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News Release

Five years after completion, Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail delivering for local communities; you and your family can help wildlife and benefit, too

Richmond, VA — In 2004, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) completed the nation’s first statewide wildlife viewing trail, the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail.  The purpose of the trail was to bring tourism dollars based on wildlife viewing into local communities. A key conservation goal was that the valuable tax revenue would allow these communities to support and even invest in habitat conservation efforts. Furthermore, by providing access to wildlife, the trail would build Virginians appreciation for wildlife and birds. Five years later, VDGIF and its partner communities are seeing success in a big way.

Recently the Conservation Management Institute at Virginia Tech completed a study on the social and economic impacts of the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail. Researchers at Virginia Tech found that more than 640,000 visitors travel to Virginia annually to view wildlife on the Birding and Wildlife Trail, infusing more than $8.6 Million into the state economy each year. Visitors tended to be well educated, with a median income exceeding $75,000 annually. In addition, over 95% of visitors to the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail plan to visit the Trail again in the future.
To learn more about the impacts of the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail you can view the full report at www.dgif.virginia.gov/vbwt .

In addition, the 2006 Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation developed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows expenditures for wildlife viewing travel expenses in Virginia increased 83% since 2001. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 2006 Survey, more than 2.3 million individuals are spending more than $960 million annually on wildlife-watching recreation in Virginia. 

However, work still needs to be done to conserve habitat for wildlife and birds. The 2009 State of the Birds Report released by the North American Bird Conservation Initiative, a partnership of state and federal agencies and nongovernmental organizations, shows that bird populations are decreasing in many areas due to loss of habitat, changing agriculture practices, invasive species, pollution and climate change. In Virginia, urban areas continue to encroach on critical habitats for many species of concern.

Fortunately, there are ways people can help with habitat conservation. One way people can get involved in habitat conservation is to visit local communities on the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail and spend money while wildlife watching. Let the businesses you visit know you are there because of the wildlife in their area. To get a copy of the Trail Guide at a cost of $8.50 call 866-74VABWT (748-2298), or to download a free copy, visit www.dgif.virginia.gov.

In addition, you can celebrate events like International Migratory Bird Day, May 9, 2009. There are birding festivals in many areas on this day, including the Great Dismal Swamp Birding Festival at the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Suffolk, Virginia. If you prefer a mountain venue for your wildlife watching, the Mountain Lake Migratory Bird Festival is held May 29-31 this year. Both of these events provide opportunities to view birds during the spring migration and learn more about bird conservation from knowledgeable professionals. To find out more about these festivals visit www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlifewatching/festivals.asp.

VDGIF launched the statewide Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail in 1999.  The Coastal phase was dedicated in 2002 and the Trail was completed statewide in 2004 with the dedication of the Piedmont Phase. Funding from the Virginia Department of Transportation's TEA-21 Enhancement program was instrumental in ensuring the successful development of the entire Trail.

Virginia has one of the highest diversities of birds in the eastern United States, boasting nearly 400 resident and migratory bird species seen during the year. More information about the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail can be found on the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Web site at www.dgif.virginia.gov or by calling 804-367-4335.