Latest news with #ThreeRiversAvianCenter
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Three Rivers Avian Center and friends celebrate the return of spring migrant birds
PIPESTEM, WV (WVNS) – Three Rivers Avian Center honored the return of spring migrant birds at their annual Migration Celebration, as part of International Migratory Bird Day. They were joined at Pipestem Resort State Park by other groups that are working to restore certain ecosystems. This was a free fun and educational experience for folks. Chimpanzees drum with regular rhythm when they beat on tree trunks, a form of ancient communication Wendy Perrone is the executive director for Three Rivers Avian Center. She explained there were a host of hot topics discussed at this celebration. 'We have seen quite a bit of problems with ecosystem degradation, people not understanding how to feed wild birds, how to do basic care 1-to-1, what happens when a bird hits a window? We are here talking about all sorts of different things. We are talking about migration. We are talking about the ecosystems that sustain these birds and things that you can do in your day to day life to help these birds and help them try to turn around those numbers that we are seeing of loss,' said Perone. Perrone told 59News that we have lost 52% of migratory birds that used to fill our skies over the past 20 years. In the Three Rivers Avian Center tent, she was taking care of Regis – a 17-year-old bald eagle, who has been grounded after an accident in the wild. They also had an American Kestrel and a great horned owl who also aren't able to be released back into the wild. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine celebrates 48th commencement ceremony
LEWISBURG, WV (WVNS) – It was a day to remember at the end of a strenuous academic journey for some medical students. Three Rivers Avian Center and Moonstruck Maple holding joint open house A total of 209 students walked across the stage at West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine' 48th commencement ceremony. 185 of those graduates matriculated with a degree in Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine or a D.O. The other 24 graduates received their Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences. This is the first WVSOM class to receive this masters degree through the school. These grads hail from all over the country, like Utah native Jason Mitton. '[Graduation Day] is always a day you are kind of fighting for hoping that you will get to, but to actually be here feels kind of surreal. So [I am] just excited and grateful to be here really, and grateful that WVSOM gave me the opportunity,' said Mitton. Mitton worked rotations at Beckley ARH and Raleigh General Hospital, where he found himself drawn more to the field of anesthesiology. The next step for those graduating with a D.O. is their residency. Mitton will be continuing his training at UPMC Lititz in Pennsylvania. Hira Cheema, another graduate, will be continuing her training at Methodist Dallas Medical Center. 'Being in Lewisburg, West Virginia was amazing. Everybody was very welcoming. Everybody was very nice. The community is very friendly. It was my first time in West Virginia. I am from Oklahoma, but it felt like home [in WV], and I will miss it. Everybody at the school – faculty, the friends that I made, everybody was very supportive and very helpful,' said Cheema. Cheema said she hopes to move back to Oklahoma to be a physician after she finishes up at Methodist Dallas Medical Center. WVSOM President Dr. Jim Nemitz was thrilled for his 37th commencement ceremony with the school. He left one final message to the graduates. Congress honors WWII's All-Black, All-female battalion with Gold Medal 'We are so very proud of each and every one of you go out there and do good,' said Dr. Nemitz. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Spring Eagle Survey counts bald eagles and nests across the region
hinton — Over 30 bald eagles, some adult and some juvenile, were counted in early March when volunteers across southern West Virginia joined in 18th Spring Eagle Survey. Conducted March 1 by the Eagle Brigade of Southern West Virginia, the annual survey found 36 bald eagles and one golden eagle, according to the survey results compiled by Jim Phillips, who organizes the annual count. The Three Rivers Avian Center, Bibbee Nature Club, the Hanging Rock Migration Observatory, Pipestem State Park and guests are all part of the Eagle Brigade. According to the survey's results, five bald eagles were spotted around Alderson, Barger Springs and Bellepoint by Jim and Judy Phillips. One adult bald eagle around Alderson and another adult was seen around Barger Springs area. The Athens Lake area was checked, but no eagles were sighted, according to the March 1 survey. At the Brooks Island Overlook, three bald eagles including an adult and two younger birds were counted. No eagles were seen around the Greenbrier County Landfill, but at R.D. Bailey Lake near Mullens, spotted two adult bald eagles were spotted. In the area known as the Mouth of the Bluestone or Pits, a total of six bald eagles of varying ages were counted. At the Red Sulphur Springs and State Line areas, one adult bald eagle was counted. Two adult bald eagles and one golden eagle were sighted at Hans Creek Valley. Another two adult eagles were counted in the Greenville area. Two adult bald eagles were sighted in the Rich Creek Valley Road area, but no eagles were counted in the Hillsdale Tollgate Road area. In the Lake Stephens area, three adult bald eagles were sighted. In the Paint Creek and Boiling Springs areas, two bald eagles — one adult and a younger bird — were counted. Over in Greenbrier County, nine adult bald eagles were seen in the Meadow River area, two adult bald eagles were seen in the Blue Sulphur Pike area, but no eagles were seen around Fairview Road. Two bald eagles — one adult and a sub-adult — were counted in the Tuckahoe Lake area and two adults were seen at the Howards Creek area. Jim Phillips said that when the surveys were conducted back in the Seventies and Eighties, participants were lucky if they counted one bald eagle. The situation started changing when the pesticide DDT was banned. Fish and other prey contaminated with DDT would get the poison into raptors and weaken their egg shells, making it harder for them to reproduce. DDT was banned in 1972. Raptors like eagles and hawks still face threats such as lead poisoning and discarded fishing line. Hunters and fishing enthusiasts are now urged to use non-lead ammunition and avoid using lead fishing sinkers. Lead ammunition can fragment when it strikes a deer or any other animal, spreading tiny fragments that contaminate the meat. Birds and other animals can get tangled up in discarded fishing line, Phillips said. Thirty-three people participated in the March 1 eagle survey. They included Wendy and Ron Perrone with the Three Rivers Avian Center, Sam Richmond; Jason, Duane and Kathy Dotson; Steve Barrett; Jack O'Connel; Julie McQuade; Rodney Davis; Jeff Hajenga; Linda Miller; Bill Post; Candice Helms; Aaron, April and Abigail Jenelle; Bev and Jim Triplett; Amy Nelson; Mary Kasarda, Cletus and Terry; Maury Johnson; Bob Carter; Sharyn Ogden; Allen and Mindy Waldron; Brian Hirt; and Randall Yoder; and Pam Withrow. Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@
