Dedicated to increasing & protecting the bluebird population of Bella Vista, AR
1) Two identical meetings were held at 10 AM & 1 PM at Village Insurance Community room. Split times were held in hopes of increasing attendance. Twenty (20) members were in attendance:
Leon Wehmeyer, Jim & Gwen Janssen, Alan Akey, Ron Rear, Kitty Polich, Ray Matkowski, Jodi Lombardo, Alycyn Culbertson, Marilyn Beveridge, Ling Ma, Buzz Schoenhard, Vera Perryman, Tom Isler, Lorna Sterrett, Joanne Hubbert, Linda Tucker, Kathy Palmer, Jann Pittman, and Carmen Greenup.
3) Leon Wehmeyer presided over each meeting, which covered 2015 Bird counts, 2016 Monitoring Forms, and awards for service.
4) 2015 Bird counts
2015 was a good year for Bluebirds fledglings for the Bella Vista Bluebird Society. Here are the numbers.
Eastern Bluebirds 1,733
Tree Swallows 597
Carolina Chickadee 81
Carolina Wren 31
Tufted Titmice 10
The 1,733 Bluebirds represent 150 more than the number fledged in 2014. The count for Tree Swallows increased by 44. Our total Bluebird fledge number is 42,504 since 1980.
In addition to the BVBBS trails, we had call-ins for 352 Bluebirds from neighborhood boxes, plus 24 Chickadees and 4 Prothonotary Warblers.
5) 2016 Monitor Forms
Each monitor was given a copy of the 2016 Excel form to be used for year-end reporting by those who have Excel & by anyone else that can fill in the cells manually. Monitors should check to be sure that box #’s for their trail is correct. If not, advise Leon so he can correct his records.
Copies of the traditional monitor forms were also handed out. These have larger cells & are acceptable for year-end reports. The Portrait version will accommodate 11 boxes but only 10 dates, while the Landscape version will accommodate only 9 boxes but 13 dates. If you have 9 boxes or less the Landscape version should be used. For more than 9 boxes, use the Portrait.
6) Service Awards
Awards have in previous years been given for 2 & 5 years of service. Future awards will continue this, and also give an award for each additional 5 years of service. i.e. 2,5,10,15,20,25, etc. The following were given this year:
2 Years Steve Holderness Bluebird hat Dick Corcoran Bluebird hat Craig Ferguson Bluebird hat Carlyn Ferguson Bluebird Pin
5 Years Joe Bowen Bluebird hat Marge Bowen Ceramic Bluebird Lorna Sterrett Ceramic Bluebird Gretchen Syverson Ceramic Bluebird Alan Akey NG Field Guide Jodi Lombardo Ceramic Bluebird
10 Years Vera Perryman (Brittany) Arkansas Birds Field guide
15 Years Linda tucker (Brittany) Nat. Geo. Field guide
Congratulation on your years of service. Submitted by: Leon Wehmeyer
Photo courtesy of Debbie Rasberry