Handlan (Charleston) Chapter
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The Handlan Chapter is Charleston's oldest and only organized group dedicated to the study and enjoyment of wild birds.
In 1944 members of the Brooks Bird Club from the Charleston WV area formed the BBC Handlan Chapter.
In 1944 members of the Brooks Bird Club from the Charleston WV area formed the BBC Handlan Chapter.
We had hoped to present this slate of candidates at the March meeting, but that did not work out.
According to the Handlan Chapter by-laws this slate of candidates, along any other candidates presented by the membership at large, should be voted upon at the last meeting on the year – that is the Annual Picnic on May 18. If we are not able to have the election at that time, we will have to make other arrangements at a later date.
We do have some important business to perform. Our nominating committee has come up with a slate of candidates to replace up-coming vacancies. The slate presented by the committee is:
President: Doren Burrell
Vice President: Bill Hall
Executive Committee Member: Perry McDaniel
In the meantime, keep safe, keep birding, and take care. Hope to see you all soon. Jim Smith
According to the Handlan Chapter by-laws this slate of candidates, along any other candidates presented by the membership at large, should be voted upon at the last meeting on the year – that is the Annual Picnic on May 18. If we are not able to have the election at that time, we will have to make other arrangements at a later date.
We do have some important business to perform. Our nominating committee has come up with a slate of candidates to replace up-coming vacancies. The slate presented by the committee is:
President: Doren Burrell
Vice President: Bill Hall
Executive Committee Member: Perry McDaniel
In the meantime, keep safe, keep birding, and take care. Hope to see you all soon. Jim Smith
Next Club Meeting/EventAll meetings and events are canceled due to current events.
For the complete 2020 Meeting and Event Calendar, scroll down. Anyone interested in birds is welcome to our events.
Hope to see you all back when all things settle back to normal. Charleston Christmas Bird CountThe Charleston (WVCH) Christmas Bird Count (CBC) started back in 1912! That was back on the 13th National Audubon Society's count. The WVCH count ran for eight years then ended, then in 1980, during the 80th CBC season, the count resumed. It has been conducted every year since!
The Charleston count continues its long tradition here in WV on the upcoming 120th Christmas Bird Count! Birding Kanawha CountyHave a birding or nature event in Kanawha County that you want to let others know about? Contact the BBC Handlan Chapter President Jim Smith jallbee77@gmail.com
Lets go Birding!To find a pre-scheduled Handlan Chapter or other BBC nature related outing, check out our Calendar of Events page. You can link our calendar to your computer, tablet or phone.
Christmas Bird CountThe 120th NAS Christmas Bird Count (CBC) season was held between December 14th, 2019 and January 5th, 2020.
Thousands of CBC's were conducted all over the Western Hemisphere. Locally here in WV we have twenty counts located in various counties throughout the state. To learn more about our West Virginia Christmas Bird Counts go to our WV CBC Page! The 119th WV CBC seasonal analysis is now on the website. The NAS CBC is the longest running bird census on the planet! |
Upcoming Special EventsThe 59th WV Wildflower Pilgrimage 2020:
The West Virginia Wildflower Pilgrimage will be held this year from May 7th ~ 10th. The Brooks Bird Club has had a long relationship with the WV Wildflower Pilgrimage. The event features numerous tour options on Friday 8th and Saturday 9th to beautiful destinations. Each tour has leaders to help identify the WV flora and fauna. In addition, tours feature experts in geology and natural history. To learn more about this wonderful event go to our WV Wildflower Pilgrimage Page! Downloadable 2020 WVP registration form. This event fills up fast every year, so sign up early! Other Items of InterestHandlan Chapter completes its Chimney Swift Tower!
To learn more about this project and to see the tower construction slideshow, check out the BBC CHSW Project Page! Birders Wanted!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! 119th CBC DataCharleston (WVCH) Christmas Bird Count:
The WVCH Christmas Bird Count was held on December 15th 2018. This was the 38th Charleston Christmas Bird Count! WV CBC results are available on our WV CBC Results Page. Handlan NewsThe Handlan Chapter has discontinued its own website.
All Handlan Chapter information along with other WV nature related events will be available here on the BBC website. |
Regular Meetings:
Handlan Chapter meetings are normally held at the South Charleston Library
The South Charleston Library is located at 312 4th Ave, South Charleston, WV 25303
Doors open at 6:30pm.
Handlan Chapter meetings are normally held at the South Charleston Library
The South Charleston Library is located at 312 4th Ave, South Charleston, WV 25303
Doors open at 6:30pm.
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2020 Meetings/Events: |
January 13th 2020: Program by Doug Wood.
February 10th 2020: Members of the Handlan Chapter will present bird photos they have taken.
March 16th 2020: Laura Ceperley will give a presentation about some of her recent trips to exotic places.
April 20th 2020: Donna and Ron Graham will show some of their bird photos from some of their trips.
May 18th 2019: (6:30pm) Annual Picnic at Coonskin Park. End of the year business meeting and annual picnic.
September 21st, 2020: (6:30pm) Annual fall ice cream social South Charleston Library.
October 19th, 2020: (6:30pm) Regular Meeting South Charleston Library. Program: TBA
November 16, 2020: (6:30pm) Regular Meeting South Charleston Library. Program: TBA
December 14, 2020: Note time (6:00pm) Christmas get together and prepare for Holiday Bird Count at Harding's Family Restaurant 2772 Pennsylvania Avenue Charleston, WV 25302.
February 10th 2020: Members of the Handlan Chapter will present bird photos they have taken.
March 16th 2020: Laura Ceperley will give a presentation about some of her recent trips to exotic places.
April 20th 2020: Donna and Ron Graham will show some of their bird photos from some of their trips.
May 18th 2019: (6:30pm) Annual Picnic at Coonskin Park. End of the year business meeting and annual picnic.
September 21st, 2020: (6:30pm) Annual fall ice cream social South Charleston Library.
October 19th, 2020: (6:30pm) Regular Meeting South Charleston Library. Program: TBA
November 16, 2020: (6:30pm) Regular Meeting South Charleston Library. Program: TBA
December 14, 2020: Note time (6:00pm) Christmas get together and prepare for Holiday Bird Count at Harding's Family Restaurant 2772 Pennsylvania Avenue Charleston, WV 25302.
All BBC events with location maps can also be found on our Calendar of Events page!
History of Handlan
Handlan Chapter was established on February 29, 1944 and named in honor of its president John W. Handlan. Handlan had been one of the founders of Brooks Bird Club in Wheeling, WV, and wrote a nature column for the Charleston Gazette, "Signs Along the Trail". The new chapter held a Christmas count in 1944 and a spring migration count in 1947. Much research was conducted in the forties on the elusive Swainson's Warbler, with nests and populations finally documented in several Charleston local stream hollow locations. In 1952 club members started traveling to Monroe County each fall to count migrating raptors on the peaks of Peter's Mountain. In the sixties Handlan Chapter had a clubroom at Sunrise Museum and also hosted showings of the Audubon Wildlife Films. The 60's and 70's also found us helping with birds at nearby Coonskin Park, Kanawha State Forest, and at a South Charleston Purple Martin roost. We were feeding and banding birds and conducting nest counts. We published "Birds of the Kanawha Valley" in 1976. We helped with the statewide census for the "Atlas" project in 1984-89, leading to the publication of "The West Virginia Breeding Bird Atlas". In 1994 we changed meeting sites to First Presbyterian Church and three years later we published a new edition of "Birds of the Kanawha Valley". Most recently we published the "Swainson's Warbler" journal and partnered with Spring Hill Cemetery for bird walks and a bird checklist.
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Wings over the Mountains ~ By former Handlan Chapter member J. Lawrence Smith With his stories about nature and state history spanning more than 40 years, J. Lawrence Smith was Wonderful West Virginia’s most enduring writer. Whether he told of the magnificence of an ancient spruce forest, the heyday of bateaus on the New River, or the poignant loss of the Bewick’s wren, John engaged readers with his wealth of knowledge and his lyrical prose. His deep love of nature, especially birds, continues to inspire us, as it shines through the pages of this volume. You can order your copy here on the BBC website! Wings over the Mountains |
Current Handlan Officers (2019)
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Brooks Bird Club Administrator Carl Slater passed away on December 5th 2019.