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.
Currently, at Kiptopeke State Park, face coverings are required in all park facilities and where social distancing is not possible. Stay up to date on the park's guidelines by checking their
web site
and by checking our
Blog
.
Wingspan of a Golden Eagle = 6 feet = Social Distancing! Photo below by Steve Thornhill
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Golden Eagle. Photo by Steve Thornhill
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By Brian Taber
2020 has turned into a year like no other, but the Kiptopeke Hawkwatch will operate, for the 44
th
consecutive season, daily from September 1 through November, weather permitting. Visitors are always welcome and encouraged to follow the pandemic guidelines on the
Kiptopeke State Park website
.
CVWO has hired an experienced hawkwatcher, Karl Bardon, and an educator/hawkwatch intern, Bridgett Brunea. We’ll also have a Monarch biologist starting September 15.
Bridgett will be updating our blog and social media during the season. So, stayed tuned to for the latest developments and highlights at the Kiptopeke Hawkwatch.
By the way, social distancing is about the wingspan of a Golden Eagle – six feet!
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NOW we need your financial donation so we can fulfill our commitment to these young people. You can
donate safely and quickly on our web site
with your credit card, debit card, or PayPal account. Or use
this form
and mail it in with your check. Here are some suggested levels of giving:
Warbler $25
Sparrow $50
Thrush $100
Falcon $250
Eagle $500 (Life Supporter)
You can also donate to a specific project:
- Kiptopeke Hawkwatch
- Monarch butterfly researchWaterbird 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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Meet CVWO's Hawkwatcher and Educator/Hawkwatch Intern for 2020
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When you visit Kiptopeke State Park this fall, be sure to greet Karl Bardon and Bridgett Brunea on the hawkwatch platform.
KARL BARDON
(top left photo) is CVWO's hawkwatcher for 2020. Karl says he's
"worked at many hawk watches and bird observatories, and I love to count migrating birds."
BRIDGETT BRUNEA
(bottom left photo) was a nurse for five years and began the transition into field biology this year, spending three months as an avian field technician in Sonora, Mexico. In the photo on the left, Bridgett is holding a Broad-billed Hummingbird after it was banded.
As COVID guidelines allow, Karl and Bridgett will be helping visitors ID hawks flying over the platform.
WELCOME, Bridgett and Karl!
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Science Works – Bird Colony Saved!
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We hope you saw the extensive news article in the July 26 Daily Press and Virginian-Pilot about the success of the shift of the nesting seabird colony from Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel to Fort Wool over the last few months.
In case you missed it, here is the
link to the Daily Press article
: "
Against all odds, the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel bird colony is saved," by Joanne Kimberlin.
Thanks to advocates who urged the Commonwealth to take action back in the winter as well as VA Dept of Wildlife Resources (previously VA Dept of Game and Inland Fisheries) and the Department of Transportation, new and better habitat was constructed at nearby Fort Wool just in the nick of time to woo the birds away from the HRBT island.
"Counts have tallied more birds at Fort Wool this year than on the South Island last year, even with more limited space," per the article.
A good news story and an unexpected quick success. Many thanks to CVWO supporters who wrote letters and attended meetings in the winter to urge officials to take quick action.
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Royal Terns and chicks on Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel in previous years. Now they are nesting successfully at Fort Wool. Photo by Inge Curtis.
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Monarch Population Status
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Monarch on lantana. Photo by Jim Easton
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Tagged Monarch. Photo by Michael Ferrara
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There are a number of ways to assess the development of the summer monarch breeding population that lend some predictability to the size of the migratory population. One can use mid-summer numbers gleaned from surveys conducted by the North American Butterfly Association or eggs per stem counts tallied by the Monarch Larval Monitoring Project, or simply follow the chatter about the numbers of adult monarchs and immatures reported on various social media sites and email lists like Dplex-L. All have merit and all have limitations.
I prefer to break down the numbers of first sightings north of 40N from 1 May to 14 June as reported to Journey North. I look for two things, the timing of arrival across the longitudes as well as the numbers arriving, and I look at how those numbers might have been affected by the numbers of first sightings of returning monarchs from 1 March–30 April. In addition, I ask how the weather might have affected recolonization. To that, I add the forecasts for the mean temperatures for the months of June–August. The result is a prediction each July that is correct more often than it is wrong, but there have been some misses and those are both instructive and humbling.
So, what do these metrics suggest for the coming migration?
Actually, the prospects for a reasonably robust migratory population look quite good for the area from central Michigan to 100W in the Dakotas.
The numbers from Michigan to the east coast are likely to be lower than for each of the last two years.
In terms of the timing of arrivals in the northeast east of Toronto in Canada, and most of northern New England, the recolonization this year was the 6th lowest in the last 21 years. That said, this region has surprised me in the past by producing more monarchs than I expected.
Overall, there should be plenty of monarchs to tag this fall and there is a good likelihood that the numbers this winter in Mexico will be higher than in 2019.
If you would like to receive periodic email updates from Monarch Watch, you can
SUBSCRIBE here.
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Hackberry Emperor. Photo by Laura Mae
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Social Distancing. Photo Shirley Devan
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Spicebush Swallowtail. Photo by Laura Mae
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Caterpillar of Black Swallowtail. Photo by Laura Mae.
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CVWO sponsors the Delmarva Butterfly count at the tip of the Eastern Shore
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Butterfly counts look different in the time of Corona virus! Social distancing, masks, and reluctance to travel and carpool combine to reduce the number of participants in many 2020 counts.
The July 26, 2020 Delmarva count had 10 volunteers in the field around the lower portion of Northampton County. Last year 20 volunteers turned out.
Volunteers still found some gems while battling the extreme heat (mid-90s with heat index in around 105!):
- Giant Swallowtail
- Spicebush Swallowtails - many!
- Juniper Hairstreak
- Palamedes Swallowtail
- Tawny Emperor
- Hackberry Emperor
- Checkered Skipper
- Common Sootywing
- Swarthy Skipper
Totals are still being tallied but the species count will likely be around 30. Many thanks to all who endured the heat to count butterflies for science.
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Volunteers ready to go - with masks! Photo by Lisa Nickel
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Juniper Hairstreak at Kiptopeke State Park, always an exciting butterfly to find on a butterfly count. Photo by Lisa Nickel.
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CVWO is now a "Project" in eButterfly
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Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory is now listed as a project in eButterfly!
If you're counting butterflies anywhere on the Coastal Plain of Virginia, you can add your list to the "Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory" project: Accomac County, Northampton County, Mathews County, Gloucester County, Newport News, Hampton, Williamsburg, York County, James City County, Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
We're in the height of butterfly season now and encourage you to record your observations in eButterfly - no matter where you are.
eButterfly is sponsored by the Vermont Center for Ecostudies.
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.
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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.
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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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You know you need a new tee shirt and tote bag for the summer! Order one of each today!
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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.
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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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Jim Easton is a frequent contributor to CVWO's Blog and he is generous in sharing his stunning photos of birds and butterflies. THANKS, JIM!
Photo by S Devan
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