From President Bill Williams
      As K.E.ST.R.E.L enters its third year it has embarked on several new and potentially far reaching initiatives. Over the weekend of April 10-12 we arranged for two students from Northampton County High School to attend the Eastern Bird Banding Association annual meeting held at the Sunset Beach Inn. This conference brought together field ornithologists from across the eastern United States, providing a forum for them to present research to their peers.

      Earl Hodnett, K.E.ST.R.E.L's Director of raptor banding and a K.E.ST.R.E.L board member, served as conference chair. In a letter to us following the conference the two students were exuberant about their attendance. Further, according to K.E.ST.R.E.L board member Sally Richardson, who teaches at the high school, the conference helped one of the students place first in her division at the Eastern Shore Science Fair and helped the other as a member of the High School's Envirothon team at the state competition, Their letter to us concluded "You guys are great!" We think so too.

      A second frontier was explored as K.E.ST.R.E.L provided field leaders for The Virginia Eastern Shore Corporation's "Bed, Breakfast, and Birding" weekend. Our hard working Mary Arginteanu and her husband, Larry Robinson, led a successful trip the last weekend in May. This partnership with the corporation brought K.E.ST.R.E.L a stipend and valuable exposure to a public eager to find out about the avian treasures of the Eastern Shore. More of these week-ends are planned for the Fall and we intend to be there bright and early to show off the Shore and its fantastic birds!

      Through Brian Taber's leadership the second Spring Migration Census was held April 12th through May 3rd. A summary of that work is posted elsewhere in the Newsletter. Suffice it to say there is much we don't know about Spring migration dynamics along Virginia's Eastern Shore. With efforts such as this most recent one a foundation is being laid for more intensive work. It is clear the enticements to know more are there.

      The common thread among these initiatives is their blending of our research, education, and public outreach goals. Our presence and availability is providing access to birds and bird study to those who want to learn from the experiences we can bring them. Our involvement with students is only beginning. Our recognition by the public is growing, witnessed by the phone calls and letters I am receiving from people anxious to join the birds for fall migration.

      Over the ensuing months the K.E.ST.R.E.L board will be organizing itself to more clearly define its initiatives and those responsible for them. We want to enhance initiatives like those mentioned above. With your assistance it can be done. Immediate needs are for a secretary and a coordinator of the Super Bowl of Birding. I hope you can see the efforts of a few are doing great things. More can and will be done if you too will lend us a hand.

Best Birds,
Bill

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