Folks, I was disturbed about the recent comments about the Cooperative
Extension, and emailed the comments to one of our Extension Agents, Peter
Warren, here in Charlottesville, to get his response.
I have pasted his comments below.
Thanks for the opportunity to clarify their role and that of Master
Ruth Douglas
Thanks for sending me the excerpt from the VA Bird List. Cooperative
Extension is a good resource for scientific research-based information about
a lot of different things including landscape gardening, youth development,
crop and livestock production, pest management, and food safety, to name a
few. We pride ourselves on bringing scientific research from universities
to the local communities and offering people the education they need to make
informed decisions about the daily challenges they face. We do not
recommend home remedies, amateur observations, or untested solutions to
problems nor do we favor one company or brand of anything over another for
any reason other than it is more effective.
I wanted to comment on the experience of the person who wrote about their
unfortunate impression of Master Gardener Volunteers using the Ortho book.
It is not the policy of Cooperative Extension and the VA Master Gardener
Program to use that resource or any other company literature as the source
for pesticide recommendations. The Ortho book is a resource to help
identify pest problems and is not intended for use in recommending
pesticides. If we are recommending pesticides it is required that we use
the Virginia Tech Pest Management Guides. These guides are updated annually
with the latest science based information. I would add that we do not
always recommend pesticides. They are a tool like any other and good for
some things and not for others. We promote Integrated Pest Management and
that means pesticides are one of many different ways we can attempt to
manage pest problems. Cooperative Extension Agents and Master Gardener
Volunteers are encouraged to recommend organic or low toxicity methods of
control whenever possible.
Peter
Peter L. Warren
Extension Agent
Horticulture & Natural Resources
Virginia Cooperative Extension
460 Stagecoach Road
Charlottesville, VA 22902
(434)872-4580
We'd like to know a little bit about you for our files, We'd like to help
you learn to help yourself...
- P. Simon
-----Original Message-----
From: va-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:va-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] ;
Sent: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 8:51 AM
To: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: va-bird Digest, Vol 39, Issue 20
Send va-bird mailing list submissions to
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To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
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or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
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When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of va-bird digest..."
Today's Topics:
1. Black-belled Whistling-Duck, Lake Audubon, Fairfax County
(blkvulture@xxxxxxx)
2. Great Egret - Nelson/Albemarle Co. (G D)
3. Re: Great Egret - Nelson/Albemarle Co. (Wendy Ealding)
4. Ragged Island WMA (Living, Stephen (DGIF))
5. Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge (Kim Hosen)
6. A request for help (Janice Frye)
7. Re: Black-belled Whistling-Duck, Lake Audubon, Fairfax County
(Mark Adams)
8. YES on Black-bellied Whistling-Duck in Reston. (Stephen Eccles)
9. Huntley Meadows Monday Morning Birdwalk (Harry Glasgow)
10. Black-Bellied Whistling Duck, Fairfax County (Stephen Johnson)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:04:15 -0400
From: blkvulture@xxxxxxx
Subject: [Va-bird] Black-belled Whistling-Duck, Lake Audubon, Fairfax
County
To: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <8CCF56ACA2A0BD5-2FA0-D125@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Hola,
Bob Abrams had heard through a grapevine that there was a Black-bellied
Whistling-Duck (BBWD) near Cabot Point on Lake Audubon, in Reston, Fairfax
County. Bob investigated the bird Saturday 17 July; he reports that there
is indeed a BBWD hanging around on the north side of the lake. He
approached by canoe, and called the bird "spooky." While the host of
Mallards and mutts moved toward the canoe, the BBWD walked in the opposite
direction and looked ready to fly. He took a few photographs.
Bob says it is possible to see this bird from land (without getting in a
canoe), but it could take some work. Water approach is best. Bob also
heard that this bird was initially noticed in early July, but could not pin
down a date.
That's all the information I have.
Cheers,
Todd Day
Jeffersonton, VA
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:41:33 -0400
From: G D <chasingflow@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Va-bird] Great Egret - Nelson/Albemarle Co.
To: <va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <COL112-W18441F585369B2BE70109EA4BF0@xxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
About 9:30 this morning a GREAT EGRET visited the pond at A.M Fog nursery
near the border of Albemarle and Nelson County (On Rt. 151, a few miles
south of US 250). It flew in from the north and is probably just passing
through on its way south. Not a "rare" bird for those of you in the eastern
part of the state, but one we only see here as they pass through on
migration.
_________________________________________________________________
The New Busy is not the old busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your inbox.
http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:W
L:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_3
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:49:20 -0400
From: Wendy Ealding <wealding@xxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Va-bird] Great Egret - Nelson/Albemarle Co.
To: chasingflow@xxxxxxxxxxx, va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <8CCF57977C86C96-3C64-206D@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
It's that time of year to look out for them in inland locations - they
undergo post-breeding dispersal.
Wendy Ealding
Powhatan County
-----Original Message-----
From: G D <chasingflow@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Mon, Jul 19, 2010 12:41 pm
Subject: [Va-bird] Great Egret - Nelson/Albemarle Co.
bout 9:30 this morning a GREAT EGRET visited the pond at A.M Fog nursery
near
he border of Albemarle and Nelson County (On Rt. 151, a few miles south of
US
50). It flew in from the north and is probably just passing through on its
way
outh. Not a "rare" bird for those of you in the eastern part of the state,
but
ne we only see here as they pass through on migration.
________________________________________________________________
he New Busy is not the old busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your inbox.
ttp://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL
:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_3
______________________________________________
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ttp://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird
Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of
rnithology. Please consider joining the VSO.
ttp://www.virginiabirds.net/
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:34:19 -0400
From: "Living, Stephen (DGIF)" <Stephen.Living@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Va-bird] Ragged Island WMA
To: <va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID:
<144E29B14CD75E47B4AAC45A4A9132BF016AB9B2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Hello Virginia Birders,
Good News the boardwalk at the Ragged Island Wildlife Management Area
(site #1 on the Tidewater Loop of the Virginia Birding and Wildlife
Trail
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/vbwt/site.asp?trail=1&loop=CTW&site=CTW01)
has re-opened! Storms in November of 09 damaged the boardwalk
extensively forcing its closure. Repairs have been completed and the
boardwalk is ready for birding. While the boardwalk is a bit shorter it
still traverses the marsh and terminates with a view of the James River.
I took a visit see the newly refurbished boardwalk last week and was
treated to nice views of RED-HEADED WOODPECKER- apparently breeding
along the trail, a family of EASTERN KINGBIRDS, a pair of perched PURPLE
MARTINS (plus more in flight) and of course CLAPPER RAILS! Further out
onto the boardwalk I had a great look at a flying SEASIDE SPARROW in
very worn plumage and heard two more. Surprisingly missed out on
brown-headed nuthatch - one of the few times I haven't had them at this
site. I had to wait to post that the boardwalk was open until the final
inspection of the repairs was completed.
The full list is below.
Happy Birding,
Stephen Living
Watchable Wildlife Biologist
Virginia Dept. of Game & Inland Fisheries
Location: Ragged Island WMA - CTW01
Observation date: 7/14/10
Number of species: 22
Double-crested Cormorant 21
Great Blue Heron 2
Black Vulture 3
Turkey Vulture 2
Osprey 2
Clapper Rail 5
Laughing Gull 4
Mourning Dove 4
Chimney Swift 5
Red-headed Woodpecker 2
Eastern Kingbird 4
American Crow 2
Purple Martin 7
Tree Swallow 4
Carolina Chickadee 2
Carolina Wren 5
Pine Warbler 1
Seaside Sparrow 3
Northern Cardinal 1
Red-winged Blackbird 8
Common Grackle 3
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:24:06 -0400
From: Kim Hosen <khosen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Va-bird] Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge
To: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <4C449846.4090100@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge Tour*
*http://www.pwconserve.org/issues/conservation/featherstone
When: Saturday, July 24, 8:00 to 10:30 am
Where: Meet at the Rippon VRE station parking lot, Farm Creek Dr. &
Rippon Blvd, Woodbridge RSVP appreciated to Prince William
Conservation Alliance, 703-499-4954 or alliance@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
For the Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge, 2010 marks the 40th
anniversary of public ownership with no public access. While trail and
other improvements would be positive additions in the future, none are
currently needed to open the Refuge to the public.
In a July 15th letter to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service,
Congressman Gerry Connolly called for immediate action in opening the
Featherstone Refuge to the public. "This Refuge is owned by all
Americans and they should have access to it now," said Connolly in his
letter.
At the start of the July 24 tour, a representative from the US Fish &
Wildlife Service will provide an update on the status of efforts to open
Refuge. The Virginia Dept. of Game & Inland Fisheries, a potential
partner for opening Featherstone, will also be at the tour.
The Featherstone Refuge covers 325 acres of bottomland forests and
freshwater tidal marshes. It's great place to watch birds and other
wildlife. Please join us this Saturday for a special tour of the
Featherstone Refuge and to support opening this important natural area
to the public./
/Tour guides include representatives from the Prince William
Conservation Alliance, Prince William Wildflower Society and Audubon
Society of Northern Virginia. If you could also help lead a group,
please contact Kim Hosen at khosen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
###
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:25:09 -0400
From: "Janice Frye" <jjfdc@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Va-bird] A request for help
To: "'VA-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx'" <va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <2CE3C62D6DF8445A84BAE9691465A414@homeoffice>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
http://www.enewspf.com/index.php/news/88888996-bpgulf-oil-spill/17625-scient
ists-ask-public-to-report-banded-birds-to-help-scientific-research
------------------------------
Message: 7
Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:37:24 -0700 (PDT)
From: Mark Adams <markadamsphd@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Va-bird] Black-belled Whistling-Duck, Lake Audubon,
Fairfax County
To: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID: <961291.47713.qm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
I have just rec'd a timely e-mail report and photos (for N American Birds)
from
Mark Ludlow about this Black-bellied Whistling Duck (BBWD) at Lake Audubon.
The
bird was apparently discovered on 9 July by Charles Tuck, a professional
photographer living on the lake.
Mark Adams
Charlottesville, VA
markadamsphd@xxxxxxxxx
(434) 249-0584 (cell)
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:03:44 -0400
From: Stephen Eccles <stephendeccles@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Va-bird] YES on Black-bellied Whistling-Duck in Reston.
To: VA Ornithological Society listserve <va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID:
<AANLkTikuY2zOJeMWdw7uxTG_aCGcPy36VglY9FpkgFeE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
I went this afternoon in search of a land-based view and was successful.
Detailed instructions are below. But first some words of caution, as private
property is involved.
The duck comes to a specific lake-side garden several times a day, as the
owner has bird-feeders up, to which feral mallards regularly come
for scraps. For the past 10 days the Whistling-Duck has also appeared. While
the two duck species tolerate each other, they do not move together. For
example, while I was there, the mallards flew away leaving the W-Duck alone.
It later flew (very weakly) to the water and pottered around. The W-Duck has
been seen all over the lake, *so the best way of finding it is still from a
canoe*.
That having been said, I have spoken to the property owners most directly
concerned. They live in a cluster development, access to which is down a
private road. Between their two homes, there is a path/stairway down to a
private dock. From half-way down that path/stairway, you can see into the
garden where the ducks feed. The owners are sympathetic to (but scared by)
the idea of lots of birders invading their area. The one who owns the
feeders is particularly anxious that people viewing the bird do not scare it
away, so he asks that we are all as quiet and slow-moving as we can be. That
having been said, we are all welcome to come down the private road and go
down the path/stairway towards the dock. PLEASE DO NOT GO OFF THIS
PATH/STAIRWAY (which is community-owned) OR OTHERWISE STRAY ON TO PRIVATE
PROPERTY. Parking space is limited, so please take care not to block any
residential access.
The path/stairway leads off Cabots Point Lane, Reston, between houses 2133
and 2135. Cabots Point Lane leads south off South Lakes Road, becoming a
Private Road about half-way towards these houses.
Good viewing!
Stephen Eccles
------------------------------
Message: 9
Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:49:21 -0700 (PDT)
From: Harry Glasgow <harry.glasgow@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Va-bird] Huntley Meadows Monday Morning Birdwalk
To: VA Bird Listserv <va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <199055.45572.qm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
The Huntley Meadows Monday Morning Birdwalk drew 13 birders this morning,
and we
tallied 43 species.? We welcomed guests from Merritt Island, Florida, and
Brigham Young University.? Highlights this morning included our fishing
Osprey
who has entertained us in the recent past with his unerring accuracy; a
couple
of black Ducks; a male Eastern Bluebird with fresh azure plumage that
sparkled
in the sunlight; and the flock of Green Herons who fly around the central
wetlands in a 'dawn patrol' formation.
Canada Goose? ? 9
Wood Duck? ? 2
American Black Duck? ? 2
Mallard? ? 8
Great Blue Heron? ? 7
Great Egret? ? 10
Green Heron? ? 7
Osprey? ? 1
Red-shouldered Hawk? ? 1
Rock Pigeon? ? 2
Mourning Dove? ? 7
Yellow-billed Cuckoo? ? 2
Chimney Swift? ? 5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird? ? 7
Red-bellied Woodpecker? ? 2
Downy Woodpecker? ? 2
Hairy Woodpecker? ? 3
Eastern Wood-Pewee? ? 3
Acadian Flycatcher? ? 4
Eastern Phoebe? ? 5
Great Crested Flycatcher? ? 3
White-eyed Vireo? ? 1
Red-eyed Vireo? ? 1
Blue Jay? ? 2
crow sp.? ? 3
Purple Martin? ? 3
Barn Swallow? ? 12
Carolina Chickadee? ? 3
Tufted Titmouse? ? 6
White-breasted Nuthatch? ? 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher? ? 2
Eastern Bluebird? ? 3
American Robin? ? 2
Gray Catbird? ? 6
Brown Thrasher? ? 1
Ovenbird? ? 1
Common Yellowthroat? ? 8
Northern Cardinal? ? 9
Indigo Bunting? ? 1
Red-winged Blackbird? ? 30
Common Grackle? ? 4
House Finch? ? 3
American Goldfinch? ? 6
The Monday Morning birdwalk has been a weekly event at Huntley Meadows since
1985.? It takes place every week, rain or shine, at 7AM, is free of charge,
requires no reservation, and is open to all.? Birders meet in the parking
lot at
the Park's entrance at 3701 Lockheed Blvd, Alexandria, VA.?? Questions
should be
directed to Park staff during normal business hours at (703) 768-2525.
?
Harry Glasgow
Friends of Huntley Meadows Park
------------------------------
Message: 10
Date: Tue, 20 Jul 2010 08:20:25 -0400
From: Stephen Johnson <stevejohnson2@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Va-bird] Black-Bellied Whistling Duck, Fairfax County
To: VA-Bird <va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <5D4BA4E4-4C46-4FC1-B3B8-9139531B2AC3@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
The BBWD was still at the lake-side residential garden on Lake
Audubon, Reston, Fairfax County, this morning at 7:30 AM (Tuesday 20
July). Exactly where it was described in previous posts.
I viewed it from a kayak, so I can't add any insight about approaching
it from the land side. The bird was about 15-20 feet up the slope
from the water's edge, hence at a higher elevation than the weeds, so
it was in full view from the water. It was roughly centered behind
the house, not very convenient for anyone on land peeking around from
either side of the house.
Use of the water is restricted to Reston residents. However the lake
is used so little that I doubt anyone will be offended by an
occasional quiet canoer or kayakker. There's a nice put-in with
parking spaces on Twin Branches Road. From there, paddle west,
avoiding the northern branch of the lake. The garden is on the right
about half way to the far west end.
There were also many Green Herons, Wood Ducks, and one Great Blue
Heron, as well as more common species.
Thanks very much to Charles, Bob, Todd, Mark, and Stephen. And anyone
else who alerted us to this wonderful find. I got paddle-away views.
(Like a "walk-away view", but from a kayak?)
- Steve Johnson
Fairfax, VA
------------------------------
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End of va-bird Digest, Vol 39, Issue 20
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