Chance Hines checking a Red-cockaded Woodpecker nest cavity by Chance Hines

The Northern Neck Chapter of Virginia, National Audubon Society is continuing the Zoom programs for 2021 with a free virtual program on Monday, June 7th at 7 pm entitled "Red-cockaded Woodpeckers in Virginia”.  This can be viewed on a home computer and is open to the public, details below.

Chance Hines, a research biologist with The Center for Conservation Biology (CCB), will share the historic and current status of the only Federally Endangered woodpecker in North America. Following Hines’ graduate degree at ODU, where he studied migrating songbirds on Eastern Shore, he began working with CCB. Although Chance works on various avian research projects involving songbirds, shorebirds, eagles, and rails, he is focused on and in charge of monitoring the northern most population of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers located at The Nature Conservancy’s Piney Grove Preserve, about two hours south, in Sussex County, Virginia.

Red-cockaded Woodpecker on sap covered pine by Chance Hines

“The Red-cockaded Woodpecker is one of eight woodpeckers in Virginia and by far the most rare”, said Vice President Kevin Howe. “Once considered common in and dependent on southeastern old growth pine forests, it has been designated endangered since 1968. The severe decline of this woodpecker has been linked to forest elimination and fragmentation as well as conversion from longleaf pine to slash and loblolly pines. Unlike other North American woodpeckers, the Red-cockaded Woodpecker lives in family groups called clans and further, they create their nest cavities in living trees rather than dead trees. Most unique is their excavation of tiny holes called resin wells which exude resin and is thought to protect the “clan” from rat snakes, a well-known tree-climbing bird predator. If you were wondering, the male has a small red streak on each side of its black cap called a cockade; hence its name, though it is usually not seen except during territorial displays or the breeding season.”

The Center for Conservation Biology was founded by William and Mary ornithologists, Bryan Watts and Mitchell Byrd in the spring of 1992 with a plan to create a community of dedicated professional scientists, students, and citizens that focused on developing lasting solutions to ecological and environmental problems. In 2009, William and Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University joined together to support the CBC.

The Northern Neck Chapter of the National Audubon Society is the oldest of the six Audubon Chapters in Virginia dating back to 1970. In a typical year, the Chapter sponsors bird walks twice a month and public programs once a month.  Last year was and this year appears to continue to be anything but typical and we all hope, that real “typical” will return soon. In the meantime, feed,  enjoy and watch the birds on your own property and beyond.  

The zoom link was sent to NNASNET. Please email nnaudubon@gmail.com if you have questions or need the zoom link.