Description
The nature trail at Richard Bland College passes through a forest of deciduous hardwoods. A short distance down the trail, there is a large beaver pond containing several tall snags that serve as perches for a variety of birds, including the numerous green herons that breed on the pond. As you continue along the trail, you’ll traverse an area of dry stunted forest, an area excavated 30 years ago and now devoid of topsoil, before re-entering the healthy woodlands. Watch for a variety of woodland songbirds including red-eyed and white-eyed vireos and Acadian flycatcher as you walk along the trail.
If you have time to stroll around the campus, pay attention to the American holly, flowering dogwoods, pyracanthas, and sumacs, whose berries attract fruit-eating birds such as the northern cardinal. The pecan grove near the campus entrance should also be checked carefully during spring migration for visiting birds. Some 2-3 dozen species of birds are seen each spring during the annual campus bird count.
Wildlife Sightings
Birds Recently Seen at Richard Bland College:
76 species have been reported at this site to date.
Recent Checklists:
| Date | # of Species | Submitted By |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Sep 2021 | 2 | Jerry Hancock |
| 14 Jun 2021 | 13 | Jerry Hancock |
| 23 Nov 2020 | 8 | Jerry Hancock |
| 13 Sep 2020 | 8 | Jerry Hancock |
| 7 Jun 2020 | 0 | Caroline Coe |
Amenities & Accessibility Considerations
Site Amenities
- On-site Parking
- Restrooms
- No Fee or Permit/Pass Requirement
Other Site Amenities: Hiking Trails
Maps & Directions
Physical Address: 11301 Johnson Rd, Petersburg, VA 23805
From the Previous Site on the Appomattox Loop of the VBWT:
From the Appomattox Riverside Park, exit the park and return to SR 36 and travel east 5.4 miles. Turn right and go to I-95 South. Proceed on I-95 South and take exit 48B/Wagner Road West. Take Wagner Road west for 0.4 miles and turn right onto Crater Road/US 301 at the first signal. Travel 0.4 miles to the next light and turn left onto Flank Road. Go 2.3 miles to the second stop sign and turn left onto Johnson Road. Richard Bland College is one mile south on Johnson Road. The nature trail is adjacent to Ernst Hall, which is the last building on the right.
To return to I-95 retrace your steps back to the interstate.
Site Information
Managed By:
- Commonwealth of Virginia
Access Requirements:
Contact Information:
- Visit Website
Sites, or portions of sites, can be closed periodically for management activities. Please always check the site’s website for additional information prior to visiting.