- - --- ... 7~~~ JOURNAL OF THE VIRGINIA SOCIETY OF ORNITHOLOGY VOLUME 53 MARCH 1982 NUMBER 1 Courtesy 01 Walter Weber CONTENTS The Third VSO Foray to Mount Rogers-June 1980 .. 3 News and Notes 16 The Virginia Society of Ornithology, Inc., exists to encourage the systematic study of birds in Virginia, to stimulate interest in birds, and to assist the con- THE THIRD VSO FORAY TO MOUNT ROGERS servation of wildlife and other natural resources. All persons interested in those JUNE 1980 objectives are welcome as members. Present membership includes every level of interest, from professional scientific ornithologists to enthusiastic amateurs. F. R. SCOTT Activities undertaken by the Society include the following: l. An annual meeting (usually in the spring), held in a different part of the Twenty-nine members and friends of the Virginia Society of Ornithology state each year, featuring talks on ornithological subjects and field trips to near- gathered in southwestern Virginia from 10 to 15 June 1980 to participate in the by areas. thirteenth in the recent series of breeding-bird forays held in Virginia and sponsored by the society. This was the third one to concentrate on the high- 2. Other forays or field trips, lasting a day or more and scheduled through- altitude areas centered around Mount Rogers, the highest point in the state. out the year so as to include all seasons and to cover the major physiographic regions of the state. Headquarters this year, as in 1974, was at the Mount Rogers Inn at Chilhowie. Barry L. Kinzie was foray director ably assisted in his planning by A. M. 3. A journal, The Raven, published quarterly, containing articles about Vir- Decker and N. C. Middleton. Philip C. Shelton also made useful suggestions ginia ornithology, as well as news of the activities of the Society and its chapters. concerning field coverage of the high-altitude areas. 4. Study projects (nesting studies, winter bird population surveys, etc.) aimed The emphasis this year, as in 1974, was on Smyth County, eastern Wash- at making genuine contributions to ornithological knowledge. ington County, western Grayson County adjacent to the White Top-Mount Rogers complex, and southeastern Russell County in the vicinity of the Clinch In addition, local chapters of the Society, located in some of the larger cities Mountain Wildlife Management Area. A fairly detailed description of the and towns of Virginia, conduct their own programs of meetings, field trips, and foray area was given in the report of the 1974 foray (Scott, 1975), and only other projects. a necessary minimum is repeated here. Those wishing to participate in any of the above activities or to cooperate in advancing the objectives of the Society are cordially invited to join. Annual Smyth County is drained to the southwest by three tributaries of the Holston dues are $2.00 for junior members (students), $5.00 for active members, $7.50 River, the North Fork (1670-1800 feet) passing through Saltville, the Middle for sustaining members, $15.00 or more for contributing members, $150.00 for Fork (1950-2100 feet) flowing through Marion and Chilhowie, and the South life members, and $9.00 for family members (limited to husband, wife, and Fork (2000-2500 feet) which goes through Sugar Grove. Other low areas their dependent children). mentioned in the annotated list include Rich Valley (2100-2200 feet) just south of and paralleling the North Fork, Hungry Mother State Park (2200 feet at the lake) just north of Marion, and Grindstone Campground (3750 feet) just north of Mount Rogers. The Buller Bass Hatchery is on the South OFFICERS OF THE VSO Fork at 2350 feet, and Whitetop Laurel Creek, an interesting gorge east of Damascus in extreme southeastern Washington County, lies between 2000 and President: Robert L. Ake, 615 Carolina Avenue, Norfolk, Virginia 23508. 2800 feet. Beartree Recreation Area (Jefferson National Forest) lies in this Vice President: Mrs. YuLee Lamer, 1020 West Beverley Street, Staunton, same area just north of rt. 58 between 3000 and 3400 feet. Virginia 2440 l. The high-altitude localities include White Top (5520 feet), where Grayson, Secretary: ROBERTJ. WATSON,2636 Marcey Road, Arlington, Virginia 22207. Smyth, and Washington Counties join; Mount Rogers (5729 feet) on the Grayson-Smyth border; and Elk Garden (4450 feet), the saddle between the Treasurer: MRS. THELMA DALMAS,520 Rainbow Forest Drive, Lynchburg, two. East and southeast of Rogers in Grayson County are Pine Mountain and Virginia 24502. Wilburn Ridge with considerable areas over 5000 feet, much of which is in Editor: F. R. SCOTT,115 Kennondale Lane, Richmond, Virginia 23226. pastureland. Wilburn Rige leads south into Grayson Highlands State Park where Haw Orchard Mountain (5100 feet) is the dominant peak. The Clinch Moun- Assistant Editors: tain Wildlife Management Area, much of which is in southeastern Russell Book Reviews: RICHARDH. PEAKE Conservation: ROBERTJ. WATSON County northwest of Saltville, contains Laurel Bed Lake at 3550 feet and Christmas Counts: WALTERP. SMITH Field Notes: MRS. YULEE LARNER Bcartown Mountain at 4689 feet. Just south of the lake in northwestern Smyth Field Trips: AUSTINR. LAWRENCE County is Redrock Mountain (4400 feet), while Middle Knob (4200 feet), like Beartown a part of the Clinch Mountain range, lies southwest of here on the Russell-Washington boundary. Extensive areas of Red Spruce occur on Published four times a year in March, June, September, and December at Rich- White Top, Rogers, Pine Mountain, and Beartown, while scattered stands can mond, Virginia. Membership includes subscription to The Raven. Annual subscription be found elsewhere, notably on Wilburn Ridge and Haw Orchard Mountain. price to nonmembers is $6.00. Individual issues, when available, are priced at $1.50 for current ones, $1.00 for those dated from 1971 through 1975, and 75t for those Earlier breeding-bird forays to this area were in 1966 (Scott, 1966) and 1974 prior to 1971 (plus postage). (Scott, 1975), while the Tazewell-Burkes Garden foray in 1972 included The Virginia Society of Ornithology, Inc., exists to encourage the systematic study of birds in Virginia, to stimulate interest in birds, and to assist the con- THE THIRD VSO FORAY TO MOUNT ROGERS servation of wildlife and other natural resources. All persons interested in those JUNE 1980 objectives are welcome as members. Present membership includes every level of interest, from professional scientific ornithologists to enthusiastic amateurs. F. R. SCOTT Activities undertaken by the Society include the following: l. An annual meeting (usually in the spring), held in a different part of the Twenty-nine members and friends of the Virginia Society of Ornithology state each year, featuring talks on ornithological subjects and field trips to near- gathered in southwestern Virginia from 10 to 15 June 1980 to participate in the by areas. thirteenth in the recent series of breeding-bird forays held in Virginia and sponsored by the society. This was the third one to concentrate on the high- 2. Other forays or field trips, lasting a day or more and scheduled through- altitude areas centered around Mount Rogers, the highest point in the state. out the year so as to include all seasons and to cover the major physiographic regions of the state. Headquarters this year, as in 1974, was at the Mount Rogers Inn at Chilhowie. Barry L. Kinzie was foray director ably assisted in his planning by A. M. 3. A journal, The Raven, published quarterly, containing articles about Vir- Decker and N. C. Middleton. Philip C. Shelton also made useful suggestions ginia ornithology, as well as news of the activities of the Society and its chapters. concerning field coverage of the high-altitude areas. 4. Study projects (nesting studies, winter bird population surveys, etc.) aimed The emphasis this year, as in 1974, was on Smyth County, eastern Wash- at making genuine contributions to ornithological knowledge. ington County, western Grayson County adjacent to the White Top-Mount Rogers complex, and southeastern Russell County in the vicinity of the Clinch In addition, local chapters of the Society, located in some of the larger cities Mountain Wildlife Management Area. A fairly detailed description of the and towns of Virginia, conduct their own programs of meetings, field trips, and foray area was given in the report of the 1974 foray (Scott, 1975), and only other projects. a necessary minimum is repeated here. Those wishing to participate in any of the above activities or to cooperate in advancing the objectives of the Society are cordially invited to join. Annual Smyth County is drained to the southwest by three tributaries of the Holston dues are $2.00 for junior members (students), $5.00 for active members, $7.50 River, the North Fork (1670-1800 feet) passing through Saltville, the Middle for sustaining members, $15.00 or more for contributing members, $150.00 for Fork (1950-2100 feet) flowing through Marion and Chilhowie, and the South life members, and $9.00 for family members (limited to husband, wife, and Fork (2000-2500 feet) which goes through Sugar Grove. Other low areas their dependent children). mentioned in the annotated list include Rich Valley (2100-2200 feet) just south of and paralleling the North Fork, Hungry Mother State Park (2200 feet at the lake) just north of Marion, and Grindstone Campground (3750 feet) just north of Mount Rogers. The Buller Bass Hatchery is on the South OFFICERS OF THE VSO Fork at 2350 feet, and Whitetop Laurel Creek, an interesting gorge east of Damascus in extreme southeastern Washington County, lies between 2000 and President: Robert L. Ake, 615 Carolina Avenue, Norfolk, Virginia 23508. 2800 feet. Beartree Recreation Area (Jefferson National Forest) lies in this Vice President: Mrs. YuLee Lamer, 1020 West Beverley Street, Staunton, same area just north of rt.