We will have our annual Northern Shenandoah Valley CBC on Sat. Dec 17, 2011. If
you are interested email me or even better contact Chuck Turner
cht282@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:cht282@xxxxxxxxx>. Chuck (a former student of mine) has
done a great job handling the logistics of the count for the past few years.
After an outstanding invasion of northern Black-capped Chickadees last winter
season we have not seen a single bird in the Shenandoah valley this fall. They
seem to be staying put in their northern breeding range and we don't anticipate
a repeat movement this season. April 15 was the date when the last of migrants
headed back north. We spent some time at the Holiday Beach Hawk Tower (Ontario)
this fall and saw no migrating chickadees where BCCH went through by the
thousands last year. Other northern migration points also report no BCCH
movement. In addition Ron Pittaway's annual winter finch forecast does not look
good for us receiving many northern finches this winter season. Ron is one of
Ontario's top birders and uses a large group of people who report seasonal food
crops to him from across Canada and he is able to make predictions about the
movement or lack of movement of the irruptive winter finches (plus a few other
irruptive species). He has been very accurate in past years. A Google search
will quickly bring up his current and past reports which are packed full of
interesting ornithological information. If anyone stumbles across a good CBC
bird in the Winchester - Front Royal area please let us know so we can stake it
out for the count. - Rob Simpson
Professor Robert C. Simpson
Advisor Contact for students interested in Field Biology, Wildlife Ecology,
Ornithology, Mammalogy, Ichthyology, Mycology and Natural Resources transfer
options
Program Contact for the Careers in Outdoor and Nature Photography Certificate
rsimpson@xxxxxxxx (best form of contact)
540 868 7206 (best times to call - TWTh 12:15 - 1:00 pm)
Office Hours, Science HSP Building: T 9:00 - 9:30, 12:15 - 2:00, 3:15 - 4:00
W 12 - 1 pm, 4-5pm, 9:00 - 9:30 pm
Th -9:00 - 9:30, 12:15 - 2:00,
