested in where the lesser common birds were found.
Let me know if you have any questions. Jim Waggy
Webster County Nature Tour 2023:
May 5th ~ 7th, 2023 Once again it is time to venture to the mountains of Webster County, WV for the Webster County Nature Tour. To learn more, see brochure.
The 59th WV Wildflower Pilgrimage 2023:
The West Virginia Wildflower Pilgrimage will be held this year from May 11th ~ 14th.
The Brooks Bird Club has had a long relationship with the WV Wildflower Pilgrimage. The event features numerous tour options on Friday 11th and Saturday 14th to beautiful destinations. Each tour has leaders to help identify the WV flora and fauna. In addition, some tours feature experts in geology and West Virginia natural history.
To learn more about this wonderful event go to our
WV Wildflower Pilgrimage Page! Downloadable 2023 WV WFP registration form.
This event fills up fast every year, so sign up early!
2023 BBC Nature Foray!
The BBC 2023 Foray will be held June 2nd - 10th.
We will be based at Camp Horseshoe in Tucker County WV.
May 8th, 2023:
5:00pm. Annual Picnic at Coonskin Park, Charleston.
Bird walk 5pm, meal 6-7pm, bring a covered dish to share and your BINOCULARS. End of the year business meeting will follow.
SHELTER #20 is in the upper park around the circle.
Thursday, May 4 at 8.30 am. Join us for a morning birding the Ester and Norman Walters Nature Park in Putnam County. This park is on the ridge above the Amherst/Plymouth WMA, and should have lots of spring migrants. Be prepared to walk 1-2 miles on a dirt trail (can be muddy). Check the weather and dress appropriately. Bring snacks, water and sun protection.
Directions. - From the intersection of Rt. 62 and 34, a mile “or so” east of the Winfield/Eleanor bridge (and look for the osprey nest as you cross the bridge), go up the hill on Rt. 34 for a few miles and turn right on to Wilkie Road, which looks like a driveway between two houses. Go a few hundred feet or so, pass the park sign on the right, go another quarter mile and turn into a gravel driveway/parking area on the left.
Russ Young's 2023 Spring Hill Cemetery Bird and Nature Walks April 23rd & 30th ~ May 7th & 14th
Mammoth Preserve Saturday April 29th. Birding in eastern Kanawha County on Saturday morning and early afternoon.
Mammoth is the area owned by the WV Land Trust that many of us visited last fall to learn about the project and also begin an inventory of birds.
Winfield Locks and Dam in Eleanor Thursday April 27th. 8.30am. Meet me in the Dam’s parking/picnic area after turning off Route 62. (Make sure you are on the Eleanor side of the river, across from Winfield.) I plan to walk into “Prairie Warbler City” up “on top, so be prepared to walk 1-2 miles on flat dirt tracts. Also looking for orioles, sparrows, and others. Bring binoculars, as well as sun block, snacks and water. Dress appropriate for the weather.
Osbra Eye Spring Nature Walks:
Saturday, April 22nd. Participants can choose from nine different walks and activities, all of them led by expert naturalists. Registration for the walks begins at 8:30 a.m. in front of the Nature Center (former swimming pool facility). The walks begin at 9:00 and continue until about noon. Cost is $7 for adults, $2 for ages 12 - 18, under 12 free.
Topics for the walks include Wildflowers; Birds; Geology; Aquatic Life; Birds and Blooms; Medicinal Plants; Insects/Pollinators; History of mining in Kan. St. Forest; and an Exercise Hike.
The Aquatic Life activity is interesting for all ages, but it's an especially good way to connect kids with nature. Participants will have the chance to get in the stream with nets and help collect life forms that will be identified by an aquatic biologist from the WV DEP. If you plan to get in the stream, bring clothes that you don't mind getting wet, or stay dry and see what others have found.
There will be some loaner binoculars available. There will also be a focus on identifying birds by their distinctive songs.
Some of the walks are slow and easy, with discussion stops along the way, and others involve steeper trails and more exertion. There should be a topic and difficulty level to suit everyone.
Hungry Beech Preserve. April 20th 8:30AM at the 'Park and Ride' lot at the Mink Shoals exit 1 off I-79, north of Charleston. The 'Park & Ride' lot is on the northwest corner of the interchange.
Be prepared to share a ride or caravan to the preserve.
Hungry Beech Preserve has been owned by The Nature Conservancy since the 1970’s, is open to the public, and has a mix of outstanding forest and meadows. The Conservancy has asked for help surveying bird species, especially breeding species.
We’ll be walking 2-3 miles in a meadow and also on a “remnant” forest trail that has NOT been maintained. We’ll probably be on the site 9:30AM - noon, so bring snacks, water, and sunscreen. Bring a chair if you’d like to sit in the meadow and bird. Bring pruners if you’d like to help do a little light clearing of the trail.
I hope that folks will visit the preserve this spring and summer to contribute their bird sightings to eBird. The main interest for this survey is the maintained fields, to see if our late season hay cutting is providing the habitat we are looking for. It would be good to plan additional late season surveys to make sure birds have fledged prior to hay cutting. If folks are interested in adding additional data in the forested area that would be fine.
Hungry Beech Preserve: Directions ~ Directions & Map
Marmet Locks & Dam. Thursday April 13th Rick Gregg will lead a walk, meet at the gazebos at 8:30am on the Belle side of the river. Weather permitting, we will make a mile loop around the proposed Mary Ingles Memorial Trail. The Ospreys are building a nest and seen daily. The eagles are seen from time to time.
Rattlesnake Hollow: April 6th 8.30 am. We’ll meet at Kanawha State Forest (where the DNR warehouse is) on the right about a mile from the park entrance. Check the weather before heading out (might be raining), dress appropriately, bring water and snacks and be prepared to walk/hike 3+/- miles on dirt tracks. All are welcomed. I’ll have a few binoculars to loan.
We’ll be looking for the “early birds”, LA Waterthrush, Yellow-throated Warbler, Blue-headed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. And lots of spring wildflowers. Laura
Ridenour Park in Nitro, join Laura and other members of the Handlan Chapter this Thursday, March 30 at 8.30 for a couple hours birding. Meet in the parking area across the dam. Dress appropriate for the weather, bring water and snacks, and be prepared to walk 1-2 miles on gravel and dirt trails (and a little mud) as we walk around the lake. All are welcome!
Meadowood Park near Tornado, March 23, at 8.30 am. Meet in the dirt parking area on the left of Pettigrew Lane just after turning off of Smith Creek Road. We’ll look for birds on the Coal River as well as early early spring migrants (i think it is actually spring today despite what the thermometer shows). As always, check the weather before heading out, and dress appropriately. Bring binoculars (I’ll have a few to loan out too), snacks and water. Be prepared to walk 1-2 miles on pavement, dirt trails and grass.
Winfield Locks and Dam in Eleanor, 8.30 am Thursday, March 16. Meet me in the Dam’s parking/picnic area after turning off Route 62. (Make sure you are on the Eleanor side of the river, across from Winfield.) Be prepared to walk 1-2 miles on flat pavement and dirt tracts. Bring binoculars and scopes, if you have them, as well as snacks and water. Dress appropriate for the weather. All are welcome to join me! Laura Ceperley
Forks of Coal State Natural Area looking for birds at 8.30 am, Saturday, March 11. We will be looking for our late winter visitors as well as any early “first of year” spring migrants. Check the weather before heading out and dress appropriately. Bring your binoculars, water and snacks. We’ll have a few bins to loan out too. Be prepared to walk 1-2 miles on pavement and dirt trails. All are welcome!
Rick Gregg is leading a walk 8:30am, Thursday, March 9th at Marmet Locks. Details on our Goggle Calendar.
Spring Beauties and Wood Frog eggs — must be early spring! Join Laura at 8.30 am this Thursday, March 2 at Little Creek Park, S. Charleston, for a few hours of birding, looking for winter wrens, kinglets and pine warblers. Meet at the first shelter — drive into the park, down and back up the “dip”, then pull into the parking area for the first shelter on the left. Be prepared to walk/hike 2-4 miles on trails and pavement (depends on the interest of the group). Check the weather and dress appropriately. Bring snacks, water and binoculars (I’ll have some loaners). All are welcomed.
Saturday, April 29 - Sunday, May 14
The Handlan Chapter Spring Migration Count.
The goal is to see how many species of birds we can collectively identify during this time period.
These two weeks in May are a golden time for birders. It's a great chance to spend time outdoors and practice our birding skills.
For this count, you don't have to keep track of how many individuals, just keep track of the total species you are able to identify. All birds that you ID must be in WV.
At the end of this time period, please send me your results and I will compile our collective lists [email protected].
If you would prefer to mail your list, you can send it to 4304 Virginia Ave. SE, Charleston, WV 25304
When you send your results, you are welcome to include your complete list. Or to make it easier on you, you can assume that we will definitely have some of the most common birds (such as cardinals and robins) on the collective list, and you can send me your list of somewhat less common birds. Either way is fine. But do include a number for how many species you found in total. And for any of the hard-to-find birds that you come across, please mention where you found them (Kanawha State Forest, Greenbottom, etc.), as other bird club members will be interested in where the lesser common birds were found.
Let me know if you have any questions. Jim Waggy
Webster County Nature Tour 2023:
May 5th ~ 7th, 2023 Once again it is time to venture to the mountains of Webster County, WV for the Webster County Nature Tour. To learn more, see brochure.
The 59th WV Wildflower Pilgrimage 2023:
The West Virginia Wildflower Pilgrimage will be held this year from May 11th ~ 14th.
The Brooks Bird Club has had a long relationship with the WV Wildflower Pilgrimage. The event features numerous tour options on Friday 11th and Saturday 14th to beautiful destinations. Each tour has leaders to help identify the WV flora and fauna. In addition, some tours feature experts in geology and West Virginia natural history.
To learn more about this wonderful event go to our
WV Wildflower Pilgrimage Page! Downloadable 2023 WV WFP registration form.
This event fills up fast every year, so sign up early!
2023 BBC Nature Foray!
The BBC 2023 Foray will be held June 2nd - 10th.
We will be based at Camp Horseshoe in Tucker County WV