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Canaan Valley Birding Festival 2015
Key Note Speakers & Walk Leader Bios
Bill Beatty has a B.S. degree in biology from West Liberty University. He is a
consulting Naturalist and Outdoor Education Specialist. Bill founded Wild &
Natural in 1990, specializing in nature/environmental programs, nature
writing, and nature photography with over 2,000 published photos. From
1993-2008 he was an instructor for The Center for Professional
Development where he taught teachers how to become better teachers
with unique and innovative teaching techniques. He was an Interpretive
Naturalist for Oglebay Institute from 1972-1990. He is an instructor for
various nature-related events in the WV State Park System. Bill teaches
Recreational Camping, Outdoor Leisure Pursuits, and Outdoor Activities
classes for the P.E. Dept. at West Liberty University. He holds a Federal
Master Personal Bird Banding permit and for 28 years studied the breeding
biology of the Eastern Screech-owl. Bill and his wife, Jan, who is also a
bander, band approx. 1000 birds at their home near Wellsburg, WV each
year.
Janice Runyan has had a lifelong interest in nature and outdoor activities.
She grew up in the flatlands of central Ohio and received a B.A. from the
College of Wooster and an M.A.T. from Marygrove College. For 35 years she
taught elementary school in Berea, OH, as well as tutoring and co-creating
the “Kids and College Connection” with Baldwin-Wallace College. She is a
member of Phi Delta Kappa educators’ honorary society and honorary life
member of the Ohio PTA. Jan’s love of West Virginia and the mountains
began in 1974 with her first trip (of many) to Oglebay Institute’s Mountain
Nature Camp in Preston County. After retirement she moved to her adopted
home state of West Virginia and has been presenting programs about Nature
for husband Bill Beatty’s Wild & Natural at venues such as the WV
Wildflower Pilgrimage, Mountain Nature Camp, schools and state parks. Jan
enjoys flat-water kayaking, growing a lot of their food and participating in various citizen-science
activities such as Project FeederWatch, Christmas Bird Count and the Great Backyard Bird Count. Jan
has a Federal Bird Banding Sub-Permit under Bill’s Master Personal Bird Banding license and they band
approximately 1000 birds each year, mostly at their home near Wellsburg, WV.
Quarter of a Million Birds Banded:
Bird Banding at the Allegheny Front Migration Observatory
One of the country’s oldest fall migration bird banding stations is not far from here on Dolly Sods. It was
created in the late 50s and is primarily staffed by the dedicated volunteers of the Brooks Bird Club. Bill
Beatty and Jan Runyan, two of those volunteers, will tell us about the station, its history, daily
operations, banding details, and recent highlights from the past ten years. There will be exciting photos
of birds, including some of the rarest. In the fall, the AFMO it is an excellent place to see fall warblers
close-up in their fall plumage.
Wil Hershberger has been an avid naturalist most of his life. After
becoming an accomplished and well-respected birder, photography skills
learned in his Dad’s basement darkroom were rekindled. Today his
photography has become an extension of his passion for the natural
world. He has an innate ability to capture the natural world in an artistic
way. Over a decade ago, Wil and his wife Donna formed Nature Images
and Sounds, LLC. Together, they photograph everything from birds to
bugs. Wil is also an accomplished natural sounds recordist with over
2,000 of his recordings, including birds and bugs, archived at the Cornell
Laboratory of Ornithology’s Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds.
Through their photography and sound recordings, they hope to instill in others the desire to protect and
save these sacred natural treasures. Wil has won numerous awards for his photography including
“Highly Commended” for a whitetail deer photo by Nature’s Best magazine Photo of the year
competition for 2008 and 2010 and Photographer of the Year 2006 Shenandoah Photographic Society.
His images have been published in many publications including National Parks magazine and Bird
Watchers Digest and the National Parks Magazine. His articles have been published in Nature
Photographer’s Magazine and the Observer among others. He published a book, The Songs of Insects,
Houghton Mifflin Co. which was co-authored by Lang Elliott.
A Celebration of Bird Songs
This celebration exhibits the photography and sounds recordings of Wil Hershberger as he has us follow
the songs and sounds of birds from winter into early summer. We will explore the difference between
birds that learn their songs and those who do not. We will also look more closely at the songs of a few
species to see how truly special birdsong is and what it might be telling other birds about the singer.
Rich Bailey is State Ornithologist with the WV Division
of Natural Resources. His focus is the advancement of
science and public awareness of birds and their
conservation in WV. Current projects include, among
others, directing the 2nd WV Breeding Bird Atlas,
monitoring rare/threatened/endangered bird species,
analysis of demographic and population trends of all
bird species, and coordination with agencies and
industry regarding impacts of development on breeding
and migratory birds. Prior to his position with WVDNR,
he worked for 7 years as a naturalist and park manager
in Northern Virginia. In his spare time he is an avid
birder, musician and climber.
Informing the Future of Bird Conservation and Management in West Virginia –
Results and Insights from the 2nd WV Breeding Bird Atlas
The 2nd WV Breeding Bird Atlas was a 6-year project to document the distribution and abundance of all
species of birds that breed in the state. WVDNR Wildlife Resources staff, volunteers and partner
organizations worked many, many hours to make the project a success. State Ornithologist Rich Bailey
will highlight results and ongoing analysis from the project, as well as how the data will guide future
efforts to protect and conserve the state’s birdlife.
Chan Robbins was born on a farm in the suburbs of Boston
where his ancestors had lived for nine generations, he
received his Bachelor's degree in physics at Harvard in 1940
and his Masters in biology at George Washington U. in
1950. He joined the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1943 as
a biologist in the national bird-banding office at the
Patuxent Research Refuge. He spent his whole career (60
years) at Patuxent developing surveys and studying habitat
requirements of migratory birds on their North American
breeding grounds and on their tropical wintering
grounds. He still goes to his office several days each week.
Coordinator’s note: Mr. Robbins is much too humble to
include the following: In the November/December 2014
issue of Audubon Magazine (http://www.audubon.org/magazine/november-december-2014/threegenerations-citizen-science) Mr. Robbins is highlighted as a birding “pioneer”. A few of Mr. Robbins
accomplishments include co-authoring one of the first modern field guides, Birds of North America: A
Guide to Field Identification, commonly called “The Golden Guide” and creating the annual Breeding
Bird Survey 50 years ago.
Chan Robbin’s Lifetime Quest for Extinct and Vanishing Birds
My favorite book when I was a kid was Brewster’s Birds of the Cambridge (Mass.) Region because
William Brewster had done much of his birding in Belmont, my home town, and this book told me right
where each species could be found. The only colored picture in the book was of Brewster’s Linnet,
believed to be a cross between a redpoll and a siskin. Mr. Brewster had found one of these just a mile
from my house, but that was the ONLY one ever found anywhere. I was determined I would find
another one somewhere, so that started my side-hobby of looking for rare birds. There was much talk
at that time about the death of the very last Passenger Pigeon in the Cincinnati zoo, and I realized other
birds would become extinct before I had a chance to see them. So there was an urgency to see birds
before it was too late. Hence my quest.
I had no idea at that time that I would become an ornithologist and have opportunities to travel
all over the world, but most of my rarest discoveries were birds that came to me wherever I happened
to be working, rather than my traveling some distance to look for them. My list includes a few species
that became extinct during my lifetime, several that were believed to be extinct but were not, several
that were unknown and had not been described yet, several that have recently become very rare, and
many that are well known but exist in very small numbers worldwide.
Walk Leaders
Terry Bronson
Terry Bronson has lived in Morgantown, WV since 2009, when he moved to the state from New
Hampshire after his retirement in 2004. One of the state's most active birders, he has led field trips at
numerous locations in northern WV and in NH, participated in many Christmas bird counts in both
states, conducted USGS Breeding Bird Surveys in WV and for the last 6 years has been one of the main
field surveyors for the 6 year long WV Breeding Bird Atlas update. He is the former President of
Mountaineer Audubon in Morgantown, and is currently Field Trips Chairman. In NH, he was an officer of
the Seacoast Audubon Chapter, volunteer staff assistant at NH Audubon headquarters, and secretary of
the NH Rare Birds Committee. Terry is a dedicated eBird junkie, and all his sightings go into that national
database. In recent years, his birding has extended to the Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador,
Chile, Peru, Norway, Sweden, and South Africa.
Jackie Burns
Jackie Burns has a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Biology from West Virginia University and retired two
years ago after thirty years with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. While with the USF&WS, she worked
on exhibits and managed a visitor center. Her duties included creating brochures & managing education
programs, and in various ways taught visitors about wildlife and nature. She enjoys watching birds,
flowers, and other aspects of nature, and is often intrigued by the interconnectedness of all things.
Don Casavecchia
It’s hard to describe my evolving relationship with the animals and birds that share my day-to-day
existence. The more I observe them in and around the ever changing environments of Northern Virginia
and, to a lesser extent, Canaan Valley, the more I learn about myself and what matters as I go forward.
As I age, I’m increasingly delighted with the small insights I gain simply by observing the wild elements of
my surroundings. As an amateur photographer, I continue trying to capture those wild elements of my
environment that I find most interesting. Birds dominate my day-to-day observations and clearly
represent most of the conflicts faced by competing populations for shrinking resources. I volunteer to
assist Canaan Valley Birding Leads for two reasons - to energize participants to the joy of birding; and
help them to get out and witness some of the wildness still present in our out-of-doors world.
Derek Courtney
Derek Courtney, MD, was born in Fairmont, WV and currently resides in Morgantown. He has lived in
WV much of his life and has recently taken a keen interest in exploring its bird life. He enjoys traveling,
both near and abroad, and wishes he had taken more of an interest in birds while traveling in his
younger days. He has particular interest in avian photography. During the 2010 calendar year, Derek
observed 259 bird species within the state's borders, besting the previously set mark by 3 species. He
always takes pleasure in the chase of a new rarity but, as much or more, enjoys the places birds take him
and the friends encountered along the way. His favorite bird is whichever he sees next.
Paulita Cousin
Paulita Cousin has been employed at Blackwater Falls State Park since 1994. Paulita graduated from
Garrett College with an associate degree in Wildlife Management. After working for Maryland
Environmental Service she began her career at Blackwater Falls State Park as an assistant naturalist to
Pat Hissom. Paulita worked under Pat for eleven years before transferring to manage the Trading Post.
In December 2009, Paulita received her dream job as Park Naturalist at Blackwater Falls State Park.
Ken Dzaack
Ken Dzaack has a degree in Wildlife Management from Garrett College and is a Certified West Virginia
Master Naturalist. He is a former assistant naturalist at Canaan Valley State Park, former Land Manager
for Canaan Valley Institute, and currently works for the Maryland Park Service at Deep Creek Lake State
Park. He has led interpretive hikes and tours, covering a variety of topics, in PA, MD and WV. Ken and
his family, all lifelong outdoors people, have lived in Canaan Valley for almost 30 years.
LeJay Graffious
LeJay Graffious had a thirty-six year career as a teacher and principal. His lifelong interest in the natural
world has led him to many unique locations and introduced him to many like-minded friends. He has
completed his Master Naturalist certification. He is a long time member of the Brooks Bird Club who has
served as past president, board member and trustee. LeJay has served as a member and chair of the
WV Bird Records Committee. He is a past president and longtime board member of the local Audubon
chapter where he also serves as coordinator of the Mountaineer Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Each
year he conducts a variety of DNR Point Count Surveys and USGS Breeding Bird Surveys throughout the
state. LeJay regularly leads bird watching field trips for a number of organizations. He teaches birding
classes for the Master Naturalist Program. He has been involved with the Allegheny Front Migration
Observatory as a net tender and bird bander since 1981. He currently sits on the board of the WV
Highlands Conservancy. After a thirty- three year friendship with authors, George Bird and Kay Evans, he
is currently managing their estate and working to perpetuate their literary works and philosophy of
upland hunting. He is the administrator and director of the Old Hemlock Foundation, a charitable
educational trust.
Caden Spencer Haines
Caden is 16 years old and a West Virginia native. He began birding when he was about 9 years old with
mentorship from many local birders, including LeJay Graffious, Terry Bronson and Derek Courtney, and
support from his grandfather and a birding great uncle. Caden has traveled to several locations
specifically to bird including, Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota, Georgia, Florida, and many areas of the
northeast. Caden volunteers at the Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia in Morgantown.
Diane Holsinger
Diane Holsinger is a Licensed Veterinary Technician who has done Breeding Bird Surveys and helped
with the Christmas Bird Count and the Breeding Bird Atlas in WV. She worked on the Kentucky Warbler
Project at the Smithsonian in Front Royal, Virginia, was one of the leaders for the Cass Birding Festival
and has lead bird & wildflower trips for the Shenandoah National Park Wildflower Weekend. Diane has
taught classes in Beginner Birding, Wildflowers & Mushrooms for the Life Long Learning Institute at
James Madison University in Virginia. While in Arizona for the past several winters, Diane led Bird Field
Trips and participated in the Christmas Bird counts for the Tucson Audubon Society which had one of
the highest number of species of birds found in the nation. Diane conducted IBA (Important Bird Area)
surveys for the Chestnut-collared Longspur (a bird of global conservation concern) and wintering
sparrows. So many Chestnut-collared Longspurs were found that the area of the San Rafael Grassland
will be declared a protected area for the Longspurs & Sparrows that winter there. Diane's birding
adventures have led her to Iceland, Ireland, India, Africa, Cuba & Scotland. She would rather be birding
than most anything else except walking & playing with her Jack Russell Terriers.
Herb Myers
Herb Myers, M.D. took up birding as a hobby for retirement when he turned 60. That was over 10 years
ago. Though he has tried other things, birding clicked immediately. He became addicted or, as his wife
says, obsessed with birds. He partially retired in 2010 and moved from Pennsylvania to Harman, West
Virginia where his wife grew up. He has birded in Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Hampshire, Maine,
Quebec, Alberta, Newfoundland, Ohio, Michigan, Arizona, Texas, Oregon, California, Florida, Ecuador
and the Galápagos but especially enjoys West Virginia. He also enjoys photography. In 2011 he and his
wife completed the WV Master Naturalist program. He volunteers at the Canaan Valley National Wildlife
Refuge.
Matt Orsie
Matt Orsie is an avid bird watcher and photographer who resides in Summit Point, WV. He has birded
all over the lower 48, Alaska and the Caribbean. Matt leads field trips for the Potomac Valley Audubon
Society and has assisted on birding tours of West Virginia for WINGS. He also teaches basic and
advanced birding classes. His photos have appeared in local and regional publications including North
America Birds. More recently he has started pursuing butterflies in the local region and elsewhere in the
lower 48. Loves the outdoors!
Bill Pope
Bill Pope, M.D. has for 40 years been a local amateur watcher of birds and butterflies. He has
participated in many walks, counts and breeding bird surveys. He completed his Master Naturalist
training at CV in 2009 and serves as a monitor for the Cranesville Swamp Preserve of TNC. In pursuit of
birding adventures, he has traveled the western U.S., South & Central America, and Antarctica, generally
following his wife Fran about. As a regular job, he is a physician in public health in Garrett County, MD.
Fran Pope
Fran Pope grew up in the tropics attracting colorful arrays of birds & butterflies with ripe bananas. Since
1971 she has lived in Garrett County, MD, where she served as the County Coordinator for both
Maryland Breeding Bird Atlas Projects (1983-1987, 2002-2006). As a 40-year volunteer with the USGS
Breeding Bird Survey program, she completes two breeding bird routes in Garrett County each June.
Visitors at her fall bird banding station learn about birds-in-the hand. As a birder turned butterflier, she
helped survey for rare, threatened and endangered butterflies in MD. Certified as a WV Master
Naturalist in the 2009 CV program, she is compiling an updated list of the butterflies of Tucker County,
WV. Nature photography is a favorite pastime, and she helps her husband Bill teach the excitement of
the natural world to fifth-graders at a local school.
Michael Williams
Michael Williams was the photographer for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for over 25
years. He holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees from the Ohio State University in photography and
cinema. He is the current President of the Friends of Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge. He is a
native of Marietta, Ohio and has been a birder for about 18 years.