Birds Story Archives - Page 2 of 2 - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Edible Mountain — Hunting With Raptors

Falconry is the oldest form of hunting still in use. Learn how it is being practiced today in West Virginia from Master Falconer Mick Brown!

Harris’s Hawks, like Purdy who is featured in the video, look amazing, but don’t be fooled. These raptors are not pets, and hunting with them is strictly regulated. It takes daily dedication and several years of training to hunt with these amazing creatures.

Edible Mountain is a bite-sized, digital series that showcases some of Appalachia’s overlooked and underappreciated products of the forest while highlighting their (mostly forgotten) uses. Many episodes follow an expert in the field (from botanists to conservationists) who provides the viewer with insight on how to sustainably forage these delicacies. Many of the episodes explore the preparation of these amazing delectables, something that many could achieve in the home kitchen.

Disclaimer: Folks, we hope that you take caution when entering the forest. Please, always be aware of your surroundings, while treading lightly, so as to not disturb the natural joy and wonder that our wilderness provides.

Although most of the flora or fauna described in Edible Mountain has been identified by experts in the field, it is critical to your health and safety that you properly identify any item in the forest before eating or touching it. If you are uncertain about anything, please leave it alone and ask for an expert’s advice. Many dangerous plants and fungi share similar properties which make them easily confused with their nonlethal relatives

West Virginia Public Broadcasting (WVPB) wants you to discover, protect and enjoy your natural surroundings. We do not want to see you harmed. Please harvest sustainably so that the bounty can be enjoyed by future generations.

The information contained within Edible Mountain is for general information purposes only. WVPB assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in the contents on this service. WVPB make no guarantees as to the accuracy of the information presented, and any action you take upon the information in this program is strictly at your own risk.

In no event shall WVPB or contributors be liable for any special, direct, indirect, consequential or incidental damages or any damages whatsoever, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other tort, arising out of or in connection with the use of the service or the contents of the service. WVPB reserves the right to make additions, deletions, or modification to the contents on the service at any time without prior notice.

Have fun and explore.

W.Va. Christmas Bird Count Seeks Volunteers

Volunteers are needed across West Virginia to help count birds this holiday season. This Saturday marks the start of the National Audubon Society’s 120th annual Christmas Bird Count.

According to the organization, the winter bird count is the oldest citizen science survey in the world. The count grew out of a holiday tradition of shooting birds to mark the new year. Beginning on Christmas Day in 1900, at the behest of an ornithologist, volunteers began counting birds instead.

Today, the Christmas Bird Count provides scientists with important data on the health of bird populations, said Larry Helgerman, the National Audubon Society’s West Virginia state Christmas Bird Count editor.

“It’s become really a scientific study,” he said.

For example, data collected by the Christmas Bird Count was used in a study released this fall that showed bird populations in the U.S. and Canada have decreased by almost 30 percent over the last 50 years.

Each year, volunteers across the entire Western Hemisphere count as many birds as possible in set 15-mile diameter circles within a designated 24-hour period.

West Virginia has 20 bird count circles. This year’s Christmas Bird Count will run from December 14 through January 5. Citizen scientists will count as many birds as they can in fields, trees and at feeders in the designated circles.

Helgerman said one doesn’t need to be an expert in the world’s winged creatures to participate.

“As far as qualifications go, just a love of birds,” he said.

More information about the Christmas Bird Count including where and when West Virginia counts are scheduled can be found here.

Whip-Poor-Wills On The Decline, West Virginia DNR Asks For Help

UPDATE: The DNR is no long seeking reports of whip-poor-wills, but we'd love to you hear about your sighting! Please post them in the comments section…

UPDATE: The DNR is no long seeking reports of whip-poor-wills, but we’d love to you hear about your sighting! Please post them in the comments section below.

The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources is looking for whip-poor-wills.

DNR officials are worried that the bird is declining in population and so they are reaching out to the public to get a better sense of Whip-poor-will presence throughout West Virginia.

The bird’s really hard to spot since its grey, black and brown coloring act as a camouflage. But the call is unmistakable.

If you see or hear whip-poor-wills in West Virginia between the dates of May 10 and July 31, 2014, please email DNR Wildlife Resources Section biologist Rich Bailey at richard.s.bailey@wv.gov.

“Include the date and location, being very specific; where you saw or heard the bird; your name and phone number; and whether you saw or heard the bird,” said Curtis Taylor, chief of the DNR Wildlife Resources Section.