April 2023

The SISKIN
Newsletter of the Northern Virginia Bird Club
Vol. 68, No. 2
April 2023
www.nvabc.org
Inside
NVBC GENERAL MEETING—THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 8 PM
Niche Partitioning in the Vangidae Family of Birds in
Masoala National Park, Madagascar
Calendar of NVBC field trips April
12 – June 21, 2023
Winter Northern Neck trip report
2023 Winter Chincoteague trip
report
Birding in Colombia
Election of NVBC Officers for
2023-2025
April 20, 2023 General Meeting
Officers and directors will be
elected to serve two-year terms
beginning July 1, 2023. As of March 24,
the following people have agreed to be
candidates:
Speaker: Nick Newberry
Join Nick Newberry as he presents on his time researching the Vangas of
Masoala
National Park, Madagascar. He studied the foraging ecology of
these charismatic passerines in one of the largest intact tracts of primary
rainforest remaining in Madagascar. In addition to the birds, Nick will share
stories from his time in the field, including tales of rosewood-related
corruption, traditional burial ceremonies, and signs of hope in a dire
conservation situation.
Photograph by Nick Newberry of Helmet Vanga
President: Larry Meade
Vice President, Programs: Phil Silas
Vice President, Field Activities: Elton
Morel
Secretary: Diane Marton
Treasurer: Jean Tatalias
Directors: Jeremy Beck, Joan
Mashburn. Note: Board has three
director positions therefore at least
one more nominee is needed.
Submit nominations
via email
to
nvbcsiskineditor@gmail.com by April 5,
Nominations also will be accepted
from the floor.
General Meeting Notes: Early bird
refreshments start at 7:30 pm. Any
contributions of food or beverage will
be most gratefully received. There will
be a drawing for door prizes. Northern
Virginia Bird Club pins will be
available for members who would like
to buy them ($5 each).
MEETING PLACE:
St. Andrews
Episcopal Church, 4000 Lorcom Lane,
Arlington, 22207. Directions are on
page 5.
Nick is a longtime Northern Virginia resident, as well as an alumnus
and current co-leader of the Northern Virginia Teen Bird Club. Since his
time as a teen in the club, he has been mentored by renowned teacher and
past NVBC presenter Fred Atwood. He earned a degree in Biology and
Environmental Science & Policy at William & Mary. He spent a college
semester abroad in Madagascar, the main topic of his presentation. Since
graduation he worked as an environmental scientist performing surveys for
bats, plants, wetlands, herpetofauna, and birds, among a wide variety of
other tasks. He currently teaches biology, environmental science, marine
biology, and ecology to high school students at the Highland School in
Warrenton. Nick also has collaborated with other experienced birders to
create a growing and very helpful website called BirdingVirginia.org.
Presidential Peentings
What does it take to make a bird club fun, engaging
and educational? Birds of course! But, I would argue
that the people in the club are even more important. We
are really fortunate to have a group of people in the
Northern Virginia Bird Club who not only care about
birds, but also are willing and able to do what it takes to
make our club successful. I am thankful for all of you.
Our field trips are our signature activity and Elton Morel
does an amazing job of organizing trips, making our field
trip calendars and recruiting trip leaders. Phil Silas has
been very effective in organizing our general membership
meetings and finding our speakers. Jean Tatalias, our
treasurer, keeps track of the money and issues detailed
reports to tell us where we are financially. Diane Marton,
our secretary, keeps meticulous minutes of our meetings
and her husband Warren sets up the technology at our
general meetings. Elizabeth Fenton is indispensable as
she keeps track of our membership. Elizabeth, along with
Jan Kool handle our NVBC Exchange and Ally Guidry
helps out with our Facebook page. Jeremy Beck, a
director, is our webmaster and runs the Zoom for our
board meetings. Joan Mashburn, another one of our
directors, has been a huge asset for NVBC. She found a
new printer for the Siskin who has worked out well and
Winter Northern Neck Trip
One of my favorite NVBC trips of the winter season
is our annual January foray to the Northern Neck of
Virginia, the area east of Fredericksburg near the Potomac
River. At our first stop at Lagrange Lane in King George
County, we were greeted by chilly, but not bone-chilling
temperatures. The large ponds on both sides of us were
filled with ducks of various kinds, along with Tundra
Swans and Pied-billed Grebes. We also enjoyed seeing
Bald Eagles and hawks. Next, we moved on to George
Washington’s Birthplace to enjoy lunch at the picnic
tables near the visitor’s center. As we walked around the
grounds, we stopped at a spot overlooking Pope’s Creek.
We noticed a large flock of far off shorebirds flying
around and landing on some small islands. A couple of
birders were able to photograph them with long lenses
2
she has used her accounting skills to do some long range
financial projections for the club, I also appreciate how
she keeps track of both the birds and the birders on the
walks she attends. Of course our Siskin editors, Pat and
Neal Gause, do an amazing job in putting together the
Siskin four times a year, In addition to all of the people
that I have mentioned, I should also acknowledge how
excellent our trip leaders and participants are. Thanks
everyone!
Finally, I will mention Joanna Taylor who has been an
important repository of club institutional knowledge
which is much appreciated. She is currently a director and
has been involved in NVBC in various roles for many
years. She is also well known for her role as a bird bander
at Occoquan Bay NWR. Birders always enjoy visiting the
banding station where they learn about bird banding and
may even get a chance to hold a just-banded bird before it
is released. Thank you, Joanna, for all that you have done
for us! With her current term ending in July, Joanna is
stepping down as a director, but will still be involved in
NVBC and present at our general meetings.
Please let us know if you are aware of anyone
interested in taking on the role of director on the Northern
Virginia Bird Club board.
—Larry Meade
revealing the double bands on their breasts. Killdeer!
Soon after that, a group of large white birds flying in
formation circled above us Swans? Snow Geese? No,
American White Pelicans! Our last stop was nearby at
Muse Road. Here we looked over the Potomac River
where it is much wider than it is in Northern Virginia. We
spotted a Common Goldeneye, Long-tailed Ducks, and a
Common Loon. With fourteen duck species, it made for
quite the ducky day.
—Larry Meade
White Pelicans in flight photographed by Larry Meade
Northern Virginia Bird Club . www.nvabc.org
The Northern Virginia Bird club visited Chincoteague
National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) for the club’s rain-shortened winter weekend from February 10 to 12. The group managed to collectively find 83 species for the
weekend – not too bad given that we did not visit
Kiptopeke State Park and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and
Tunnel (CBBT) on Sunday (more on that later).
Our Friday afternoon visit to the refuge started at
Swan Cove because the water levels were low enough to
hold shorebirds. There we found a small flock of Marbled
Godwits plus a Ruddy
Turnstone and several
Semipalmated Plovers mixed in
with many Black-bellied
Plovers, Short-billed
Dowitchers and hundreds of
Dunlins. Access to the beach
continues to be restricted to just
the north parking lot while the
south parking lot was
completely closed. At the north
parking lot, Toby Hardwick
spotted an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull while several
Savannah Sparrows gave us
obliging views. A quick drive
around the Wildlife Loop before
sunset yielded several species of
waterfowl including our only
Northern Pintails of the trip.
A tip from Joan Mashburn
from the previous weekend led
us to try for American
Woodcocks at the horse corral
and nearby Woodland Trail
parking lot. We stood around for
a while after sunset hoping we
could find the woodcocks
before being kicked out of the
refuge for being there after
sunset. Finally, at 6:02 p.m. we
heard our first “peent” followed
by more “peenting” from about
six individuals. There were
several display flights that were
hard to see unless you were
faced in the direction of the
fading light.
Saturday morning’s birding
started on the boardwalk near
the hotel where the highlight
The Siskin . Vol. 68, No. 2 . April 2023
was a cooperative Clapper Rail running around below the
boardwalk as well as a flock of about 70 White Ibis
distantly gliding into Assateague Channel. On our return
visit to the refuge, we found two large flocks of Snow
Geese, one of which we managed to get close enough to
enjoy viewing for a while. A sharp-looking male Long-tailed Duck was also found quite close in the surf off the
beach.
Saturday afternoon’s birding started with a visit to
Marv Rubin’s feeders where we enjoyed excellent views
of Red-breasted and Brown-headed Nuthatches while a
Peregrine Falcon sailing high
over the house qualified as a
nice yard bird. A visit to Queens
Sound Boat Ramp resulted in
another Long-tailed Duck,
several Common Goldeneyes,
the usual American
Oystercatchers, a Tricolored
Heron, and a 100+ flock of
Boat-tailed Grackles mostly
consisting of females. A late
afternoon return visit to the
refuge ended in a long walk
along the beach to view our only
Black Scoters of the trip.
The forecast for heavy rains
coupled with high winds on
Sunday created uncertainty with
our plans to visit the CBBT
Sunday morning. The forecast
did not improve by Saturday
afternoon so we decided to
cancel our visit and head for
home on Sunday morning.
While my wife Alyssa was
driving us home in the rain, I
looked at the radar at the time
we were supposed to be on the
CBBT – red and orange on the
radar right over the island. I
think we made the right choice!
—Elton Morel
Header photograph of NVBC
birders by Toby Hardwick.
Photographs by Seth Honig:
Savannah Sparrow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Long-tailed Duck
3
Upcoming Trips and Events
Compiled by Elton Morel
Note:
Beginning birders are welcome on all trips.
When reservations are required, please call one of the trip leaders. Phone numbers are below.
If in doubt about a trip because of weather, please call one of the leaders.
Check the NVBC website for updated information about trips: http://www.nvabc.org/updated- eld-trips/.
•To receive email notices, join the NVBC eMail Exchange. For sign-up directions see back page of The Siskin.
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
April
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
15
12
7:30 AM
Occoquan Bay NWR
8:30 AM
Meadowood
Recreation Area
Phil Silas
Tom Nardone
Trip Leaders
Jeremy Beck
Toby Hardwick
Bert Harris
Ed LeGrand
Larry Meade
Mer Metzelfeld
Beth Moore
Elton Morel
Tom Nardone
Phil Silas
Dixie Sommers
Ed Wallace
703-517-1816
703-201-1517
615-440-0666
908-268-6627
571-275-2523
607-643-8307
703-989-2563
703-907-9951
703-946-7738
703-987-0817
703-969-7931
504-343-1433
19
8:30AM
Dyke Marsh
Dixie Sommers
20
22
7:30 AM
Leopold’s Preserve
NVBC
Meeting
8 PM
Ed LeGrand
Toby Hardwick
29
26
7:30 AM
Clifton Institute
8:30 AM
Fort C. F. Smith
Bert Harris
Elton Morel
Jeremy Beck
6
May 3
7:30 AM
Leesylvania SP
8:30 AM
Long Branch
Larry Meade
Ed Wallace
Dixie Sommers
Tom Nardone
10
13
8:30 AM
Huntley Meadows
Hike/Bike Trail
7:30 AM
Trillium Trail
Elton Morel
Beth Moore
Dixie Sommers
Jeremy Beck
17
May 19-21
8:30 AM
Fort CF Smith
Chincoteague Spring Weekend
Members only/reservations
required
Sign up began March 15 @6 am
Jeremy Beck
Elton Morel
20
7:30 AM
Occoquan Bay NWR
Dixie Sommers
Larry Meade
24
27
8:30 AM
Neabsco RP Boardwalk
7:30 AM
Conway-Robinson SF
Toby Hardwick
Phil Silas
Phil Silas
31
3
June
7:30 AM
Bristoe Station
Battle eld Heritage
Park
8:30 AM
Huntley Meadows
Park
Jeremy Beck
Tom Nardone
Northern Virginia Bird Club . www.nvabc.org
fi
fi
4
Ed LeGrand
Phil Silas
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
June
Wednesday
Thursday
7
8:30 AM
Long Branch
Tom Nardone
Friday
Saturday
10
8 AM
Clarks Crossing Park Bluebird Trail
Larry Meade
Mer Mietzelfeld
17
9 AM
Limberlost Trail,
Shenandoah NP X-trip
Elton Morel
Beth Moore
Email Elton Morel for
details
(eltonlmorel@verizon.net)
21
9 AM
Meadowood
Recreation Area Mustang Trailhead
Birds, Butter ies &
Dragon ies
Larry Meade
DIRECTIONS
NVBC Meeting (4/20) St. Andrews
Episcopal Church, 4000 Lorcom Ln,
Arlington 22207, at the intersection
of Lorcom Ln and Military Rd. From
the intersection of Spout Run Pkwy
and Lorcom Ln, go about a half mile
on Lorcom to the second traffic light.
Turn left onto Military and enter the
first driveway on the right. There is
some parking near the Church’s back
entrance and a bigger lot up the
driveway. There is on-street parking.
Enter at the back door facing Military
Rd which leads to the Undercroft
where the meeting is held.
——Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage
Park (6/3) 10708 Bristow Rd,
Bristow, VA 20136. From I-95: Take
Rt 234 north (exit 152B), travel 7.5
mi. and make a left onto Independent
Hill Dr. Then make immediate right
onto Rt 619 (Bristow Rd). Travel 7
mi. and turn left onto Iron Brigade
Unit Ave. The parking lot is located
on the left at the traffic circle. From
I-66: Take Rt 234 south (Exit 44).
Travel 4.5 mi. and turn right onto Rt
28 (Nokesville Rd). Travel 1.5 mi.
and turn left onto Rt 619 (Bristow
Rd). Travel 0.25 mi., turn right onto
fl
fl
The Siskin . Vol. 68, No. 2 . April 2023
Iron Brigade Unit Ave and continue
to parking lot. Meet in parking lot.
Clarks Crossing Park – Bluebird
Trail (6/10) 9850 Clarks Crossing
Rd, Vienna 22182 From I-495, exit
onto Chain Bridge Rd (Rt 123)
toward Vienna. Continue on Maple
Avenue (still Rt 123) in Vienna, turn
onto Beulah Rd. Continue for about 1
mile until left turn onto Clarks
Crossing Road. Continue to the end
of Clarks Crossing and park at the
parking lot overlooking the W&OD
Trail.
Clifton Institute (4/29) 6712
Blantyre Rd, Warrenton 20187 Take
1-66 West to exit 40, to merge onto
US-15 south towards Haymarket (0.4
mi), then turn right onto VA-55 West.
Drive 5 mi. and turn left onto
Blantyre Rd. Proceed 5.6 mi. and
then turn right on to a dirt road. Drive
northwest for about 0.3 mi. to the first
lake and park in the parking lot on the
left. Meet your leader at this parking
lot. Please do not drive up to the
house and park there.
Conway-Robinson State Forest
(5/27) 12816 Lee Hwy, Gainesville
20155 From I-495, take I-66 west
27.6 mi. to exit 43B, US-29 North in
Gainesville. Continue on US-29 for .4
mi, turn left into access road to
parking area. There is a small parking
area adjacent Route 29-S which can
accommodate approximately 10 cars.
Additional parking is permitted along
the entrance/exit road unless it
restricts through traffic.
Dyke Marsh (4/19) 6401 George
Wa s h i n g t o n M e m o r i a l P k w y,
Alexandria 22307 (Belle Haven Park
and Marina). From Alexandria, take
George Washington Pkwy south. Cross
I-495, continue 1.2 mi. to Belle Haven
Park entrance on the left. Meet at
south parking lot.
Fort C. F. Smith (4/26, 5/17) 2411
24th St N, Arlington 22207 From I-66
east, take exit 72 (Spout Run Pkwy).
At traffic light, turn right on Lee
Hwy. At successive traffic lights, turn
left onto Spout Run Pkwy, then left
onto Lorcom Ln, then right onto
Fillmore St. Go one block on
Fillmore, turn right onto N. 24th St
(watch for speed bumps), and
continue to park on left. Meet in
parking lot at east end of park.
Huntley Meadows Hike & Bike
Trail (5/10) From I-495, take Rt 1
south 0.5 mi to Rt 633 (S. King
Hwy). Turn right (west), go 2.5 mi. to
park entrance and lot on left (just
before Telegraph Rd).
5
Trip Directions
Huntley Meadows Park (5/31) 3701
Lockheed Blvd, Alexandria 22306
From I-495, take Rt 1 south 3 mi. to
Lockheed Blvd. Turn right on
Lockheed and go 0.5 mi. to Harrison
Ln to park entrance on left. Meet in
parking lot.
Leesylvania State Park (5/6) 2001
Daniel K Ludwig Dr, Woodbridge
22191 From I-495, take I-95 south
about 14 mi. to exit 156 (Dale City/
Rippon Landing/Rt 784). Following
the posted highway signs for
Leesylvania State Park, exit east on
Rt 784. Proceed eastward 1.1 mi. to
Rt 1. Turn right (south) on Rt 1 and
go 0.9 mi. to Neabsco Rd.
Immediately past the Wawa service
station, turn left (east) on Neabsco Rd
and proceed 2 mi. to park entrance on
right. After passing through the park
entrance gate, go 2.2 mi. to end of
paved road and park in “Picnic Area”
parking lot, immediately before turnaround circle at fishing pier. State fee
area.
Leopold’s Preserve (4/22) 16283
Thoroughfare Rd, Haymarket 20169
From I-66 west, take exit 40 to Rt 15
toward Haymarket/Leesburg. Turn
left onto Rt 15 south. Turn right onto
Rt 55 and go 1.7 mi. to Thoroughfare
Rd. Turn left onto Thoroughfare and
go 0.3 mi. There are parking lots on
both sides of the road. Meet in the
right hand (west) parking lot. The left
hand (east) parking lot can be used
for overflow parking.
Long Branch Nature Area (5/3, 6/7)
625 S Carlin Springs Rd, Arlington
22204 Take Rt 50, east from Fairfax
or west from Rosslyn to Carlin
Springs exit. Go south on Carlin
Springs 0.5 mi. to Nature Center on
left, just south of N. Va Community
Hospital on left. Meet at Nature
Center parking lot.
Meadowood Recreation Area (4/12)
10406 Gunston Rd, Lorton 22079
From I-495, take I-95 south 7 mi. to
Lorton exit. Left on Rt 642.
Immediately after passing under
railroad tracks (0.25 mi.) turn right on
Lorton Market Rd, which soon
becomes Gunston Cove Rd. After
crossing Rt 1, road becomes Gunston
Rd. Go 1.8 miles to Meadowood on
right. (BLM, Lower Potomac Station
Office). Park on right next to horse
barns just before field station
building.
6
Meadowood Recreation AreaMustang Trail (6/21) 10702 Harley
Rd, Lorton 22079 From I-495, take
I-95 south 7 mi. to Lorton exit. Left
on Rt 642. Immediately after passing
under railroad tracks (0.25 mi.) turn
right on Lorton Market Rd, which
soon becomes Gunston Cove Rd.
After crossing Rt 1, road becomes
Gunston Rd. Go about 2.5 miles
passing main Meadowood entrance
on right. Turn right on Harley Rd and
then an immediate right into the
Mustang Trailhead parking lot
Neabsco Regional Park Boardwalk (5/24) 15125 Blackburn
Rd, Woodbridge 22191 From I-495,
take I-95 south about 14 mi. to exit
156 (Dale City/Rippon Landing/Rt.
784). Take exit 156A for Rt 784 east
toward Rippon Landing.
Continue
0.7 mi. cross Rt 1 where Dale Blvd
becomes Rippon Blvd and continue
down the hill another 0.4 mi. to a stop
light and turn right on Blackburn Rd.
The park parking lot is then 0.2 mi.
away on the left.
Occoquan Bay National Wildlife
Refuge (4/15, 5/20) 13950 Dawson
Beach Rd, Woodbridge 22192 From
I-495, take I-95 south 9 mi. to (left)
exit 161 (Woodbridge). Go south on
Rt 1 about 2 mi. to left turn onto
Dawson Beach Rd. Continue on
Dawson Beach 0.7 mi. to entrance
gate. Meet at the parking lot.
Tr i l l i u m Tr a i l – G . R i c h a r d
Thompson Wildlife Management
Area (5/13) (Fauquier Co) From
I-495, take I-66 west 51 mi. to Linden
exit (Rt 79). Go left (south) from exit
ramp on Rt 79 approx. 1000 ft. to Rt
Turn left (east) onto Rt 55; go 1.2
mi. to Rt 638 (Freezeland Rd). Turn
left (north) onto Rt 638. Follow Rt
638, as it bears right, 5.3 mi. to
Trillium Trail Parking Area on right
Bird Walks at Parks
Banshee Reeks Nature
Preserve, second Saturdays,
8 am Meet at the parking lot.
Visit the Loudoun Wildlife web
site. www.loudounwildlife.org/
events/
Blue Ridge Center for
Environmental Stewardship,
fourth Saturday, 8 am Meet at
Education Center.
www.loudounwildlife.org/events/
Dyke Marsh, Sundays, 8 am
Visit the Friends of Dyke Marsh
web site, www.fodm.org
Great Falls National Park,
Sundays, 8 am Meet in the main
parking lot near the Park Visitor
Center.
Huntley Meadows Park,
Mondays, 7 am (Apr-Sep) 8
am (Oct-Mar) Meet in parking
lot. Leader: Harry Glasgow
Merrimac Farm, last Sunday,
8 am Meet at Merrimac Farm
Stone House.
www.pwconserve.org/events/
index.html#birds
Riverbend Park, first and third
Fridays, 8 am, beginning April
7 to October 20. Meet at the
Nature Center parking lot off
Jeffrey Road. No fee but call
Riverbend Park at 703-759-9018
to register. Leader: Robin Duska
—look for sign on kiosk. (Parking
Area is just before radio towers.)
Note: participant must have an access
permit issued by VA Department of
Game and Inland Fisheries,
www.dgif.virginia.gov,
1-866-721-6911.
Sanderling at Chincoteague photographed by Seth Honig
Northern Virginia Bird Club . www.nvabc.org
Birding in Colombia
Colombia boasts the largest number of bird species on
earth. At present, the count stands at 1909 and continues to
increase as more people bird Colombia. For decades,
conflict made birding inaccessible but improved political
stability and the 2016 peace accords with the FARC have
allowed for expanded ecotourism.
In August, 2022, we flew to Bogota, met our guide
Camilo Orjuela, and together took an internal flight to
Mitú, the capital of Vaupés, a Department (equivalent of
our States) in Southeastern Colombia in the Amazon
Basin. Accessible only by plane, it is an enchanting bird
rich destination and an immersion in another culture. It is a
meeting point of several indigenous communities. The bird
diversity reflects the many varied habitats including
flooded white sand forest, dry brown sand forest, igneous
rock forest, traditional tropical rainforest, and riparian
habitat. The Vaupés species count is 652. Our local,
indigenous guide Miguel knows them all. Bird calls are
haunting in an environment virtually devoid of car and
airplane noise. Many hotspots can be reached by tuk tuk
like vehicles and short walks into and through indigenous
communities. A few require truck rides down the one and
only road that leads from town. Miguel, the antbird
whisperer, respectfully shared colorful stories – why
vultures eat carrion, what chairs the gods rest upon, where
the belly button of the universe is located, why houses are
built on stilts (to keep the jaguars out). He has a jaw-dropping ability to find birds. None of the hiking was
challenging and remarkably, the basic hotel in which we
stayed had AC. Though we had sprayed our clothes with
Permethrin, took malarial prophylaxis, and had typhoid
and hepatitis vaccines prior to travel, we found birding in
Occoquan buggier.
We birded 6 days and saw 212 species, 153 of which
were lifers. Highlights included 4 different species of
Tinamous, 12 different hummingbird species, 10 different
antbirds, 8 types of manakins, including 2 male golden-headed manakins “sliding” up and down branches
practicing their mating dance. We saw 10 Guianan Cockof-the-rocks, an Amazonian Umbrellabird, several eyepopping spangled cotingas, 12 different tanagers, and a
Pavonine Quetzal.
Food and accommodations were simple yet
comfortable. Wifi was available for uploading eBird lists
provided you sat in one spot on one step leading out of the
hotel. It was an astonishing experience and one we would
highly recommend.
—Anne and Steven Bielamowicz
Photographs by Anne Bielamowicz (from top right):
Spangled Cotinga
Guianan Cock-of-the-rocks
Amazonian Umbrellabird
Striolated Manakin
(Note: additional trip photographs in online addendum)
The Siskin . Vol. 68, No. 2 . April 2023
7
NORTHERN VIRGINIA BIRD CLUB
P.O. BOX 5812
ARLINGTON, VA 22205-0812
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Dulles, VA
Permit No. 400
DATED
MATERIAL
JOIN THE NORTHERN
VIRGINIA BIRD CLUB
Northern Virginia Bird Club dues for
2023 are $10 for Individual and $15
for Family Membership. Members
receive our quarterly newsletter, The
Siskin. Checks for dues should be sent
to Northern Virginia Bird Club, Attn:
M e m b e r s h i p , P. O . B o x 5 8 1 2 ,
Arlington, VA 22205-0812. Or join or
renew online at the club’s web site,
http://www.nvabc.org/join/.
If you miss an issue of The Siskin or
need to report an address or ZIP Code
change, please send an email message
to lgmeade@gmail.com or email
Elizabeth Fenton
at
emfenton@cox.net.
Please note: NVBC does not
exchange, give away, or sell its
membership lists.
NVBC ON THE WEB
Current information and special
notices about NVBC meetings, field
trips, and other activities, along with a
printable membership form, are
posted on the club’s website,
www.nvabc.org.
If you have information or pictures
you would like to see on the website,
please email the webmaster, Jeremy
Beck at jghyll+nvabc@gmail.com.
NVBC eMail Exchange
By participating in the club’s email
exchange, you can get email notices
of late updates to The Siskin and the
field trip schedule. To join the
exchange, send
an
email
to
lgmeade@gmail.com. Put
“EXCHANGE” in the subject field
and your full name in the message
area. You will receive a response from
nvbc-exchange@googlegroups.com.
The list is for NVBC members’ use
only.
General Meeting Dates: April 20,
September (tbd), and November (tbd),
2023.
Next Board Meeting: Thursday, June
1, 2023, 7:30 pm. To join the Zoom
board meeting or to have items put on
the agenda, please email
lgmeade@gmail.com.
Deadline for next issue of The
Siskin: The August issue will include
activities through October 2023.
Please send items for publication by
July 1, 2023 to the editors at
nvbcsiskineditor@gmail.com.
CLUB CONTACTS
President: Larry Meade,
571-275-2523
Vice President, Programs: Phil Silas,
703-987-0817
Vice President, Field Activities:
Elton Morel, 703-907-9951
Secretary: Diane Marton,
703-527-7360
Treasurer: Jean Tatalias,
703-281-6099
Directors: Jeremy Beck,
703-517-1816
Joan Mashburn, 703-209-8678
Joanna Taylor, 703-243-5989
Directors Emeritus: Charlotte
Friend, Don Wiesnet
Membership: Elizabeth Fenton,
emfenton@cox.net
Webmaster, www.nvabc.org: Jeremy
Beck, jghyll+nvabc@gmail.com
Editors, The Siskin: Pat and Neal
Gause, 703-476-3903
Administrator, NVBC Facebook
Group: Allie Guidry (please contact
through Facebook page)
NVBC email: lgmeade@gmail.com
Photographs from Birding in Colombia
By Anne Bielamowicz
Golden-headed Manakins
Local Colombian guide, Miguel
From above top:
Black-headed Trogon
Swallow-winged Puffbird
Miuseno
The Siskin . Vol. 68, No. 2 . April 2023
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Chincoteague Trip Birds
Seth Honig photographed the Marbled Godwits and 1 Willet in flight and Marbled Godwits foraging at Chincoteague on February 9, 2023.
Snow Geese on the beach at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge photographed by Toby Hardwick
The Siskin . Vol. 68, No. 2 . April 2023
Addendum website only 2
Additional Photographs by Nick Newberry
April 20, 2023 meeting speaker
Nick Newberry in classroom
Madagascar Pygmy Nuthatch
The Siskin . Vol. 68, No. 2 . April 2023
European Whimbrel
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