Blue Ridge Young Birders Club
Educating and Inspiring the Future of Conservation
in the Piedmont and Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
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VIRGINIA BIRDING HOTSPOTS 
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Virginia offers a dramatic array of birding habitats from the Eastern Shore to the mountains of Highland County.  Shorebirds, warblers, raptor migration and waterfowl are plentiful throughout this beautiful state.  This page highlights some of the local birding hotspots as well as some noteworthy statewide destinations.  Whether you travel far or stay in your own backyard, if you take time to watch and observe, you will discover the fascinating beauty of our feathered friends.


From the Atlantic Ocean on Virginia's eastern border, to the towering Mt. Rogers at its southwest corner, the Commonwealth includes every bird and animal habitat that occurs naturally between Maine and Florida. The state also offers a long history, rich culture, and tradition of warm hospitality to welcome visitors.

Within Virginia's 43,000 square miles of diverse natural habitat, you can find some 400 species of birds, 250 species of fish, 150 species of terrestrial and marine mammals, 150 species of amphibians and reptiles, and a wide variety of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates. The Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail celebrates this diversity. In fact, it is the first statewide program of its kind in the United States. In Virginia, three phases of the trail link wildlife viewing sites throughout the state.  Trail Guide is available from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

Virginia Birding & Wildlife Trail
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Albemarle
Augusta
Rockingham
Roanoke Valley
Richmond
Williamsburg
Northern Virginia
A Few Highlights
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Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch
An excellent place to view the spectacular fall migration of raptors from September through November but the peak occurs in the third week of September.  Thousands of Broad-winged Hawks may be seen in one day in the third week of September.  Bald Eagles are seen throughout the season, accipiters (Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks and the very occasional Northern Goshawk) are seen primarily in October, and large buteos (Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks and very occasional Rough-legged Hawk) are seen primarily in November.  Also in Oct.-Nov. Golden Eagles move through, but on average less than 10 are seen per fall.  Located at the Inn at Afton @ the intersection of 250 and I-64  Directions  

RGHW website  Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch

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 Chincoteague  Birdwatchers know the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge  as one of America's finest places for Birdwatching along the East Coast. Bird watching along Assateague Island gives visitors the chance to enjoy the islands' wealth of over 300 species of migratory and resident birds. As you drive over the Chesepeake Bay Bridge Tunnel be sure to stop to observe the birds along the jetties along the edge of the parking lot. In the fall consider stopping at the Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory for the annual raptor and song bird migration.  Chincoteague is also known for their annual wild pony roundup each summer, made popular by the book Misty of Chincoteague.

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Dutch Gap Conservation Area 
411 Coxendale Road 
Chester, VA 23836
804-748-1623

Maybe closed some weekends, so call ahead to check on hours.  Camping available.

    Dutch Gap  is the premier year round birding hotspot in central Virginia.  It is best explored on foot along a 3.5 mile loop trail that explores an abundance of habitats that create a rich, diverse population of birds in the conservation area. Wetlands and ponds attract gadwalls, pintails, widgeons, ringnecks, Canada geese, kingfisher, osprey and bald eagles. Meadows draw sparrows, goldfinches, indigo buntings, eastern bluebirds, kingbirds and sparrow hawks. Forests are filled with the songs of red-eyed vireo, scarlet tanagers, crested flycatchers, American redstart and more
     It is home to a heron rookery, and has some of the best warbler habitat in the area; a boardwalk brings the birder eye to eye with prothonataries, black-and-white, yellow-throated and many other warblers.