Fourth Friday Walks Launched
Fall migration will be in full swing as Rockbridge Bird Club kicks off the season with a new series of monthly bird walks.
In addition to Second Saturday walks at Boxerwood, which resume this week, Sept. 13, the club will offer Fourth Friday walks at other nearby locations, beginning with McCormick Farm on Sept. 26.
“Birding at Boxerwood” has taken place September through May since 2014. These member-led walks are a great introduction for beginning birders, said a spokeswoman. They are also an opportunity for “regulars” to track local phenology, the study of the timing and cyclical patterns of events in the natural world, such as bird migration.
Second Saturday Boxerwood walks begin in the nature center parking lot at 8 a.m. and run approximately two hours.
The club is also introducing a new series of Fourth Friday walks with a trip to McCormick Farm, the historic family farm of inventor Cyrus McCormick. Walking the Marl Creek Trail, birders will have an opportunity to identify resident and migrating species, and may see herons and other water birds on the farm ponds.
The Fourth Friday walk at McCormick Farm also begins at 8 a.m. Birders may either join club members in the Lexington Food Lion parking lot at 7:15 a.m. to carpool, or meet at 8 a.m. in the McCormick Farm parking lot. Plan for a two to three hour walk with a return to Lexington by noon.
For all walks, birders should bring binoculars if they have them and wear sturdy footwear. Portable toilets are available at both locations.
Walks are cancelled for rain. For more information or an iffy weather update, visit the Rockbridge Bird Club on Facebook.
