We are excited about our 25th Anniversary logo by Megan Massa, 2019 Bird of the Year artist for the American Birding Association, ABA. The stunning artwork celebrates CVWO's 25 years of wildlife research. The Peregrine Falcon, Monarch butterfly, and Prothonotary Warbler represent a few of our research projects. Read about the new logo and meet Megan in our newsroom.

JULY 2019

Upcoming Events to Celebrate CVWO's 25th Anniversary

August 3 - 4, 2019 - Be sure to visit the Butterfly Festival at the Williamsburg Botanical Garden . CVWO is a sponsor this year and CVWO Board members will be volunteering all weekend.

August 17 - Our 25th Anniversary Get Together at the Williamsburg Botanical Garden. Join us between 1 - 3 pm for a butterfly walk in the Garden. We'll point out some native plants important to pollinators. Free refreshments!

September 29 - Hawkwatch Workshop from 10 am - noon at Kiptopeke State Park near the tip of the Eastern Shore. Join Brian Taber and learn how to ID those raptors migrating down the Eastern Shore. Free refreshments!

Get your copy now – "Riding the Wind: A Birder's Ups and Downs"

Order your copy today. Use your credit card through our PayPal account to purchase or email Nancy Barnhart to let her know you want one…or two!

Riding the Wind is a book of essays by CVWO President Brian Taber about birds, birding, and conservation, several of which were previously published. Cover art by our hawkwatcher Anna Stunkel and 20 illustrations by award-winning artist Julie Zickefoose.

For a donation of $20.00 per book (plus $5.00 shipping & handling) Nancy will mail a copy out to you. If you live in the Williamsburg area, you can save shipping and handling by visiting Backyard Birder at 1490 Quarterpath Road, or Wild Birds Unlimited, 4625 Casey Blvd, Suite 300.

You can also get a copy from Buteo books .

Latest from the Creole Pearly-eye monitoring project

Pearly-eye Caterpillar on Switch Cane

By Ken Lorenzen

Twice weekly surveys continue to be conducted in the study area near Jamestown, VA. Evidence of pearly-eye caterpillar feeding was found at two stands of Switch Cane (host plant for Creole and Southern Pearly-eye caterpillars) and on June 28, two pearly-eye caterpillars were discovered: one in the leaf litter at the base of a cane plant (where most pearly-eye caterpillars spend the day to avoid predators), the other under a leaf of the same plant. The caterpillars appeared to be 3 ^rd instars (see photo above).

On July 4, three additional 3 ^rd instar pearly-eye caterpillars were found on leaves of a different cane plant. We installed a sleeve cage around several cane stems with lots of leaves (see photo) and placed two of the caterpillars inside the cage.  

On July 17, we opened the cage and found two large 5 ^th instar caterpillars, one of which was hanging under a leaf as a pre-chrysalis (see photo above right). The leaf and attached pre-chrysalis caterpillar were placed into an emergence cage; the other caterpillar was returned to the sleeve cage. On July 18, the pre-chrysalis caterpillar morphed into a chrysalis (see photo on right).

As of our July 17 survey, a second brood of all three pearly-eye species (Creole, Northern, and Southern) had been observed, with Creoles thus far being the most numerous and Northerns not far behind.  Only a single Southern was observed on July 10.

All photos by Ken Lorenzen.



As of our July 17 survey, a second brood of all three pearly-eye species (Creole, Northern, and Southern) had been observed, with Creoles thus far being the most numerous and Northerns not far behind.  Only a single Southern was observed on July 10. 

Pearly-eye Pre-chrysalis on Switch Cane

Pearly-eye Chrysalis on Switch Cane

Sleeve cage on Switch Cane.

Wild Birds Unlimited Team

Laughing Falcons on the beach at Chincoteague

Subadult Shorebirders at the Hawkwatch Platform

By Dave Youker

Set aside Saturday, September 28 for Kiptopeke Challenge (KC).  

We’re also celebrating the 25 ^th anniversary of the Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory (CVWO) which sponsors the KC. Help us celebrate our anniversary and have fun birding at the same time. The KC is a birding event that supports the habitat conservation, avian research and outreach mission of CVWO.  

Our mission includes the Kiptopeke Hawkwatch, songbird research, Monarch tagging project, various avian nesting and butterfly studies, and a host of other programs all of which can be found on our website .

For those unfamiliar with the KC, individuals are encouraged to form teams of 2 or more and participate in one of the four categories:  24-hour, 3-hour, Youth, and Special Venue.  

Teams try to identify the greatest number of bird species on this day anywhere in the coastal plain of Virginia which has been defined as any area east of Interstate 95.  

Explore new birding locations as a Special Venue, challenge another group or bird clubs in a 3-hour outing, or put in a full day of birding in the 24-hour category.

Teams are encouraged to gain supporters for this event, and 100 percent of all donations go directly to accomplishment of the CVWO mission.

CVWO is a non-profit organization, and all donations are fully tax deductible.

So, start forming your teams and planning where you want to enjoy a day of birding during fall migration.  

To register your team, simply send me a note with your team name and members. For more information about the KC, please visit the CVWO website.

July and August are prime times for butterfly counts across the country.

This is where you can help! Citizen scientists are critical in the summer butterfly surveys. You DON'T have to be a butterfly expert. We need photographers, spotters, and counters. Here are the dates for several butterfly counts in the Coastal Plain of Virginia:

July 28 (Sunday): Lower Delmarva Butterfly Count, centered at Eastern Shore of VA National Wildlife Refuge. Contact Lynn Davidson .

August 10 (Saturday): Williamsburg Area Butterfly Count. Per coordinator Adrienne Frank, we will designate small groups to go to 5 locations within the 15-mile Williamsburg circle area. Each group will have a butterfly expert, a recorder, a photographer, and observers. The more eyes the better! Here are the teams and their areas:

Times: 9 am - 3:30 in the field; lunch as the teams agree; tally at 4 pm at Au Bon Pain a the Williamsburg Pottery on Route 60.

This is a registered circle with the North American Butterfly Association (NABA) and is a project of the Historic Rivers Chapter of the VA Master Naturalists and the Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory. NABA encourages participation of the general public and promotes it as an educational and service opportunity. NABA asks a fee of $3.00 per person.

Contact Adrienne Frank to help out and let her know your desired role and area.

August 26 (Monday): Back Bay Count Possible Areas (Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Villages at West Neck, Sherwood Lakes, Asheville Park, West Neck Creek Natural Area). Contact   Alice Snyder

Consider joining in a count near you. A great learning experience in the beautiful outdoors.

Above photo: Viceroy butterfly by Jim Easton

Order your CVWO Merchandise with Our Colorful 25th Anniversary Artwork

Now you can show your support for CVWO with your tote bag, coffee mug, water bottle, or t-shirt! A small portion of each purchase comes back to CVWO to support our efforts.

Click over to CVWO's store on Cafe Press to see what else is available and the cost. No tax but there is a nominal shipping fee.