This blog was originally written by Shellie Leete.

Birding is a fun and rewarding hobby. While you can hear birds almost anywhere, finding them takes a bit more practice. Visiting their favorite spots is the best way to see them. Since many Virginia State Parks are near water, you’ll often find great birding opportunities close to home.

If you’re new to birding and don’t have zoom lenses or binoculars, our spring birding programs are a great way to begin. These programs are open to all ages. Birding is a bit like a treasure hunt, and it might inspire a sense of adventure in your kids.

Listening is a key part of birding, and the best way to locate them

Have your camera ready to capture the moment, it'll happen lightning fast

We have plenty of opportunities to get outside and learn more about birds with these spring birding adventures at Virginia State Parks.

1. | Birding 101 Hike - Douthat State Park 

Date: April 4, 2026. 10 - 11 a.m.

Who’s singing in the treetops this spring? Join park rangers for a guided spring birding hike and discover the sights and sounds of the season as migrating birds return to the park. 

2. | Birding for Beginners - Machicomoco State Park 

Date: April 4, 2026. 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Join us on a birding adventure, starting with a quick chat about tips and tricks to help with bird identification followed by a short hike through some of Machicomoco's best bird habitats. From Bluebirds to Great Horned Owls, there's a near guarantee you will see something! 

3. | Sensory Explorers' Trail Series: A Bird's World - Sky Meadows State Park 

April 9, 2026. 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Learn about some of the species of birds of the woods and fields, and how they utilize their habitat for survival and nesting.  Join a Virginia Master Naturalist to discover our role and our impact on bird conservation. 

4. | Birding In The Gap Series - Southwest Virginia Museum 

Date: April 11 & June 13, 2026. 9 - 11 a.m.

Join us at the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park for our “Birding in the Gap” series, held on the second Saturday of each month during the months of February, April, June and November.

Led by our knowledgeable park rangers and enthusiastic volunteers, this series is designed for bird lovers of all experience levels. 

Kiptopeke State Park is popular for birding year-round on the Atlantic Flyway

5. | Morning Bird Walk - New River Trail State Park 

Date: April 17 & May 15, 2026. 8 - 9:30 a.m.

Location: Discovery Center

A park ranger will conduct a 45-minute program to teach guests the basic of bird watching and why bird watching is important. The program will be concluded with a 30-minute stroll through the woods to put those newly learned skills to the test. This guided walk over moderate terrain will look at two different types of habitats and what types of birds are likely to live there. The ranger will have a limited number of binoculars available for use during the program.

6. | Flight of the Woodcock - Seven Bends State Park

Date: April 17, 2026. 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.

Location: Lupton Access - Education Station

Have you ever heard of a timberdoodle? No, it isn’t a new designer dog, but another name for a chunky little bird known as the American Woodcock. Join us at the park for a ranger led program to learn about this worm eating, migratory, shore bird and to (hopefully) witness first-hand the male’s elaborate mating flight, designed to attract the attention of the lady woodcock.

7. | Sensory Explorers' Trail Series: A Bird's World - Sky Meadows State Park 

Date: April 9, 2026. 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Location: Sensory Explorers' Trail

Learn about some of the species of birds of the woods and fields, and how they utilize their habitat for survival and nesting.  Join a Virginia Master Naturalist to discover our role and our impact on bird conservation.  The featured species will be Wood Thrush, Red Headed Woodpecker, Eastern Bluebird, and Tree Swallows.  

Birds come in all varieties and colors. Blue Grosbeak at Powhatan State Park. Photo Bret Bartos

8. | Birding for Science! - Powhatan State Park 

Date: April 19, 2026. 10 - 11 a.m.

Join fellow nature-lovers to help safe-guard our native birds during Earth Week! On this guided birding walk, you will be encouraged to practice identification and record the species observed using the eBird app by the Cornell Lab.

See a variety of birds from a guided paddling trip

9. | Birding by Ear While Kayaking - Hungry Mother State Park 

Date: May 2, 2026. 10 - 11:30 a.m.

If you’ve mastered spotting birds by sight, take your skills to the next level by learning their songs. Join Virginia Master Naturalist volunteer Melanie Smith for a peaceful kayak outing where you’ll listen for a variety of bird calls echoing across the lake. This tranquil float along the lake will give you the opportunity to work on your kayaking skills as well practice your bird identification via sound. 

10. | River Raptors Walk - York River State Park 

Date: April 18, 2026. 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Come and discover the majestic aerial hunters and their habitats.  Bald eagles, red shouldered and red tailed hawks make their home here year round.  Osprey return to the area to feed and breed.   We may find other birds of prey as well as we hike through the woods and into the marshes.

Osprey on its nest

11. | "Restore Our Earth" Wild Bird Survey - High Bridge Trail State Park

Date: April 25, 2026. 8:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Location: Rochelle Tract

In a partnership program with High Bridge Trail, the Margaret Watson Bird Club will have volunteers available to share their knowledge during this birding adventure. Help our local bird club conduct a wild bird survey on a beautiful tract of park property. This kind of citizen science can be helpful to guide the direction of wildlife and habitat management. We will also improve the habitat by removing harmful debris from human activities.

12. | Life's Extras Birding Celebration - Hungry Mother State Park

Date: May 1 - May 3, 2026. Various times. 

It's that time of the year to not only celebrate birds, but our wonderful volunteers, especially Randy Smith who gave a lot of himself to nature, to birds, and to Hungry Mother State Park.  Join us for various events throughout the weekend

13. | Eagle Tour - Caledon State Park

Date: April 11, May 16 & 23, 2026. 

Location: Visitor Center

Celebrate an American icon at Caledon, where the bald eagle soars wild and free over the Potomac River. We'll take a wagon ride to the river and walk along the beach, where we aim to watch eagles as they nest and perch along the shore. Bring your own binoculars, or borrow a pair from a Ranger. 

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