Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Papers of the Marion Bird Club , Accession #12632-b, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

The collection was a gift from the Virginia Society of Ornithology, through Gene Sattler, to the University of Virginia Library on September 10, 2003.

Biographical/Historical Information

The Marion Bird Club was organized in Marion, Virginia, in 1971 by about a dozen people who were interested in birds, both for recreation and study. The club adopted rules and obtained membership in the Virginia Society of Ornithology. It disbanded in 2002 and turned its assets over to the James J. Murray Research Fund.

Scope and Content

The Records of the Marion Bird Club, 1971-1993, include membership rolls, minutes of meetings, financial information, itineraries, and correspondence. The records also contain reports describing birding trips and counts undertaken by the members. The reports represent the core activity and purpose of the club. The club sponsored field trips from 1973-1993 in late March to early November to various local places such as Rural Retreat Lake, Hungry Mother Park, Saltville Ponds, Laurel Bed Lake, and Grayson Highlands State Park. According to a study by Vice-President of the Club, Tony Decker, about two hundred and fifty species of birds nested in or migrated through the area surrounding Marion each year. Records of species that were seen on field trips averaged about twenty to thirty.

There is also correspondence from concerned members about a proposed boat ramp at Wilcox Wharf that would interfere with the bald eagle roost at Flowerdew Hundred and a response to their concern from Tony Watkins, Deputy Chief, Habitat Management with the Marine Resources Commission. The collection consists of 203 items (less than 1 linear foot).

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into two folders: Field trips of the Marion Bird Club and Records of the Marion Bird Club. Both folders are in chronological order.