The West Virginia checklist says there are 37 possible wood warbler species for birders to find in the Mountain State. And, while those attending the 2008 New River Birding and Nature Festival can’t claim that number, event organizers are convinced that this year’s total of 34 wood warbler species cannot be beaten.

“When you look at the list you see three wood warblers that we are very unlikely to get given the timing of our annual event. Connecticut Warbler, Orange-crowned warbler and Prothonotary Warbler are just very unlikely. In that sense, I think 34 is most likely the best we will ever do” event chair Dave Pollard said.

The 34 warblers were part of a very impressive 152 total species tallied during the week. Included in that total were a couple of rarities not even on the West Virginia list. Mandarin ducks, likely domestic releases, were seen on two separate occasions by Dr. Scott Shalaway and verified on one of those trips by Pollard and Ohio field guide Steve McCarthy. Given that the birds were undoubtedly domestic releases, no efforts will be made to have them added to the West Virginia list, but approximately 30 lucky birders were able to see the breeding-plumage males on Hawks Nest Lake.

The other rarity is in the process of being submitted by Wil Hershberger. A note naturalist from West Virginia’s eastern panhandle, Hershberger and Lynn Pollard were leading a trip of 12 birders at the Cranberry Glades when a group of three Arctic Terns flew over. While there was not opportunity to photograph the birds, the field marks were unmistakable and Hershberger and Pollard worked through their notes with some outstanding birders on the trip to make certain of their identification. Birds tallied during the week were as follows (Initials next to bird indicate trips seen on – legend – NRC, New River Circuit; M, Muddlety; SC, Sugar Creek; HC, High Country; CG, Cranberry Glades: