Highlands Bird and Nature Club - The Second Virginia Breeding Bird Atlas

Description

Special speaker for Monday, June 8 – Sergio Harding: The Second Virginia Breeding Bird Atlas

The Second Virginia Breeding Bird Atlas is among the largest avian survey projects to take place in Virginia, with close to 1,500 volunteers having contributed data between 2016 and 2020. An Atlas website summarizing these data was published in October 2025, with more content to be added in 2026. This presentation will highlight the Atlas data products and website, sharing the key takeaways of what we have learned and how this information will contribute to bird conservation in Virginia.

Sergio Harding received a Master’s Degree in Biology from Virginia Tech studying the federally endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker in North Carolina. He has worked as a Nongame Bird Conservation Biologist with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) since 2005. He oversees various avian projects, including the Atlas, and coordinates with other agencies and organizations on bird conservation issues. He is also the Virginia coordinator of the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS). His field work has included breeding land bird surveys of Wildlife Management Areas and surveys of bald eagles, peregrine falcons, golden-winged warblers, loggerhead shrikes and breeding marsh birds.

For more information about programs and membership contact: 

Polly Newlon

Treasurer Highlands Bird and Nature Club

 pnewlon@htcnet.org

 540.474.2858