A successful outing for the birds

Last Saturday Peggy Lyons, from the Lynchburg Bird Club, led a field trip to various sites in Campbell County. Ten members met early in the morning at the home of Fred and Helen Becker, who have a farm on Oxford Furnace Road. The day started with a nice surprise when about a dozen bobwhite flushed from a nearby field and flew into a stand of pines. This species has been declining at an alarming rate across most of Central Virginia and it was great to see a relatively large covey of birds.

We had hoped to find a variety of sparrows, but these birds managed to successfully elude us. However, the warblers put on a nice show and most members in the group saw at least three different species. A Cape May warbler popped into view, flitting around at the top of some deciduous trees, but most of us managed to peep among the leaves and get a glimpse. The majority of the people attending the field trip are working on their local list of birds, and for Jim Elder the Cape May warbler was a new bird for the year.

The palm warblers put on a real show. This bird is an uncommon migrant in our area, and often tends to skulk around in the low underbrush. However, on Saturday we saw at least four different individuals and some of them perched obligingly out in the open. Although the plumage is on the drab side, palm warblers are easy to recognize due to their habit of pumping the tail up and down.

Probably the best bird of the day for most of us was a red-breasted nuthatch. This is an irruptive species, present in great numbers one year and then absent the next, and during the winter of 2008-2009 had not been seen around Lynchburg. It brought my year-list to 202, and I added yet another species when Peggy pointed out a northern harrier gliding across a field as we drove from one site to another.

We ended the field trip shortly before lunch by celebrating with Forrest Taylor, who had just completed the final requirements for his Boy Scout bird study merit badge. He has been working on this project since late summer and members of the Lynchburg Bird Club have really enjoyed providing assistance. All of us were so pleased to help open a door that can provide a lifetime of learning in the exploration of nature.

News and Notes

Readers have contacted me over the past week about bluebirds that seem to be investigating nest boxes. These birds are looking for suitable roosting sites where they will gather on cold nights. Sometimes up to a dozen birds will crowd into a small space in order to help conserve body heat when the temperatures get really low. Make sure that all of your nest boxes are clean and ready to provide a cozy spot during bad weather.

The Lynchburg Bird Club will meet tonight at 7 pm in room 315 of Martin Science Hall on the campus of Randolph College. The guest speaker will be Bill Leaning who will present a program on the birds of Australia and New Zealand. The public is invited.

- Dalmas, a naturalist, writes a
weekly column for The News & Advance. Readers may e-mail her
at jtdalmas@juno.com.