VA-birders,
The Virginia Dept. of Game & Inland Fisheries sent out the attached note
with details about the Va. Birding and Wildlife Trail. Since we
frequently have folks asking for directions to birding locations in
Virginia, I thought that it was very appropriate to post this note. Check
out the links to the various trails locations across the state. Nice job
by Fermata and VDGIF!
Also, note the deadlines for adding your favorite locations that may not
have been included in the original lists.
All the best,
Larry
Larry Lynch
Chesterfield Co., VA
birder6@xxxxxxxx
----------------------------------------------
From: VDGIF - BirdingTrail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2003 17:53:03 -0500
Subject: VBWT February Update
Greetings to all of our Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail friends from
the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Our e-newsletter
is designed to keep you current on the happenings of the Virginia Birding
and Wildlife Trail (VBWT). If you would prefer not to receive
this update, please let us know and we'll remove your e-mail address from
our list.
In this issue, you will find:
1. Not What You Know, But Who You Know (Virginia Ecotourism Association
Meeting)
2. Coastal Phase: The Digital Domain
3. Western Phase: Let It Snow, Let It Snow
4. Central Piedmont: Last Chance--Really, We Mean It!
*********************************************
1. Not What You Know, But Who You Know: The Virginia Ecotourism
Association is holding its next meeting in Richmond on Friday, February
28, at 10:30 a.m., at the offices of the Virginia Department of Game and
Inland Fisheries. Ms. Alisa Bailey, the new President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, will be attending
this meeting and talking with us about her vision for ecotourism in the
Commonwealth. As a statewide organization, VETA's purpose is three-fold:
to protect Virginia's natural resources; to develop, promote
and market professional ecotourism industry in Virginia; and to promote
safe, quality experiences for ecotravelers. This meeting is for you if
you want to personally meet the state's new tourism director; network
with people from across the state about marketing, promotion, funding,
site enhancement, and other related topics (you're not alone!); and
collaborate with others to develop Virginia as THE destination for
ecotravelers! A flyer about the meeting, and directions to VDGIF, may be
found directly at:
http://www.dgif.state.va.us/wildlife/VETAMtgflyer.pdf
RSVP by February 25 (next Tuesday!) to Amber at 757.437.6251 or
1.800.700.7702 or atruelso@xxxxxxxxx. We hope to see you there!
2. Coastal Phase: The Digital Domain. We have revamped the entire
Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail section of our web site and are
pleased that we now offer the entire coastal trail guide online. Check
it out at www.dgif.state.va.us/wildlife/vbwt or by clicking on the VBWT
icon on the main page (www.dgif.state.va.us). Several exciting features
include loop discussion lists for travelers to post information about
unusual and interesting sightings, and and an online tool for service
providers to use to add themselves to the list of Services for a loop
(check at the bottom of the Services section of any site). We welcome
your comments and suggestions for enhancements.
To date, Trail guides have been mailed to individuals in more than 30
states and at least 1 foreign country. We expect much more visibility
from the upcoming March 2003 article about the Trail in Southern Living.
Thanks to our friends at the Virginia Tourism Corporation for their
efforts in guide distribution and Trail marketing!
3. Western Phase: Let It Snow, Let It Snow! As the Fermata team slogs
through the snow and ice of the past several weeks, we find them nearing
the completion of the re-drives of all of the proposed loops for the
western phase. Based on the outstanding feedback received from our
community meetings and follow-ups in January, we now have 34 different
loops, composed of more than 330 sites. Draft loop and site information
may be found on Fermata's Great American Trails web site at:
http://64.164.15.62/trail.asp?id=7
A Reminder: Loop reorganization is completed. Comments about loop name
changes and text changes can be made to us by May 1, 2003. We are still
sending out more detailed information to specific site owners for their
review--if you haven't received yours yet, don't panic! We expect
to have all site information summaries mailed by March 30, 2003. You can
help us stay on schedule by completing your review and noting any
corrections as quickly as possible!
4. Central Piedmont - Last Chance--Really, We Mean It! This spring and
summer, we expect to have crews in the field to complete site
assessments for sites nominated in the central piedmont. The most
current map and listing of nominated sites may be found on our web site
directly at:
http://www.dgif.state.va.us/wildlife/vbwt/piedmont/index.asp
PLEASE.... review the nominations to see if anything glaring is missing.
If you identify a site that should be on the trail, let us and the site
owner/manager know (letting us know helps us make timely contact with the
owner). New nominations should be received by March
15, 2003. Given current financial situations, we will NOT be able to add
on additional sites once we have executed a contract for the
assessments. Don't miss this opportunity to promote and recognize
central Virginia's outstanding wildlife resources!
*************************************************
The Virginia Department and Game and Inland Fisheries would like to thank
the individuals and communities of Virginia for their continuing
support of their Virginia Birding & Wildlife Trail. A round of applause
to all for their support of this initiative!!!
We welcome your comments and questions! Please contact us at:
Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail
4010 West Broad Street
P.O. Box 11104
Richmond, VA 23230
(804) 367-4335
(804) 367-0488 (fax)
birdingtrail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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