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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! 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" |
Photo credits: Anonymous BBC photographers.
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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
Newsletter ~ Journal
We have all of the Redstarts available on our website for reading, reference, and research (1933 - current issue).
Allegheny Front Migratory Observatory (AFMO)
The observatory is gearing up for a very active fall 2026 Bird Banding Season. For details, 2025 results and more, go to our AFMO Page
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!
BirdCast WV: Check out the daily WV bird migration!
WV Second Breeding Bird Atlas
The WV Second Breeding Bird Atlas is available!
The WV atlas features information on 170 bird species. BBC members receive a 30% discount. For your discount code, contact the webmaster. Order your copy here. Thanks to all the volunteers who made the 2nd Atlas possible. 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.
Create your own Wildlife Sanctuary!Did you know the BBC has a Wildlife Sanctuary program?
Learn how to have your own personal Wildlife Sanctuary! Restore your WV property with native plants that attract birds and other wildlife ~ WV Native Plant Society. 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 Please protect clean air, clean water, and public health and conserve working farms, forests, and natural lands here in WV.
Bird NoteBird Note ~ Stories about birds, the environment and more!
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. Which bird was it from?
Learn about feather forensics, check out the Feather Base. The Feather Atlas, another great source, has been updated. Since feather collection is illegal, take only photos, then research your found feather later, using one of the sources above! Avian Anatomy
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. 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! |
2026 ~ Upcoming Special EventsAllegheny Front Migratory Observatory
2026 Season: Aug 22 - Oct 10 Bird Banding and Morning Flight Counts conducted daily at Dolly Sods Wilderness Area BBC Fall Meeting 2026 October 23~25th Brooks Bird Club will return this year to Tygart Lake State Park in Grafton, WV for its annual Fall Meeting and Retreat. We look forward to a weekend of birding and presentations by Mollee Brown and Rosemary Mosco. Register Now! Check the BBC Calendar of Events for all 2026 events, dates and events posted when available. Canaan/Blackwater Area Outings/EventsNEW! Tucker County 2026 Fall Events!
All are invited to the upcoming guided bird outings in Tucker County. These events are free and open to people of all birding abilities. Please dress for the weather. Also, bring water, snacks, and binoculars, if you have them. Before heading out, check Facebook or the web for updates as events may be rescheduled or cancelled due to the weather. For events, dates, and details go to our BBC Calendar! For information about current outings & events check out these links Canaan Valley NWR ~ Blackwater Falls State Park. Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge Newsletter
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, make notes on what you see and hear, if possible, call other birders, 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!
WV conservation begins with you.
You can make a difference... Please help where you can! Bird Nest Boxes and Structures
Here'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! Bird Feeders
Learn about different types of seed and how they attract birds and how to make your own suet on our Feed the Birds Page!
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. 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. Past EventsTo see past events that our BBC members enjoyed, click below!
Past events by year: 2026 ~ 2025 ~ 2024~ 2023 ~ 2020 2019 ~ 2018 ~ 2017 ~ 2016 Past BBC Homepage Articles with Links. Archives 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
BBC Helping Chimney SwiftsThrough a generous member donation, the BBC funded the material for a few Chimney Swift (CHSW) towers built in WV. Learn about The BBC Chimney Swift Project!
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
It's always a great time to get out and observe nature.
Our Redstart Editor Casey Rucker is always looking for interesting observations. Write a nature related article for The Redstart. Have you renewed your BBC membership? Join or renew your BBC Membership here on the website! |
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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 2026-2027 duck stamp featuring a small flock of Bufflehead, is available now! Read more about them & buy yours HERE. |
2026-2027 Federal Duck Stamp, featuring a small flock of Bufflehead by artist James Hautman.
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