Early White Bluebird Trail

Early White Honored by Buchanan County Bird Club

Early White, a former resident of Buchanan County, and a man who loved birds, was honored by the Buchanan County Bird Club on March 15, when club members established a bluebird trail at Keen Mountain Park in his name.

Many Buchanan County residents will remember that for several years during the 1970’s and 80’s Early White wrote a column about birds for the Virginia Mountaineer. He studied birds for over 30 years. One of his favorite subjects was his Ruby-throated Hummingbirds that he watched for hours at his home on Watkins Branch. He kept records of arrival and departure dates for these tiny visitors each year, as well as recording data on other local bird species. In April of 1978 Early wrote an article about hummingbirds for the magazine “Virginia Wildlife” called “Rubies in Your Garden”. Early was fascinated by birds. He estimated that during some winters he put out as much as 500 pounds of bird seed to help the birds make it through until spring.

In 1981 after Early’s retirement from William Supply, a mining supply firm, he combined his hobby of woodworking with his love of birds by building more than 50 bluebird boxes and erecting 18 of them at Willowbrook County Club. Early was aware that Eastern Bluebirds, being cavity nesters, have problems finding nesting holes because of the lack of large old trees, and competition from European Starlings and House Sparrows. The numbers of bluebirds were at an all time low during the 1950’s until people started putting up nest boxes for them. Early’s son Jeff told of coming home from college on week-ends and helping his dad assemble bluebird boxes in their basement. Early continued his study of birds when he and his wife, Maizie, moved to Abingdon in the mid 80’s, where they lived until their deaths.

After the Buchanan County Bird Club was formed in December of 2001, and a database was established to record information on birds within the county, members wondered about the whereabouts of Early’s notebooks containing his birding information. Roger and Lynda Mayhorn, Ed Talbott III and Johnnie Ratliff tried to locate them. Finally, in the spring of 2004 Roger and Lynda located Early’s son, Jeff White, living in Abingdon. He had his father’s notebooks and was glad to allow the club access to the information. A few months after the notebooks were returned to him, Jeff was killed in a tractor accident.

The bird club had already decided to honor Early by establishing a bluebird trail in his name. Club members, Johnnie and Betty Ratliff, paid for the materials and Johnnie built the 10 nest boxes and predator guards. Permission was obtained from supervisor, Buddy Fuller to erect the trail at Keen Mountain Park. Park attendant, Bonnie Mullins, was very helpful in deciding the best area for the boxes. Since most of the bird club members work during the week, Johnnie Ratliff and Roger Mayhorn put up the boxes on March 15. Shortly after the boxes were up, Kenneth and Patty Horn, who live near the park told Johnnie that they were willing to have boxes placed on their property. The trail was then extended to a total of 20 boxes. Bluebirds were seen investigating the boxes only a few hours after they were erected. Within a few days the first pair of Eastern Bluebirds had started a nest. Buchanan County Bird Club members think that Early White would approve.