Winter Wildlife Festival 2020

The next Virginia Beach Winter Wildlife Festival will be held January 24-26, 2020. Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Winter Wildlife Festival.

Three days of guided outdoor field trips offer the chance to see wintering coastal birds and wildlife, including ducks, seabirds, owls, whales, seals, winter songbirds, and more.

Winter Wildlife Festival weekend includes a free keynote reception with renowned birding consultant, Sharon "Birdchick" Stiteler, as well as wildlife excursions, walk-up workshops, an exhibit hall, and children's activities.

Since 1997, Sharon ‘Birdchick’ Stiteler has traveled the world as a field trip leader, birding consultant, humorous keynote speaker, bird field technician, bird bander and writer.

She is the author of the books “Disapproving Rabbits”; “City Birds/Country Birds” and “1,001 Secrets Every Birder Should Know.” Birdchick is #32 in the Geek A Week Trading Card set and works as a National Park Ranger for the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.

Birdchick is a regular on television and radio broadcasts including “Outdoor News Radio”; “All Things Considered”; and the ”NBC Nightly News” where she answers bird questions.

The Winter Wildlife Festival headquarters is located at the Princess Anne Recreation Center, however activity locations vary. For information on the excursions, workshops and other activities, as well as to register, visit VBgov.com/winterwildlife.

source: City of Virginia Beach

2011 Virginia Migratory Waterfowl Conservation Stamp

Virginia's Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) will begin selling its 2011 Virginia State Migratory Waterfowl Conservation Stamp on July 1, 2011.

The artwork for the stamp, painted by Ron Louque, depicts a pair of redhead ducks. This is not the first time Mr. Louque's artwork appeared as a winner in Virginia, his painting of flying mallards was depicted on the first voluntary Virginia duck stamp back in 1988.

Last year, 22,682 duck stamps were sold bringing in $225,820. The Department awarded four Virginia Migratory Waterfowl Grants in 2010 for projects to be started in the upcoming year totaling $128,845.

Grantees included Ducks Unlimited, The Fish America Foundation, The Elizabeth River Project and the Nature Conservancy. These projects will restore over 240 acres of wetland habitat from the Eastern Shore to Wakefield.

In addition this past year the Department used duck stamp funds to purchase the Mattaponi WMA in Caroline county which contains over 800 acres of wetland habitat.

The funds generated from sales of the Virginia Migratory Waterfowl Conservation Stamp are placed in the Department's Game Protection Fund and are accounted for under a separate fund designated as the Virginia Migratory Waterfowl Conservation Stamp Fund.

These funds are used to contract with appropriate nonprofit organizations for cooperative waterfowl habitat improvement projects; to protect, preserve, restore, enhance and develop waterfowl habitat in Virginia through the department's waterfowl program; and to offset the administrative costs associated with production, issuance of, and accounting for the Stamp.

For more information on waterfowl hunting in Virginia, visit www.dgif.virginia.gov

Winter Wildlife Festival Coming to Tidewater Virginia

The Winter Wildlife Festival will be held January 28-30, 2011. A wide range of workshops and excursions offer something for everyone at the Winter Wildlife Festival.

The festival is presented the City of Virginia Beach and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Partners for the event include the Virginia Aquarium, Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, False Cape State Park, First Landing State Park, Lynnhaven River NOW, and the Virginia Audubon Society.

Registration runs from November 15 through January 21. Space is limited for the excursions and workshops, so register early to secure your spot! There is no cost to attend the festival, but some sessions and excursions do have a fee. You can register online, in person at any recreation center, or by using the mail in registration form.

For more information on the wide variety of programs and how to register, visit:

www.vbgov.com/winterwildlife or call 757-385-4461.

Visit these links for information about Virginia birdwatching and Virginia festivals.

Virginia Wildlife Watching - Birds, Plants and More

During the cooler months of Autumn, walking and hiking is much easier and the bluebird skies of Autumn provide excellent backgrounds for photography. A simple wildlife sighting trip can provide hours of enjoyment, birding enthusiasts, nature lovers, and amateur photographers.

In Virginia, there are forests, wildlife management areas, state parks, other areas where the public can view wildlife.

Virginia's woodlands, swamps and other habitats contain a wide variety plant life. Fall is an excellent time to explore these natural areas. Foliage can be spectacular along woodland trails. Oaks, maples, hickories and gums turn brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow.

During a wildlife watching walk, visitors might see songbirds, hawks, eagles, herons, woodpeckers or other birds. Along the Atlantic Flyway, ducks, geese, and shorebirds can often be spotted as woodlands meet rivers, streams, or cypress swamps. Hikers are often startled as waterfowl take flight in areas where woodlands and rivers intersect.

Easter Decoy & Art Festival on Chincoteague Island

The Easter Decoy & Art Festival will be held on April 2nd & 3rd at Chincoteague High School. The event will feature local carvers, artwork and lunch featuring Jonithan’s “Up the Bay” clam chowder, pulled pork/ chicken salad sandwiches,and more. The show will include the Chincoteague Island Family YMCA, kicking off their collectible art brick fundraiser.

In 2009 the Chincoteague Family YMCA was donated some of the original bricks from the Historical Chincoteague Elementary School formally located on Church St. From 1922-1958 this building was the first Chincoteague High School, later to become Chincoteague Elementary School 1958-1998.

To commemorate this rich Chincoteague history the YMCA is offering two unique collectible brick designs. The first is a laser etched design on a plaque permanently mounted to an original brick for a treasured collectible in your collection. The laser etching contains an original picture of the building and dates of it’s’ use.

The second collectible design being offered is hand painting by Gary Lee Taylor. There will be multiple designs available reflecting Chincoteague culture and they will all be signed pieces on original school bricks.

Laser etched bricks will be sold for $28 while hand-painted bricks by Gary Lee Taylor will be sold for $38. Supplies are limited. All profit proceeds from food sales and art bricks will benefit the local Chincoteague Island Family YMCA.

The bricks will also be on display at the local branch beyond the festival weekend located at 6446 Maddox Blvd. Bricks can be special ordered with a deposit or for more information call (757) 336-6266.

Winter Waterfowl in Virginia

In spite of the cold temperatures, this is an excellent time to visit a Virginia wildlife refuge and try your hand at wildlife photography or just enjoy watching waterfowl up close.

 

This is a male shoveler duck seen at Assateague Island Virginia. Shovelers feed by dabbling for plant food, often by swinging its bill from side to side and using the bill to strain food from the water.

For more information on viewing waterfowl at Assateague and Chincoteague Islands, visit www.chincoteague-island.net