birding...

Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis ©Cal Vornberger http://www.calvorn.com/index.htm

Virginia covers approximately 40,000 square miles and boasts varied avian habitats. The Atlantic beaches and coastal plane are especially rich in birdlife. This includes Virginia`s Eastern Shore, that peninsular extension from the north that borders the eastern aspect of the Chesapeake Bay. Habitats here include fresh-water and salt-water marshes, a variety of forests and cultivated fields.

A regional focal point for birders is the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge at Virginia`s border with Maryland. This Atlantic barrier island refuge harbours numerous species of waterfowl in the winter and is visited by a great variety of migrating shorebirds in late summer and early fall. Specialties include Hudsonian Godwits, Wilson`s Phalaropes, American Golden-plover, American Avocets, Buff-breasted Sandpipers and Black-necked Stilts. Brown-headed Nuthatches are permanent residents in the Loblolly Pine forests.

South of Chincoteague the Virginia Coast Reserve represents a chain of barrier islands and is a designated International Biosphere Reserve for shorebird protection. Accessible only by boat this area is best visited with pre-arranged group tours (Virginia Coast Reserve, P.O. Box 158, Nassawadox, VA 23413, Telephone: 757.442.3049). Threatened and endangered species, such as Piping Plover, nest in this reserve. South of the mouth of the bay is the southern coastal plain where some of the northernmost bald cypress swamps on the east coast are located in areas like First Landing State Park and the Great Dismal Swamp. Spring is considered the best birding season here, when many warblers and other Neotropical migrants pass through. Prothonoiary Warblers and Wood Ducks nest here. There are many other islands of preserved habitat within this popular summer resort area and well-populated region.

The broad piedmont includes population centres like Richmond and the broad urban sprawl outside of Washington DC. Yet within this busy human habitat there are a surprising number of great birding sites. Huntley Meadows Park and Mason Neck State Park are two fine refuges in Fairfax County, along the Potomac River and just outside the U.S. Capitol beltway. Summering Least and American Bitterns, Yellow-crowned and Black-crowned Night-herons and King Rails are special attractions at Huntley Meadows while Mason Neck SP is known for nesting Bald Eagles and Great Blue Heron rookeries. James River Park, within the city limits of Richmond, has recorded 20 species or warblers in one day during peak spring migration.

The non-metropolitan region of the piedmont is a mix of small towns, agricultural habitats, patches of mixed deciduous and pine forests and is traversed by several large rivers and dotted with a few man-made lakes. The largest man-made lake, the 50,000-acre John H. Kerr Reservoir, borders on North Carolina in the south central part of the state. Much of the shoreline is accessible by vehicle. Wintering waterfowl, loons and grebes can be found here, although spring birding is perhaps best. Cliff Swallows, Blue Grosbeaks, Summer Tanager and Loggerhead Shrikes are known to breed around the lake. North and towards the mountains, just outside the city of Charlottesville, is a protected area of woodlands, streams, marshes and farm fields known as the Ivy Creek natural Area. Wild Turkeys are permanent residents here. Woodland species such as migrant thrushes, vireos and warblers (up to 31 species) are common.

The western mountains of Virginia include the Blue Ridge and the Alleghenies. Between these ranges lies the broad and beautiful Shenandoah Valley. Virginia`s highest point, Mt. Rogers at 5,729 feet, is near the southwest corner of the state. Such high elevation areas are unique in Virginia in that, otherwise northern birds such as Saw-whet Owl, Hermit Thrush, Magnolia Warbler, Alder Flycatcher and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, breed here. If one is in this part of Virginia during the month of May, perhaps the best birding is along the Blue Ridge Parkway. This scenic route offers ideal chances for many migrating and resident warblers as well as Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Veeries and Woodthrush. Key stops along this route might include Warbler Road in Boteourt county and Humpback Rocks in Augusta County.

In the fall one of the best places in the state for observing migrating hawks, especially large numbers of Broad-winged Hawks, is at Rockfish Gap where the northern terminus of the Blue Ridge Parkway transitions with Shenandoah National Park near the town of Waynesboro. Shenandoah National Park itself offers great mountaintop scenery and fantastic spring and summer birding.