Adopt a VDGIF Birding and Wildlife Trail
Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail signs mark trail sites.
About the Project
The Adopt-A-Trail project is a way for the Virginia Master Naturalists to partner with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to update, maintain and improve the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail (VBWT). The VBWT is a statewide driving trail composed of 65 loops connecting the best sites in Virginia for watching birds and other wildlife. It was established in three phases between 1999 -2004, with the goal of increasing awareness, appreciation and conservation of Virginia’s wildlife and native habitats. When it was completed in 2004, it was the first statewide trail of its kind in the country! All sites are marked with signage and a guide to the trail is available in print and electronically on DGIF’s website at http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/vbwt/.
The last major update to the trail guide was completed in 2007, which means it is time for another update, but with 637 trail sites located throughout the Commonwealth, DGIF could sure use some help! DGIF is inviting chapters of Virginia Master Naturalists to “adopt” loops of the VBWT through the Adopt-A-Trail project. Chapters will “adopt” one or more loops that fall within or near the counties of their chapter’s local area. Project participants will visit assigned sites on their chapter’s loop(s) four times a year to assess conditions at the site, communicate with the site’s owner/ manager, update site information in the VBWT guide, observe and record bird sightings using e-bird, and to record additional wildlife observations into their newly updated Wildlife Mapping program. Future plans include the completion of site evaluations and surveys that will help DGIF to determine the top VBWT sites. All of the information collected will be used to make updates to the VBWT guide, build relationships with site owners/ managers, develop new marketing pieces for the VBWT, and improve the overall quality of the trail for visitors.
The Adopt-A-Trail project is a way for the Virginia Master Naturalists to partner with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to update, maintain and improve the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail (VBWT). The VBWT is a statewide driving trail composed of 65 loops connecting the best sites in Virginia for watching birds and other wildlife. It was established in three phases between 1999 -2004, with the goal of increasing awareness, appreciation and conservation of Virginia’s wildlife and native habitats. When it was completed in 2004, it was the first statewide trail of its kind in the country! All sites are marked with signage and a guide to the trail is available in print and electronically on DGIF’s website at http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/vbwt/.
The last major update to the trail guide was completed in 2007, which means it is time for another update, but with 637 trail sites located throughout the Commonwealth, DGIF could sure use some help! DGIF is inviting chapters of Virginia Master Naturalists to “adopt” loops of the VBWT through the Adopt-A-Trail project. Chapters will “adopt” one or more loops that fall within or near the counties of their chapter’s local area. Project participants will visit assigned sites on their chapter’s loop(s) four times a year to assess conditions at the site, communicate with the site’s owner/ manager, update site information in the VBWT guide, observe and record bird sightings using e-bird, and to record additional wildlife observations into their newly updated Wildlife Mapping program. Future plans include the completion of site evaluations and surveys that will help DGIF to determine the top VBWT sites. All of the information collected will be used to make updates to the VBWT guide, build relationships with site owners/ managers, develop new marketing pieces for the VBWT, and improve the overall quality of the trail for visitors.
How To Get Involved
Chapters (not just individual volunteers) must agree to make a commitment to adopting a trail and select one person to serve as the main point of contact for the project in their chapter. Chapters willing to make this commitment should email Jessica Ruthenberg, DGIF’s Watchable Wildlife Biologist at Jessica.Ruthenberg@dgif.virginia.gov to find out how to get started.
The project must be approved at the chapter level in order to be listed among the chapter's approved projects on the Volunteer Management System. We have a draft project proposal form below that may be tailored to the specific trail and locations for your chapter.
Chapters (not just individual volunteers) must agree to make a commitment to adopting a trail and select one person to serve as the main point of contact for the project in their chapter. Chapters willing to make this commitment should email Jessica Ruthenberg, DGIF’s Watchable Wildlife Biologist at Jessica.Ruthenberg@dgif.virginia.gov to find out how to get started.
The project must be approved at the chapter level in order to be listed among the chapter's approved projects on the Volunteer Management System. We have a draft project proposal form below that may be tailored to the specific trail and locations for your chapter.
| Adopt-a-Trail Phase 1 Project Proposal Form Template (MS Word) |
Other Resources
| Adopt-a-Trail Checklist Phase I, updated 9/25/17 |
| Adopt-a-Trail Phase II Site Revisit Instructions, updated 9/25/17 |
| Adopt-a-Trail FAQs, updated 9/25/17 |
| Adopt-a-Trail Training Slides, updated 9/25/17 |
| Adopt-a-Trail Car Sign, updated 9/25/17 |
| Adopt-a-Trail Guidelines and Tips for Coordinators, updated 9/25/17 |
| Wildlife Mapping iNaturalist written instructions, updated 9/25/17 |
Important Links
- Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail
- Find Wildlife VA: Wildlife Viewing (new interactive version of the VBWT website)
- Virginia Wildlife Mapping Project
- eBird
- Stream the Adopt-a-Trail training webinar recording from 4 March 2016
- Download the Adopt-a-Trail Training webinar recording from 4 March 2016 to your computer