Project Highlight: Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail Adoption

The Virginia Birding and Wildlife Adoption project started back in 2017.  This is a state-wide project to support the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR), one of our sponsors, in managing a state-wide system of sites for watching birds and other wildlife.  These sites are organized into 65 loops.  Each loop has a web site with driving directions, information about the site and a list of the birds and other wildlife that can be seen there.  At least six chapter members have helped by visiting and assessed sites on 4 loops since 2017.  We check for incorrect driving directions, missing signs and verify the site ownership is still interested in the program.  We have updated numerous site descriptions and watched for birds and signs of other wildlife.  A history of bird sightings for each site is stored on eBird.  Other wildlife sightings are logged in iNaturalist.   

Turkeycock Loop: https://dwr.virginia.gov/vbwt/mountain-trail/mtc/  Under the leadership of Noel Boaz, we began the assessment of the Turkeycock loop in 2017.  The corrections and updates we provided in 2018 have all be made to the DWR website.

Fairy Stone Loop: https://dwr.virginia.gov/vbwt/mountain-trail/MFS/  Noel led the assessment of the Fairy Stone Loop during 2019. 

Sweet Mountain Laurel Loop: https://dwr.virginia.gov/vbwt/mountain-trail/MSL/ Ed Coleman took on this loop by himself, starting in 2019.  Just this week, he submitted all his findings to DWR.

Southwest Piedmont Loop: https://dwr.virginia.gov/vbwt/mountain-trail/MSW/ The majority of this loop was assessed by the Blue Ridge Foothills and Lakes Chapter, our neighboring Chapter in Franklin County.  Noel is leading the effort to assess the four sites in Pittsylvania County. 

In addition to the site assessments, DWR would like us to visit these sites at least annually, to collect and report bird and other wildlife sighting data to eBird and iNaturalist.  Feel free to do this at anytime and log your hours (including travel) on the “DWR Birding and Wildlife Trail Adoption” project.