Alternatives to Common Poisons

Two Barred Owls were found dead near Shepherdstown last fall. It is likely that they ate poisoned rodents. This article in the January 2013 issue of Audubon magazine provides information on safer alternatives to common pesticides and poisons.  http://www.audubonmagazine.org/articles/conservation/poisons-used-kill-rodents-have-safer-alternatives?page=show

2013 PVMN Class Dates and Places

March 16-17, Cacapon State Park, Berkeley Springs WV
April 20, CraftWorks, Jefferson County WV
May 18, CraftWorks, Jefferson County WV
June 22, National Conservation Training Center (NCTC), Shepherdstown WV
July 20, Cacapon State Park, Berkeley Springs WV
August 17, NCTC, Shepherdstown WV
September 21-22, NCTC, Shepherdstown WV
October 19, NCTC, Shepherdstown WV (reserved date if needed)
November 2, Annual Meeting, Orchard House, Shepherdstown WV

Thanks From PVAS

Thanks to everyone for your support of PVAS this year! The new year will continue to bring strong classroom programs for kids and our summer camp, popular programs for adults, and strong conservation efforts. We're even working on ways to promote the availability of certified shade-grown, bird-friendly coffee in our region. The bottom line for us is this: everything we do is aimed at promoting greater understanding and appreciation of the natural world.

Christmas Bird Count

From December 14 through January 5 tens of thousands of volunteers -- Families and students, birders and scientists -- go out on an annual mission! For over one hundred years, the desire to both make a difference and to experience the beauty of nature has driven dedicated people to leave the comfort of a warm house during the Holiday season.  Each of the citizen scientists who annually braves snow, wind, or rain, to take part in the Christmas Bird Count makes an enormous contribution to conservation. Audubon and other organizations use data collected in this longest-running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations - and to help guide conservation action.  From feeder-watchers and field observers to count compilers and regional editors, everyone who takes part in the Christmas Bird Count does it for love of birds and the excitement of friendly competition -- and with the knowledge that their efforts are making a difference for science and bird conservation.  To find out more about the CBC in the WV Eastern Panhandle on December 15 and January 5, go www.PotomacAudubon.org/birdcounts

Natural History Workshops for 2013

Several new Natural History Workshops for 2013 have just been added to the PVAS website. Registration is open for Backyard Birding, Project Wild Aquatic, Exploring Vernal Pools, Ecology and History of the Chesapeake Bay, and Natural History of Fish!  Go to www.potomacaudubon.org, then choose Events, Adults, Natural History Workshops.  The links there will take you to the event information.  Or, go to the events calendar and scroll through.

Feed the Birds!

Attend a free webinar designed to help you connect youth with birds through backyard feeders.  http://www.birds.cornell.edu/birdsleuth/webinars

Watershed App from EPA

Check out the free Watershed Academy webinar entitled “How’s My Waterway? and Other Water Quality Apps”on Nov. 28,  2012 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm EST.  These new apps have great potential to let users quickly learn about waterways anywhere. EPA recently launched a new app and website to help people find information on the condition of thousands of lakes, rivers and streams across the United States from their smart phone, tablet or desktop computer.  http://www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts