Greensville County

Pine Warbler, © Rob Bielawski

Though first explored by Europeans in 1670, the land that now makes up Greensville County was not settled by colonists until around 40 years later. Modern-day Dry Bread Road (then known as Fort Road) traversed the county and connected eastern Virginia with the frontier outpost at Fort Christianna in present-day Brunswick County. This area was formally incorporated as Greensville County in 1781, though the history of the name is a bit murky, with some sources claiming it derived from Sir Richard Greensville, who led the Roanoke Colony in the 1500s, while others cite General Nathaniel Green, who marched through the county during the American Revolution. Regardless of the origins of its name, by the late 1700s Greensville County was clearly on the rise. In 1796, the first settlement of Hicksford was established in the central part of the county where Fort Road crossed the Meherrin River. Two years later another town called Belfield was established on the opposite bank of the river; nearly 100 years later, in 1887, the two towns merged to become the Town of Emporia, which borrowed its name from a more well-known city in Kansas.

For much of its history, Greensville County has been a significant transportation center. In Greensville’s earliest days, the presence of Fort Road provided an important connection between the dense settlements of eastern Virginia and the frontier. During the American Revolution in 1781, British General Cornwallis marched troops through Greensville. By the 19th century, Greensville had become an important railway hub, and during the Civil War it was the site of several skirmishes as Confederate General Wade Hampton attempted to defend the railroads. In the 20th century, Greensville remains a connector; it is bisected north-south by I 95 and east-west by US 58, making it a waystation for travelers heading to most of the metropolitan areas along the eastern seaboard as well as anywhere in southern Virginia. Emporia, which was chartered as an independent city in 1967 but remains the county seat of Greensville, even bills itself as “mid-way between the Big Apple and Disney world.”

Likewise, from a natural history perspective Greensville County is defined by its transitional status. With I 95 dividing the county almost perfectly in two, Greensville straddles the border of the Coastal Plain and the Piedmont. For many Virginia birders, it is representative of the region known as the Southside, an area defined in part by the presence of southeastern species such as Mississippi Kite and Anhinga. In years past, this region was one of the few reliable spots in the state to find such species, though its status in that regard has diminished somewhat as these birds have expanded northward. Nonetheless, Southside birding and Greensville in particular have much to offer. The county has a bit of an odd shape, appearing somewhat like an inverted funnel – large at the bottom and sharply tapering at the middle to a narrower top section. Its southern edge is coterminous with the North Carolina border, while the southeastern boundary of the county is formed by the Meherrin River. To the north, the boundary follows the Nottoway River. With I 95 and US 301 running north-south, and US 58 running east-west, this relatively compact county is easily and quickly traversed by birders.

Much of the county is composed of mixed woods typical of the Virginia Piedmont, and in the spring and summer these areas host the species characteristic of these woodlands, including Yellow-billed Cuckoos, an assortment of flycatchers and vireos, Yellow-throated and Pine Warblers, and Summer Tanagers, among others. The county is also dotted by scattered plots of agricultural land, where birders may expect to encounter the usual open country species. Some of the most exciting birding in Greensville is during the breeding season in the southeastern part of the county. In the areas along the Meherrin River, Swainson’s Warblers are present in low densities; in recent years, one of the most reliable spots to find them has been on Steel Bridge Road in the far eastern part of the county. This spot also has extensive cutovers that are rife with Northern Bobwhites, Yellow-breasted Chats, Blue Grosbeaks, and other open country birds. Prothonotary Warblers are also widespread along rivers and creeks. Another species to be mindful of is Anhinga, which can be encountered on any of the millponds scattered around the county. In years past, the most reliable location was Taylors Millpond, though this location is private and only a small portion can be viewed from the road. Keep an eye skyward as well, as Anhingas are prone to soaring and Mississippi Kites are fairly common in this region and can be encountered just about anywhere. The southwestern part of Greensville along the border with Brunswick has huge tracts of land planted by paper companies, with a constant cycle of harvesting and replanting that results in many tracts being in various stages of succession. This area was the last known location for Bachman’s Sparrows in the state, with the last reports coming from Brunswick in the early 2000s, and the species may yet persist here. Winter birding in Greensville is somewhat less exciting, but not without its perks. The many woodlands in the county make it easy to find most of the typical winter woodland species, while the prevalence of wet bottomlands means that Rusty Blackbirds are sometimes afoot. Waterfowl locations are in short supply, but the major spots are the Emporia Reservoir, which is partially in the City of Emporia and has multiple vantage points, as well as Slagles Lake in the northern part of the county.

Despite its proximity to major thoroughfares and population centers, Greensville is one of the most severely under-birded counties in all of Virginia. As of June 2020, it ranks 13th in the state for least eBird checklists submitted; when the small independent cities are factored out, Greensville is third among proper counties, trailed only by Scott and Bland. As a result of this stunning lack of coverage, Greensville has yet to turn up any major state rarities. Much of its renown comes instead from regional specialty species including Mississippi Kite, Anhinga, and Swainson’s Warbler. Bachman’s and Henslow’s Sparrows were formerly found in Greensville, but neither has been reported since the early 1990s. Other records of note include Loggerhead Shrike and White Ibis.

—Matt Anthony

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