PVBC Meeting Minutes: September 4, 2024
By PVBC Secretary Tracey Hopper
Club President, Myrlene Staten, opened the meeting promptly at 7:00 p.m. with 22 people in attendance.
President’s Introductory Comments
Myrlene introduced the new Piedmont Virginia Bird Club Board of Directors to meeting attendees and had a photo taken of the Board. The current Board Members and Officers through June 30, 2025, are:
Myrlene Staten, President
Callan Bentley, Vice President
Doug Campbell, Treasurer
Joanna Vondrasek, Program Chair
Scott Connuck, Membership Chair
Alex Brubaker, Field Trips Chair
Cory Swift, Communications Chair
Tracey Hopper, Secretary
Myrlene then had attendees share interesting recent bird sightings. In the past week there has been an immature White Ibis at Ivy Creek natural Area (ICNA) that could be seen from the end
of the Purple Trail (peninsula trail) from the shore.
Scott Connuck, Membership Chair, provided an update. The Club now has 213 active members. Dues help fund meetings, educational programs and birding kits.
Myrlene then reminded attendees of the upcoming PVBC fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 19. The Club has partnered with Wild Bird Unlimited Charlottesville to receive a percentage of all sales. PVBC members will be at the store to provide information, answer questions and
talk to customers about the Club. Please wait until Oct. 19 to buy your bird seed from Wild Birds Unlimited in Charlottesville! Encourage others to do the same and feel free to advertise this fundraiser! More info here.
Upcoming Field Trips and Events
An update was provided regarding upcoming field trips at the following locations:
Saturday, Sept. 7, at 7:30 a.m., First Saturday Bird Walk at Ivy Creek Natural Area
Saturday, Sept. 14, at 10:00 a.m., Bird Walk at Albemarle Ciderworks
Saturday, Oct. 5, at 7:30 a.m., First Saturday Bird Walk at Ivy Creek Natural Area
Saturday, Oct. 19, at 9:00 a.m., Accessible Bird Walk at Riverview Park
Featured Presentation
Joanna Vondrasek, Program Chair, introduced our speaker, Bridget Donaldson, Ph.D., Assistant Principal Research Specialist with Virginia Transportation Research Council with VDOT. Dr. Donaldson presented about Wildlife Crossings and other Wildlife Crash
Countermeasures. Her talk was informative and eye-opening.
Adjourn – next meeting Oct. 2, 2024, at 7:00 p.m., on Zoom. Our speaker will be Jessica Roberts from Wildlife Virginia.
