Shared by Krista Weatherford, Educational Support Specialist, as Guest Blogger.

Come to Pocahontas State Park on Saturday, February 18, 2012, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. a.m. to participate in our VA Wintering Birds Talk and Guided Walk.

We will be talking about birds that you may be seeing right now, how to identify them, and simple feeders you can make to attract them to your yards. Also, we will go on a guided birding walk to count and record birds we see along the trails at Pocahontas State Park to send in for the Great Backyard Bird Count sponsored by Cornell University.

There is no fee for this program, however, parking fees apply. Please meet at the Nature Center. For more information, click here. To register for this program, please the park office at 804-796-4255. This is a great family program! 

Virginia has some great winter birds like this red-bellied woodpecker.

Participants are welcome to bring binoculars and field guides to help identify birds we may see. We welcome beginner or experienced birders to participate! Virginia has some great winter birds (year round residents) that visit feeders and can be seen in the park. While it is not guaranteed, we may see and/or hear a number of birds including familiar species such as Canada goose, mallard duck, house sparrow, northern cardinal, crow, blue jay, robin and common grackle. Other species that we may hear or see may include tufted titmouse, red-winged blackbird, carolina wren; woodpeckers – red-headed, red-bellied, downy and pileated; red-shouldered hawk, chickadee, and great blue heron. To identify these birds, click here.

Park visitors may see and/or hear a number of birds including familiar species like these mallards.

Guides for the "walk" portion of the program will include park staff, Krista Weatherford and Turner Wilkes and Pocahontas Chapter of Virginia Master Naturalists, John and Caroline Coe. For questions or more information, please contact Krista Weatherford, 804-796-4472 or email.

Park visitors will count and record birds along the trails for the Great Backyard Bird Count sponsored by Cornell University.

The park is located in Chesterfield County, about 20 miles from Richmond. It's easily accessible from Interstate 95, Route 288 and Route 360. See below for detailed directions. Drive Time: Northern Virginia, two hours; Richmond, half an hour; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, two hours; Roanoke, three hours.