VA BIRDers,
Now that we have all made due with our Thanksgiving holiday turkey, goose,
duck and/or other special dishes, now is the time to bring to your attention
the upcoming Christmas Bird Count season and in particular, the Fort Belvoir
CBC. We always need volunteers - young and not to young, all skill levels,
and ask only for a smidgeon of birding enthusiasm. The count will be on
Sunday - to avoid the effects of hunting - and is in a circle centered on
Pohick Church, on Rt 1 in Fairfax County, extending a diameter of 15 miles.
We cover a large number of public lands just brimming with birds waiting to
be tallied. And this year the date is 30 Dec, which will give just about
everyone time to prepare for New Year's festivities without losing sleep!
The circle is divided into Sectors lead by the following people who look
forward to your help:
Sector 1, Fort Hunt, sign up with Steve Williams and look for the Great
Egret and more, stvwllms65@xxxxxxxxx
Sector 2, Mt Vernon, connect with Larry Meade and see if the Blue-winged
Teals are back, uberlarry@xxxxxxx
Sector 3, Huntley Meadows, find the rails with Sherman Suter, 410 586-1073
or 703 768-5922, ssuter@xxxxxxxx
Sector 4, Fort Belvoir, sign up with Kevin Walter for this wonderful area
that always has a goodie or two, 703 805-3969 or email
kevin.walter2@xxxxxxxxxxx to register.
Sector 5, Gunston (can you say "owls"?), Peter Ross will try to exceed an
outstanding showing from last year, 703 528-2731, psross@xxxxxxxxxxx
Sector 6, Mason Neck has birds of the forest and fields - not to mention
more owls! contact Larry Cartwright, 703 941-3142, prowarbler@xxxxxxxxxxx
Sector 7, the piedmont area near Burke Lake is the last best place for
Northern Bobwhite in the count circle, Larry Brindza, 703 866-4803,
ljbrindza@xxxxxxx
Sector 8, Join Marc Ribaudo and find marsh birds at Julie Metz, Leesylvania
SP and nearby points, 703 680-1134, moribaudo@xxxxxxxxxxx - or join Phil
Kenny's group at Occoquan Bay NWR looking for sparrows and late warblers,
philkenny@xxxxxxxxxxx and 703 255-5423
Sector 9, Colonial Farms MD, link up with Carol Ghebelian and find another
Eared Grebe and maybe some wintering warblers and orioles, 301 753-6754,
ghebelian@xxxxxxxxxxx
Sector 10, Lake Accotink, Susan Jewell, naturewrite@xxxxxxxxx, coordinates
this broad sector of forest, rivers and fields in Fairfax County that is
great for family birders.
If one of these areas is of interest to you, please contact the Sector
Leader. Or, send me a note and I will be pleased to arrange your help or
answer any questions.
Thank you ALL!
Kurt Gaskill
Compiler and Chief Dish Washer, Ft B CBC
703 768 2172
