Monticello Bird Club meeting minutes, 05 February 2020
President Guy Babineau opened the meeting. Forty-six members and guests were present.
Scott Connuck gave the membership update. We have 173 members to date.
Susan Babineau reported on upcoming field trips, including the February 9 trip to Blue Hills Farm and the February 23 trip to Glenmore, which is limited to fifteen. Lou Tanner recently spotted two Bald Eagles at Glenmore.
Jenny Gaden reported on the Christmas Bird Count, which took place December 15, 2019. The counted seventy-two species (compared to seventy-five in 2018). The highlights were: Double-crested Cormorant, Baltimore Oriole, and House Wrens. Robins were the most plentiful: 1,482 counted. Jenny also reported that, despite the data on many bird strikes that club members presented to the YMCA, they are not able to afford the correction at this time.
JoAnn Daley reported that eight MBC members attended the recent meeting with DGIF regarding the paving of the South Island at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. This site is the largest water bird colony in Virginia. Progress has been made.
Maynard Davis announced that the scholarship for the PVCC Field Ornithology class has been awarded to Maureen Nichols.
Recent bird sightings were shared. Stephanie Tanner reported that a pair of Eastern Bluebirds are nesting again at Friendship Court near Downtown Charlottesville. Lou Tanner and Peggy Cornett have seen an leucistic Tufted Titmouse at their feeders in the Belmont neighborhood. Bald Eagles have been seen on I-29 North near Culpeper. Four Wood Ducks were seen on Cold Spring Road.
Minutes submitted by Peggy Cornett, MBC secretary
