Blue Ridge Audubon Chapter
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Blue Ridge Audubon's
Meetings & Walks are Free and Open to All!
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Bird Walks
We are sorry to report that Blue Ridge Audubon bird walks will be suspended through December due to continuing concerns about Covid 19 and public gatherings.
Please check our website and Facebook page for updates.
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Chapter Meetings
October Program (Online)
Tuesday, Oct 20th, 7 pm
Flocking Towards
Inclusive Birding
with Deja Perkins
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Chapter programs will be online this fall via our Facebook page.
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Blue Ridge Audubon
Board of Directors Meeting
Tuesday, November 10, 6:30 pm
Would you like to attend? Email us at
to receive the Zoom link
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Dear friend,
It's a tense and divided election season and sometimes I just want to "tune out." BUT... I will absolutely exercise my right to vote, and I hope you will too. Whatever your political affiliation, if you love birds, it's critical that your voice be heard by casting your ballot. Why? Landmark laws like the Endangered Species Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act that have protected birds for decades are under threat. Protections for public lands and precious habitat are being rolled back.
Birds can't vote, but we can. The best way to protect birds and the places they need is to make sure you make a plan to vote this fall. In addition to the presidential race, there are North Carolina elections that will have a big impact on our area and our birds.
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So don't sit this election out. Join me in pledging to Vote For Birds and encourage your friends and family to do the same.
Together, let's raise our voices and flock to the polls for the birds we love!
-Nancy Casey
BRAC president
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October Program Meeting
Flocking Towards Inclusive Birding
with Deja Perkins
Tuesday, October 20 at 7 p.m. online
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You don't need a Facebook account to view the program. If you have trouble accessing the live video, try refreshing the BRAC Facebook page shortly after 7 pm. Alternatively, if you have "liked" our page and you're on a desktop computer, you can click Watch on the Facebook home page and then on Live to find our live feed. On a smartphone, click Live Videos. Can't watch it live? The recording will be available on Facebook to watch anytime.
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Blue Ridge Audubon is thrilled to present urban ecologist and science communicator Deja Perkins at our October program. Deja will talk about her research in urban ecology, participation in bird watching, and how birders can move towards making birding more welcoming to all people. During her program, we’ll all take a dive into urban birding. Participants will learn about inequalities in urban green spaces, and how people can influence where birds are found in cities. We’ll discover how the birding community can contribute to a more inclusive landscape of research and recreation.
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Deja Perkins earned her Master of Science at North Carolina State University's Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation Biology department. She was Audubon North Carolina’s 2020 Coastal Resilience Intern during which she monitored Brown Pelican nests, banded Royal Terns and worked on prioritizing bird species for a restoration project.
Deja is an emerging expert on urban ecology and environmental equity. Her research looks at the intersection of urban ecology and environmental justice, with an emphasis on how bird habitat is influenced by human culture and historical socioeconomic structures. Her groundbreaking work as a researcher, science communicator, and activist has equipped her to become one of the leading young voices on matters related to diversity, equity and inclusion in the environmental space. Deja is one of the co-organizers of the #BlackBirdersWeek social media movement and currently the President of BlackAFinSTEM, the membership organization that organized Black Birders Week and empowered Black scientists to initiate a variety of BlackinX weeks.
Group Photo by Jason Ward
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The Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture was established in 2008 as one of 21 U.S. Migratory Bird Joint Ventures. The AMJV Partnership - which consists of over 50 state and federal agencies, conservation organizations, and universities throughout 12 states in the Appalachian Region - is focused on preserving, managing, and restoring diverse, healthy forest habitats in the Appalachian Mountains to benefit not only birds, but the diversity of Appalachian plants and wildlife. North Carolina working partners include Audubon North Carolina and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. The recently published AMJV report from 2019 has articles that may be of interest to BRAC members concerning projects in Western North Carolina that benefit Peregrine Falcons, Golden-winged Warblers, and Red Spruce forest restoration. The report, written for the general public, is available at the AMJV website.
Jamie Harrelson, former Private Lands Technician with Audubon North Carolina, writes about expanded outreach efforts to private landowners for increasing bird habitat, and on a new initiative to engage women woodland owners and natural resource professionals through a workshop series called ForestHer NC. Christine Kelly, Mountain Wildlife Diversity Biologist for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, reports on the spring 2019 Southeast Golden-winged Warblers partners meeting and their goal to develop novel modifications in traditional silviculture prescriptions to maximize forest lands for Golden-winged Warblers. Chris also has an article on a fascinating collaboration between NCWRC and the Carolina Climbers Coalition and Appalachian Mountain Rescue Team. NCWRC closely monitors Peregrine Falcons during breeding season. The climbers can reach difficult cliff-side areas that harbor Peregrine Falcon nests otherwise impossible for NCWRC to access and monitor. This partnership also contributes to the growing awareness in the climbing community about Peregrine nesting sites and the need for cliffside closures to ensure nesting success.
To read the full articles, see the Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture 2019 Year in Review at the AMJV website.
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Bird Notes by Rick Pyeritz
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They charm us with lovely plumage and melodious song, our quest of them take us to the fairest places; to find them and uncover their secrets, we exert ourselves greatly and live intensely. Alexander Skutch
Nature is that part of the original environment and its life forms that remains after the human impact. Nature is all on planet Earth that has no need of us and can stand alone. E. O. Wilson
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The current pandemic virus and the resulting quarantine afforded me the opportunity to decrease the contents of the “to be read” pile of books which have been accumulating beside my desk. I chose a book by Vernon R. L. Head titled, The Rarest Bird in the World. A little over one hundred birds have become extinct since 1800 and each one of them could lay claim to be the rarest bird for a brief period of time. I wondered which one he meant. As I began my reading, I quickly realized that this was more than a chase for a rare bird. The author discusses what motivates birdwatchers to travel to remote, sometimes dangerous, areas of the planet to observe and appreciate the natural world. To learn why birders follow birds to extreme places and whether Mr. Head found the bird he was seeking, follow this link.
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Beaver Bits
Text and photos by Jay Wherley
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As colder weather approaches, there are a few species of birds that can “irrupt” into our area. These birds may have a reduced food source (e.g. spruce cones) that force them south in search of a replacement diet. The two most common irruptive winter species seen at Beaver Lake are Pine Siskin and Purple Finch. While some calendar years have had no Purple Finch reported at Beaver Lake (2012, 2014, 2018), the forecast for 2020 is very good. Pine Siskins have a somewhat weaker 2020 forecast, but it still could be a better year here than 2011, 2017 and 2019 when none were reported. Red-breasted Nuthatches are already appearing in the area, so these should be especially likely this year. Bad years for them were 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2019 when none were spotted on site.
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Other irruptive species are less likely – Red Crossbills have been reported in 2009 and nearby in 2015 so these actually have a chance of being seen. Evening Grosbeak would be a wonderful addition to the sanctuary list. Common Redpoll would be even less likely but not completely impossible!
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Notable recent sightings at Beaver Lake include Red-breasted Nuthatch and Mourning Warbler.
Images:
Purple Finch, Asheville, April 2019
Pine Siskin, from Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary, April 2015
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About the Blue Ridge Audubon Chapter
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Blue Ridge Audubon is a chapter of the National Audubon Society, serving Buncombe, Henderson, and surrounding counties in western North Carolina.
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are
tax-deductible to the extent
allowed by law.
Blue Ridge Audubon Chapter
PO Box 18711
Asheville, NC 28814
Raven's Nest Editor:
Marianne Mooney
mooney.marianne@gmail.com
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Blue Ridge Audubon's mission is to protect birds and the places they depend on. We believe that a world in which birds thrive is a world that benefits all living things.
Our vision is a vibrant and just community where the protection of birds and our natural world is valued by everyone.
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For the latest information and schedule changes,
check our Website or Facebook/Instagram page.
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