Greene County

Greene County, nicknamed the “Gateway to the Blue Ridge,” was created in 1838 when it was split from Orange County, which borders it to the east. To its south is Albemarle County, and to the north is Madison. The western borders with Rockingham and Page are formed by the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah National Park. The county’s namesake, Nathaniel Greene, was a major general in the Revolutionary War. At 157 square miles, it is the seventh-smallest county in Virginia with a population estimated to be just shy of twenty thousand.

Despite its small size, Greene offers many opportunities for birding that cover a wide variety of habitats. 201 species have been recorded in eBird as of August 2020. Two major roads run through the county: US 29 runs north-south to nearby Charlottesville and Culpeper, and US 33 runs east-west to Orange, and over the mountains to Harrisonburg. The two roads intersect in Ruckersville, one of two major towns in Greene. The other, Stanardsville, is the county seat and is located west of Ruckersville on 33.

Most of the birding done in Greene County occurs along Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. Several sites in particular are very popular among birders, especially during spring and fall songbird migration. Hightop Mountain, just south of the Swift Run Gap entrance station, can be explored via the Appalachian Trail, and has all the classic mountain birds such as Ruffed Grouse and Cerulean Warbler. Near the trail parking lot is the county’s only known spot for breeding Kentucky Warblers. North of Swift Run Gap is the South River Picnic Area. Many birders take the South River Falls trail that begins here, but the picnic area itself is worth exploring due to the open areas that are rare elsewhere in the park. Over a quarter of eBird checklists in Greene are from Pocosin Cabin, another spot just off Skyline Drive further north of Swift Run Gap. Migrants are plentiful here in the Spring and Fall, and breeding birds include Canada Warbler and Broad-winged Hawk. Local rarities such as Connecticut Warbler, Olive-sided Flycatcher, and Golden-winged Warbler have also been recorded here.

Outside the national park, there are several country roads on the east slope of the Blue Ridge that run through montane forest as well as agricultural lands. These include Bacon Hollow, Bull Yearling, and Pocosan Mountain roads. Conway River Road along the northern border of the county runs parallel to its namesake river and opens up into agricultural areas as you move east. South River Road, just north of Stanardsville, is an excellent drive for birding , and even has woodcocks displaying in the spring. The southern part of the county offers more opportunities for agricultural and field birds such as American Kestrels and Eastern Meadowlarks, particularly around the small communities of Dyke and Amicus.

In the central part of the county are several lakes with high potential for birding. Greene Mountain Lake is the largest of these, and has produced Cackling Goose and Red-necked Grebe in the winter as well as many duck species. Shorebirds and waders can be found on mudflats during migration. In summer, Purple Martins and Mute Swans will breed here. Just to the south, Lake Skyline also attracts waterfowl and occasionally shorebirds. Nearby Wildwood Valley Lake and Swmpsprro Pond are also worth checking in winter. Other notable waterways include Hidden Pond in Ruckersville, which has attracted Redhead and shoveler; Buck Pond along US 29, which has had Canvasback; Lake Saponi near the southern border; the Greene Development Lake near the mountains; and the Rapidan River along the northern border.

The eastern part of the county is generally open and flat country used for crops and livestock. Along Fredericksburg Road, White-crowned and Savannah Sparrows can be found in winter, while Horned Larks and Northern Bobwhite are present in summer. The Greene Hills golf course has open habitat as well as visible ponds. The nearby Dundee Road is a significant hotspot, which has recorded breeding Dickcissels, as well as Grasshopper Sparrow, Warbling Vireo, and Red-headed Woodpecker. Further south, Dairy Road also gets an interesting mix of species. Finally, the brushy meadow off Terrace Greene Circle has Prairie Warblers as well as a variety of hawks.

Among its notable records, Greene claims a Pine Grosbeak from 1952, as well as more recent records of Rufous Hummingbird and Snowy Owl. Additionally, it has a host of regionally noteworthy occurrences including White Ibis, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Red-necked Grebe, Mississippi Kite, Cackling Goose, and Loggerhead Shrike.

—Carson Lambert

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