Collage of spring birds by Jim Easton. Can you ID each one? Answers at the bottom of this email.
|
|
Many thanks to all who donated to my “Holly Creek Team” for the May 2 Raptorthon to support our great partner, Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA), where we send our hawk count data from all our locations . This year’s count from my front step and back deck during the quarantine – resulted in 52 species including a surprise Black-throated Green Warbler and Baltimore Oriole. You donated over $275 dollars to HMANA. Many thanks. You can still donate
here
.
|
|
A beautiful glossy edition of our 2019 Annual Report will go in the mail next week – 56 pages of data about our research efforts during our 25
th
Anniversary Year. Plus, over 55 color photos of birds, butterflies, volunteers, and locations around the Coastal Plain of Virginia. Make room on your coffee table for this keepsake issue. If you contributed $25 or more to CVWO in 2018 or 2019 you’ll get one in the mail. Later in the season, we’ll post a link to a soft copy version on our website.
We’re less than two months from our Delmarva Tip Butterfly Count traditionally held the last Sunday in July. We’re working with count coordinator Lynn Davidson to set the final date and establish “social distancing” protocols. A lot depends on the Governor’s guidelines in effect by then. We’ll keep you posted in these eNewsletters, Facebook page, web site, and blog.
CVWO is also working with partners Williamsburg Bird Club and Historic Rivers Chapter VA Master Naturalists to determine the feasibility of erecting Chimney Swift nesting and roosting towers. This is an imperiled species that has responded positively to artificial structures.
June is the month to renew your annual support for CVWO! We can't do anything without you! Many thanks!
|
|
Heather Kenny, CVWO Research Grant Recipient, featured at W&M and Garden Club of Virginia
|
|
 |
Heather Kenny holds one of her study subjects, an Eastern Bluebird.
|
|
 |
 |
Heather Kenny sets up noise equipment near one of the bluebird boxes. Photo by Steve Salpukas.
|
|
 |
|
With assistance from CVWO's Bill Akers Graduate Research Grant in 2019, Heather Kenny has been studying "how anthropogenic noise and personality interact to influence population level structure and trends in suburban Eastern Bluebirds." How do "shy" birds react to high levels of background noise? What about "bold" birds? Heather is studying with Dr. Dan Cristol, Chancellor Professor of Biology at William and Mary.
Heather Kenny will defend her Master's thesis in July at William and Mary. Then she will move on to Boulder, CO to begin her PhD studies at the University of Colorado.
Heather prepared a short video for the virtual Spring Conference of the Garden Club of Virginia which awarded her a conservation fellowship. You can see her video
here.
Best of luck to Heather and congratulations!
|
|
 |
Heather Kenny heads out into the field to set up equipment to study Eastern Bluebirds. Photo by Steve Salpukas.
|
|
 |
|
College Creek Hawkwatch sets record in 2020
|
|
By Nancy Barnhart
The 24th season of College Creek Hawkwatch will come to an end on 5/31/20. A record-breaking March set the stage for a record breaking season.
On May 13 this Turkey Vulture in the photo on the right became the 2353rd bird to pass north over College Creek, breaking the previous record set in 2013. (As of 5/25/20 the total is 2414).
The huge movement of Turkey Vultures all spring drove this record-breaking season. In addition to a big year for these vultures it was an above average year for Bald Eagles (only counting immature birds), Black Vultures, and Cooper’s Hawks, and below average for Ospreys, Sharp-shinned Hawks, Northern Harriers and Red-tailed Hawks.
American Kestrels, Merlins, and Broad-winged Hawks continue to decline.
|
|
A detailed analysis of spring raptor migration by Hawk Migration Association of North America will help us fully understand the state of these birds of prey. Loss of habitat and use of pesticides continue to be significant factors in their decline. The effort to collect and report migration data will help direct conservation efforts and decisions on pesticides and other threats.
|
Turkey Vulture over College Creek Hawkwatch May 13. Photo by Nancy Barnhart.
|
|
Nesting Seabirds are Back in Hampton Roads
|
|
Royal Terns nesting at Rip Raps Island. Photo by Meghan Marchetti, DGIF.
|
|
Royal Tern feeds a chick. Photo by Inge Curtis.
|
|
The conversion of Rip Raps Island, known by many as Fort Wool near the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, has been transformed into nesting habitat for terns and other seabirds who in previous years have nested on the islands of the HRBT. VA Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) worked during the weeks of April and May to convert the historic site to a suitable nesting habitat for terns and other seabirds.
Per web site: "
At the
direction of Governor Ralph Northam
, the DGIF is working to create new habitat for the displaced colony. In the short-term, the DGIF is converting the parade ground on Rip Raps Island (adjacent to South Island) from grass to a sand/gravel substrate. Using barges covered with a sand/gravel mix, it is also creating an artificial island to be anchored in the embayment between South Island and Rip Raps Island. Biologists will use “social attraction” techniques to lure the birds to these new locations. The DGIF is also working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to explore the feasibility of using spoils from dredging operations to create a brand new, permanent, artificial island near the current nesting area. Lastly, the DGIF is developing
regulatory language
that will help protect all migratory birds, as a backstop to the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act."
According to Terri Cuthriell of the VA Society of Ornithology who spearheaded a grass roots
campaign to urge state officials to find a solution, “the fantastic news is that the birds are already inhabiting the island and forming the tightly spaced nesting groups characteristic of these species! The birds arrived right on the normal schedule late March and many have been gathering over the island since their arrival. So, when the alternative habitat was completed, they were ready to begin nesting activities and got right to business!”
You can read much more about what Virginia officials are doing to provide appropriate habitat for these seabirds
here
.
|
|
She's Back! Female Prothonotary Warbler Banded in 2018 Returns to the Same Nest Box on the Powhatan Creek Trail in James City County
|
|
 |
Thanks to Jim Easton’s sharp eye and zoom camera lens, we were able to read enough of the band numbers on a female at box 3 from photos taken May 20 and 21 to determine when she was originally banded. Usually it is extremely difficult to identify a songbird with a band because of the distance from the photographer and the small size of the bands and the numbers.
But
Licensed Bander Shirley Devan delved into her records to determine the possible band numbers and narrow down the possibilities.
|
|
 |
 |
With only two photos, she was able to confirm that the female with the band was originally banded June 24, 2018 at the very same box #3 where she was photographed May 20 and 21. Her band # is 2820-3562.
Prothonotary Warblers have amazing site fidelity and often return year after year to the same area and even the same nest box.
|
|
 |
|
Male Prothonotary Warbler with a band at box 5 on Powhatan Creek Trail in James City County. Photo by Jim Easton.
|
|
As of late May, Gary Driscole and Adrienne Frank report 17 eggs in 4 boxes at Dragon Run. A very low number in comparison to other years. There are none at another location, Big Island. Gary and Adrienne are concerned about low numbers of insects this spring. The Chickadees have fledged.
At Powhatan Creek Trail on May 25, there are new Prothonotary Warbler nests in 3 boxes. Nestlings in box 3 fledged and adults abandoned 5 eggs in box 5.
|
|
Look out for these butterflies appearing in June
|
|
Great Spangled Fritillary. Photo by Jim Easton
|
Ocola Skipper. Photo by Jim Easton
|
Common Wood-nymph. Photo by Shirley Devan
|
|
Ten species of butterflies make their first local appearance in June
|
By Jim Easton
Be on the lookout for:
Family Lycaenidae – Gossamer-winged Butterflies:
- Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus)
Family Nymphalidae – Brush-footed Butterflies:
- Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele)
- Common Wood-nymph (Cercyonis pegala)
Family Hesperiidae – Spread Wing Skippers:
- Hoary Edge (Achalarus lyciades)
- Southern Cloudywing (Thorybes bathyllus)
Sub-family Hesperiidae – Grass Skippers:
- Crossline Skipper (Polites origenes)
- Southern Broken-dash (Wallengrenia otho)
- Northern Broken-dash (Wallengrenia egeremet)
- Rare Skipper (Problema bulenta)
- Ocola Skipper (Panoquina ocola)
|
|
A New and Improved eButterfly
|
|
For the "lep trekkers" out there – sometimes known as butterfly enthusiasts – a new improved version of eButterfly has been released by the Vermont Center for Ecostudies.
Many of us have used eBird for years and have longed for a comparable data entry site for butterflies. So many of us were excited to learn about an improved “eButterfly” web site for our butterfly observations.
Click
here
to access your dormant account or set up a new account.
Then check out the
webinar to learn about the new features and capabilities.
Like eBird, this "completely new and retooled" database will keep track of your locations, checklists, observations, and identifications. Unlike iNaturalist, this database does not require a photo to record an observation. However, if you wish, you can upload up to 5 photos of each species and ask for crowd-based assistance in identification. This is a big improvement for those many citizen scientists who are important cogs in a field so in need of consistent long term data collection.
|
|
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.
|
|
|
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!
|
|
Father's Day is coming up. Get Dad a CVWO Coffee Mug, Water Bottle or Tee Shirt
|
|
|
Now you can show your support for CVWO with your tote bag, coffee mug, water bottle, or t-shirt! A small portion of each purchase comes back to CVWO to support our efforts.
Click over to CVWO's
store on Cafe Press
to see what else is available and the cost. No tax but there is a nominal shipping fee.
|
|
 |
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!
|
|
 |
 |
Brian Taber. Photo by S Devan
|
|
 |
|
Answers to the Photo Collage Quiz
|
|
How many did you guess correctly? Clockwise from upper left: Adult Barred Owl, Barred Owlets, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Tufted Titmouse, Prothonotary Warbler, Red-headed Woodpecker, Northern Parula, and Black-and-white Warbler. In the center, Summer Tanager in top photo; Great Crested Flycatcher on the bottom. Jim Easton photographed all these gems at Powhatan Creek Trail in James City County. Thanks, Jim!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|