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Great Dismal Swamp Birding Festival (Suffolk)
April 27 @ 7:00 am - 4:00 pm
Guided Refuge Bird Walks – 7:00 AM
(Approximately 3 hours; Registration required)
Locations:
– Jericho Lane Trailhead (1330 White Marsh Rd, Suffolk, VA)
- Washington Ditch Trailhead (3076 White Marsh Rd, Suffolk, VA)
– Dismal Swamp Canal Trail (1246 Dismal Swamp Canal Trail, Chesapeake, VA)
– Birding by Bus (open air) (Departs from HQ, 3100 Desert Rd, Suffolk, VA)
Beginner Refuge Bird Walk – 8:30 AM
(Approximately 2 hours; Registration required)
Guided bird walk for those with little to no bird watching experience. Bring binoculars if you have them (a limited number of pairs are available for loan).
Location: Brothers Field – Go to 3216 Desert Road & follow signs to nearby meeting spot.
Exhibitor Tables and Family Activities – 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Stop by our Refuge Headquarters for some fun! We will have tables and tents with activities, exhibitors, refreshments, and a self-guided nature walk around our Pines Trail. There is something for everyone.
Location: Refuge Headquarters (3100 Desert Rd., Suffolk, VA)
Live Bird Presentation – Native Owls & Hawks of Hampton Roads – 12:00 PM
Nature’s Nanny Wildlife Rehabilitators will present their raptor ambassadors and discuss each bird’s natural history, including their habitat, diet, breeding and life cycle.
No registration required. Open to all visitors
Location: Refuge Headquarters (3100 Desert Rd., Suffolk, VA)
Presentations – 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM
Come hear a first-hand account of managing a wildlife refuge with a storied history of statesmen, secret settlements, ancient trees and flammable soil. In the afternoon, learn about a colorful little songbird that only lives on the Atlantic Coastal Plain of Virginia, North and South Carolina and why scientists recommended this subspecies be added to the Endangered Species List.
(Registration suggested, not required) Open to all ages
Location: Refuge Headquarters Conference Room (3100 Desert Rd, Suffolk, VA)
- 11:00 AM: The Great Dismal Swamp from Past to Present
Chris Lowie, Great Dismal Swamp NWR Manager, will discuss the challenges and successes of working in this unique ecosystem with a fascinating past. From catastrophic wildfires, plane crashes and train wrecks to endangered species, globally rare trees and boot-sucking mud, the Swamp has it all. Celebrate the refuge’s 50th anniversary.
– 1:00 PM: Exploring Wayne’s Black-Throated Green Warblers in Virginia
Chance Hines, Research Biologist at William and Mary’s Center for Conservation Biology, will present on the habitat and behavior of Wayne’s black-throated green warblers in Virginia. Current research (including at GDSNWR) provides valuable insights into the ecology of this species and aims to illuminate the role of Virginia in the broader context of the species’ range and conservation efforts.
Guided Nature Walks – 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM
Looking to learn more about the natural and cultural history of the Great Dismal Swamp? Join us for a guided nature walk!
(Approximately 1 hour; Registration required)
Location: Washington Ditch Trailhead (30176 White Marsh Rd, Suffolk, VA)
Wildlife Drive Bus Tours – 10:00 AM and 12:30 PM
Take a ride on our open-air tram! Join us for a tour to Lake Drummond via Wildlife Drive and learn about the unique cultural, historical, and natural history of the Great Dismal Swamp!
(Approximately 1.5 hours; Registration required)
Location: Board the tram at Refuge HQ parking lot (3100 Desert Rd., Suffolk, VA)