In the movie, "Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation," there is a scene where Jimmy Stewart goes bird-watching with his son-in-law’s boss. He is shown a silly way to walk so as not to spook the bird-watcher’s quarry: a barn swallow. Both the walk and the bird sought would be laughed at among bird-watchers today; the former as ridiculous, the latter as a bird so common it is a gimme on every birder’s list. But the 1962 movie is illustrative of an image that, while fading, is still a fairly common perception of birders and their odd pursuit. A reality check, however, shows birding to be one of the fastest growing pursuits in the U.S. and one of the fastest growing reasons people travel to discover new species for "life lists" of birds they’ve encountered. In fact, a growing number of states have major "Birding Trails," auto routes that cover hundreds of miles, with stopping-off, observation points as varied as downtown, vest-pocket parks and wildlife refuges covering thousands of acres.

While creating a life list and traveling far and wide for a mere glimpse of a cerulean warbler may not be for everyone, a birding trip with a spouse, significant other, children and/or grandchildren makes for a wonderful travel experience, even if you only do it once or twice. (See: "Katie in Costa Rica," naturaltraveler.com/articles/2004/110104a.shtml) It can be an adventure that combines any number of outdoor activities, including walking, hiking, climbing, biking, horseback-riding, canoeing, kayaking, camping, over-nighting at charming bed-and-breakfasts or fine resorts. Virginia’s Piedmont Region is a wonderful place to indulge this kind of adventure, in a state that takes its wildlife- watching experiences very seriously. (See: "Virginia’s Eastern Shore and Tidewater Area," naturaltraveler.com/articles/2004/060104b.shtml Late last year, Virginia became the first in the nation to complete a statewide birding trail, opening the final Piedmont Phase of its three-phase Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail, a rectangular slice down the midsection of the state, including venues such as river walks, wildlife refuges, former farms and working farms, rolling hills in horse country, Civil War battlefields. The other two phases – in the eastern part of the state and the mountainous west – opened during the previous two years. With just under 400 species of resident and migratory birds, plus thousands of species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and butterflies, the state offers a rich and varied wildlife-watching experience.

Sky Meadows State Park

The range of possibilities along the Birding Trail is intriguing. For example, you can explore loops a very short distance from Washington, D.C., motor along the Shenandoah Valley, or travel along the shore east of the Chesapeake Bay down to the Tidewater area, all with their unique attractions. A tour through some of the Piedmont venues will provide a taste.

In Fauquier County, commuting distance from the Washington, D.C. Metroplex, a stop at Sky Meadow State Park will have you into the habitat of a wide variety of meadow and woodland species. In a forest of deciduous trees, you will find one of the largest nesting and breeding areas for the redheaded woodpecker. You can mount horses for an easy trail ride that will provide sightings of songbirds and a range of raptors: from American kestrels to red-shouldered hawks. The view of the rolling hills from atop a ridgeline, just above the park office, is a photo op not to be missed.

"It’s a wonderful example of man working in harmony with nature," says Park Manager Tim Skinner, whose upbeat attitude is reflective of the sense of joy you experience about this beautiful park. "Most of what you see down there," he adds, sweeping a hand across the vista before him, "is not part of the park. Much of it is family farms that have been in the same hands for generations."

Lolling in a rocking chair on the porch of Mount Bleak Manor House on the property, listening to the melodies of songbirds, or trying to spy a Baltimore oriole or a red-headed woodpecker, is a deliciously pleasant way to let any vestige of tension drain from your body. (www.dcr.state.va.us/parks/skymeado.htm)

Mount Bleak Manor House

In Loudoun County, also a short distance from D.C., you can easily spend an entire day at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship in Purcellville. This is an especially good place for families. An easy trail, emanating from the main office, will take you through meadows where bluebirds dance about boxes mounted for them in fields of summer grasses. Two streams flow through the property skirting the trails in forested places where blue-winged warblers and goldfinches flit about.

The organic farm on the property is a great place to introduce children to the agricultural experience. There are vegetable gardens and livestock areas with sheep and chickens. Produce from the farm is sold to patrons who sign up for 22 weeks of edibles and flowers and pick up their week’s allotment each Saturday.

"We don’t use pesticides here," says Farm Manager Christine Qualls. "We allow our birds and beneficial insects to let nature take its course."

A nice add-on to this agricultural experience is the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum in nearby Sterling. Here you can get up close and personal with farm equipment from decades ago. (www.loudounfarmmuseum.org)

Adjacent to the museum is Claude Moore Park. Not far from some major thoroughfares on Vestals Gap Road, Claude Moore is one of those cases in point where you don’t need to go far off the beaten path to enjoy a natural, wildlife-watching experience. In just a short walk through the park’s multiple habitats, you can spy a range of birds from towhees to red-winged blackbirds, prairie warblers to green herons. The park sits on a trail first used by Indians, then colonists, followed by Civil War troops, who built a signal station on the property. (www.loudoun.gov/prcs/parks/claude.htm

Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship

Virginia, of course, was ground zero for many of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. It is also dotted throughout with lesser-known skirmishes. Not far from downtown Leesburg is Ball’s Bluff, where Union soldiers made the mistake of thinking that they were about to surprise a Confederate encampment, but in turn were surprised themselves and pushed back to the bluffs above the Potomac. Having no choice but to retreat into the river, many men died by drowning, some bodies floating down river to Washington, where the terrible impact of the war was brought home to those seemingly insulated from its horrors. Today, a walk along the trail to the bluff is a quiet one, punctuated with the rapping of a pileated woodpecker or the blue blur of an indigo bunting. One of the country’s smallest national cemeteries marks the final resting place of 54 Union soldiers. (www.nvrpa.org/ballsbluff.html

The area in and around Leesburg is a veritable treasure trove of outdoor adventures. Another terrific place for families is Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve. A one-time working farm, this 730-acre preserve’s meadows, woods and wetlands attract everything from eastern bluebirds to eastern meadowlarks, orchard orioles to American goldfinches. A barn owl is living at the top of one of the old silos. There is even a beaver pond not far from the information center. (www.bansheereeks.org)

Oakland Green Bed & Breakfast

The Audubon Naturalist Society’s Rust Sanctuary, also in Leesburg, is a good place to "see" bats. While they are mammals, of course, and not birds, bats are nonetheless fascinating and grossly misunderstood. Most are nectar- or insect-eaters. On this one-time grand estate, you can tour meadows of bluebirds, forests where great horned owls shriek, zoom in on nesting red-tailed hawks, then watch bats swoop from the roof of the great house to the gigantic evergreens that were part of the once-elegant gardens here. (www.audubonnaturalist.org/cgi-bin/mesh/sanctuaries/rust_va)

As you drive about Virginia’s Birding Trail, you cannot help but be taken by the beautiful towns that mark your course. Stopping in for a stroll about the town square, some shopping or a memorable dining experience will not be a hard sell. One of the most rewarding options is downtown Leesburg, where a leisurely walk will take you past historic buildings, galleries, antique shops, lovely B&Bs and wonderful places to eat that range from the mighty barbecue of the Mighty Midget to the gourmet offerings of the Lightfoot Restaurant (see Travel Tips below). (www.leesburgVA.gov/visitors