2007 Club Activities

Birding, formerly known as bird watching, has become the number one hobby in the United States with birders spending eight billion dollars in 2007 for binoculars, scopes, birding field guides, outdoor clothing, etc.

The Buchanan County Bird Club is a part of that birding community. In 2007 the club increased its membership from thirty-five to forty-two. Thanks to the generosity and computer expertise of club member Don Carrier of Bristol, the club acquired its own list serve where members can post messages and photos. Fifty-two people have joined so far. Anyone is welcome to join the list serve free to read and post messages concerning birds, and other nature related topics. To join send and e-mail to Roger Mayhorn rogermayhorn@gmail.com , or to Don Carrier donc@chartertn.net .

The year of 2007 was the club’s best year for sighting unusual bird species in the area since the club’s was formed in 2001. Sixteen sightings of unusual species took place during the year. The first unusual sighting was on March 24th when two Red-breasted Mergansers, waterfowl similar to ducks, were found on Laurel Lake in the Breaks Park. Normally these birds are found along the east coast or on larger bodies of water.

On April 4th 2007 a Bald Eagle was found on the Levisa River at the Vansant bridge by Harry Scott, who photographed the bird. Harry saw the eagle catch a pigeon from under the bridge. Another was seen at the Mouth of Little Prater April 24th by Johnnie Ratliff. One was found on Caney Island Branch near the Weller Yard Bridge on Oct 14th by Ed and Michelle Talbott. Bald Eagles are now expanding their range and returning to areas after having been nearly wiped out by the use of the pesticide DDT in the 1940’s and ‘50’s. The latest Bald Eagle sighting in the immediate area took place in the Breaks community on March 4th 2008. The bird was observed by Jackie Blevins and David Raines. An eagle had not been reported in that area for over forty years. Club members Tom and Laverne Hunter of Lebanon and Richard Kretz of Lebanon have also been finding both Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles in the surrounding counties of Russell, Tazewell and Washington. Club members Allen and Mindy Waldron and Grady and Ann McRae of West Virginia have been seeing both Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles along the Bluestone and New Rivers. Golden Eagles have become almost a common sight in Russell and Tazewell Counties where they spend the winter. Club member Don Carrier of Bristol has photographed Bald Eagles near their nest in north-east Tennessee.

On June 2nd club members Grady and Ann McRae of Bluefield found an exotic parrot in the shrubs in their yard. The bird was obviously an escaped bird, since the bird was not a native of the United States. Even so it was an interesting find.

Three Northern Saw-whet Owls, tiny owls smaller than a Screech Owl, were found at the home of David and Susan Raines on Happy Hollow in the Breaks on June 15th. These tiny owls are usually found at higher elevations, and have never before been reported in the area. Another club member, Richard Kretz of Lebanon, found one in his yard on June 27th.

On June 22 a Sandhill Crane, a large, long legged bird standing 46 inches tall, was found in a field on Compton Mt on the property of Ronald Compton. These birds are usually found farther west along the Mississippi River and westward. This bird stayed around for the day then left the area.

One of the most unusual birds found in 2007 was a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, a light gray bird a bit smaller than a robin, that has two long flowing tail feathers that give the bird its name. The bird was found on July 6th on the Mountain Top Golf Course on Compton Mountain by Jack Brown of Roseann. Jack was playing golf and came upon the bird. After a few minutes the bird flew into the woods. Normally to find this species a person would have to travel to Arkansas, Oklahoma or Texas.

Thanks to the Virginia Department of Fish and Game and to Terry Owens and other members of the Breaks Park staff Peregrine Falcons were once again seen flying in the Breaks Park in 2007 after not having been found there since the early 1960’s. These magnificent falcons, with the ability to drop on their prey from the sky at a speed of 200 miles per hour were also victims of the use of DDT.

The first ever American White Pelican was found in the Levisa River near the mouth of Buckeye Hollow in September 2007. Phillip Vandyke heard about the bird being there, then went there and photographed it. These birds are usually found along the Texas coast or in some locations in South Dakota.

A Western Kingbird, a bird usually found west of the Mississippi, was found by David Raines in the Breaks area on September 3rd. The bird was observed sitting on a power line.

On October 1st Seldon Clevinger of the Breaks called David Raines to say that six large white birds were gathered around his pond. David arrived on the scene and identified the birds as Great Egrets, birds that are found in large numbers around lakes farther south but a first for Buchanan County.

A Snow Goose, a white goose with black wing tips, was found in a farm pond on Compton Mountain on November 29th by Ronald Compton. He then called Roger and Lynda Mayhorn who photographed the bird. Normally this species is found along the east coast or along the Mississippi River.

In May of 2007 thirteen club members made their annual trip to the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge on the shores of Lake Erie. The group was there to see the thousands of birds gathered for their spring migration northward. As usual the group had an enjoyable trip and got to see some beautiful birds in their spring plumage.

In June some club members participated in a survey by the Virginia Ornithological Society to record birds found in the state’s parks. Don and Dawn Carrier, Roger and Lynda Mayhorn, David Raines and Ed and Michelle Talbott took part in the surveys of the Breaks Interstate Park and Hungry Mother State Park. The group had a pleasant time as they hiked the trails and found many species of birds.

Several Buchanan County Bird Club members joined members of the Russell County Bird Club on August 30th for that club’s annual club picnic at Laurel Bed Lake in the Clinch Mountain Wildlife Area in Russell County. Because of the high elevation there eagles are often seen, but the eagles did not show on this outing. However, the two clubs enjoyed each other’s company and the food was especially good.

The Buchanan County Bird Club held its 6th annual Warbler Day on September 15th at Roger and Lynda Mayhorn’s place on Compton Mountain. This day was originally organized so other birders could join the Mayhorns to see the large numbers of beautiful warblers migrating through their yard in September. This year was no exception. Thirty-one birders from Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee came to see the birds and to partake of the free lunch offered by the club and prepared by Lynda Mayhorn and other club members. Sixty species of birds were counted throughout the day.

Club members Dave Worley and Richard Kretz from Russell County hosted a Costa Rican birder, who was visiting the United States in late October. The two American birders showed their South American counterpart around Russell County, then to Burkes Garden in Tazewell County and to the Breaks Interstate Park in Dickenson County. The three saw many species of birds, many of which had never been seen before by the birder from Costa Rica.

Ed and Michelle Talbott hosted their annual Sparrow Day and picnic on the property of Billy Ray and Shirley Justus of Guesses Fork on November 3rd. Thirteen club members attended and thirty-seven species were found. The number of species was below the numbers from past years, probably due to the late freeze in April that killed many of the food bearing plants the birds eat, and from the long, summer drought. Nevertheless, the group had a great time.

On November 10th members of the Buchanan County Bird club drove to Hinton, West Virginia to join with members of the Bibbee Nature Club to look for waterfowl and eagles along the Bluestone Lake and New River. The group found 47 species for the day with four Bald Eagles definitely being birds of great interest.

In the month of December club members participated in the annual Christmas Bird Counts (CBC) of the area. This is an event that takes place all over North America during December. Birders must find as many birds as they can in one day within a fifteen mile diameter circle. Buchanan County Bird Club members participated in the Breaks Park CBC, The Russell County (Blackford) CBC and the Tazewell CBC. Members of the club are looking forward to the 2008 CBC when the club will have its own CBC circle established that includes most of eastern Buchanan County.

The Buchanan County Bird Club has erected and maintained for the past five years more than seventy bluebird boxes in Buchanan and Dickenson Counties. The boxes are checked weekly from April 1st through the end of August. Information on the number of eggs, number hatched, number of birds to fledge (leave the nest), etc.is gathered and at the end of the season the data is sent to the Virginia Bluebird Society. There are twenty-seven nest boxes located on Compton Mountain. These are monitored by Roger and Lynda Mayhorn. There are twenty nest boxes in the Breaks community and six in the Breaks Park. David Raines monitors those boxes. Twenty boxes are located on Keen Mountain. Those are monitored by Joel Meade and his son Josh.

In 2007 some boxes were destroyed by vandals at Keen Mountain Park. Vandals were also responsible for the destruction of a few in the Breaks Park, and a bear or bears are believed responsible for the destruction of a couple within the Breaks Park.