Letter from American Bird Conservancy
Letter from Steve Hodapp
Editor's Note: We received a lengthy response from Steve Hodapp to Laura Neale's feature in the February 2019 newsletter, "The Rio Grande: what would The Wall mean for birds" In her piece, Laura noted that the Rockbridge Bird Club had signed on to a letter from the American Bird Conservancy expressing concern over plans to expand the United States - Mexico border wall across environmentally sensitive conservation areas. See below to read the Conservancy letter and Steve's response.
Letter from American Bird Conservancy Letter from Steve Hodapp
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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 Seven birders enjoyed a sunny early spring morning yesterday. While only a few spring migrants were present, all of the birds were full of song celebrating both the sun and springtime. Highlights included continuing Purple Finches and Pine Siskins (also seen at last months walk) and great looks at a Ruby-Crowned Kinglet with its Crown in full display.
Boxerwood Gardens - MRR03, Rockbridge, US-VA Apr 4, 2015 8:00 AM - 9:45 AM Protocol: Traveling 1.0 mile(s) Comments: Sunny, 50+ degrees. 36 species Canada Goose 2 Mallard 2 Black Vulture 1 Turkey Vulture 3 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Mourning Dove 5 Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 Downy Woodpecker 5 Northern Flicker 2 Pileated Woodpecker 2 Eastern Phoebe 2 Blue Jay 7 American Crow 5 Tree Swallow 4 Carolina Chickadee 6 Tufted Titmouse 2 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Carolina Wren 4 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 Eastern Bluebird 2 American Robin 5 Northern Mockingbird 3 European Starling 32 Eastern Towhee 3 Field Sparrow 4 Song Sparrow 10 White-throated Sparrow 10 Dark-eyed Junco 1 Northern Cardinal 12 Eastern Meadowlark 1 Common Grackle 2 Brown-headed Cowbird 2 Purple Finch 4 Pine Siskin 3 American Goldfinch 5 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: <ebird-checklist@cornell.edu> Date: Sun, Mar 8, 2015 at 10:37 AM Subject: eBird Report - Boxerwood Gardens - MRR03, Mar 7, 2015 To: kjkilday@gmail.com 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 Six birders attended the monthly First Saturday Bird Walk today at Boxerwood. While the sky was overcast for the entire time, the slowly rising temperature seemed to activate the birds as the morning progressed with many new species seen in the Children's Playground and near the Parking Area at the end of the Walk. Highlights included several less common (for this area) winter birds including a well viewed Black-Capped Chickadee, single shivering Catbird, and several Purple Finches. Boxerwood Gardens - MRR03, Rockbridge, US-VA Feb 7, 2015 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM Protocol: Traveling 1.0 mile(s) Comments: Low 30's; overcast 27 species Turkey Vulture 1 Mourning Dove 6 Red-bellied Woodpecker 4 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2 Downy Woodpecker 8 Northern Flicker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 3 Blue Jay 12 American Crow 8 Common Raven 1 Carolina Chickadee 11 Black-capped Chickadee 1 Single bird well observed. Distinctive white edges on secondaries as well as primaries; buffy flanks. Larger and chunkier than the many Carolina Chickadees observed in same area. Responded immediately to recorded BCCH call. Possible second bird calling but not observed. Tufted Titmouse 10 White-breasted Nuthatch 6 Carolina Wren 6 Eastern Bluebird 3 American Robin 8 Gray Catbird 1 European Starling 21 Eastern Towhee 2 Song Sparrow 4 White-throated Sparrow 24 Dark-eyed Junco 4 Northern Cardinal 16 House Finch 10 Purple Finch 5 American Goldfinch 3 Twelve Rockbridge Bird Club members travelled to Highland County yesterday. We were joined by leaders Pattie Reum and John Spahr in Monterey who led us to friendly and selected homes with bird feeders, and to high mountain passes. Thank you to both of them for spending the day with us! We had a great outing--- temps averaging mid 30’s, bright sunny day, a snowy landscape of white glaze and plentiful birds.Wendy’s list follows, and includes sightings en route to Highland.
Laura Neale In order of sighting: Great Blue Heron Red-tailed Hawk -2 Canada Goose Redhead Ring-necked Duck Hooded Merganser Wigeon Mallard Golden Eagle -2 immature Bald Eagle - 1 adult & 1 immature Eastern Bluebird Blue Jay Dark-eyed Junco American Crow Red-bellied Woodpecker House Sparrow European Starling White-breasted Nuthatch Common Raven Northern Cardinal Pine Siskin Hairy Woodpecker American Tree Sparrow Downy Woodpecker Tufted Titmouse Mourning Dove Common Grackle American Goldfinch Black-capped Chickadee Song Sparrow Pileated Woodpecker Northern Mockingbird Carolina Wren American Kestrel - 3 Rock Pigeon House Finch Northern Harrier - 1 |