Mahogany Rock Hawk Watch

On September 23, thirty seventh graders from Grayson County Public Schools attended the Mahogany Rock Hawk Watch to experience the niche dedication of Hawk Counters and the mass migration of Broad-winged Hawks. Jim Keighton from the Blue Ridge Birders has been recording the migration of birds of prey for nearly twenty years! Each fall Jim sets up his swivel chair and interpretive displays along the parkway and begins scanning the sky. Not only does he diligently track the migration but he also takes the time to educate the passerby about the migration occurring overhead. 

These seventh graders got to enjoy the migration of eagles, falcons and broad-winged hawks while spending the day with local birding experts and the treasure trove of knowledge they carry. By participating in this citizen science project the students learned how to count and record data, how to identify species, how to use binoculars and spotting scopes, learned about migration patterns and techniques, but most importantly they were introduced to phenomenal bird migration happening right in their backyards. 

Many thanks to Jim Keighton and his long standing stewardship of the bird populations of the Blue Ridge.

BRDC Partners with Grayson County Schools

We are pleased to announce our partnership with Grayson County Public Schools to connect local youth to the Blue Ridge through hands-on programs with students, providing grade specific SOL’s and STEM learning concepts.  The $10,000 award from Grayson County Schools for the 2016-17 school year, supported by matching funds and volunteer support from BRDC, will reach students across the school system and enrich the public school experience through hands-on and interest-driven activities.  

BRDC will engage students at several grade levels, utilizing proven programs that teach critical thinking skills through independent learning opportunities, and integrate field trips that introduce our youth to the amazing resources in their backyards. These programs will provide creative and fun opportunities for students to engage their surroundings, look closer, question, and share their findings with others while exploring the wonders in their backyards, parks, forests, fields, rivers and mountains.

BRDC will offer a variety of programs including a reading program for Kindergarden-2nd grade that will encourage student’s curiosity and builds relationships with the natural world, while enhancing listening and reading comprehension skills.  Focusing on nature discovery using nonfiction, imaginative tales and hands on activities, the program will bring the treasures of the Blue Ridge to life in the classroom and excite the students’ minds.

4th grade students will participate in The Natural Heritage Program, exploring all aspects of the natural history of the Blue Ridge mountains. Through classroom sessions and field trips, students will study plants and animals in their environment.  Through observation and discovery, they will deepen their connection to the region we call home. 

Avian Adventures, a citizen science project for 7th graders, will increase awareness of the rich, diverse avifauna of the Blue Ridge region.  The program will provide an in-depth study on all aspects of bird life and the potential life-long hobby of birding, and inspire students to become more familiar with the creatures in their own backyards and beyond.

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High school students will integrate science and art with a detailed, species specific, illustration study called Blue Ridge Illustrated.  Students will explore an area and through observation, specimen sampling, and field sketching, collecting information on the flora or fauna of the area.  The students will investigate the life history of the specimens through detailed drawings, literature, and observation.  The result is deep engagement with the subject and pride in the end piece of artwork.

Other programs include Trout in the Classroom, an interdisciplinary program for 7th grade combining science, social studies, and math, where students raise trout from eggs to fingerlings for release in the spring; The National Fishing in the Schools Program teaches 9th graders life sciences by investigating water quality and introducing students to the hobby of fly fishing; a Bio-survey for High School Biology or Ecology, where students learn how to conduct a scientific research project from hypothesis, through protocol and implementation, to publication; and an annual Science Fair.  

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All of these programs explore the rich diversity of the Blue Ridge and help students appreciate these resources, developing critical thinking skills, and inspire deeper engagement in the natural world.

Students explore the life of birds through BRDC's Avian Adventures

Galax Middle School Enrichment Week (June 15-19)

Avian Adventures

On Monday afternoon William Roberts (board member of Blue Ridge Discovery Center and Scott Jackson-Ricketts (program director of BRDC) introduced the art of birding to Mark Robinson’s biology enrichment class. After sharing names and a getting-to-know-one-another session, we began by holding up bird flash cards to determine what birds, if any, the students recognized. We followed with handing out bird field guides and giving the students a chance to familiarize themselves with how to use the guides. From there we showed Cornell’s All About Birds website, where we listened to a variety of bird songs and calls. The kids were given a chance to choose what bird they would like to hear and view videos of. We also introduced the ‘I Wonder’ board, upon which the students could attach any questions they might have relating to birds.

In preparation for going outside, we reviewed how to use binoculars, including the importance of adjustments specific to the user. Mr. Robinson suggested we head down below the school to a shady area surrounding a grave yard. And so, we launched our field identifications that would comprise much of the rest of our week.

Tuesday, William, Brenda Bonk (president of BRDC), and Scott joined Mr. Robinson and his class at the Matthews State Forest. We set up a field station, brought out the binoculars and field guides, and after handing out clipboards with data collection sheets, we chose a trail and started listening to and looking for birds. Our first bird of the day was an indigo bunting, of which every person got great views. We listened to a red-eyed vireo who remained hidden, got close looks at the tufted titmouse, and learned the song of the towhee as well as watching it sing.

Back at our field station we wrote down our notes, what birds we saw and/or heard and where. For a mid-afternoon break, we opened up the bird parts box and brought out wings, skulls and feet of a variety of avian critters.  The students were able to compare great horned owl skulls and wings with its much smaller cousin, the Eastern screech owl. We examined turkey, great blue heron and Northern flicker parts, which brought up discussions on niche, habitat, and adaptation. For instance, the kids showed great interest in how birds specialize in food acquisition, paying close attention to the difference between the heron’s bill and feet and those features of the owl.

We spent the remainder of our allotted time taking to another trail, but this time each kid chose a bird for themselves to find. We had three hits: blue jay, Northern cardinal and a crow.

Wednesday, we met in the MSF Headquarters parking lot to start birding in a different habitat. Here we found Northern mockingbird, Northern flicker, European starling and red-winged blackbirds. We hiked to our field station, spent some time on writing down our data, and then took a trail to the open field surrounding the fire tower. Along the trail we picked up a scarlet tanager who was so cooperative that everyone was able to focus through their binoculars on him as he sang away. Exclamations from the students were appropriately, “Wow, that’s beautiful, so pretty”, etc. We heard and then found a Carolina wren, several blue jays, and crows; and after returning to base camp, listened to both an ovenbird and a wood thrush.

Changing pace, Brenda and I shared the wonders of owl pellets, spreading out charts, toothpicks, tweezers, magnifying glasses and tightly wrapped pellets. Each student was given two pellets to dissect, while we explained what exactly is a pellet and what to expect. Surprisingly, not one of the kids had ever encountered an owl pellet before, so they found this exercise especially interesting. One student had 5 small mammal skulls in his first pellet, a record in our experience.

We also made time to go over the wonder board and encouraged the students to ask more questions.

On Thursday, under Mr. Robinson’s sound suggestion, we met at the other end of the MSF, off of White Pine Road, and set up our field station in the shade on the forest road. Just down the road from there, a bridge crosses over a small creek running through a sycamore stand and offering us another contrasting habitat. The kids were somewhat distracted by the creek, where they discovered a baby turtle, an enormous crayfish, and a few small ticks. The surprise bird for that hike was a hooded warbler, who also gave everyone a chance to get good looks. It sang the entire time we were down there.

Returning to our field station and water chest, we were entertained by several red-bellied woodpeckers, most likely a family of very active juveniles. We took a break, with Brenda attaching bird cards to each student’s back. Then each student was instructed to ask questions such as, am I blue, am I a small bird, is my bill long or short, and so on, which the other students answered. Eventually the birds were identified.

For our last walk of the week, we headed down off the forest road and onto a foot path which Brenda was familiar with. Mostly winding through the woods and changing elevation, this meandering path offered up our only chance at a pileated woodpecker. It called and honked, coming closer, but never close enough to see. For consolation, we pulled out the field guides to show each other what that bird looked like.

Friday, we met outside behind the high school, set up our tent and tables, and commenced building bird houses and feeders that William and I had previously kitted out. It took all hands on deck to supervise this project, which required the use of power screwdrivers, screws, nails and paint. Eventually every student had either a feeder or a wren house.

For the third time, the kids were shown the flash cards…and amazingly…most of them now knew the names of most of the common birds. We then played the same game from yesterday, with similar success. As another step in committing their birding experience to memory, we had each student draw a bird of their choice, and all managed to accomplish that task.

The grand finale combined the sharing of National Geographic’s Birds of Paradise book, full of dazzling photos of these incredible tropical birds, and our wonder board questions. For instance, one of the questions was why male birds are colorful while females by contrast are drab. This gave rise to how could the birds of paradise get away with such outlandish and bright displays. The answer, to some degree, is that those particular species in their habitats are relatively free from predatory pressures, thus allowing the males to be selected by the females creating subsequent generations of increased attractiveness. I think the kids got it, though one of the boys could not get over why the males spent so much time and effort trying to gain the attention of such drab mates.

We tallied 25 species which is not bad during hot afternoons at this time of year.

Wrapping up 2015 Bird Sleuth program at Grayson County High School

We had two working classes: Becky Absher’s ecology and Deb Greif’s/Kathy Davis' math analysis. Working with both classes from March through April, Blue Ridge Discovery Center focused on acquainting the students with local birds, their habitats and behavior. Starting in early March, we divided up our instruction time between in-class studies and outdoor walks behind the school. Through Cornell’s Lab of Ornithology curriculum, called Bird Sleuth, we watched a series of videos dedicated to the skills of bird id and natural history. Outside, along Stinky Creek, we set up a few bird feeders to draw in common feeder birds, giving us the opportunity to put our new-found skills to test.

When the weather turned to warmer days, we initiated a series of field trips to offer the kids a chance to observe birds in different habitats while giving them ideas for developing their hypotheses, a crucial component of this program. We began at the Grayson County Recreation Park, moving on to the Matthews State Forest and Don Philen’s farm in Baywood. Our last field trips were held at the Cox’s Chapel Low Water Bridge.

As questions morphed into hypotheses, the students created a series of observable phenomena as presented:

• There are more small birds than large birds (small and large defined by the study groups)

• There are more birds found in a coniferous forest than a hardwood forest

• The dimorphism displayed by birds of the same species is mostly explained by sex

On May 21, Greif and Kathy Davis held a presentation ceremony for their class, (while Absher’s class had previously conducted an internal review). What follows is a series of photos from the ceremony, in celebration of the student’s hard work. BRDC is appropriately grateful for the chance to work inside the public schools with such support at Absher, Greif and Davis have offered. We are also grateful to the kids who, regardless of their inherent interest in birds, go away with an experience that they will never forget.

And to top off the ceremony, as she did last year, Deb Greif made a bird cake!

Recent BRDC activities: Farm Days and the Carolina Raptor Center

On the 22nd and 23rd of May, busloads of grade-school kids flowed through a variety of activities at the Matthews Living History Farm Museum. They were treated to live music, story-telling, farm animals, historical farm equipment, a real vegetable garden and insect explorations. Blue Ridge Discovery Center provided kids with bug nets, capture boxes and magnifying lenses for closer viewing.

We fanned out across a couple of open fields, swept the nets willy-nilly and then inspected our catch.

A variety of spiders, true bugs, beetles, small wasps and bees, grasshoppers, moths and other catches kept us all quite busy.

On hand were a few field guides and one expert, Dr. Robert Perkins.

Without a doubt, the kids enjoyed this exploration…if screams and squeals are any indication of excitement.

We would like to thank the Farm Museum for the invite to share in this event, and a special thanks goes to our able assistants Deborah Shell, Isaac and Dalton Edwards along with their friend Dylan…who helped us keep the nets inspected and the captured bugs contained.

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As a grand finale to BRDC’s Avian Adventures Bird Sleuth program, most of the students who participated were treated to a field trip to the Carolina Raptor Center on May 27

th

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Sarah Osborne, Carol Broderson, William Roberts and myself were extras in the mix, along with the teachers and the illustrious Ken Ogle, bus driver.

It was a great pleasure to see so many of our AA participants get the chance to view the variety of raptors on the center’s grounds.

The CRC combines education and rehabilitation.

Most of the birds that end up at the CRC are eventually released, and those whose injuries prevent their return to the wild, (but are not terminal), remain on site in habitat cages for the public to see and learn about.

Significant to the educational component is an emphasis on how humans impact the raptor world.

Injuries are mostly either directly or indirectly the result of habitat alteration by people (think cars and power lines).

Owls are well represented as are many hawks and falcons.

We saw vultures, crows and ravens (not raptors)…Northern harrier, osprey, golden and bald eagles, peregrine falcon (the fastest animal in the world), and many more species.

This was a nice wind-up to our winter bird study.

After the initial presentation and before we took our walk about the grounds, many of the students asked questions…always a good sign that someone is paying attention!

Scott Jackson-Ricketts

Bird Sleuth: Chapter 2

After weeks of often interrupted effort, snow, sleet and hail held off for Bird Sleuth's grand finale on Friday, March 21st.  Bird Sleuth, an educational tool box designed by Cornell's Lab of Ornithology is a project managed under Avain Adventures, a BRDC program.  Eight study groups from two Grayson County High School classrooms offered their presentations to each other, their teachers, and a delegation of school dignitaries.  Ms. Greif made the celebratory cake seen above.  And below, we observe the students working on their presentations.

The work process combined indoor research and outdoor observation and experimentation.  Each group followed through on their question and hypothesis, and after collecting enough data to either support or negate their educated guess, they then began work on their final product...the presentation. Among the study topics were comparisons of bird eyes to human eyes (most avian bird vision is superior to human), choices birds made on food offerings (difficult to assess due to the aforementioned weather interruptions and mammal disturbances to the feeders), what causes lie behind same sex behavior in birds (found to be mostly normal), and do birds have bellybuttons (only in the egg sac).  What always needs to be understood under the scientific method is:  all results are of value, regardless of whether the hypothesis is proven or not.  The absence of data is data.  There are no 'right' answers.

All but one presentation was delivered through PowerPoint.  The group above chose to create a poster with hand drawn pictures of the focus birds.  Michael is the artist, seen at the left.

In the educational tradition of BRDC, journaling and sketching as documentation tools were encouraged...as was spending as much time outdoors as possible.  The group below is studying a song sparrow and its flight style (as compared to the black vulture).  Both species were commonly seen on or above the school campus, and provided strong comparisons between a bird with small wings and one with large wings.

 So, on Friday, it all came together.  Shannon Holdaway (school board member), Stephen Cornett (

Director of Instruction and Assessment), Brandi M.Ray (principal of GCHS) and Kevin Chalfant (Grayson County School Superintendent) made up our delegation of dignitaries, and we were all pleased that they had and made the time to be there!  Mr. Cornett converses with Allen (student) below.

Again, we wish first to thank the teachers who were willing to share their classrooms with us...Deborah Greif, Becky Absher and Kathy Davis, along with back-up from Sheila Jones.  From BRDC, besides myself, we had support through our volunteer in Carol Broderson and guide Sarah Osborne.  A huge gratitude goes to the Jack Matthews Foundation for their trust in BRDC through generous funding.  And finally, THANKS, KIDS!  You were great.

Scott Jackson-Ricketts

Executive Director

Blue Ridge Discovery Center

Bird Sleuth, chapter one

Bird Sleuth is a program designed by Cornell's Lab of Ornithology (http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Page.aspx?pid=1478).  Blue Ridge Discovery Center decided to offer a first run of this investigative and hands-on citizen science project to two classes at Grayson County High School.  Through the able assistance of Rebecca Absher, Deborah Greif and Kathy Davis, we launched Bird Sleuth on the 13th of January.  As all teachers in the Blue Ridge understand, weather events conflict with continuity and focus, but we have persevered to the best of our abilities. 

Bird Sleuth is based on birds, naturally, and begins by giving the students some investigative tools, including a basic understanding of how data is collected and documented.  For our work at GCHS, we studied narratives of real scientists, what excited them, and how they went about their work.  Inside of these first steps, we learned about creating a hypothesis based upon targeted curiosity, various forms of graphs and other data assimilation devices, and how to walk through the mounting accumulation of evidence.

Then the students must devise their own questions, hypotheses and methods of investigation.  Documentation and end-products will eventually be shared with the community as well as the Lab of Ornithology.

An important aspect of any BRDC sponsored program is to spend as much time outdoors as possible.  Our other philosophical advocacy is to give kids/students/audience a stake in the learning process. To that end, Bird Sleuth seemed a perfect fit.  Scientific investigations require a combination of skills, including components of observation, experiment, and research. Depending on what each group of kids decides, their investigation might weigh heavily on one or two aspects, but rarely on all three.

Each class divided itself into these smaller groups, in order to remain both intimate and manageable.  As classes, we explored the school campus with an eye to the habitats that might be more productive bird-wise, while scoping out relatively good places to hang bird feeders for closer examination of what species were readily available for closer study. 

Behind the school, a small branch runs the entire length, and along the edges on one side are scrubby vines, small bushes and trees, thickets of brambles such as blackberry, and on the other side, a decent wood lot rises up the hill.  We labeled the branch 'Stinky Creek' for good reason, and that is where the avian action was happening and where we placed our first and most productive feeder.  Nearby we hung another feeder behind the nurses' station in a more open area.  Since initially choosing these feeder spots we have added some behind the ball stadium and further up the hill in a more defined wooded area.  It was gratifying to witness how quickly the feeders were discovered.  Keeping them full of seed has become another good reason for a walk outside, and while we walk along the trails, parking lots and ball field, we always keep an eye to the skies for soaring birds. 

At this time, all of our groups have decided upon an hypothesis and will soon begin their chosen investigations.  Stay tuned for chapter two.  And lest we forget, this is supposed to be fun!

We wish to thank our volunteers and guides Carol Broderson, Sarah Osborne and Sheila Jones...and a special thanks goes to our sponsors through the Jack M. Matthews Foundation. 

Hawk Watching with Galax High School

Mahogany Rock Hawk Watch with Galax HS Biology Students. On September 24th, BRDC hosted this year’s final Avian Adventures program at Mahogany Rock Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Teachers Emily Brown and Sam Starkey brought 12 kids for a day of hawk observations and discussions on migration.BRDC guides William Roberts and Scott Jackson-Ricketts began the program with a focus on a map, compass and questions about migratory patterns and the dynamics of energy saving flight techniques.

As the sun’s warmth was dissipating the fog and heating up the valley, we talked about thermals, which are columns of rising air caused by this heating up process.

For more in depth information on this phenomenon see:

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/HawkPrimer.html.

William and Scott also brought a box of raptor wings, talons and skulls (courtesy of the Carolina Raptor Center and William), giving the kids an opportunity to study up close the details and differences.

From the great horned owl to an Eastern screech owl, red-tailed hawk to a sharp-shinned hawk, we passed the parts around while referring to our hand-out guides, reminding everyone that shape and silhouette would be our key identification tools for the day…along with behavioral distinctions.

Wrapping up the primer session, we set up scopes, distributed binoculars and field guides and began to scan the skies.

We were not disappointed, and in fact, had a very good day.

Starting out slowly, with small numbers of broadwing hawks popping up over the ridge, eventually kettles (groups of birds that rise within the thermals) began to appear off in the distance.

Interspersed with the expected broadwings we also observed a couple of sharp-shinned hawks, a red-tailed hawk or two, one osprey high overhead, resident ravens, and both turkey and black vultures.

The culture of hawk-watching began as a protest and replacement for hawk gunning, a sport that has fortunately died out in the USA.

All over the world, but especially in North America, folks gather in the spring and fall to observe and count migrating hawks.

Carefully collecting the necessary data, including day, time, temperature, wind and other weather related information, hawk watching has grown from just a pleasurable past time to a serious effort to assess population trends and changing behavioral patterns.

BRDC would like to thank Jim Keighton and Blue Ridge Birders for their work as station monitors of Mahogany Rock, and for sharing the hand-outs, maps and space.

We also would like to thank the Matthews Foundation for their ongoing support through Avian Adventures.

Scott Jackson-Ricketts

President, BRDC

Joy Ranch field trip

Today, BRDC brought six young people, one mom and one staff member to the Music Center, and/or Fisher's Peak along the Blue Ridge Parkway for a walk in the park.  Through our Avian Adventures Program we aimed to hear and find birds, who are winding down their typical territorial and breeding behavior, yet we managed to find indigo buntings, red-eyed vireo, field sparrows, a broad winged hawk and hooded warbler. 

Along the trail, which passed through the woods but also clung to the edges of a field, we paid attention to details of our wet summer.  Along with birds, we found several other interesting features, including this snail.

The evidence of birds and their actions on the landscape were illustrated by the combination of our continuing loss of the hemlocks through the wooly adelgid's impact, (http://pacificgateworks.com/details.asp?ProdID=24132&gclid=CPmZq8TaqrgCFciY4AodbzsAcA), and our fungal and local woodpeckers' natural response through their exploitation of vegetable matter and insects that colonize a dying and dead tree.

From time to time, we paused to listen to the few birds that were still singing, and Eric Harrold (program director) offered informed descriptions of our surroundings and ecological connections.  He pointed out the

categories based upon public land use, from one extreme of 'look but don't touch' to the other of hunting and fishing.  The Blue Ridge Parkway is under the domain of our National Park Service, and differs from the State Parks and the Virginia Dept. of Conservation and Recreation, which employs Eric.   

As we began our return trek to the parking area, our view offered a comparison of wetlands easily distinguished from the drier field grasses surrounding them.

These ecologically important systems offer a special abundance of a different variety of species both plant and animal.  We marveled at the difference water makes, within such a relatively small area.

Here are two pictures of insects encountered along the way:

 The dragon-fly is the common white-tail, not sure about the beetles. 

And, finally, here is the crew!  Thanks to the Matthews Foundation and Joy Ranch for another fun morning of discovery.

Scott Jackson-Ricketts

President, BRDC

Birding at Grayson Highlands State Park

Birding with campers at Grayson Highlands State Park 6/29/13 Julie Slater, intern at GHSP, and Blue Ridge Discovery Center have joined forces for a series of on-site programs this summer and fall. (See previous blogs regarding the currency of this association through BRDC’s Fish Bugs program.) Our choice of study for this program was Sullivan Swamp (defined as an Appalachian shrub bog), with a strong focus on birds. However, we took along the data sheet created through Devin Floyd’s 2012 BRDC SiteSection survey as a handy back-up.

Julie had done the preliminary work of rounding up some eager campers, giving us 4 adults and 4 young children. This was a good crowd, really just the perfect size for spending a couple of hours in a sensitive ecosystem. One of the parents was a botanist, who works with the Shenandoah National Park…an added perk.

Eric Harrold, through Avian Adventures, led the walk. As seen in the photos, we had some very young kids, but they were up for crawling through the twisted rhododendrons, squishing through deep dark mud, and rock hopping. Our determined aim was to find alder flycatcher and saw-whet owl, neither of which gave us the pleasure. But we had plenty of entertainment in the reliable chestnut-sided warbler, common yellowthroat, cedar waxwing, Eastern towhee, spittle bug, silky willow, cinnamon fern, sphagnum moss and just the pleasure of spending some time in an exotic landscape. What always becomes obvious is that kids love the adventure of discovery. Given that all four parents were in tune with this need and desire, we took our time as magnifying glasses, tactile moments, and questions became part of our collective experience.

For those who would like to study a bit more on the definition of bog versus swamp, start here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bog

Scott Jackson-Ricketts

Birding at Joy Ranch

Joy Ranch 6/28/13

Joy Ranch is “a Christian multi-service child care agency in Virginia providing homes for children who cannot or should not be in their own homes”. Eric Harrold, program director for Avian Adventures, offered the educational services of Blue Ridge Discovery Center to the Executive Director of Joy Ranch, Tim Lewis, and their program director Mary Hutchins through a series of conversations and visits. Our offer was well received. To see more on the ongoing work of Joy Ranch, please refer to: joyranch.org Much like the approach we took at Camp Dickenson, the kids were given brief instructions on identification strategies, and off we went on a hike. Birds were located, described in journals, and discussed in the field. We began by listening and watching birds close to the chapel where we gave our orientation. Then, some of those who knew the campus, took us to a barn swallow nest.

From there we skirted the open areas around the buildings, finding a few species in trees, on the ground and way up in the sky. Occasionally, Eric played call back songs to draw some birds closer. When we took a trail into the surrounding woods, this effort brought the kids close up looks at an oven bird and later, a Carolina wren.

One resident family, who had first met Eric at one of his library presentations, drew us behind their house where multiple feeders were arrayed. Hummingbirds and house finches were added to our list at that spot. The day was growing warmer and quieter, and many of the kids were getting tired. The ages ranged from approximately 4 to 16, so we had quite a spread of attention span requirements. We hurried back to the chapel for our follow-up identification, pulling out the Sibley’s field guides and reviewing our notes.

Many of the kids really perked up during this session, and worked diligently to find the birds that matched their memory and notes.

Our list is in order of discovery and as follows:

• Song sparrow

• Northern mockingbird

• American crow

• Eastern bluebird

• Turkey vulture

• Northern cardinal

• Ovenbird

• Carolina wren

• Blue jay

• Ruby-throated hummingbird

• House finch

• Barn swallow

• Helmeted guineafowl

• Domestic chicken

• Field sparrow

During the identification process, we addressed several questions, including what kinds of employment are available for the avid bird-watcher/ornithologist, and some discussion on why male songbirds, especially, have such intense plumage.

Eric played the songs and calls of a variety of birds, both seen and heard during our walk and those closely related…giving perspective to comparisons. This seems to always capture the attention of an audience. Winding up, outside the chapel Eric discovered a house finch nest in a hanging plant under the portico. Pulling it down, those of us who were still present, got to see four house finch eggs and one larger egg, clearly not of the same species.

Cowbird was the consensus.

Cowbirds, native to North America, were so named because of their nomadic life-style, following bison herds in pre-Columbian days, seeking the insect bounty stirred up by large roaming beasts. Because they were always on the move, they developed the strategy of laying their eggs in other birds’ nests to be foster reared. Now that there are no longer roaming herds of anything, they have become a much more serious parasite on a wider range of nesting songbirds due to their more sedentary lifestyle. The newly hatched cowbirds are typically larger, and outcompete the host’s offspring, sometimes even to the degree of kicking the other eggs and nestlings to the ground and certain death. What is even more interesting in this instance is that house finches are not native to Eastern North America, but from our western states. They were sold as cage birds, and as usual, it only took a few escapees to establish a new population in a relatively predator free zone.

For a while, at least.

Scott Jackson-Ricketts

Camp Dickenson

Through Eric Harrold's tireless outreach, BRDC is now engaged with the Methodist Camp Dickenson here in Grayson County with a series of summer programs focused on birds and ecology.  Avian Adventures made its first foray last Thursday, June 13th, and along with guide Scott Jackson-Ricketts, Eric led a group of 13 kids for a walk around the riverside property.

We began by meeting in 'the old farm house' where we shared a few tips on bird identification techniques, and instructed the kids to take detailed field notes on what we might find to apply to the field guides upon our return.  We began by climbing a small hill above the camp grounds, wandering through a fairly recent timber cut, along a wide trail.  Stopping along the way, we found several early-succession adapted bird species, including indigo bunting, Eastern towhee, prairie warbler, and Carolina wren, while tree swallows, barn swallows, chimney swifts, crows, turkey vultures, blue jays and one pileated woodpecker offered fly-by observations.

It was Eric's intention to not name the birds while we hiked along.  At each observation opportunity, we helped the kids home in on the strongest and most unique features of each species, so that they brought back with them enough information to make a stab at identification.  As it turned out, this approach worked really well for our teenage group.  After the hike, we regrouped in the farm house and followed through with Sibley's book, and engaged in a lively constructive conversation with lots of smart questions.

With a little time still left over before lunch, we took a short walk down to the New River, and had luck with one orchard oriole, Eastern king bird, nesting red-winged blackbirds, and a raft of Canada geese.  Next Thursday, we will start at 7am, two hours earlier, in hopes of catching some of the dawn chorus and more activity.

Again, we wish to thank the Matthews Foundation for supporting this educational opportunity, and a special thanks to Michael Snow, director of Camp Dickenson.

Scott Jackson-Ricketts

Classroom preparation

BRDC High School Birding Presentations

On May 23

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, Eric Harrold, with assistance from Scott Jackson-Ricketts, gave a brief introduction to bird identification and field guide use to five high school classes at Galax City High School.

All presentations were organized by Ms. Emily Brown and held in her classroom.

88 young people participated.

Eric had the kids use the Sibley’s Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America, by showing them slides of certain species for them to find in the guide.

While the kids thumbed through the field guide, he pointed out the basics of field identification, including plumage, silhouette, habitat, behavior and other clues to sorting out one bird from the next.

Contained in the slide show was a live connection to Cornell’s Lab or Ornithology website, allowing the kids to hear bird songs and make further comparisons.

This, especially, caught their attention…listening to the wide variety of bird noises.

This effort was all in preparation for a field trip slated for the next day, in Grayson Highlands State Park, where a select group would try out their new found skills.

(See previous post.)

Scott Jackson-Ricketts

Avian Adventures in the classroom

On Wednesday, February 13th, the day after our BRDC led field trip to Burkes Garden, Eric and I spent the entire day in Emily Brown's classroom introducing BRDC and birding through Avian Adventures to all five classes.  (Refer to previous post.)

We used Sam Starkey's (a supporting science teacher also from Galax High School) photos for the focus of our presentation.  In the picture above, we have from left to right:  Bill Sturgill, Eric, and Emily...along with rapt students.  Eric referred to the target birds we discovered on Tuesday, and extrapolated from there to discuss behavior, plumage, feeding strategies, habitat, migratory events, and associated land use practices within the garden.

We engaged the students by taking questions...many of which were quite sophisticated...and attempted to answer them.  Emily instructed each student to respond on paper how interested they were in becoming involved in this program, who would be willing to make time for field trips, and who among them might be available for supporting an art component. 

Eric and I are convinced that we have in Emily, Sam and the school staff, a enthusiastic group through which to work.  We are honored to be invited into the Galax City School system, and look forward to more field trips and related programs.

Below are two more pictures from the field trip day...rolling along!

Scott Jackson-Ricketts

A Foggy Brown Thrasher & Other Fog Birds

Imagine this posting begins with a digital photo. It is a picture of fog freezing on tall sycamores, on scruffy box elders beside a boat landing in a city park. Pretend that you hear something slapping its wings on river water: four small ducks edging just above the muddy river surface, then vanishing because the fog is so thick.

I don't have a photo, and even if I had a camera, I think the scene would be a mere blur no matter how much I played with the image on photo shop. But I did hear the water scurry sound. And the ducks came back and wanted to hug against the shore. I wanted them to be Blue-winged Teal. They were not. They were three female Hooded Mergansers, close enough that I could see their rusty punk style head plumage. The other duck was a male Wood Duck.

I saw almost no other birds except a strange crowded flock of tree swallows huddled on an electric wire, and these would vanish and reappear frequently even though they didn't fly anywhere...the fog was swirling about them, sort of owning them.

But the real reason I went to Riverview Park this morning...to keep an annual appointment. I went there just before daylight to listen for a brown thrasher. One has always shown up out of nowhere around the 25th to 28th of March, right here some place in a patch of honeysuckle and berry brambles.

I wasn't disappointed. One brown thrasher cranked right up, first sound was more like a cough melting into a growl, and all of it as if wrenched through ice and cloud. Then the songs came, three full minutes nonstop. They were doublets of mimicry, one rendition a towhee's chewink call, another the pitter pitter of a titmouse. And right with the thrasher song at that point a titmouse sang several times. Then the thrasher sang a sort of squished up version of the song of a white-eyed vireo.

Imagine the brown thrasher there, singing, mostly hidden, wrapped in fog. The brambles are just starting to open their leaf buds. The leaf buds are coated in ice. I wish I had a picture for you. Hope you have one anyway.