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Wednesday, June 8, 2011

It's for the birds!

Roanoke Valley Bird Club Celebrates 54 Years of Birding Programs
Brilliant Plumage between pages 306 and 307photo © 2010 Sue Clark | more info (via: Wylio)
Formed in 1957 the Roanoke Valley Bird Club was formed as a local chapter of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. Our group of about 200 members promotes an interest in the study of birds and conservation of wild bird habitat. Our monthly programs are educational and entertaining. But above all, members enjoy good fellowship by participating in birdwatching field trips and other activities.



Membership

Members receive a monthly newsletter, our source of information about upcoming programs and field trips as well as the latest in birding facts and news.


Join the Club

When you join, we will send you the most recent newsletter and invite you to our next meeting or field trip. To complete a membership form, click onMembership Application. Note: Memberships are effective beginning September 1 of the ensuing year. Memberships received after June 1 will be applied to the following year.


Our club meets each second Monday at 7:00 P.M., September through May, at the Grandin Court Baptist Church at 2660 Brambleton Avenue in Roanoke, Virginia. Speakers talk about everything from hummingbirds and songbirds to eagles and owls, with video presentations and occasional live bird exhibits. Guests are always welcome.

Meetings also cover field sightings of birds in the Roanoke area. After the meeting we gather for refreshments.

Community Outreach
Our VP of Programs, Bill Grant, frequently talks to local clubs and community groups about the bird club's activities, backyard birding, declining bird species, and wildlife habitat preservation. If you would like to arrange for Bill Grant to speak to your group please contact him at 540-389-3294

Field Trips
The Roanoke Valley Bird Club organizes a full calendar of field trips each year. These trips give members a chance to learn more about birds in the area. As part of the club’s mission, the information from several of our field trips is used to keep a census of bird populations in the Roanoke Valley.

Our field trips include but are not limited to:

• Winter Trip to Highland County
• Spring Trip to Highland County 
• Winter Raptor Count
• Pond Hopping
• Big Spring Day
• Warbler Walks
• Evening Woodcock Watch
• Fall Hawk Migration Count
• Sparrow Walk
• Christmas Bird Counts

Club members may also attend overnight field trips sponsored by the Virginia Society of Ornithology. VSO trips include Chincoteague, the Eastern Shore, Piney Grove, Mount Rogers, High Knob, and the Outer Banks.

Hawkwatching
In the fall, club members volunteer to watch the skies for migrating raptors at Harvey's Knob on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Bluebird Trail
In the spring and summer, our club sponsors a Bluebird Monitoring Project along the Blue Ridge Parkway and at two local golf courses. Club members volunteer to check nest boxes in order to determine the breeding success of “our” bluebirds. Members also enjoy getting together to build new boxes from funds donated to our Adopt a Bluebird program.

Seed Sale
Once a year in the fall our club has a bird seed sale to raise funds for the club. We sell quality seed containing little or no waste, at reasonable prices. The sale is open to the public. Refreshments are served, and experienced bird watchers/feeders will be on hand the day of pick-up to answer any questions. Sale proceeds are used to promote wild bird conservation and to support local educational programs.
BRFAL Chapter of Virginia Master Naturalist wants you to Get Outside, and don't forget your camera! 

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