Great Dismal Swamp Birding Festival

The Great Dismal Swamp Birding Festival will have free guided bird walks in the Refuge: Jericho Lane Trailhead, Washington Ditch Trailhead, Wildlife Drive (by bus), and Dismal Swamp Canal  (7 am); family activities (10 am to 2 pm); interpretive nature walks and bus tours to Lake Drummond (10 am and 1 pm); guest speakers; live animals; and food trucks.

All events are free. Pre-registration required for Guided Walks, Bus Tours and Talks. This can be done online, on SignUp.com: https://signup.com/go/EAftCWb. It will open March 1st. For a full list of events go to https://www.fws.gov/event/great-dismal-swamp-birding-festival. The refuge office can be contacted with question Mon – Fri, 8am – 4pm at 757-986-3705. 

Friday, April 28

Special Event, 6AM

Nansemond NWR Bird Walk
​*Restricted Access: area only open for registered festival participants​​

Saturday, April 29

Guided Bird Walks, 7AM

Jericho Lane Trailhead
Washington Ditch Trailhead
Wildlife Drive (Birding by Bus)
Dismal Swamp Canal

Guided Bird Walks 10 AM

Beginner Bird Walk w/ VA DWR
Dismal Swamp State Park

Family Activities 10 AM to 2 PM

Great Dismal Swamp Headquarters
3100 Desert Road, Suffolk, VA 23434

Bus Tours of Wildlife Drive 10 AM and 1 PM

Railroad Ditch Trailhead
(Lake Drummond Wildlife Drive)

Guest Talks 11:30 AM and 12:30 PM

VA Native Plant Society—Native plants, Insects, and Birds
VA DWR—The Butcher Bird: Conservation of the Loggerhead Shrike in Virginia

Visit our website for more information.

The Great Dismal Swamp Christmas Bird Count is held in December each year. Contact the NWR for more information.