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Spring migration is well underway along the Blue Ridge flyway, so anyone with an interest in birds won’t want to miss the Rockbridge Bird Club’s annual pilgrimage to Apple Orchard Mountain this Saturday, May 13.
Dick Rowe, Virginia Military Institute biology professor and nature photographer, will lead the halfday excursion. Participants can expect to hear and see a variety of wood warblers and vireos, as well as Rosebreasted Grosbeaks and Scarlet Tanagers.
Birders will meet at the Lexington Food Lion parking lot at 6:30 a.m. to caravan to the Parkway. Alternatively, participants may travel on their own and meet the group at 7:30 a.m. at the Sunset Fields pull-off (mile marker 78.4).
From there, birders will follow Radar Road on foot to the top of Apple Orchard Mountain, a gradual upand- back walk of about 2 miles — with frequent stops to look and listen. The group will return to Lexington mid-afternoon.
According to club member Wendy Richards, “This is a favorite walk. The birds are a colorful spectacle in their breeding plumage, and we get to watch them as they flit about feeding on insects or pause on a branch to sing.”
In the event of heavy rain, the walk will be canceled. For more information, or in case of doubtful weather, contact Wendy Richards at (540) 463-5214 or richardsw@ wlu.edu.
