Scarlet Tanager

While recent and on-going timbering has fragmented the habitat, edge species have thrived while deciduous nesters have still managed to stake out enough territory so as to remain in abundance. Birds commonly seen on this trip include Cerulean Warbler (in fact, the highest concentrations we have yet seen of Cerulean in our region turned up here in 2007), Yellow and Black-Billed Cuckoo, Scarlet Tanager, Black-Throated Green Warbler, Ovenbird, Worm-Eating Warbler, Baltimore Oriole and Orchard Oriole.

Breakfast is at Burnwood 6 AM.

Lunch is one of our famous picnics in the field with limited access to modern conveniences until in route back to Burnwood for the around 2 PM finish.

Cranberry Glades, West Virginia

Birds normally encountered on this trip include Black-Throated Blue Warbler, Black-Throated Green, Chestnut-Sided Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Northern Waterthrush, Veery, Wood Thrush, Cerulean Warbler and Red Crossbill – a species not normally encountered elsewhere in the state.

Breakfast will be at Burnwood at 6 AM.

Following a Picnic Lunch at the U.S. Forest Service Visitor Center we will depart for the drive back to Burnwood arriving about 2 PM.

Blue Winged Warbler

In 2007, visitors who made this trip and the Sugar Creek trip staples of their Festival itinerary saw more Cerulean Warblers than – as one experienced guest put it – “I’d seen in my 40 years of birding combined.”

The trip entails traveling up an old logging road as far as the van will go with stops along the way, then a short hiking to the Largest Poplar Tree in the state. This grassy overgrown strip area is favored by Blue-Winged Warblers. However, this should not be construed as a specialty trip. Last year, participants averaged 70-plus species per trip.

Breakfast is at Burnwood 6 AM Lunch is served in the field with no modern conveniences until we are in route back to Burnwood for our 2 PM (ish) finish.

Birding by Boat on Hawks Nest Lake

Unique to the New River Birding and Nature Festival, the Birding by Boat option is offered only on Tuesday. Starting out just below the famed whitewater section of New River, the trip is a three-mile float through placid Hawks Nest Lake.

Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, Scarlet Tanager, Baltimore Oriole, Indigo Bunting, Pileated Woodpecker and as many as seven species of birds of prey are potential sightings on this trip. Spotted Sandpiper, Louisiana Waterthrush, Wood Duck and Green Heron are also common on this float.

Breakfast at 6 AM at Songer Whitewater

Lunch is served when we get off the water at the base of Hawks Nest State Park

Please note that it is important to have shoes you do not mind getting wet, sun screen and rain gear available for this trip.

Ovenbird in The New River Gorge

New for 2008, This trip is offered to show off some of our local’s favorite quick and easy spots to bird.

Offered Wednesday, we visit some of the local hotspots such as Birds Eye View, Thurmond, Bridge View and Concho. This trip offers the opportunity to explore every habitat level along the spectacular New River Gorge.

Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Blue-Winged Teal, Louisiana Waterthrush, Pileated Woodpecker, Broad-Winged Hawk, Ovenbird, Worm-Eating Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Bay-Breasted Warbler, Red-Eyed Vireo and Hooded Warbler are birds often encountered on this trip.

Breakfast at Burnwood 6 AM Lunch in the field. Easy access to Modern conveniences.

Casual Birdwatching in West Virginia

Offered Monday of Festival week for our week-long guests and those here for the first half of the week, and Thursday for those coming in at week’s end, Birding by Butt is yet another unique part of the New River Birding and Nature Festival. An opportunity to meet other festival participants, spend quality time with our well-known and respected field guides, the setting is best described as laid back while the birding is most often described as spectacular.

Imagine sipping a hot cup of coffee on the porch at Opossum Creek Retreat and being treated to the song and fiery looks of a Blackburnian Warbler – not an occurrence that happens every year, but certainly one that has happened more than once. Hooded Warbler, Black-and-White, and Northern Parula are in abundance here and with plenty of spotting scopes and well-trained eyes on hand, many of our guests find themselves seeing the birds often enough that they turn from identification to watching for behaviors.

Swainons Warbler

Located in the northern-most breeding range of this secretive species, our only guarantee is that we will get you familiar with the whistling song of the Swainson’s. It may take all day to see one, or, we may never see one. However, in the two year’s we have offered this trip the longest it has taken so far has been 45 minutes!

If you are return guests and remember the locations feel free to visit the spots during the week, however, please do not call to these birds.

Breakfast is at Burnwood 6 AM.

Guided Birdwatching at The Birding Festival

Offered only on Saturday of Festival week to the first ten registrants, this trip has no vans and no rides to the birds. Flat, with a few moderate hills, this trip covers approximately three miles of easy walking, ending in the kitchen (with a bathroom break and coffee) and on the back porch of Festival organizer Dave Pollard’s home.

Described by Julie Zickefoose as “Dave Pollard’s Zen Mojo,” the behavior walk has produced West Virginia’s third confirmed sighting of Clay-Colored Sparrow, and area rarities such as Horned Lark and Red-Headed Woodpecker. Baltimore Oriole, Orchard Oriole, Blue-Headed Vireo, White-Crowned Sparrow, Eastern Bluebird, Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, Bobolink, Hooded Warbler and American Redstart are also commonly seen on this trip.

Baby Killdeer and the “broken wing” display of the adult Killdeer are likely to be observed during the course of this walk. Nesting of Bluebirds and House Wren are normal sites while at the Pollard residence.

Meet at the Holiday Inn Oak Hill 6 AM for this trip. Breakfast and lunch included

(10 person per day limit) Ad $25 to your total balance 

Julie Zickefoose takes a brief rest from her Hard Core Birding Trip