Birding Field Trips
We are pleased to provide the opportunity for some great birding in the vicinity of the hotel through two morning field trips to nearby conservation lands. The trips will be co-led by local experts Steve Coari and Jim Marcum of the Virginia Beach Audubon Society (www.vabeach-audubon.org).
Transportation will be provided, but some carpooling by participants may be necessary. Participants will be provided with a box breakfast. Advanced registration is required.
First Landing State Park
Wednesday, October 8 / Depart hotel at 6:15 a.m., return by 7:45 a.m.
Just a ten minute drive from the Conference hotel on Shore Drive, First Landing State Park is the site of the first landing of the Jamestown colonists in 1607 and is Virginia's most-visited state park. A natural oasis in Virginia Beach's urban oceanfront area, the park has 20 miles of trails and 1.5 miles of sandy Chesapeake Bay beach frontage and includes unusual habitats featuring bald cypress trees, lagoons, and maritime forests. Target birds will include raptors, wading birds and migrating warblers.
Transportation will be provided, but some carpooling by participants may be necessary. Participants will be provided with a box breakfast. Advanced registration is required.
First Landing State Park
Wednesday, October 8 / Depart hotel at 6:15 a.m., return by 7:45 a.m.
Just a ten minute drive from the Conference hotel on Shore Drive, First Landing State Park is the site of the first landing of the Jamestown colonists in 1607 and is Virginia's most-visited state park. A natural oasis in Virginia Beach's urban oceanfront area, the park has 20 miles of trails and 1.5 miles of sandy Chesapeake Bay beach frontage and includes unusual habitats featuring bald cypress trees, lagoons, and maritime forests. Target birds will include raptors, wading birds and migrating warblers.
Photo courtesy of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
Pleasure House Point Natural Area
Thursday, October 9 / Depart hotel at 6:00 a.m., return by 8:45 a.m.
Located south of the Chesapeake Bay just twenty minutes from the Conference hotel, Pleasure House Point Natural Area is 118 acres of water, tidal marsh, sandy shores and maritime forest. This high-profile property was once being considered for a large waterfront development, but has been preserved for generations to come by the City of Virginia Beach as one of the largest undeveloped parcels of land on the Lynnhaven River. Target birds will include raptors, wading birds and migrating warblers.
Thursday, October 9 / Depart hotel at 6:00 a.m., return by 8:45 a.m.
Located south of the Chesapeake Bay just twenty minutes from the Conference hotel, Pleasure House Point Natural Area is 118 acres of water, tidal marsh, sandy shores and maritime forest. This high-profile property was once being considered for a large waterfront development, but has been preserved for generations to come by the City of Virginia Beach as one of the largest undeveloped parcels of land on the Lynnhaven River. Target birds will include raptors, wading birds and migrating warblers.
Photo courtesy of City of Virginia Beach
