February 2021

The SISKIN
Newsletter of the Northern Virginia Bird Club
Vol. 66, No. 1 February 2021 www.nvabc.org 

Inside NVBC GENERAL MEETING—Thursday, FEBRUARY 18, 8 PM
Calendar of NVBC field trips,
March 31 – May 8, 2021 Bird Survival Adaptations in the Himalaya
Reports on Christmas Bird Counts
Birding and Photography: My Speaker: Dr. Sahas Barve
Personal Experience Birds that live at high elevations have to deal with two major environ-
To see the newsletter photographs in mental challenges: the cold and the lack of oxygen. Dr. Barve will talk
color, go to www.nvabc.org and click about how Himalayan birds have adjusted to cope with both these pressures
on The Siskin icon during his virtual presentation.
Dr. Barve is an avian evolutionary ecologist and currently a Peter Buck
A reminder to pay your 2021 dues Fellow at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. He grew
If not paid, this will be the last issue up in Mumbai, India and was always outside watching birds. He is an avid
you receive. The Siskin mailing label birder and hopes to see 6,000 bird species by the time he is 60. Dr. Barve
shows the year through which your has a beautiful image of the Trishul massif (about 23,500 feet) in the
dues are current or “CO” for Himalaya of northern India on his homepage. You can learn more about his
complimentary. other avian research at sahasbarve.com.
Thanks!
The February virtual meeting will be held using Zoom starting as early
April NVBC Meeting as 7:30 pm with the featured speaker at 8 pm. Please register in advance by
clicking on the registration link found at the upper right at the Northern
Mark April 15 on your calendar Virginia Bird Club website (nvabc.org). Upon registering, an email
for the NVBC spring meeting. The automatically will be sent with a link to click on to join the meeting. There
program will appear in the next issue will be ample time to take questions from the audience.
of The Siskin. Dr. Sarah Karpanty will
The photo is from Chopta, Uttarakhand, India, one of Dr. Barve’s field sites. The mountain
be speaking on colonial waterbird on the top right corner is the peak of Chaukhamba, which is 23,518 feet in elevation. This
conservation in the Hampton Roads is higher than any mountain in the Western Hemisphere. Photograph by Pratik Joshi
Election of Officers
Also on the agenda is the election
of club officers and directors for two-
year terms that begin July 1. If you are
interested in serving on the NVBC
Board or have suggestions to make to
the Nominating Committee, please
send an email to nvbcsiskineditor
@gmail.com by April 5, 2021. The
Nominating Committee will present a
slate of candidates at the meeting. The
by-laws allow for nominations from
the floor but given the constraints of a
virtual meeting, submission via email
deadline would be appreciated.
Presidential Peentings
Well, we made it through 2020. It was a year of of the exciting birds that many of us had a chance to see in
disruptions and tragedy which none of us will ever 2020. It’s also fun to run into birding friends where these
forget. We all changed our routines and missed out on birds are being seen. Birders tend to “flock” to them. The
events in order to keep ourselves and others healthy and communication systems related to finding rare birds are
safe. At the Northern Virginia Bird Club, we made the becoming so sophisticated these days, that anyone who
decision to cancel our out-of- wants to keep on top of where
town trips and also our local rare birds are showing up can
bird walks when the virus was easily do so.
spiking in our region. If all goes Let’s hope that at some time
a s p l a n n e d , w e w i l l b e in 2021 things are more or less
resuming our walks this spring. back to normal. I look forward
Fortunately, birding is also to going on more NVBC trips
a hobby which we can do alone and bird walks. Finding and
or in small groups. Christmas studying birds is rewarding, but
Bird Counts were still held this the social aspect of birding
year, albeit a bit toned down together adds immeasurably to
and with smaller groups. Birds the enjoyment of birding.
don’t know about the pandemic Organized walks also provide
and, to the delight of many the best opportunity to teach
birders , some interest ing and inspire new birders. Good
rarities have been showing up birding in 2021!
in our area. The Ruff in
Loudoun County, the Rufous
Hummingbird in Annandale, —Larry Meade
and the Barnacle Goose in
Washington DC are just a few Barred Owl photographed by Larry Meade
Christmas Bird Counts (CBC) During the Pandemic
Four Christmas Bird Count Birds CBC from a Less Experienced Birder’s
Perspective
In four days of birding while participating in four
Christmas Bird Counts this year, I saw many of our local There are 11 regional Christmas Bird Count circles
wintering bird species. They were all the best birds that that are either all or partly in Northern Virginia. Each
they could be, but for each count there was one bird in circle has a Compiler for 6-10 Sectors, with a leader for
particular that made a special impression on me. You each sector and 70-150 counters. An enormous amount of
might call each one “the bird of the day.” volunteer time is spent organizing these counts which, this
My first count was the DC count in the Virginia winter, took place between December 15, 2020 and
portion of the circle. After returning from leading a small January 3, 2021. As just a counter, I personally have 125
group down the GW Parkway, I found Ed Eder’s group at emails, numerous texts, and phone calls. I was sent color-
the entrance road to the marina at Dyke Marsh. We were coded maps of the Sector, of each walking/driving path,
comparing our sightings for the day, when suddenly a full maps of the Circle, Rare Bird Documentation forms,
beautiful Peregrine Falcon came in low from the direction Eagle Sighting Logs, repeated COVID-19 protocols, and
of the river. The falcon soared directly over our heads, sponsor waiver forms to fill out online. The emails cover
briefly perched in a nearby tree and then took off again. It introductions to team, directions to meeting spot, missing
was a short, but sweet sighting! birds, discussions about eagle sightings to make sure we
The next day Elton Morel and I surveyed Silver Lake do not double count, and how to park on the side of a busy
and North Fork Wetlands for the Plains count. We birded road. While birding I kept car mileage start and stop times
the fields, crossed the little creek and scanned the pasture to each location, walking mileage per area, walking time
on the far side of the park. As we started to enter the per area, and eBird checklists for various locations.
wooded area next to the small pond, I looked to my right Internet service can be iffy and phone batteries die.
and saw a puffed up Barred Owl looking me right in the How to go on a Christmas Bird Count is a real mystery
eye. It was at eye level and only about twenty feet away. I for us less experienced birders and in this pandemic year it
alerted Elton to the owl in a loud whisper and we both was plain daunting. I started birding in March 2019 and
snapped multiple photos. The bird did not seem bothered met Larry Cartwright on my regular Sunday walks at Dyke
by us in the slightest and we quietly walked on to find Marsh. He asked me to come along on the Dyke Marsh
more birds. count. Last year beginners were encouraged to come along
The next week was the Nokesville CBC. After birding and participate, kids were given tally counters, and I kept
other parts of the circle in the morning, Elton, Toby
Continued on p. 6
Continued on p. 3
2 Northern Virginia Bird Club . www.nvabc.org
Christmas Bird Counts During the Pandemic
Four CBC Birds
from p 2 Seneca Maryland/Virginia Christmas Bird
Count, December 20, 2020
Hardwick and I birded the Prince William Landfill. There
were plenty of gulls and Bald Eagles around the trash and We had decent weather this year, and many veteran
on the soccer field. We had permission to cover also the participants came out and did a very thorough job of
perimeter road in separate cars. As we were driving, Toby counting, even with the additional restrictions imposed by
and I realized that Elton had lagged behind us, so we went the pandemic. We had additional feeder counters this year
back to find him figuring that he was on a good bird. Little due to increased interest in backyard birds. Our count
did we realize that it was a Rough-legged Hawk! The circle covers parts of Fairfax and Loudoun counties in VA
hawk soared around briefly and perched in a tree before (and part of Montgomery County in MD). Based on
two Red-tailed Hawks swooped in and chased it off. preliminary reports, our counters identified 105 species on
My final CBC was the Belvoir count where I covered count day, which is a very high number for this count.
Occoquan Regional Park. I climbed a steep hill to bird the We have initial reports of many unusual birds found in
White Trail which parallels the river and the entrance road. the count circle (each still subject to appropriate
There is a large stand of pines there and I went searching documentation, review, and approval): Ross’s Goose,
for birds that like that habitat and I found Golden-crowned Cackling Goose, American Woodcock, Ring-necked
Kinglets and a Pine Warbler. My favorite bird, though, was Pheasant, Sandhill Crane, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Snow
a Brown Creeper which flitted around just downslope from Bunting, Evening Grosbeak, Common Redpoll, Golden-
me and favored me with some nice views and photo crowned Sparrow, Pine Warbler, and Black-throated Green
opportunities. Warbler. We also have count week Lapland Longspur.
The Christmas Bird Count is one of my favorite events Thanks to everyone who came out to help this year under
of the birding year. Experienced and new birders all join very daunting circumstances.
together as a community to provide important data for the
National Audubon Society. Unfortunately, because of —Jim Nelson
Covid-19, we were not able to get together in person for
tally rallies to share a meal and regale each other with our Sugarloaf Mountain – Sector 14 Lucketts,
sightings. However, it was nice to see people at virtual January 3, 2021
rallies.
Gray, rainy and cold was the day but surprisingly we
—Larry Meade still managed to find 51 species, excluding 3 count week
birds I saw the day before. Sector 14 of the Sugarloaf
Mountain Count (Maryland) is a small sliver just east of
Lucketts and has a nice variety of habitats. The sector is
usually good for raptors, but the numbers were down this
year. The biggest surprise was that we did not see any Bald
Eagles. However, we saw 2 Barred Owl, 6 Common
Ravens, 5 Pileated Woodpeckers, and a total of 19 Eastern
Meadowlarks. Best spot of the day was the fishing pier at
the Potomac Wood Girl Scout Camp where we found
Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, Yellow-bellied
Sapsucker, and a Great Blue Heron who startled us when it
flew up a with a loud squawk from the creek we were
walking along.
—Gerco Hoogenweg
Brown Creeper photographed by Larry Meade
Manassas-Bull Run Christmas Bird Count,
December 20, 2020
The Manassas-Bull Run (M-BR) CBC was conducted
December 20 with about 90 counters from the group of
137 participants last year. Covid protocols were strictly
adhered to, and the preliminary species count is 86 which
is as many as last year. Highlights included over 600
American Pipits and a very late Blue-headed Vireo.
—Phil Silas
Red-shouldered Hawk photographed by Gerco Hoogeweg the
day before the count in the Sector.
The Siskin . Vol. 66, No. 1 . February 2021 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/field-trips-this-month.
To receive email notices, join the NVBC eMail Exchange. For sign-up directions see back page of The Siskin.
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
March 31 April 3
8:30 AM 8 AM
Laurel Hill Aquia Landing
Equestrian Center Beach Park
Phil Silas Elton Morel
Trip Leaders
Jeremy Beck 703-517-1816
Larry Cartwright 703-941-3142 7 10
Kurt Gaskill 703-768-2172 8:30 AM 7:30 AM
Toby Hardwick 703-201-1517 Long Branch Leopold’s
Ken Hunt 319-354-1079 Tom Nardone Preserve
Larry Meade 571-275-2523 Kurt Gaskill
Toby Hardwick
Elton Morel 703-907-9951
Tom Nardone 703-946-7738
Phil Silas 703-987-0817 14 15 17
8:30 AM
Burke Lake NVBC 8:30 AM
Phil Silas Meeting Occoquan Bay
8 PM NWR
Phil Silas
Larry Cartwright
21 24
8:30 AM 7:30 AM
Meadowood Huntley Meadows
Recreation Area Hike/Bike Trail
Larry Cartwright Ken Hunt
Larry Meade
28 May 1
8:30 AM 7:30 AM
Fort C. F. Smith Leesylvania SP
Tom Nardone Phil Silas
Jeremy Beck Ken Hunt
5 8
8:30 AM 7:30 AM
Long Branch Trillium Trail
Elton Morel Elton Morel
Ken Hunt
DIRECTIONS slight left onto Brooke Rd (Rt 608), signs), and turn left immediately after
Virtual NVBC Meeting (4/15) go 4.4 mi. to the park entrance, the entrance booth. Park in the first
Online meeting using Zoom continue past park entrance gate to lot on the right (by the mini-golf
platform. the parking lot at the end of the road. course).
—— Meet in parking lot. Fort C.F. Smith (4/28) 2411 24th St
Burke Lake Park (4/14) 7315 Ox N, Arlington 22207 From I-66 east,
Aquia Landing Beach Park (4/3) Rd, Fairfax Station 22039 From take exit 72 (Spout Run Pkwy). At
2846 Brooke Rd, Stafford 22554 I-495, take exit 54 west (Braddock traffic light, turn right on Lee Hwy.
From southbound I-95 towards Rd). Stay in right lane of exit if you At successive traffic lights, turn left
Stafford, take exit 140 to Stafford, are coming from the north. On onto Spout Run Pkwy, then left onto
then left (east) on Courthouse Rd (Rt Braddock Rd, go 1.5 mi. and turn left Lorcom Ln, then right onto Fillmore
630), go 3.5 mi. and turn right on onto Burke Lake Rd. Go 4.7 mi. and St. Go one block on Fillmore, turn
Andrew Chapel Rd (Rt 629), go 0.9 turn left onto Rt 123 (Ox Rd). Turn right onto N. 24th St (watch for
mi. and under the railroad bridge to a left at second traffic light (big park speed. humps), and continue to park
4 Northern Virginia Bird Club . www.nvabc.org
Directions Meadowood Recreation Area (4/21)
10406 Gunston Rd, Lorton 22079 Bird Walks at Local Parks
on left. Meet in parking lot at east end From I-495, take I-95 south 7 mi. to
of park. From Alexandria: take GW Lorton exit . Left on Rt 642. • Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve,
Pkwy north, take left exit onto Spout Immediately after passing under second Saturdays, 8 am. Meet at the
Run, then right exit onto Lorcom Ln, railroad tracks (0.25 mi.) turn right on parking lot. Visit the Loudoun
and follow remaining directions Lorton Market Rd, which soon Wildlife web site,
above. becomes Gunston Cove Rd. After www.loudounwildlife.org/events/
Huntley Meadows Hike and Bike crossing Rt 1, road becomes Gunston • Blue Ridge Center for
Environmental Stewardship, fourth
Trail (4/24) From I-495, take Rt 1 Rd. Go 1.8 miles to Meadowood on Saturday, 8 am Meet at Education
south 0.5 mi to Rt 633 (S. King right. (BLM, Lower Potomac Station Center. www.loudounwildlife.org/
Hwy). Turn right (west); go 2.5 miles Office). Park on right next to horse events/
to park entrance and lot on left (just barns just before field station • Dyke Marsh, Sundays, 8 am See
before Telegraph Rd). building. directions. Visit the Friends of Dyke
Laurel Hill Equestrian Center Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Marsh web site, www.fodm.org
(3/31) Lorton From I-495, take I-95 Refuge (4/17) 13950 Dawson Beach • Eakin Park, Mondays, 7:30 am
south about 13 mi. to exit 163 Rd, Woodbridge 22191 From I-495, Meet at Prosperity Ave parking lot.
take I-95 south 9 mi. to (left) exit 161 Leader: Carolyn Williams
(Lorton Rd). Continue 1.4 mi. west
on Rt 642/Lorton Rd, then turn left (Woodbridge). Go south on Rt 1 • Great Falls National Park,
on Rt 611/Furnace Rd then an about 2 mi. to left turn onto Dawson Sundays, 8 am Meet in the main
Beach Rd. Continue on Dawson parking lot, closest to the Park Visitor
immediate right onto Dairy Rd. Center.
Proceed to and meet in the parking lot. Beach 0.7 mi. to entrance gate. Meet
Leesylvania State Park (5/1) 2001 in parking lot. US fee area. • Huntley Meadows Park, Mondays,
7 am (Apr-Sep) 8 am (Oct-Mar)
Daniel K Ludwig Dr, Woodbridge Tr i l l i u m Tr a i l – G . R i c h a r d Meet in parking lot. Leader: Harry
22191 From I-495, take I-95 south Thompson Wildlife Management Glasgow
about 14 mi. to exit 156 (Dale City/ Area (5/8) (Fauquier Co) From I-495, • Merrimac Farm, last Sunday, 8 am
Rippon Landing/Rt 784). Following take I-66 west 51 mi. to Linden exit Meet at Merrimac Farm Stone House.
the posted highway signs for (Rt 79). Go left (south) from exit www.pwconserve .org/events/
Leesylvania State Park, exit east on ramp on Rt 79 approx. 1000 ft. to Rt index.html#birds
Rt 784. Proceed eastward 1.1 mi. to 55. Turn left (east) onto Rt 55; go 1.2
Rt 1. Turn right (south) on Rt 1 and mi. to Rt 638 (Freezeland Rd). Turn
g o 0 . 9 m i . t o N e a b s c o R d . left (north) onto Rt 638. Follow Rt
Immediately past the Wawa service 638, as it bears right, 5.3 mi. to
station, turn left (east) on Neabsco Rd Trillium Trail Parking Area on right
and proceed 2 mi. to park entrance on —look for sign on kiosk. (Parking
right. After passing through the park Area is just before radio towers.)
entrance gate, go 2.2 mi. to end of Note: participant must have an access
paved road and park in “Picnic Area” permit issued by VA Department of
parking lot, immediately before turn- G a m e a n d I n l a n d F i s h e r i e s ,
around circle at fishing pier. State fee w w w . d g i f . v i r g i n i a . g o v ,
area. 1-866-721-6911.
Leopold’s Preserve (4/10) 16283
Thoroughfare Rd, Haymarket 20169
From I-66 west, take exit 40 to Rt 15 Spring Chincoteague Trip
toward Haymarket/Leesburg. Turn cancelled
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 Evening Grosbeaks at
for overflow parking. Shenandoah
University river
Long Branch Nature Area (4/7, 5/5) Campus at Cool
625 S Carlin Springs Rd, Arlington Spring Battlefield,
22204 Take Rt 50, east from Fairfax Clarke County,Virginia
or west from Rosslyn to Carlin photographed by Dave
Springs exit. Go south on Carlin Boltz
Springs 0.5 mi. to Nature Center on
left, just south of N. Va Community
Hospital on left. Meet at Nature
Center parking lot.
The Siskin . Vol. 66, No. 1 . February 2021 5
CBC from a Less Experienced Birder’s Perspective
from p. 2 Pine Siskins in Fairfax
count with pen stokes on a paper with clipboard in pouring Pine Siskin feeding on a bush in a residential yard in
rain and no plastic cover for the tally sheet. This year, I central Fairfax County on October 27, 2020. Notice the
emailed six of the eleven compilers listed in the Siskin pointed beak, the deeply forked tail, and the yellow on
November issue. Larry Cartwright responded right away some of the wing and tail feathers. Phtograph: © Donald
and encouraged me to go on two counts. Eventually with Sweig.
much persistence and follow up, I was included in other
counts and participated in a total of five.
Typically, the Sector team assembles in a parking lot,
then 4 to 5 groups of 2 to 5 birders are assigned different
paths and we all walk through a hotspot and thoroughly
count all the birds seen or heard. After 3 to 4 hours, we
gather to share species lists and send them off to the Sector
leader to prepare reports for the Compiler. No lunch is
needed, as it is a half day of birding. No maps needed, as
we all know the hotspot.
Walking paths included paved walks near a marsh,
parking lots edges in office complex, icy bridges, thick
meadows with no path at all. We tunneled through
blackberry and raspberry bushes, dodged low branches,
jumped over water, stepped over logs, and tried to keep
quiet so as not to flush the ducks too soon. Some of the Pine Siskin on a thistle feeder Fairfax County, October
locations looked like movie sets, like the barn area of 27, 2020. This bird has significant yellow feathering.
Oatlands Plantation, others have water views that go on for Photograph: © Donald Sweig.
miles, and most sites are plain beautiful.
A fun count day involves the “dash in your car” to the
next location, camera, and bins, around your neck, with
seatbelt properly placed to pull your bins up, to find a
place to park, hop out and list and look for birds. Walkie-
talkies may be involved. On the backroads you can slow
down the car as a Sharp-shinned Hawk flies by your
windshield and open the rooftop window as the Common
Raven circles above.
I find it interesting that the counters are not always
regular birders. They may have just been doing CBCs for
a few years, or birded years ago. Or even better, they may
have just emailed a compiler and said they want to get
started and they get assigned a Sector! Experience is not
required for everyone on a team.
We are all so lucky to be “out there” counting birds. Pine Siskins on thistle feeder, Fairfax County, October
For more information on the history of CBC, go to 27, 2020. Photograph © Donald Sweig
https://www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christmas-
bird-count.
—Joan Mashburn
Rufous Hummingbird photographed by Dave Boltz at Green
Spring Gardens Park, Fairfax, Virginia, November 18, 2012
6 Northern Virginia Bird Club . www.nvabc.org
When I began serious birding, over Birding and many of those images with my friends
30 years ago, I decided to photograph Photography: and have used some of them to
the birds that I was seeing, as both a illustrate nature articles that I have
personal record and to show friends written for publication. But as I have
what I had seen. So, I bought a used My Personal Experience slowed down with the physical and
semi-pro Nikon, manual-focus, film sometimes medical issues that come
camera and a zoom lens. I soon found with age, being able to look at the
out that what others told me was true, photo images that I took over many
that it is very difficult to bird seriously years and in many places is a great
and photograph at the same time. consolation and source of joy. So many
Many birds, especially songbirds, memories:
are small and they move around a lot. • Great Gray Owls and Northern Hawk
Even larger birds, like raptors are often Owls photographed in freezing
hard to find and photograph in the sky. Minnesota;
But I persevered and ended up taking a • Altamira Orioles and Green Jays in
lot of bad, and a few good photos. Texas;
After a few years I upgraded to a • White-headed Woodpeckers, Violet-
Canon professional autofocus film green Swallows, Golden Eagles, and so
camera, with a 300 mm telephoto lens much more in Eastern Oregon;
which made photographing birds easier, • Trogans, Ferruginous Hawks, Golden
although I still had to deal with the trouble and expense of Eagles, Prairie Falcons, hummingbirds, and more in
buying, hauling around, and developing film. Finally, I Arizona;
upgraded to a Canon semi-pro digital single-lens reflex • Painted Buntings, Swallow-tailed and Mississippi Kites,
(SLR) autofocus camera, which made it very much easier Red -cockaded Woodpeckers, and more in South Carolina;
indeed. For the last several years I have been using a • And the many wonderful birds, including Snowy Owls,
Canon 7D SLR camera body with a Canon 100 to 400 Mississippi and Swallow-tailed Kites, fascinating nesting
zoom lens. It seems to work fairly well for most of my Baltimore Orioles, migrating warblers, huge kettles of
bird photography. But it is still a large, heavy camera that migrating Broad-winged Hawks and even a Painted
is difficult to haul around. Other birders often use smaller, Bunting seen and photographed in Virginia, Maryland, and
lighter, cameras that seemed to work well for them, Delaware.
especially for taking reference/record documentary photos. Looking back at some of my photos reminds me of the
I have considered getting a smaller and lighter camera for wonderful times that I’ve had. It’s a personal decision
myself. Ultimately, whatever camera one uses it’s just a whether or not to get a camera to take with you when you
matter of getting used to it and learning to use it so that go birding and if so what kind of a camera you want to get,
you get the results that you want. but overall I’m glad that I did and that I still do bird
Although I don’t travel much for birding anymore, I photography.
have birded and hauled my equipment around to over 22
states. I have taken many thousands of color slide —Donald Sweig
transparency and color negative photo images and I have Author and photographer
over 100 gigs of digital photo images of birds. Many of Swallow-tailed Kite, Loudoun County, Virginia, August 2018
the images that I have taken, probably like most (photograph above) photographed by Donald Sweig
photographers, were pretty much worthless (out-of-focus
or improper exposure). But I have taken some truly nice
photo images of our avian friends. I have enjoyed sharing
Snowy Owl, Gravelly Point, National Airport, January 2014, Hooded Warbler, Monticello Park, Alexandria, Virginia, April 2017
photographed by Donald Sweig photographed by Donald Sweig
The Siskin . Vol. 66, No. 1 . February 2021 7
NORTHERN VIRGINIA BIRD CLUB Nonprofit Org.
P.O. BOX 5812 U.S. Postage
ARLINGTON, VA 22205-0812 PAID
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Arlington, VA
Permit No. 490
DATED
MATERIAL
JOIN THE NORTHERN please email the webmaster, Jeremy Deadline for next issue of The
VIRGINIA BIRD CLUB Beck at jghyll+nvabc@gmail.com. Siskin: The April issue will include
Northern Virginia Bird Club dues for NVBC eMail Exchange activities through June 2021. Please
2021 are $10 for Individual and $15 By participating in the club’s email send items for publication by March
for Family Membership. Members exchange, you can get email notices of 1 5 , 2 0 2 1 t o t h e e d i t o r s a t
receive our quarterly newsletter, The late updates to The Siskin and the field nvbcs isk inedi tor@gmai l .com .
Siskin. Checks for dues should be sent trip schedule. To join the exchange, (please note change in email address)
to Northern Virginia Bird Club, Attn: send an email to lgmeade@gmail
Membersh ip , P.O . Box 5812 , .com. Put “EXCHANGE” in the CLUB CONTACTS
Arlington, VA 22205-0812. Or join or subject field and your full name in the President: Larry Meade, 571-275-2523
renew online at the club’s web site, message area. You will receive a Vice President, Programs: Phil Silas,
http://www.nvabc.org/join/. r e s p o n s e f r o m n v b c – 703-987-0817
If you miss an issue of The Siskin or exchange@googlegroups.com. The Vice President, Field Activities: Elton
need to report an address or ZIP Code list is for NVBC members’ use only. Morel, 703-907-9951
change, please send an email message Secretary: Diane Marton,
to lgmeade@gmail.com or leave a General Meeting Dates: February 18, 703-527-7360
message for Elizabeth Fenton at April 15, September (tbd), and Treasurer: Jean Tatalias, 703-281-6099
703-533-0851. November (tbd), 2021. Directors: Jeremy Beck, 703-517-1816
Please no te : NVBC does no t Next Board Meeting: Thursday, Joan Mashburn, 703-209-8678
exchange, give away, or sell its March 4, 2021, 7:30 pm. To join the Joanna Taylor, 703-243-5989
Zoom board meeting or to have items Directors Emeritus: Len Alfredson,
membership lists.
NVBC ON THE WEB put on the agenda, please email Charlotte Friend, Don Wiesnet
Current information and special lgmeade@gmail.com. Membership: Elizabeth Fenton,
703-533-0851
notices about NVBC meetings, field Thanks to the mailing crew: Many Webmaster, www.nvabc.org: Jeremy
trips, and other activities, along with a thanks to the November mail out Beck, jghyll+nvabc@gmail.com
printable membership form, are posted crew: Elizabeth Fenton and Joanna Editors, The Siskin: Pat and Neal
on the club’s website, www.nvabc.org. Taylor. Gause, 703-476-3903
If you have information or pictures Administrator, NVBC Facebook
you would like to see on the website, Group: Allie Guidry (please contact
through Facebook page)
NVBC email: lgmeade@mail.com
Birding and Photography: My Personal Experience
by Donald Sweig (continued)
Above right photograph of Short-eared Owl in flight, Clarke County, Virginia, January
2017
Long-eared Owl, Clarke County, Virginia, January 2017
Red-morph, Eastern Screech-owl, Great Falls National Male Painted Bunting, Prince George’s County, Maryland,
Park, Virginia, January 2018 July 2015
The Siskin . Vol. 66, No. 1 . February 2021 Addendum website only 1
Above left, Male Baltimore Oriole, feeding chicks, Great
Falls, Maryland, June 2016
Above right, Two, mated, Eastern Screech-owls, Dyke
Marsh, Virginia, March 2015
Left, Adult Mississippi Kite bringing food to two fledged
chicks, Fairfax County, Virginia, July 2016
Below, Snow Geese, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge,
Dorchester County, Maryland, January 2018
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