Return to Mahogany Rock Hawk Watch
After a brief hiatus due to Blue Ridge Parkway closures, the naturalists of Blue Ridge Discovery Center returned to the windy overlook last month where we stationed ourselves for the 2026 Mahogany Rock Hawk Watch. Over the course of 13 days, we spotted 595 individuals across 12 species!
Birding at Burkes Garden
Last weekend, the Blue Ridge Birders and friends traveled to beautiful Burkes Garden looking for raptors and other winter resident birds.
BRDC News: Upcoming Events
The world is thawing out, fauna is getting more active, and here at BRDC we are excited to get back out there and discover more with you! Read for info on our Winter Naturalist Rally, Woodcock Display Walk, Family Weekend, and Spring Break Camp.
Help Scientists by Collecting Data with the Great Backyard Bird Count
For four days each February, birdwatchers of every skill level can participate in a global event for the love and wellbeing of birds.
Winter Rally Re-Cap
We were so delighted to host the first ever Mount Rogers Winter Naturalist Rally this past weekend!
BRDC takes on Burkes Garden!
This past Saturday, BRDC staff and friends set off on an expedition to see the superb bird species of Burkes Garden in Tazewell, VA.
Birding Adventures
We have got birds on the brain at BRDC and have enjoyed every second of it!
Fall Rally Re-Cap!
We were so excited to host the first ever Mount Rogers Fall Naturalist Rally this October!
Summer Camp Scholarship Opportunity
Do you have a child that loves nature…birds in particular? One that really wants a deeper connection with nature and the wonders of the Blue Ridge? Well, we have a camp for them!
February Events
As the temperatures cool down, Blue Ridge Discovery Center isn’t slowing down! With darkness settling in sooner in the evenings, we are entering the prime season for stargazing. And with trees and shrubs losing their foliage, the winter months allow for fewer visual obstructions during birdwatching, including sighting rare wintering birds from the far north. There’s something for everyone over the coming months. Join us! Click event titles for more information.
Upcoming Events
As the temperatures cool down, Blue Ridge Discovery Center isn’t slowing down! With darkness settling in sooner in the evenings, we are entering the prime season for stargazing. And with trees and shrubs losing their foliage, the winter months allow for fewer visual obstructions during birdwatching, including sighting rare wintering birds from the far north. There’s something for everyone over the coming months. Join us! Click event titles for more information.
The Early Bird Catches the Worm
This early bird has arrived in Southwest Virginia and searching your fields and lawns for worms.
Upcoming Events
As the temperatures cool down, Blue Ridge Discovery Center isn’t slowing down! With darkness settling in sooner in the evenings, we are entering the prime season for stargazing. And with trees and shrubs losing their foliage, the winter months allow for fewer visual obstructions during birdwatching, including sighting rare wintering birds from the far north. There’s something for everyone over the coming months. Join us! Click event titles for more information.
BRDC Receives VDGIF eStore Grant Award
BRDC is very excited to be a recipient of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries eStore Grant! This grant will provide vital material support for the programs we offer. As you all well know, birding and fly fishing are two subjects that inspired BRDC from the very beginning. This generous grant is going to boost these two programs to another level!
Birding Adventure in the High Country
6 kids went on a gravity-defying adventure in the high country participating in BRDC’s inaugural Ornithology Camp. For four days and three nights, the kids camped out and honed their ornithology skills, searching for bird species that inhabit the diverse appalachian ecosystems of southwest Virginia.
BRDC receives SWVA Outdoor Recreation Contract
We are excited to announce that Blue Ridge Discovery Center has been awarded the contract to provide web content for the SWVA Outdoors Website. This project is headed up by the Friends of Southwest Virginia and is an effort to highlight the awesome outdoor recreation opportunities our region has to offer.
Red-tailed Hawk Saved after Collision with Vehicle
On a chilly January day, local birder Cathy Spencer stopped by our office with news of an injured red-tailed hawk just up the highway. We frequently get calls for help from concerned citizens about injured animals. For many years we were able to connect them to local wildlife rehabilitators William and Joyce Roberts. With William's death this past summer, dedicated rehabilitator Darin Handy stepped forward to carry the torch. After consulting Darin, we grabbed a blanket and BRDC storage tub and headed out to find the bird.
The creation of an Ornithology Camp in honor of William Roberts
Blue Ridge Discovery Center, in gratitude and honor of our recently departed and most principled birder and outdoor enthusiast, would like to advance his contagious interest in birds, flight, majesty of raptors, seasonal surprises of migration, and his boundless curiosity.
We believe that the best way to share his love of birds is to create an Ornithology Camp supported by a scholarship fund in his name.