Photo Credits: Summer Tanager and Prothonotary Warbler by David Clark, Great Dismal Swamp scenes by Laura Mae
For the first time in three years the VSO is sponsoring an Annual Meeting. The Cape Henry Audubon Society and the Great Dismal Swamp NWR are planning a modified VSO Annual Meeting and Dismal Swamp Birding Festival the weekend of April 29-May 1, 2022. Events such as the banquet, vendor sales, and local chapter displays will have to wait until the shadow of covid has passed. The business meeting, research paper presentations, and a program speaker will be held virtually a few days ahead of the weekend field trips. Register by clicking the button below. Note that each participant needs to complete a unique registration form (cannot register more than one person per form).
Headquarters for the weekend: Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront, 100 E. Constance Road, Suffolk VA23434. Room reservations can be made by phone at (757)-925-1300 or by clicking this link to book online through the hotel website. Please specify that you are a part of Virginia Society of Ornithology – Great Dismal Swamp group when making reservations to guarantee the discounted rate of $89 per room, which will be available until March 29, 2022.
Field trips: Offered Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning to Jericho Ditch, Washington Ditch, and Railroad Ditch, all prime areas of the Great Dismal Swamp NWR. The birds expected to be seen are essentially the same on these three routes. Jericho and Washington Ditches are bird walks of up to three miles total. The Railroad Ditch route is by car with frequent birding stops along the way. Reservations are required since space is limited. Information for afternoon birding will be available to guide birders to sites such as Back Bay NWR, First Landing State Park, and Pleasure House Point Natural Area in Virginia Beach. Information about birding sites in Chesapeake like the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail and the Northwest River Park will also be available. The Dismal Swamp Birding Festival will schedule additional trips and activities on Saturday which will be available for registration.
Photo Credits: Bobcat by Laura Mae, Barred Owl and Swainson’s Warbler by David Clark
Social session: On Saturday afternoon weather permitting a Meet and Greet session with a cash bar will be held on the patio of the hotel. Participants will have the opportunity to share birding experiences from the weekend.
Calendar of events April 26 – May 1, 2022
Tuesday, April 26
7:00pm (Virtual) Speaker – Dr. Jerry Via, a favorite presenter and field trip leader, will give a presentation that includes an introduction to the birds of the Dismal Swamp.
Wednesday, April 27
3:00-4:00pm (Virtual) Business Meeting
4:00-6:00pm (Virtual) Research paper presentations
Friday, April 29
7:00am-noon Morning field trips – GDS NWR
Noon-3:00pm VSO luncheon Board Meeting – Hilton Inn
2:00-6:00pm Afternoon field trips – on your own – web information available
Saturday, April 30 - Dismal Swamp Birding Festival (official date)
7:00am-noon Morning field trips – GDS NWR
7:00am-5:00pm Festival activities – GDS NWR
2:00-5:00pm Afternoon field trips – on your own – web information available
5:00-6:00pm Meet and Greet – Hilton Inn, north patio
Sunday, May 1
7:00am-noon Morning field trips – GDS NWR
Meals: There will not be a banquet or any group meals during the meeting. Meals will be on your own. The hotel has a restaurant whose status for meals during the meeting is not currently confirmed, but it will not be open early enough for a served breakfast prior to departures to the field trip sites.
Virtual events: To participate via ZOOM in the VSO virtual events listed above, you will need to register here (or by clicking the button at the top of this page). One registration is all that’s needed to receive the links for any of the three virtual events; however, each individual participant will need to register separately rather than using one registration form for multiple people.
