Chesterfield’s parks and open spaces abound with birdlife and the county boasts several hot spots identified on eBird. Walk the trails of Rockwood Park’s Nature Center and spot the bright red flash of a cardinal. Hike or paddle Dutch Gap Conservation Area in search of secretive prothonotary warblers. Stroll Swift Creek Reservoir to admire the skilled hunt of a great blue heron or osprey. Immerse yourself in nature by staying in a cabin or tent at Pocahontas State Park and wake up to the special treat of the birds’ dawn chorus.
There’s always room to grow and learn in birding and joining local groups like the Audubon Society or the Virginia Society of Ornithology are great places to start. Treat yourself to a good pair of binoculars and a Virginia or East Coast field guide to identify species native to this area. Several free or low-cost apps such as Merlin, iBirdPro and Audubon Bird Guide are digital field guides that include bird calls and songs. Cornell Lab’s All About Birds provides helpful pictures and bird identification resources.
As you learn and gain experience, you can participate in events like the Christmas Bird Count or the Great Backyard Bird Count to help provide observation data to scientists. Birdwatching is a wonderful activity for relaxing outdoors and savoring the fun of each season. Whether your goal is to escape your day-to-day routine, to seek deeper connection with nature, or to contribute to citizen science by sharing your count data, birding in Chesterfield County is an enriching way to get to know your community’s residents – both human and avian!