Bird club helps with seed sale

By Thelma Dalmas
Published: October 21, 2008

In the fall of 1978, the Lynchburg Bird Club came to the decision that we needed some type of fundraising activity if we wanted to support various conservation projects within the state. After some discussion, we settled on the idea of a bird seed sale, and made arrangements to hold our sale from the back of a trailer. I remember that day well, especially the part where our 5-year-old daughter spent the whole time wallowing around on sacks of seed.

The club has come a long way since then, and next month we will host our 30th annual bird seed sale from Aylor’s Store in Forest. The sale is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 8. If you have ordered seed within the past two years or are a member of the Lynchburg Bird Club, you should be receiving your order form in the mail shortly. If you would like to be added to the mailing list, please contact Robert Ferrell at (434) 847-0941 to request an order form.

We will have our usual varieties again this year. For the finches, titmice, chickadees, and cardinals, either black oil or striped sunflower seed is best. For those who want to avoid the messy hulls, try sunflower hearts (these are also referred to as sunflower chips). Although this seed seems to be very expensive, remember that it is all edible.

Goldfinches and siskins really appreciate niger seeds. If you have given up fighting with the squirrels, we have some peanut pieces for them. Maybe you are one of those fortunate people who don’t have a squirrel problem. If that is the case, then the bluejays love peanuts. Of course, the standard mixed wild bird seed is also available.

On the day of the sale, members of the Lynchburg Bird Club will be available to answer any questions that you may have about feeding birds or attracting them to your yard. Would you like more information about which species prefer the various types of seeds? Are you uncertain about what type of feeder to purchase? Do you want to know about the best ways to offer suet? Are you interested in some novel recipes that you can concoct yourself to attract birds?

Our hospitality table will be filled with delicious home baked goods and hot drinks to keep you warm while your seed is being loaded in your car. You will have time to browse through an excellent variety of bird feeders, birdbaths and other feeding accessories. Take time to visit with the members of the bird club, who will be happy to assist you, answer questions or simply listen to the tales of the birds around your home.

When you purchase your seed from the Lynchburg Bird Club, you benefit not only the birds that visit your yard, but organizations that promote conservation of habitat, provide rehabilitation to injured birds, and fund research projects that increase our understanding of the birdlife in Virginia.

News and Notes
The Lynchburg Bird Club will sponsor a morning bird walk at Johnson’s Orchard in Bedford County on Oct. 25. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Waterlick Plaza Shopping Center parking lot (on U.S. 460 business). For more information about the bird walk, call (434) 821-1136.

A brown booby was reported from Claytor Lake in Pulaski County on Oct. 4 and was still present on Oct. 19. The normal range of this species is in the southern Atlantic along the Florida coast, and although there are a few coastal records in Virginia, this is the first report of the species from the mountains. A number of people from the Lynchburg Bird Club have been to see the bird. It was number 363 for my Virginia state list.