Photo of Magnolia Warbler by Rob Bielawski
|
|
|
VSO Annual Meeting May 3 - 5, 2019 at Mountain Lake Lodge
|
|
Hotel deadline is April 10
Meeting deadline is April 15
|
|
Neotropical migrants are arriving in Virginia even as you read this! BOLO (Be On the Lookout) for these gems: Louisiana Waterthrush, Black-and-white
Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Northern Parula, Palm Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Prairie Warbler, and Black-throated Green Warbler!
Looking for a great opportunity to see even more neo-tropical arrivals in Virginia this spring? Join us at Mountain Lake for the Virginia Society
of Ornithology (VSO) Annual Meeting May 3-5, 2019.
You do not have to be a VSO member to participate in this event.
Approaching deadlines:
April 10 is the deadline to reserve a room at the Mountain Lake Lodge.
Contact the Lodge directly by phone (800-346-3334 or 540-626-7121) to make hotel reservations. Be sure to mention VSO to get the special rate.
April 15 is the deadline to register for the Meeting.
Complete the
Registration
Form and mail it with your check by April 15.
The
New River Valley Bird Club
is working hard in these last few weeks to host eager birders at the
2019 VSO Annual Meeting
at Mountain Lake, which has been recognized for many years as a unique ecosystem for birds. With the Mountain Lake Conservancy, an adjacent wilderness area, and the Mountain Lake Biological Station nearby, birds have a protected mountain top refuge. With elevations
reaching 4,200 feet, there are breeding species of birds not found in nearby Blacksburg, VA or other parts of the state.
On field trips led by local experts, we’ll be looking for migrating and breeding birds at this high elevation location where the leaves will not
have fully leafed out and the birds will be easier to see and enjoy.
|
|
Field Trips!
Click over to the
VSO
web site to see full descriptions of the destinations listed below and the target birds.
|
|
For early Friday arrivals, grab a map of Mountain Lake Lodge trails, which are easily accessible from the hotel. A more arduous trip is the walk up
to Bald Knob (4,200 feet). The view is spectacular for sunrise and sunset.
Field trip sign-up sheets will be available at the Meeting check-in table Friday. More details about field trips will be posted and local club members
will be on hand to answer questions about the destinations.
FRIDAY, MAY 3 @ 2:00 pm departure
-
Mountain Lake Biological Station.
-
Carriage Trail
-
Explore 613
SATURDAY, MAY 4 – two departure times
-
Glen Alton/Kelly Flats @ 7:30 am
-
Murphy Farm @ 7:30 am
-
Clover Hollow Christmas Tree Farm @ 7:30 am
-
Mountain Lake Biological Station @ 7:30 am
-
White Pine Lodge @ 8:00 AM
-
Blueberry Hill @ 8:00 am.
-
Rafting on the New River –
Depends on the status of the river. Those who are interested should indicate their interest on their registration form. You will be individually contacted with arrangements and trip price.
SUNDAY, MAY 5 @ 8:00 am – Note checkout time is 11:00
am. For guests who are checking out after breakfast, these trips will stop several places for birding between Mountain Lake Lodge and Blacksburg. There
may also be stops along the way for target birds. There will be a choice of three different destinations each of which will take about an hour. Each of these trips has easy access to Rte. 460 and Interstate 81.
- Pandapas Pond
- Blacksburg High School
- Deerfield Trail
- Blueberry Hill
- Carriage Trail
Field trip schedule is subject to change and weather factors. Additional field trips may be added, as needed, depending on attendance. You are welcome to walk any of
the trails on the Mountain Lake Lodge property or sit and enjoy the birds at the feeders on the lower porch.
|
|
Mountain Lake Lodge – 2018 VA Hotel of the Year
|
|
Formerly Mountain Lake Hotel, the hotel has been under new management for 5 years, and if you have not visited the hotel recently you will be amazed
at the improvements. It was voted the 2018 Virginia Hotel of the Year and the manager Heidi Stone was voted the 2018 Best Hotelier in Virginia. Check out their
website.
[Photos of Mountain Lake from their website.]
Mountain Lake is now a travel destination! We have worked closely with the lodge to provide an excellent package rate for the weekend.
Package price includes two nights lodging, two breakfasts and the Saturday Buffet Dinner Banquet.
Double Rate per person – $255 + tax
[double rate corrected from earlier email]
Triple Rate per person – $202 + tax
Single Rate – $414 + tax
|
|
Lunch is available at the hotel in either the Harvest Restaurant or the Stony Creek Tavern (ala carte).
Guests arriving on Thursday night or staying additional nights through Tuesday night are eligible to receive a discounted lodging rate per room of
$139 + tax per night. Meals are ala carte.
Make your lodging reservations by April 10 to ensure you receive the VSO package rate.
Be sure to mention the name VSO Conference to receive discounted rates.
[Toll free phone # corrected from earlier email]
|
|
Rose-breasted Grosbeak by Rob Bielawski
|
Friday
Guests arriving early can choose among three field trips for Friday afternoon (see above). Sign up for one of
these at the registration table. Plus you can explore the Mountain Lake Lodge Trails on your own. Dinner on your own.
Saturday
Buffet Breakfast at 6:30 a.m. in the Harvest Restaurant. Field trips will leave at 7:30 and 8:00 am. See list
above. Carpooling is requested for trips off of the mountain. For trips off of the mountain, several options for lunch will be available before returning to Mountain Lake. Paper sessions will be in the afternoon in the Ballroom. Exhibits will continue in the
Giles Cascade room adjacent to the ballroom. There will be a silent auction in the display area for your participation, so bring cash or check.
Sunday
Breakfast at 6:30 a.m. in the Harvest Restaurant. Checkout at 11:00 am. Some field trips from Saturday will be
repeated, and others will be new so that you can visit many of the wonderful hot spots of the Mountain Lake area. See the list above.
|
|
Chestnut-sided Warbler by Jerry Via
|
SATURDAY BANQUET SPEAKER
Dr. Rebecca Keller,
American Bird Conservancy Appalachian Mountain Joint Venture Science Coordinator, will speak on "From Appalachia to the Tropics-Bridging
Gaps for the Birds." The focus will be on conservation efforts for several declining species, including the Golden-winged Warbler, Cerulean Warbler
and Wood Thrush.
American Bird Conservancy has been working with international partners, particularly in Colombia and Venezuela,
to locate wintering areas for these Appalachian species. Many of these birds now carry geolocators and biologists are working to identify critical areas for protection within the tropics.
|
Cerulean Warbler by Nancy Barnhart
|
|
Virginia Society of Ornithology |
Website
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
