City of Richmond

Perched high above the banks of the James River in the City of Richmond sits the Virginia State Capitol. The capital of the Commonwealth has been Richmond since 1780, when it was relocated there from Williamsburg. Modern day Richmond’s 67.5 square miles support a human population of about 230,000 and the city is the major business hub of an economic region, Metro-Richmond, with a population of more than 1.2 million. Hundreds, if not thousands, of years before European settlement and American independence, the land of modern-day Richmond and the banks of the James River were inhabited by the Powhatan tribe of Native Americans. Both the Powhatans and early European settlers saw immense potential of the James River to support and facilitate human settlement in the region.

The province-defining geology of the area was an important aspect of Richmond’s settlement and growth. In Richmond, the transition from Virginia’s Piedmont province east to the Coastal Plain is exposed by the James River as a seven mile stretch of rocky and unnavigable rapids. This rocky stretch stopped large European ships from sailing further inland and set in motion the settlement of modern-day Richmond. The James River continues to be a defining element of many aspects of Richmond, and that is especially true for birding. Anyone planning to bird the city should start along the river. It attracts birds in all seasons that are otherwise hard to find in the area, and the conserved shores of the river provide excellent natural habitats in an otherwise urban landscape. 

The premiere destination for birding is a network of city parks named the James River Park System (JRPS). The JRPS protects large tracts of shoreline on both banks of the river and the city manages them as “wild” parks that feature and protect natural communities while providing ample hiking trails and river access. With all the protected mature forest, JRPS supports many of the native breeding forest and edge species that would be more expected in less-developed areas outside of the city. During migration the large green spaces of the JRPS attract a diversity of neotropical migrants. In both migration and winter, waterfowl and gulls can be found in large numbers on the river, and rarities from these groups are found most years. The city provides detailed maps of the system online and some of the best spots are Reedy Creek, 42nd St., The Wetlands, and Pony Pasture. One other quirk of birding JRPS is its propensity for holding on to overwintering songbirds that typically winter further south. Weedy areas close to the river seem to be the best for this, with Ancarrow’s Landing being the most consistent location. If you want a taste of sightseeing with your birding, try walking the Floodwall or crossing the river on one of two pedestrian footbridges, Belle Isle or the T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge (T. Pott, to locals).

Away from the river the best birding is at Joseph Bryan Park (“Bryan Park”), where 262 acres of city park offers a diversity of habitats and miles of trails. A visit during migration is best, but summer and winter still produce good numbers of expected regional species. Another chance for tourists to double dip is at the historic Hollywood Cemetery where good birding exists among a number of famous (or infamous) burial sites including two U.S. presidents. Byrd Park has three manmade lakes that can be good for waterfowl in fall and winter. Other destinations that can be worthwhile are Chimborazo Park, Maymont Park, and Powhite Park. Finally, city birding is most successful with an opportunistic approach of identifying and checking tiny patches of habitat which have a knack for attracting birds.

Richmond boasts a species list of more than 230 birds, which places it just above middle of the pack among Virginia cities and counties, but considering the limitations of size and habitat, that species count is a good indicator of the quality of birding offered. Notable species recorded in the city include a number of statewide rarities like Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Franklin’s Gull, Varied Thrush, White-winged Crossbill, Bullock’s Oriole, Western Tanager, and Black-headed Grosbeak.

—Ellison Orcutt

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