Floyd County

Black-throated Green Warbler, © Alex Shipherd

Floyd County, Virginia is a mid-sized county in Southwestern VA, located right in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Town of Floyd is situated in the middle, and as the county seat it is home to the county’s singular stoplight! While this might suggest that Floyd is a remote area, in actuality it is only about an hour’s drive from Roanoke, and even closer to Virginia Tech. European settlers began making incursions into present-day Floyd County in the mid-1700s, and by century’s end the establishment of Spangler’s Mill hinted at further growth to come. Much of what now constitutes the southwestern part of the county was a land grant given to Revolutionary War hero “Lighthorse” Harry Lee, father of Robert E. Lee; some of this land now comprises Buffalo Mountain Natural Area Preserve. Floyd County was formally established in 1831 from Montgomery County, taking its name for Governor John Floyd, a Montgomery native. Three years later, the county seat was completed and named Jacksonville in honor of President Andrew Jackson. This location remains the seat today, but was rechristened as the Town of Floyd in 1896. Agriculture dominated much of the life and economy of Floyd County in the 20th century, punctuated by brief forays into the textile industry. The county’s history took another interesting, and perhaps unexpected, turn in the 1970s when young people from the counterculture, inspired by “back to the land” movements, began coming to Floyd seeking a simpler, natural lifestyle. To this day, the Town of Floyd retains a distinct local flavor arising from its unique blend of traditional and hippie cultures. This blend is perhaps most evident in Floyd’s vibrant music scene – the county is a hub for traditional music and bluegrass, particularly through the legendary Friday Night Jamborees held at the Floyd Country Store. It is also the site of FloydFest, an annual music and arts festival held since 2002 that features bands from a variety of genres including rock, bluegrass, reggae, folk, and world music, as well artisans and craftspeople.

The county as a whole has a small population of around 15,000 residents, and perhaps its biggest attraction is the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Parkway runs along the county’s eastern border with Franklin and Patrick Counties and has many excellent places for hiking, camping, sightseeing, and of course birding. This section of the Parkway boasts many overlooks and historical sites, as well as Rocky Knob Recreation Area, Smart View Recreation Area, and Rock Castle Gorge Loop Trail. The parkway mainly consists of deciduous old growth forests and rocky outcrops and can be very good for many of the typical summer residents such as Ovenbird, Red-eyed Vireo, and Scarlet Tanager. However, it is also home to a breeding population of Cerulean Warblers which can been heard frequently throughout the summer months. 

Aside from the parkway Buffalo Mountain Natural Area Preserve hosts a unique upland habitat with over a dozen rare plant species, and the endemic Puto kosztarabi, or Mealybug. Higher elevation breeding birds such as Dark-eyed Juncos, Eastern Towhees, and Black-throated Blue and Green Warblers are also present. The Buffalo is also an excellent place to visit for passerines in fall migration, including Rose-breasted Grosbeak; Cape May, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, and Palm Warblers; and numerous Chimney Swifts, Common Ravens, and Blue Jays. In mid- to late-September, it is also the site of the county’s hawk watch, which can produce thousands of Broad-winged Hawks, as well as Bald Eagles, Ospreys, and exceptional numbers of Sharp-shinned Hawks. All three falcon species have also been seen. The occasional Barred Owl and Ruffed Grouse can also be found on the trail at the Buffalo, as well as Timber Rattlesnakes and Copperheads.

There are not many other areas of public land in the county, but Riverstone Organic Farm right outside the Town of Floyd has a nature trail along the Little River that is open to the public, as long as visitors make sure to close the gates behind them. This location has only recently been explored as a birding hotspot, but it has already produced great county birds such as Philadelphia Vireo, Marsh Wren, White-crowned Sparrow, and breeding Yellow Warblers and Willow Flycatchers. It is also one of the most reliable spots in the county for passerine migrants, especially in the fall. 

Driving the many dirt roads in Floyd can often prove productive especially in the Willis area or along rivers. Ovenbirds, Scarlet Tanagers, Eastern Wood-Pewees, American Redstarts, Northern Parulas, Hooded Warblers, Wood Thrushes, and Yellow-billed Cuckoos are common in wooded areas. Kentucky Warblers and American Woodcocks can also be found with a little more effort. Grasshopper Sparrows and Eastern Meadowlarks can be found throughout the many agricultural fields in the county. Barn Swallows are a constant companion over these fields as well, and check under bridges and along the Little River for Northern Rough-winged and Cliff Swallows. Ducks are hard to come by in the county, but in the winter months Hooded Mergansers and Mallards can be found along the rivers, as well as Pied-billed Grebes. Eastern Screech-Owls will regularly be seen roosting along backroads in the winter as well. Large flocks of Dark-eyed Juncos, Song Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows and the occasional White-crowned or Fox Sparrow forage along the road edges and Loggerhead Shrikes have also been found. Purple Finches, Pine Siskins, and Red-breasted Nuthatches will also turn up at feeders occasionally in the winter months.

Floyd is still very underbirded, but it is a beautiful place to explore and there is much birding potential. Recent notable sightings for the county include Marsh Wren, Loggerhead Shrike, Golden Eagle, Bobolink, and Common Loon.

—Sage Church

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