Birding Trails
- Cascades National Recreation Area
- Castle Rock Recreation Area
- Falls of Dismal Creek
- Farley Memorial Wayside
- Glen Alton
- Glen Lyn Park
- Mountain Lake Resort
- New River at Eggleston
- River Trails
- War Spur Trail
A variety of birds migrate through Giles County and can been seen from several locations listed above.
Just recently as I was hiking up to the Cascade Fall this February in a fresh snowfall, I had the pleasure of catching a blue heron as it flew quietly over the tree tops. Not what I was expecting to see in the forest but often seen in Narrows at the pond and over the New River. Eagles, hawks, osprey, kestrals, bobwhite quail, grouse, blue birds, scarlet tangers and indigo buntings are also spotted. For a full list of what you might see, go to www.mountainlakebirding.com
Mountain Lake Migratory Bird Festival
The Mountain Lake Migratory Bird Festival starts Friday evening May 29-31, 2009 at the Mountain Lake Hotel. Field Trips Friday through Sunday include New River Float Trips and Work Shops. Fun for the whole family with special workshops for children.
Virginia Birding Trail
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 animals, 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.