December 15 – The Mountaineer Audubon Chapter of National Audubon held their annual Christmas Bird Count on December 15. Thirty bird watchers covered an area that is a 15 mile diameter circle with the airport as the center point. The birders tallied 2529 individuals and 58 species of avian fauna. Team leaders surveyed six different areas during the twenty-four hour period. Coordinator LeJay Graffious considers the 59 species a little short of our target goal. He contributes this to weather conditions. The high waters at the beginning of count week dispersed many waterfowl to outside the count area. The mild weather has not forced northern species south into the Morgantown area. A notable increase in the number of Bald Eagles was observed on the count. Five adult eagles and one sub-adult were spotted. Also, this was only the second time in the past twenty-three years that American Kestrels were not seen.
Interest in bird watching in Morgantown is growing. Thirty birders participating this year is an increase in interest. All birders from beginner to advance are welcome to assist with the count. In addition to traveling to birding spots, two bird watchers maintained a count at their home feeders that was included in the tally.
Coordinator Graffious thanks all of the group leaders, Alan Clark, Emily Grafton, Hillar Klandorf, Bob Burrell and Sue Olcott for their assistance with a successful count. Also, kudos to Gary Felton and John Jacobs for checking out the little covered areas for the count circle. Mountaineer Audubon Christmas Bird Count.
February 24
(tentative date)- Join us for a Sunday afternoon adventure to
search for Short-eared owls near Masontown Pennsylvania with a possible
side trip to Hopwood to look for woodcock. Meet for a late lunch
at Eat-N-Park at the Uniontown Mall at 1:00 pm and leave at 2:30 pm.
Leader: Alan Clark
April and May Spring Bird Walks
With
lengthening days and warming temperatures, songbirds are starting to
move north from wintering areas in the southern United States, the
Caribbean and Central and South America. Join us in viewing these
marathon travelers.
Prickett’s Fort State Park – April 19
& 26 and May 3. 8:00 am, meet at the Visitor’s Center. Trails
at Prickett’s Fort are fairly level and smooth – we will be walking
along Prickett’s Creek where it widens out to join the Monongahela
River.
WVU Core Arboretum – April 22 & 29 and May 6,
13 & 20. 7:15 am, meet at the Arboretum parking lot. Be
prepared for somewhat steep but smooth trails as we walk down to the
river, then back up on a moderately steep wooded hillside.