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.
Next Club Meeting/EventSeptember 2023: Date TBA.
(6:30pm) Annual fall ice cream social South Charleston Library. Additional meetings/events are posted at the bottom of this page. Anyone interested in birds is welcome to our events.
Birders Wanted!Want to join the BBC Handlan Chapter?
Here's a PDF membership form! Check out our new trifold brochure. 
RHWO 4/1/23 in Charleston. Photo Christy Carr
Upcoming Special EventsSaturday, 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 needwildnature@gmail.com. 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. BBC Foray online application form is now OPEN! 
Louis Watts captured this photo of a Bald Eagle sitting on a nest in Putnam County
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 Charleston count continues as one of the longest running Christmas Bird Counts in the state! 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.
Other Items of InterestHandlan Chapter builds Chimney Swift (CHSW) towers. Learn about The BBC Chimney Swift Project!
You can look for additional Handlan Chapter bird outings/events on the WV Mountain State Birders Facebook page.
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Handlan Notes:You can look for additional Handlan Chapter bird outings/events on the WV Mountain State Birders Facebook page.
FYI ... The back, right-hand corner of the Walmart parking lot in Hurricane is an unusual birding spot. There's a very small wetland area and a scrubby hillside where I recently found an Orchard Oriole, Willow Flycatcher, several Red-wing Blackbirds, N. Flicker and probably a Common Yellowthroat. Laura's Thursday Morning Bird Walks! 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
Recent Walks ~ find more in the 2023 ArchivesThursday, 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 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. 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. Birding Kanawha CountyHave a birding or nature event in Kanawha County that you want to let others know about? Contact the BBC Handlan Chapter member Jim Triplett jtrippy@gmail.com
Recent Past EventsThe 123rd NAS Christmas Bird Count (CBC) season was held between December 14th, 2022 ~ January 5th, 2023.
Thousands of CBC's were conducted all over the Western Hemisphere. Locally here in WV we have twenty-two counts located in various counties throughout the state. To learn more about our West Virginia Christmas Bird Counts go to our WV CBC Page! Yearly WV CBC seasonal analysis is also posted on the website. The NAS CBC is the longest running bird census on the planet! 
Barred Owl hanging out at Little Creek Park. Photo Laura Boggess
2023 Handlan Archives
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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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2023 Meetings/Events: |
January 2023:
February 13th, 2023: Our program will be presented by Sheila McEntee. Nature essays written during the pandemic.
March 13, 2023: Doug Wood presents: Fitting Birds into the City of Charleston's Biodiversity Conservation Initiative.
April 10th, 2023: Dianne Anesta presents: Early naturalists & birds of Appalachia.
April 13th, 2023: Rick Gregg will lead a walk at Marmet Locks & Dam; wear boots for mud, dress for weather, bring binoculars; time 08:30 a.m. meet at the gazebos on the Belle side of the river.
April 15, 2023: 'Walk on the Wild Side’ nature walks at St. Albans City Park; 9-12; nature interpretation along the walk route; no fee, but donations are appreciated.
April 22, 2023: Osbra Eye Nature Walks, Kanawha State Forest, various nature-themed walks of varied levels of difficulty with knowledgeable leaders, 8:30-?, participation fee is $7 adults and $2 for walkers ages 12 to 18; children under 12 are free.
May 8th, 2023: (5:00pm) Annual Picnic at Coonskin Park. Spring Picnic, Coonskin Park, Charleston. Bird walk 5pm, meal 6-7pm, bring a covered dish to share and your BINOCULARS. End of the year business meeting and annual picnic.
September 2023: (6:30pm) Annual fall ice cream social South Charleston Library.
October 2023: (6:30pm) Regular Meeting South Charleston Library. Program: TBA
November 2023: (6:30pm) Regular Meeting South Charleston Library. Program: TBA
December 2023: Charleston (WVCH) Christmas Bird Count!
February 13th, 2023: Our program will be presented by Sheila McEntee. Nature essays written during the pandemic.
March 13, 2023: Doug Wood presents: Fitting Birds into the City of Charleston's Biodiversity Conservation Initiative.
April 10th, 2023: Dianne Anesta presents: Early naturalists & birds of Appalachia.
April 13th, 2023: Rick Gregg will lead a walk at Marmet Locks & Dam; wear boots for mud, dress for weather, bring binoculars; time 08:30 a.m. meet at the gazebos on the Belle side of the river.
April 15, 2023: 'Walk on the Wild Side’ nature walks at St. Albans City Park; 9-12; nature interpretation along the walk route; no fee, but donations are appreciated.
April 22, 2023: Osbra Eye Nature Walks, Kanawha State Forest, various nature-themed walks of varied levels of difficulty with knowledgeable leaders, 8:30-?, participation fee is $7 adults and $2 for walkers ages 12 to 18; children under 12 are free.
May 8th, 2023: (5:00pm) Annual Picnic at Coonskin Park. Spring Picnic, Coonskin Park, Charleston. Bird walk 5pm, meal 6-7pm, bring a covered dish to share and your BINOCULARS. End of the year business meeting and annual picnic.
September 2023: (6:30pm) Annual fall ice cream social South Charleston Library.
October 2023: (6:30pm) Regular Meeting South Charleston Library. Program: TBA
November 2023: (6:30pm) Regular Meeting South Charleston Library. Program: TBA
December 2023: Charleston (WVCH) Christmas Bird Count!
All BBC events with location maps can also be found on our Calendar of Events page!
History of the BBC Handlan Chapter
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 (2023)
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2018 BBC Handlan Chapter
Contact information:
Jim Smith
jallbee77@gmail.com
Want to join the BBC Handlan Chapter?
Here's a PDF membership form!
Jim Smith
jallbee77@gmail.com
Want to join the BBC Handlan Chapter?
Here's a PDF membership form!