Learn about Rare & Unusual Wildlife at Highlands Bird & Nature Club Meeting November 7

The Highlands Bird and Nature Club holds its next meeting on November 7.

Dan Bieker, Assistant Professor of Natural Sciences at Piedmont Virginia Community College in Charlottesville, will speak at the meeting.

“The program is entitled ‘Rare and Unusual Wildlife of Virginia’ and it’s just talking about some of the more unusual and rare critters out there, that most of us will never see, yet still interesting to know that they’re out there and a lot of the fascinating life history about them,” says Bieker.  “People that are interested in nature just like to know about animals, like to hear about them, like to know what’s out there.  It’s just personally satisfying for us to connect with the natural world, by either observing these critters or just knowing that they’re there.  Most of us like watching things like National Geographic presentations about animals and natural phenomenon that occur, even though we’ll never see or experience it ourselves.  It’s still just human nature to be interested in these things.”

Bieker has developed a special interest in our area.

“For over four years, I’ve visited that area because I’m a lover of mountains and wilderness areas, especially Monongahela National Forest and the environs around there,” says Bieker.  “That area, all through the Appalachians down through there, is like an extension of Canada down into the mid-Atlantic.  The higher elevations, cooler temperatures harbor a lot of plants and animals that are more commonly found in northern latitudes.   So, it’s a unique environment and very special in that it contains many unusual and rare species that we don’t find in the Piedmont or near the coast.”

The Highlands Bird and Nature Club meeting is Monday, November 7, at 7pm at The Highland Center in Monterey.

“I would like to encourage people to come,” says Bieker.  “You don’t have to be a member of the Nature Club there to attend. It’s open to the public and it’s free and if you’re interested in critters, then you might enjoy it.”

If you need more information about the meeting, call 540-474-3292