November 2016 – Northern Virginia Bird Club

The SISKIN
Newsletter of the Northern Virginia Bird Club
Vol. 61, No. 4
Inside
Calendar of NVBC field trips, November 9, 2016 – February 5, 2017
Highland County winter trip
2017 ASNV Winter Waterfowl Survey
2016 Treasurer’s Report
Upcoming Christmas Bird Counts in Northern Virginia
Youth Birding Scholarship
Report from Camp Avocet
Occoquan Bay Bird Banding 2016
Insert – 2017 membership renewal notice

Winter Chincoteague Trip
The Winter Chincoteague Weekend club trip is scheduled for February 3-5 (Friday to Sunday) co-led by Marc Ribaudo and myself. February is an excellent time to visit Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel Islands (CBBT). The Refuge is loaded with wintering waterfowl while the CBBT is famous for wintering sea ducks.
On last year’s trip, we saw a total of 105 species including 21 species of waterfowl. Highlight sightings were Snow Geese and Horned Larks along the dunes, and Western Sandpipers amongst the shorebirds at Chincoteague NWR, Clapper Rails and a mixed flock of Seaside, Nelson’s and Saltmarsh Sparrows along the entrance road to the refuge, and a Marbled Godwit at the Chincoteague City mudflats. At Kiptopeke State Park, we were astonished to see an American White Pelican fly right over us at the pier. At the CBBT Islands, we found Harlequin Ducks, Long-tailed Ducks, Great Cormorants, Northern Gannets, Purple Sandpipers, Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a briefly viewed Razorbill.
Plans for the weekend include birding the Chincoteague area Friday afternoon starting at 3:15 p.m. (optional) and Saturday starting at 7:30 a.m. Activities on Friday and Saturday include birding along Beach Road, Swan Cove and Tom’s Cove and around the Wildlife Loop. Time and tides permitting, we will also visit the Queen Sound Flats, the Chincoteague City mudflats and Mariner’s Point. We will also arrange a trip to the CBBT Islands on Sunday, weather permitting. The CBBT trip requires security forms in advance and an extra fee (about $10 per person). The trip concludes at noon on Sunday.
NVBC membership is required for this trip. To sign up for this trip, please call Elton Morel at 703-553-4860 or email him at eltonlmorel@verizon.net. The trip is limited to 24 people and usually fills up, so please contact Elton Morel first to ensure that space is available before making hotel reservations. When signing up, please indicate whether you are interested in Sunday morning’s CBBT Island trip and a Saturday evening group dinner. If the trip is full, your name can be put on a waiting list.
We have obtained a special rate of $76 per night on twenty rooms for Friday and Saturday nights at the Best Western Chincoteague Island Hotel on Maddox Boulevard. A two-night stay is usually required. Hotel reservations must be made by January 20 to get this special group rate. Participants should make your own reservations by calling 800-553-6117 and be sure to say you are with the Northern Virginia Bird Club. Check-in time is 3 pm on Friday, February 3, with 24-hour notice required for cancellation. Chincoteague NWR is a US fee area.
— Elton Morel

NVBC General Meeting — Wednesday, November 16, 8 PM
Taiwan: Birds, Culture and More
Speakers: Diane Marton and Joanna Taylor
Join club members Diane Marton and Joanna Taylor on their journey this past April to Taiwan. They joined a Tropical Birding tour led by guide and photographer Charley Hesse. Taiwan, an island nation thrust out of the ocean floor along the Pacific “ring of fire,” sports stunningly beautiful mountain peaks and seascapes in its small area. Dubbed Formosa or “beautiful island” by the early Portuguese explorers, it claims a high number of endemic plant and animal species, with birds being no exception. The number is continually rising as endemic subspecies are promoted to full species status.
Early bird refreshments start at 7:30 PM and will include some Chinese finger foods. 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.

Presidential Peentings
What is a birder? Do you need to have a long life list and a collection of high priced optics to be considered a real birder? I would argue that if you own a pair of binoculars, have a field guide and know the birds in your neighborhood, you can legitimately call yourself a “birder.” Birders can be of any age and of any experience level. In Virginia, there is now a new, younger generation of enthusiastic birders who are injecting some much needed energy into the hobby.
One of the rewarding aspects of being a birder is that there are so many chances to learn new things and have new experiences. Birders, by their nature, are often lifelong learners and birding provides an opportunity to study a subject in depth. As a birder, you can gain knowledge passively by reading about birds or learn actively by going out in the field and experiencing birds for yourself. Many birders have extensive bird book collections, so we are not averse to reading. However, going outside and seeing birds for yourself is the best way to learn. Getting out there also exposes you to new locations to visit and to new people who share the same interest as you. You can literally bird for the rest of your life and continue to collect new birding experiences to enrich your time on earth. Happy birding!
— Larry Meade

Highland County Winter Weekend
Our winter trip to Highland County will be held on the weekend of March 3-5 (Friday to Sunday), 2017. The plan is to spend Friday night in Staunton and Saturday night in Highland County. The trip limit is 20 people. A complete description of the trip will be in the February 2017 edition of the Siskin. To sign up, call Gerco Hoogeweg at 540-822-5857 or email at dgerco@hotmail.com. NVBC membership is required.
— Gerco Hoogeweg

Winter Waterfowl Survey
On Saturday, February 4 and Sunday, February 5, 2017 birders of all skill levels will join up to count waterfowl in Fairfax, Arlington, and Prince William counties, including the Potomac and Occoquan watersheds. Novice birders will be paired with expert bird enthusiasts. Larry Cartwright continues as the volunteer compiler for this year’s count. For more information and to join the team, email info@audubonva.org or call 703-438-6008.

Treasurer’s Report for Fiscal Year 2016
The Club has 366 family and individual memberships, with 500 total members.
Income received
Dues for 2016: $4,152
Bird Watcher’s Digest & pins: $70
Donations: $358
Total Income: $4,580
Expenses
Organizational costs: $630 (includes fees for PO box, bulk mailing, web site hosting, state registration, VSO dues, etc.)
Meeting expenses: $1,006 (hall rental, speaker honorariums, etc)
Printing and postage: $2,083
Scholarships: $1,000
Total expenses: $4,719
Net for 2016: -$139
We entered 2016 projecting a break even budget. The Club received over $300 more in dues than projected. We also received donations of over $300 from generous members plus a small amount from Amazon Smile. On the expense side, we were very close to projected amounts for fees, meeting expenses, printing and postage. Because we had two such outstanding youth scholarship applicants, the Board awarded two Val Kitchens Memorial Scholarships of $500 each. The Club had a net loss from 2016 of $139 to which we applied some of the net gain of $1,000 from 2015. Net assets at the end of the year were $7,584.
— Jean Tatalias, Treasurer

Christmas Bird Counts in Northern Virginia
December
Wednesday, Dec 14: BROOKE, VA. Contact Odette James at o.b.james@verizon.net.
Saturday, Dec 17: WASHINGTON D.C. Contact Larry Cartwright: prowarbler@verizon.net or Carol Hayes at carol.hayes@anshome.org (301-652-9188 ext 10).
Sunday, Dec 18: MANASSAS-BULL RUN. Contact Bob Shipman at ships333@yahoo.com or register at www.audubonva.org/christmas-bird-count/.
Sunday, Dec 18: SENECA MD/VA. Contact Jim Nelson at kingfishers2@verizon.net.
Sunday, Dec 18: THE PLAINS/AIRLIE. Contact Sue Garvin at sgarvin@envstudies.org.
Monday, Dec 26: NOKESVILLE. Contact Kim Hosen at 703-499-4954 or khosen@pwconserve.org.
Wednesday, Dec 28: CENTRAL LOUDOUN. Sign up at www.loudounwildlife.org or contact Joe Coleman: 540-554-2542 or joecoleman@rstarmail.com.
January
Sunday, Jan 1: WALKERTON. Contact Fred Atwood at fredatwood@yahoo.com by December 16.
Monday, Jan 2: CALMES NECK. Cutoff Dec 21. Contact Margaret Wester at margaretwester@hotmail.com.
Monday, Jan 2: FORT BELVOIR. Contact Phil Silas at 703-590-7286 or epsdcv@aol.com.
Monday, Jan 2: SUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN (Lucketts Sector). Contact Gerco Hoogeweg at drgerco@hotmail.com.

Youth Birding Scholarship Opportunity
The Northern Virginia Bird Club is sponsoring the Val Kitchens Memorial Young Birder Scholarship for 2017. We are seeking applicants from 13 to 18 years of age to receive a financial grant of up to $500 to attend a Virginia Society of Ornithology (VSO) activity, a birding camp, a birding course or educational offering, or a similar activity.
Applicants are asked to submit a letter of application to the Board with a short biographical sketch (name, age, current involvement in birding), description of planned activity and expressing why they would value this opportunity. Candidates will be asked to provide a reference from a member of NVBC, VSO, or from a birder familiar to the club.
The deadline is February 1, 2017. Applications can be submitted as an attachment via email to the Club at lgmeade@gmail.com, or mailed to Northern Virginia Bird Club, Attn: Scholarship, P.O. Box 5812, Arlington, VA 22205-0812. Interested parties can call David Farner at 443-643-6141 or Ghazali Raheem at 703-563-3810.
— Ghazali Raheem

Report from Camp Avocet
I had a wonderful experience at Camp Avocet, and I want to share some of my thoughts with you. First of all, this camp gave me experience with young birders from around the country and the world. Two years ago, my birding club was Huntley Meadows. Then last year I got involved in the Northern Virginia Teen Birding Club with Fred Atwood which expanded my experience and taught me how to do banding as well. Now, thanks to my experience at Avocet, I am connected to a wide group on eBird.
At Avocet, one thing I really appreciated was spending time on bird identification, such as how to identify terns by their calls, and how a White-rumped Sandpiper’s wings cross at the tips. I also learned a lot about photography and the difference a good camera makes. I have since upgraded to a DSLR Canon 20D. I saw many rare species, such as a Roseate Tern, Parasitic Jaegers, and Piping Plovers. I am curious now about birds in places I’ve spent less time, such as the mountains and lakes. Camp Avocet was amazing, and I think I am a better birder because of it.
— Lucy Soulliere (2016 Scholarship Co-Recipient)

Occoquan Bay Bird Banding 2016
Despite a chilly, wet and windy Spring, the banding season at Occoquan Bay was quite productive. In spite of the wet weather, we managed to band 574 birds which is slightly above average. We had 49 species which is under average, probably because we missed flights on the days we were not able to operate the nets.
This year we set new banding records for Gray Catbird (93), Veery (11), Acadian Flycatcher (9) and Hooded Warbler (3). We had 112 Common Yellowthroats which was the most of any one species banded this year. Our most common bird banded in the station’s history remains the White-throated Sparrow. A Red-wing Blackbird was our 8,000th bird banded in the 16 years we have been operating the station. We were able to band our first Green Heron. Notable recaptures included a Red-Bellied Woodpecker and two White-throated Sparrows in their seventh year, and a female Northern Cardinal in her ninth year.
The station is open Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (weather permitting) from 7 am until 11:30 am from the last week of March until the end of May.
— Joanna Taylor

Mississippi Kites in Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia birders happily viewed Mississippi Kites around North Arlington and Fairfax County. Donald Sweig photographed the adult Mississippi Kite preparing to feed a cicada to its large chick around 17th and Utah, in North Arlington. Other kites had been seen over and around Green Spring Gardens Park. It turned out that they had nested in a nearby residential neighborhood in July. In August, Donald Sweig obtained special permission to photograph the juvenile Mississippi Kite almost ready to fledge on the nest in a private yard.
— Donald M. Sweig