ABOUT THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA BIRD CLUB

The Northern Virginia Bird Club was founded in 1954 as the Northern Virginia Chapter of the Virginia Society of Ornithology. While we are still a chapter of the VSO, we have shortened our name. The Northern Virginia Bird Club celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2004. Bob Watson, one of the group founding the club in 1954, was recognized by being made a Director Emeritus. The Club maintains a website at www.nvabc.org, and an e-mail address nvabc@verizon.net. The quarterly newsletter, The Siskin, is a high quality publication containing articles of interest to local birders as well as a calendar of bird walks.

The Northern Virginia Bird Club is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization which provides nearly 600 members the opportunity to conserve, watch, enjoy, study and understand birds and their habitats and interactions with people. The primary method of achieving these educational aims is by having more than 120 bird walks each year. These walks, led by volunteer members, are held at local, regional, state and national parks throughout northern Virginia, and occasionally even further afield. The volunteer spirit of the members has kept the membership fee low, at $8 per year for individuals and $12 per year for families.

Colorful Trio Bathing - Photo by Larry Meade

A family eagle watch is scheduled annually to introduce families and youngsters to the pleasures of birding. Annual participation in the New Haven Bird Club Big Sit has also proved popular. Locally, the Northern Virginia Bird Club sponsored the Fort C.F. Smith Park Bird Stream in Arlington. Club members designed and helped finance a stream in Fort C.F. Smith Park to attract birds. During the eight months after construction, 54 species of birds were recorded at the stream. Internationally, the Club, and individual members, have contributed to the American Bird Conservancy's Conservation Counterparts program to support the El Carricito Conservation Project in Mexico. The Club also enters a team, the "Wandering Siskins", in the annual Kiptopeke Challenge to benefit the Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory.

Evening meetings are held four times a year with entertaining and educational programs, often presented by members of the Club. These meetings are held in February, April, September and November at 8:00 p.m. at the Church of the Covenant, 2666 Military Road, Arlington, Virginia.

Officers (July 1, 2011 -June 30, 2013):

President : Larry Meade
Vice President, Programs : Joanna Taylor
Vice President, Field Trips : Steve Williams
Secretary: Diane Marton
Treasurer : Jean Tatalias
Directors : Steve Bruck, Catherine Kubo, Elton Morel
Immediate Past President - Paul Mocko

© 2011 Northern Virginia Bird Club