From the DGIF website:
FINAL PHASE OF VIRGINIA BIRDING AND WILDLIFE TRAIL OFFICIALLY OPENS Sep
30, 2004
Charlottesville, VA - The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
(VDGIF) officially opened the Piedmont phase of the Virginia Birding and
Wildlife Trail in a dedication ceremony today at Kemper Park along
Monticellos Thomas Jefferson Parkway. The Coastal phase was opened in
October 2002, and the Mountain Phase was opened in September 2003. With the
completion of the Piedmont phase, the Commonwealth now offers the first
statewide birding and wildlife trail in the United States. Virginia has one
of the highest diversities of birds in the eastern United States, boasting
nearly 400 resident and migratory bird species, and over 2,200 species of
fish, reptiles, amphibians, mussels, crayfish, birds, mammals, butterflies,
and dragonflies statewide.
The Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail is a driving trail that provides
opportunities to see a wide variety of wildlife and have a quality
recreational experience. Loop trails off the main driving trail link some of
Virginias best wildlife watching areas for visitors to enjoy and observe
wildlife; opportunities for walking and biking also exist at many of the
sites. The Piedmont phase spans the central portion of Virginia. It includes
expansive grasslands, large forested tracts, pineland savannahs, several
large reservoirs, and an abundance of rich history and culture. Sites, which
include state parks and forests, city and town parks, wildlife management
areas, and privately owned lands, were assessed and selected using a number
of criteria. Community support and local participation have been high
throughout the development process.
The Department has developed a full color trail guide to facilitate visitor
travel throughout the Piedmont region of Virginia. The guide includes
regional and loop maps, travel directions, and loop and site descriptions.
Individual copies of the guide may be obtained free by calling toll-free
1-866-VABIRDS (1-866-822-4737) or online through the Departments Web site
at www.dgif.virginia.gov. All of the maps and site information are also
available directly on the agencys Web site.
Paul Mocko
McLean, VA
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