The Virginia birding and wildlife trail.
Bird watching at Willis Wharf observation platform.
“Just about all of the birds in the eastern part of the country pass through Virginia,” says Jeff Trollinger, deputy director of statewide resources for the Bureau of Wildlife Resources at the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. “All of the habitats that occur naturally between Florida and Maine are represented in Virginia, so you can visit almost the entire East Coast within the boundaries of the Commonwealth.” The Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail, a three-phased trail with 75 loops linking wildlife viewing sites throughout the state, helps you find those birds. Established in 2002, the VBWT—the first of its kind in the U.S.—is a boon for birders hoping for a glimpse of some of the more than 400 species within our boundaries. You can have your own Big Year right here in the Old Dominion. Here are some highlights:
Coastal Trail, 18 loops
Observe migrating birds of prey at Kiptopeke State Park on the Eastern Shore loop.
Mountain Trail, 34 loops
See eastern towhee and cerulean warblers on the Front Royal loop.
Piedmont Trail, 13 loops
Find fox sparrow and hermit thrush on the Dan River loop.
For maps and detailed trail information, go to DGIF.Virginia.gov/vbwt
