Notes From The Field
From the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources – get a closer look at Virginia’s wildlife and the ongoing efforts to understand, protect, and appreciate the state’s rich natural heritage.
VDWR Wildlife Viewing Feed
- The results are in for the 3rd Annual Virginia Birding Classic—and once again, Virginia’s birding community delivered record participation and outstanding competition across the Commonwealth. From April 15 through May 15, teams explored Virginia’s public lands in pursuit of as many bird species as possible during a 24-hour birding window. […]
- The historic drought that has plagued the southeastern United States this spring is not only impacting Virginia’s farming community, but it is also impacting wildlife. Amphibians and many species of reptile occupy or periodically use a wide variety of aquatic habitats for breeding or as permanent homes. These habitats range […]
- Do you know what wildlife species share your space? Staff of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) set up a trail camera near the DWR Headquarters building in Henrico, Virginia, a suburb of Richmond. The resulting images revealed a whole host of wildlife living in the area. Humans and […]
- Go! Now! HURRY! That’s typically what birders need to do to successfully chase a rare bird visiting from afar or they’ll miss it. But one American Birding Association Code-4 rarity that had only been seen once before on the East Coast has been dawdling about in the Old Dominion’s Great […]
- It’s not the norm for crowds to gather around to observe bats hanging on the wall, but during the Opening Reception of the Restore the Wild Artwork Competition on March 6, more than 350 people enjoyed viewing pieces of art depicting the Rafinesque’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii) at The Gallery […]
- In a park outside of Richmond, Virginia, a biting wind weaves through the trees and late winter sunlight beams down through a mostly leafless canopy. I’ve joined four other people here, all dressed in rugged winter attire, polarized sunglasses, and muck boots, who are working with a collective purpose. We […]
- The “music” of fall for many wildlife species is the sound of acorns raining down from the trees. In most years, the steady “plop, plop” begins in early September and can continue, depending on the crop, through October. On calm days, they fall steadily as singles or pairs; but on […]
- On October 3, 2024, The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) received multiple reports of large groups of songbirds striking buildings overnight in the Shenandoah Valley. Bird collisions are an unfortunate common occurrence, especially during spring and fall migration. In this case, localized foggy weather conditions combined with a large […]