In addition to his professional work teaching field ornithology at JMU, Dr. Charles Ziegenfus (Professor Zig) has spent decades researching, banding and tracking migrations and populations of dark-eyed juncos, bluebirds and white-crowned sparrows to name a few. In partnership with Clair Mellinger from EMU at Highland Retreat, he has monitored the migration of the Northern Saw-whet owl with for twenty years. Recently Professor Zig has setup several boxes for American kestrels in eastern Rockingham County and has engaged landowners up and down the Valley to host bird boxes and help with monitoring on their property.
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Announcing our 2021 Valley Treasure
April 28, 2021 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Dr. Charles Ziegenfus
"Professor Zig"
Join us in Honoring Professor Zig
Dr. Amy Johnson
We were excited to honor Professor Zig’s work to inspire an appreciation for birds and the Shenandoah Valley’s natural landscapes with a presentation by Amy E.M. Johnson, PhD, Program Director of Virginia Working Landscapes at Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. Dr. Johnson’s work focuses on the impacts of conservation and land management on breeding and over-wintering grassland bird communities in Virginia. In her role, she explores knowledge gaps pertaining to grassland bird ecology by facilitating collaborative conservation and research efforts with Smithsonian scientists and local partners.
About Valley Treasure
The Shenandoah Valley is an extraordinary place, with its iconic farming landscapes, beautiful streams, world-class public forest lands, and rich cultural history. We recognize and are grateful for the many community members that work quietly to conserve the land, water and way of life in their corner of the Valley. The Valley Treasure award is an opportunity to meet and recognize those folks.