Rockbridge Bird Cub has invited UVA Professor Victor Laubach to give a talk on birding software applications and demonstrate how two of the more popular apps – eBird and Merlin – can “enhance your birding experience.”
 
The interactive program is scheduled for next Tuesday (April 8) in the Piovanno Room at Rockbridge Regional Library starting at 6:45 pm with a social gathering followed by the presentation at 7:00. All Bird Club-sponsored programs are free and open to the public.
 
Laubach will share his experience using eBird and Merlin, free apps created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. He’ll show how he uses eBird to record and manage his own bird sightings, then demonstrate how the Merlin app uses eBird data to help identify birds, especially by their songs and calls.

Rather than show slides, Laubach will use live, online interaction to show how to use eBird and Merlin in the field on a mobile device. The presentation is meant to be more of an introductory "workshop" on the basics of both of these popular birding apps.
 
Laubach is a Professor of Surgery at the the University of Virginia School of Medicine, where he runs a lab that studies lung transplantation. He is currently Vice-President of the Augusta Bird Club and Coordinator of the Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch in Afton.
 
An avid birder, Laubach has been using the eBird and Merlin apps since they were introduced by the Cornell Lab in 2002 and 2014, respectively. He currently has 5,807 eBird checklists and 711 species sightings worldwide, including 4,275 checklists and 267 species sightings in Augusta County alone.

Dick Rowe, VMI biology professor & Club ornithologist, will be our leader.  We expect to hear and see a variety of wood warblers and vireos, as well as Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.

Meet at the Lexington Food Lion parking lot at 6:30 a.m. Saturday, May 13 to caravan to the Parkway.  Or you may prefer to travel on your own and meet the group at 7:30 a.m. at the Sunset Fields pull-off (mile marker 78.4).

From there, we'll follow the access road on foot to the top of Apple Orchard Mountain, a gradual up-and-back walk of about 2 miles — with frequent stops to look and listen — and return to Lexington mid-afternoon.

In the event of heavy rain the walk will be canceled.  For more information, or in case of doubtful weather, contact Wendy Richards at 463-5214 or [email protected].

Seven birders enjoyed a clear crisp morning at Boxerwood. The Red Breasted Nuthatches which have been seen for several months now, were first heard and then spotted almost as soon as we gathered at the Parking area. Others were later seen down by the Lodge. Highlight of the morning was an excellent views of a single Fox Sparrow patiently waiting on a branch for all binoculars to spot it surrounded by a huge flock of White Throated Sparrows, the high count bird of the day. Also, a circling Sharp-Shinned Hawk was spotted in the field, giving a nice opportunity to check out the key ID features. 
Boxerwood Nature Center & Woodland Garden, Rockbridge, Virginia, US
Dec 3, 2016 7:45 AM - 9:35 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments:     Clear but cold (36)
25 species

Black Vulture  2
Turkey Vulture  25
Sharp-shinned Hawk  1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  6
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Downy Woodpecker  3
Northern Flicker  2
Blue Jay  8
American Crow  6
Carolina Chickadee  10
Tufted Titmouse  10
Red-breasted Nuthatch  6     RBNU's have been present here for several months. Clear views of at several separate locations while hearing birds calling at other locations. Six birds is a conservative posting.
White-breasted Nuthatch  8
Carolina Wren  5
Eastern Bluebird  6
American Robin  6
Northern Mockingbird  4
European Starling  14
Fox Sparrow  1
White-throated Sparrow  50
Song Sparrow  4
Eastern Towhee  2
Northern Cardinal  15
American Goldfinch  10

The 2017 Season begins on Saturday, January 7th. But don't forget the Rockbridge Christmas Bird Count on December 17th in two weeks. Check in with Dick Rowe for an assignment. KK

Nine birders had a productive early spring morning at Boxerwood. While the sky was overcast, the birds were in full song. Along with the year round residents and a few continuing winter visitors, the group enjoyed watching a First of Season Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher interacting with an annoyed Ruby-Crowned Kinglet. Complete list follows.


Boxerwood Nature Center & Woodland Garden, Rockbridge, Virginia, US
Apr 2, 2016 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.8 mile(s)
Comments:     Overcast
29 species

Canada Goose  2
Turkey Vulture  1
Mourning Dove  4
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  2
Eastern Phoebe  4
Blue Jay  3
American Crow  5
Tree Swallow  5
Carolina Chickadee  2
Tufted Titmouse  2
Carolina Wren  2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  1     FOS
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  2
Eastern Bluebird  5
American Robin  2
European Starling  10     At least two birds maintaining vigil over several days at abandoned woodpecker hole, sometimes entering
Yellow-rumped Warbler  1
Chipping Sparrow  1
Field Sparrow  3
White-throated Sparrow  15
Song Sparrow  2
Swamp Sparrow  1
Eastern Towhee  2
Northern Cardinal  8     Lots of aggression between multiple males
Brown-headed Cowbird  2
American Goldfinch  3

The Walk, led by Dick Rowe, was most successful with a total of 29 species. Spring has started as indicated by the courting Flickers observed by the group. The next First Saturday will be in two weeks on April 2nd with, hopefully, more Spring arrivals present. Here is the complete list: 


Boxerwood Gardens - MRR03, Rockbridge, Virginia, US
Mar 5, 2016 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments:     Temp 28-40 degrees, cloudy no wind, Walk led by Richard "Dick" Rowe
29 species

Canada Goose  3
Black Vulture  20
Turkey Vulture  15
Red-shouldered Hawk  1
Mourning Dove  5
Red-bellied Woodpecker  1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Downy Woodpecker  3
Northern Flicker  4
Pileated Woodpecker  1
Blue Jay  3
American Crow  5
Carolina Chickadee  3
Tufted Titmouse  7
White-breasted Nuthatch  2
Carolina Wren  4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
Eastern Bluebird  9
American Robin  25
European Starling  30
Yellow-rumped Warbler  1
White-throated Sparrow  30
Song Sparrow  4
Eastern Towhee  1
Northern Cardinal  8
Red-winged Blackbird  1
Common Grackle  2
House Finch  5
American Goldfinch  2

​There were 6 of us who met for the First Saturday Boxerwood Bird Walk.  We were rewarded with a lovely morning which although frosty cold, sparkled with a stellar blue sky and lots of bird activity.  We found 30 species.  Here is the list:
 
Blue Jay – 6
Carolina Chickadee -10
White-breasted Nuthatch – 8
Mourning Dove – 10
American Robin – 20
Tufted Titmouse – 6
Eastern Bluebird – 20
Carolina Wren – 8
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Northern Cardinal – 12
American Goldfinch – 5
American Crow – 15
White-throated Sparrow – 20
Downy Woodpecker – 2
Northern Mockingbird – 1
Hermit Thrush – 2
Field Sparrow – 18
European Starling – 30
Yellow-rumped Warbler – 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker – 4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 1
House Finch – 4
Turkey Vulture – 6
Black Vulture – 1
Cedar Waxwing – 7
Common Raven – 1
Fish Crow – 30+
Purple Finch – 2
Red-shouldered Hawk – 1
Song Sparrow – 1
 
Thanks to list compilers: Dick Rowe and Steve Richards

 

Here's a report from our morning birdwalk at Greenfield Pond near 
Daleville in Botetourt County.

We had some excellent luck: Glossy Ibis (second Botetourt record ever) and Snowy Egret (there are only about 10 Roanoke-Botetourt records) were the best, 
but we also got a Bald Eagle, two Snipe, a Spotted Sandpiper, a Green 
Heron, a Warbling Vireo, Yellow Warbler, Grasshopper Sparrow and Purple 
Martin.

There were eight of us, plus three birders from the Roanoke Bird Club. 
Kent Davis, from Roanoke, compiled this report.

John Pancake




52 species

Canada Goose  5
Mallard  4
Blue-winged Teal  3
Ring-necked Duck  1
Snowy Egret  1
Green Heron  1
Glossy Ibis  1
Black Vulture  2
Turkey Vulture  4
Osprey  1
Bald Eagle  1
Red-tailed Hawk  1
American Coot  10
Killdeer  2
Spotted Sandpiper  1
Wilson's Snipe  2
Mourning Dove  4
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Northern Flicker  1
Eastern Phoebe  1
Warbling Vireo  1
Blue Jay  2
American Crow  4
Fish Crow  1
Purple Martin  1
Tree Swallow  48
Carolina Chickadee  6
Tufted Titmouse  4
House Wren  1
Carolina Wren  2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
Eastern Bluebird  4
American Robin  9
Brown Thrasher  2
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  5
Yellow Warbler  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler  2
Eastern Towhee  3
Chipping Sparrow  2
Field Sparrow  1
Savannah Sparrow  2
Grasshopper Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  3
White-throated Sparrow  5
Northern Cardinal  6
Red-winged Blackbird  124
Eastern Meadowlark  6
Brown-headed Cowbird  4
House Finch  4
American Goldfinch  16

A small group of birders (3) enjoyed a bright sunny morning for First Saturday Bird Walk at Boxwood on March 7th. Among the birds seen were some nice winter representatives (many Pine Siskins and Purple Finches) and some early spring arrivals (Red-Winged Blackbirds) as well as the usual suspects. The feeders were definitely the hubs of activities, but other interesting sightings were found throughout the property. Kieran Kilday


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <[email protected]>
Date: Sun, Mar 8, 2015 at 10:37 AM
Subject: eBird Report - Boxerwood Gardens - MRR03, Mar 7, 2015
To: [email protected]


Boxerwood Gardens - MRR03, Rockbridge, US-VA
Mar 7, 2015 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Comments:     Sunny, snow on the ground, mid 30's
28 species

Turkey Vulture  1
Mourning Dove  4
Red-bellied Woodpecker  3
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Downy Woodpecker  4
Pileated Woodpecker  2
Blue Jay  8
American Crow  20
Carolina Chickadee  5
Tufted Titmouse  5
White-breasted Nuthatch  2
Carolina Wren  4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
Hermit Thrush  1
American Robin  11
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  13
Field Sparrow  6
Song Sparrow  2
White-throated Sparrow  20
Dark-eyed Junco  8
Northern Cardinal  12
Red-winged Blackbird  14
Common Grackle  1
House Finch  3
Purple Finch  22     Purple finches were seen throughout the walk but most heavily concentrated around feeders. predominantly female birds, but several male birds seen and heard.
Pine Siskin  16
American Goldfinch  15