Left to right: Ashley Hansen, Monarch biologist; Karl Bardon, Hawkwatcher; Bridgett Brunea, Educator and Hawkwatch Intern. These young people will be on the hawkwatch platform at Kiptopeke State Park this fall. As COVID guidelines allow, Karl and Bridgett will be helping visitors ID hawks flying over the platform. |
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Because of the pandemic, the education and interpretation efforts by CVWO's staff at Kiptopeke State Park this fall will be different. To ensure the safety of our staff and visitors, we will likely limit group sizes on the hawkwatch platform and in our education programs. And of course we'll be abiding by all guidelines in effect at the Park.
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Our fall staff will be making their way to the Eastern Shore of Virginia and Kiptopeke State Park very soon.
We’re very excited to welcome Karl Bardon, hawkwatcher, and Bridgett Brunea, educator and hawkwatch intern. Both will be on the platform at the park September 1 to document the annual southward migration miracle the Eastern Shore is noted for. This will be the 44th season for the Kiptopeke Hawkwatch.
Bridgett will be updating our blog and social media during the season. She has already posted to the CVWO blog here.
Our Monarch biologist, Ashley Hansen, will start September 15. You can "meet" Ashley on CVWO's Blog.
See photos of all three above.
We will be taking all precautions to protect the public and our staff in the Covid-19 era. We’ll be following all the State Park Covid19 guidance, safety precautions, rules and restrictions. By the way, social distancing is about the wingspan of a Golden Eagle – six feet!
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We hope you’ll stop by for a visit. Please respect the “safe zone” for the hawkwatcher and observe the other social distancing signs on the platform.
We can’t wait to get started!
NOW we need your financial donation to fund our fall research.
Warbler $25
Sparrow $50
Thrush $100
Falcon $250
Eagle $500 (Life Supporter)
You can also donate to a specific project:
- Kiptopeke Hawkwatch
- Monarch butterfly research
- Waterbird research
- Prothonotary Warbler Nest Box Trails
- Annual Scholarships to William and Mary and Old Dominion University Graduate Students
If you’ve already donated in 2020 — many thanks! Perhaps you’d consider another donation to one of our projects or a scholarship for a deserving graduate student.
Many thanks for your support. We can’t do it without you and every donation means so much.
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2020 Kiptopeke Challenge is September 26 |
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2019 Team - C-ville Ceruleans |
2019 Team - Gulls Gone Wild |
Set aside Saturday, September 26th for our annual day of birding. Not only is it fun and a little bit competitive, but it also directly supports the mission of the Coastal VA Wildlife Observatory.
Given the current COVID-19 guidelines, the Kiptopeke Challenge will implement these changes:
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- Teams of one are allowed!
- For teams of 2 or more, follow current VA guidelines for safety and social distancing. CVWO encourages masks where social distancing isn’t possible. Carpooling is discouraged unless it involves family members. Sharing of equipment such as scopes is also discouraged.
- For teams of 2 or more, the requirement that at least two members see a particular species has been waived. However, 90% of all species must be seen by the entire team (this has been reduced from the usual 95%)
This is a good year to participate as an individual and compete in the Special Venue category.
As you pull together your teams, please send me your team name and members so we can add them to our KC webpage. If your team is listed there, donors can support your team easily by clicking on your team's name to make a donation.
This single-day birding challenge is CVWO's main fundraising event to support all of our educational outreach, research and habitat conservation initiatives.
To learn more about these CVWO initiatives, or more specifically about the Kiptopeke Challenge, visit our website or contact me directly.
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New CVWO Tee Shirts with Prothonotary Warbler Artwork Now Available in our Cafe Press Online Store |
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Check out CVWO's Cafe Press store to see a variety of shirts and items with Anna Stunkel's eye-catching image of a Prothonotary Warbler, commissioned by CVWO. Thanks, Anna. A small portion of each sale comes back to support CVWO.
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Mugs are available in 11 oz and 15 oz |
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Actual tee shirt worn by one of CVWO board members |
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Hawk Migration "Virtual Lunch and Learn" Series Has Started |
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Broad-winged Hawk. Photo by Steve Thornhill |
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American Kestrel moving in on Peregrine Falcon. Photo by Julia Magill |
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Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA) has started its online "lunch and learn" workshops. Join in monthly at 12 pm EDT! Free but you have to register in advance on their web site.
Here are the topics for September through January.
- September 23: Julie Brown, "Celebrating International Hawk Migration Week"
- October 15: Josh Haas, "Live from a Hawkwatch"
- November 18: Vic Berardi, "Winter Raptor Survey"
- December 9: Laurie Goodrich, "Broad-winged Hawk Migration"
- January 20, 2021: E. Viviana Vallejo, "Establishing a Migration Count in Colombia"
You can view the August 19 session on "Raptor ID: An Overview" at HMANA's YouTube Channel, Facebook page, or on their web site where a recording of the program will be available shortly after airing live.
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Gary Driscole and Adrienne Frank count butterflies in the zinnia patch at the Norfolk Botanical Garden July 22, 2020. Photo by Brian Taber |
Spicebush Swallowtail. Photo by Shirley Devan |
Williamsburg Area Butterfly Count |
Compiler Adrienne Frank reports: What a wonderful success for the 7th year of our Williamsburg Area count August 8. There were 43 participants, and we surpassed the previous high of 40 participants from last year. We had several visitors from other nearby counties. CVWO's joint effort with the Historic Rivers Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalist has led to more interest and learning about butterflies and native plants.
We identified 50 species and 1722 individuals. Our species count was about average for the 7 years of counts. However, it seemed low if you compare it to last year’s count of 53 species and 3037 individuals. We had 50 observed out of 63 butterflies ever recorded on our counts.
This year, three species of Swallowtails had all-time highs; there were the most Zebra (52), Black (40), and Spicebush (101) that we have ever recorded on a count. The species with the highest number of individuals was the Common Buckeye (284 observed). We did not observe 2 typical species we usually see: Question Mark and Common Sootywing.
Of course, this year’s count was different than in years past due to COVID 19. We divided our volunteers into 16 small parties (average of <3 each). Typically, we have 5 teams of about 5 or 6 people. We also explored new areas in our circle, with some results better than others. Most people were out in the field for more than 5 hours.
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Chippokes Butterfly Count |
This July 12 count tallied 38 species and 713 individuals. Thirty-one butterfliers, including several CVWO volunteers, were in the field. Compiler Teta Kain reports new high counts for Common Wood Nymphs (20) and Ocola Skippers (6). This count is centered at Chippokes State Park in Surry County and includes Jamestown across the James River.
This was the 22nd year for this count!
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Virginia Beach Butterfly Count |
Alice Snyder, compiler for this July 22 count, reports a total of 22 species, 240 individuals and "hot temperatures for a couple days before count and during count with not much rain. There was lots of habitat that was dried up or not blooming due to these circumstances. Fiery Skipper was the most numerous at 67." This was the 4th year for this count.
CVWO volunteers Brian Taber, Gary Driscole, and Adrienne Frank helped count in the Norfolk Botanical Garden where they reported the heat index was 110 degrees!
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Upcoming Butterfly Count at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge - August 26
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Volunteers needed for the Back Bay Butterfly Count. In addition to Back Bay NWR, other areas are:
- Little Island Park and Trail
- Bay Breeze Farms Zinnia plantings on Sandbridge Rd
- Cullipher Farms Zinnia planting on Princess Anne Rd
- Villages at West Neck specific yards and Village Hall
- Ashville Park Neighborhood ponds at the back of neighborhood
- West Neck Natural Area around Buffington House and trail along creek
- North Landing Road area and greenhouses
If you can help out, contact Alice Snyder, compiler for this count.
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Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on August 8 Williamsburg Area Butterfly Count. Photo by Shirley Devan |
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Riding the Wind is a book of essays by CVWO President Brian Taber about birds, birding, and conservation, several of which were previously published. Cover art by our hawkwatcher Anna Stunkel and 20 illustrations by award-winning artist Julie Zickefoose.
For a donation of $20.00 per book (plus $5.00 shipping & handling), email Nancy Barnhart and she will mail a copy out to you.
If you live in the Williamsburg area, you can save shipping and handling by visiting Backyard Birder at 1490 Quarterpath Road, or Wild Birds Unlimited, 4625 Casey Blvd, Suite 300.
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Shopping online more these days? You can support CVWO just by shopping at AmazonSmile. |
It's same Amazon you know and love. Start at www.smile.amazon.com. Log in as you always do and then look for Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory in their list of charities. Amazon donates a small portion of your purchases to CVWO! Easy as that! And thanks! |
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Visit and Share CVWO's New Website!
You'll find information on raptor, butterfly, songbird and waterbird research as well as beautiful photos and rich stories from the field!
And don't forget to support our nonprofit work with your tax-deductible donation! |
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Bridgett Brunea will be a frequent contributor to CVWO's Blog as she reports from the Hawkwatch Platform at Kiptopeke State Park during fall migration. Welcome, Bridgett! |
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