Event Category: Past Meetings

Meetings are held the third Wednesday of January-May and September-November currently via Zoom. Meetings are free and open to the public.

February 21 Meeting: Bryan Watts “Eagles of the Chesapeake”

The Chesapeake Bay Bald Eagle breeding population has recovered from fewer than 80 breeding pairs during the early 1970s to more than 3,000 breeding pairs today. We monitored the Virginia portion of the population for more than 60 years. Information from the survey and many associated projects has painted a magnificent ecological portrait of this iconic species. I will talk about the unique character of the Chesapeake Bay, the recovery of the Bald Eagle population, and how the ecology of the population has shifted over time.

Join us at 7:00 p.m. at the Quarterpath Recreation Center, Meeting Room 2, 202 Quarterpath Road, Williamsburg or via Zoom.

 

January Field Trip: Dutch Gap, January 20

The first Williamsburg Bird Club field trip of 2024 will be to Dutch Gap Conservation Area in Chester, Virginia on Saturday, January 20.  Rose Ryan will lead our trip, which usually focuses on wintering waterfowl.  And the ducks are there – recent postings in eBird show 9-11 species. In addition, the brushy areas along the inlet road provide good cover for sparrows and other passerines. Last year, the group identified 54 species in total.

We’ll meet in the parking lot of the Henricus Historical Park at 9 a.m., and bird through most of the morning. FYI, I’m not planning to organize carpooling on this field trip.  The address in Google Maps is 251 Henricus Park Road, Chester, VA 23836. 

January Meeting: Dixie Sommers “Exploring the Birds and Islands of New Zealand” *ZOOM only*

Join us on the 17th to go birding in New Zealand with Dixie Sommers! New Zealand’s geologic and human history have yielded a unique set of birds. The islands are far from other land masses, were created by tectonic and volcanic processes, occupied by humans relatively recently, and are, of course, islands. All these factors encourage evolution of endemic plants and animals, including many endemic birds: five kiwi species, two endemic penguins, the odd-looking Wrybill, the ubiquitous Tūī, the South Island Takahē —the world’s largest  extant rail—and many more.

There are also many migratory seabirds as well as introduced species, including some familiar to Virginia birders.

Dixie will introduce us to New Zealand’s birds, its
 conservation challenges and successes, and its beautiful land and seascapes. She visited in November 2022, exploring the North and South Islands as well as Stewart Island, on a tour with Field Guides Birding Tours, as well as spending a week around Auckland before the tour.

November Meeting: Rexanne Bruno “Christmas Bird Counts in Williamsburg, in Virginia, and Beyond.”

Join us as Rexanne Bruno, the VA/DC Regional Editor for Christmas Bird  Counts (CBCs), entertains us with facts (and fiction) on the history and records from CBCs in the area plus tells us how we can get involved in the Williamsburg CBC.

Since Nov 15th is our last meeting of the year, try to come in person if you are able, and bring your loudest singing voice! We will be trying out an original song entitled “Twelve Days of Feeder Watch” AKA “One Carolina Chickadee” 
 

Please contact us for the Zoom link if you do not get the WBC email