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Waid Recreation Area

Description

Elevation: 1152 ft.

This sprawling 512-acre park has numerous attractions to offer the wildlife watcher, including nature trails and river access. A nature trail leads from the first parking area on the left into pine woodlands that support numerous breeding birds as well as white-throated sparrows and dark-eyed juncos in winter. White-breasted nuthatches could occur throughout the year. Traveling down the hill to the next parking area provides access to a seasonal wetland that can support a variety of waterfowl during winter and migration including hooded merganser. In summer, the wetland attracts several species of damsel- and dragonflies. Numerous swallowtails, sulphurs and skippers should be searched for in the more open areas of the park, as should eastern bluebird and killdeer.

Wildlife Sightings

126 species have been reported at this site to date.

Birds Recently Seen at Waid Recreation Area:

  • Mourning Dove
  • Yellow-billed Cuckoo
  • Great Blue Heron
  • Broad-winged Hawk
  • Belted Kingfisher
  • Red-bellied Woodpecker
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Pileated Woodpecker
  • Eastern Wood-Pewee

Recent Checklists:

Date# of SpeciesSubmitted By
20 Jul 202627Tiffany Beachy
11 Jul 202632Tiffany Beachy
11 Jul 202614Larry Frauen
24 Jun 202618Anne Tucker
24 Jun 202615Anne Tucker

See more recent checklists…

Amenities & Accessibility

Amenities

  • On-site Parking
  • Restrooms

Other Amenities: Bike Trails, Hiking Trails, Interpretive Program/Events

Accessibility Considerations

This location does not have a Birdability Site Review available at this time

Learn more about Birdability’s efforts to map accessible outdoor spaces

Maps & Directions

View on Google Maps

Physical Address: 701 Waid Park Rd, Rocky Mount, VA 24151

From Rocky Mount, take VA-40 W/ Franklin St for 2 miles. Turn right onto State Rte 640 and continue 1.8 miles. Turn left onto State Rte 800, then make a sharp right. The park will be on the left.

Access Requirements:

  • Free, Daily

Contact Information:

  • (540) 483-6606 smartin@franklincountyva.org
  • 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.

About the VBWT

The Virginia Bird and Wildlife Trail is a network of over 600 greenspaces and blueways throughout the Commonwealth selected for their wildlife viewing potential. Walk a nature trail, paddle a river, or enjoy a scenic overlook and you’ll soon see why Virginia is a premier destination for birding and wildlife viewing.

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