City of Newport News

American Wigeon, © Rob Bielawski

Ask a group of historians how Newport News got its odd moniker, and you’re likely to get several different answers. The consensus holds that the first part of the name is most likely a reference to Christopher Newport, and some theories hold that the “News” refers to the good news that early Colonists at Jamestown eagerly awaited when Newport would make periodic trips to what is now Newport News to resupply. Others believe that “news” is derived from the old English word “ness,” which more or less means “point.” A third—and less likely—theory holds that “news” is a bastardization of the name Newce, honoring two Irish captains who settled in the area. What is certain, however, is that the city has one of the more memorable place names in Virginia and, with references on maps dating as far back as 1619, one of the oldest still in use.

Present-day Newport News occupies the southern half of the Lower Peninsula, stretching from the mouth of the James River up the peninsula for 24 miles, almost to Williamsburg. The area that is now Newport News was previously known as Warwick County, created in 1634 as one of the original eight shires of Virginia. The southern portion of Warwick County became the independent city of Newport News when it was incorporated in 1896 by an act of the General Assembly, an unusual measure that allowed it to skip the step of incorporating as a town. After a protracted consolidation campaign, the Cities of Newport News and Warwick (created from the remaining portion of Warwick County) merged in 1958 to form the current City of Newport News. For many, Newport News is synonymous with shipbuilding, in large part due to the commanding presence of Newport News Shipbuilding, founded in 1886 as Chesapeake Dry Dock & Construction Co. Newport News Shipbuilding is currently the only designer and builder of United States Navy aircraft carriers as well as one of only two builders of nuclear submarines. Beyond shipbuilding, the military plays a prominent role in Newport News through Fort Eustis, first founded in 1918 as Camp Eustis and later upgraded to a permanent facility in 1923, which is currently home to the U.S. Army Transportation Corps. 

There are many hotspots for birding in Newport News. Some are large, with multiple habitat types, while others are small and monotypic. The crown jewel of local birding is Newport News Park, a sprawling facility that is among the largest municipal parks east of the Mississippi River. Befitting of such a massive park, it has a wide variety of birding options at all times of year. Some of the most productive birding can be found by seeking out waterfowl in the winter, but spring and fall will not disappoint either, as the park is typically a good spot to discover migrants. Denbigh Park is the most accessible parcel of saltmarsh in the city, and is one of the few places where species like Clapper Rail, Boat-tailed Grackle, and Brown-headed Nuthatch can easily be found. For field birds, an excellent spot is Stony Run Athletic Complex, formerly a city dump, where such species as Eastern Meadowlark and American Kestrel can be found year-round. It is also a good spot to look for sparrows, and in the appropriate seasons; uncommon species such as Grasshopper Sparrow or Savannah Sparrow are found here.

Further down the Peninsula, Riverview Farm Park with its pier into the river affording scanning opportunities, as well as athletic fields that when flooded can sometimes draw shorebirds. The Mariners’ Museum, founded in 1930, is ringed by a park, the focal point of which is Lake Maury, created in tandem with museum. In winter, viewing the river from here is a good bet for finding diving ducks, while the woods around the museum are an excellent spot for migrating warblers in spring and fall. At the very tip of the peninsula, King-Lincoln Park has two piers that allow birders to view the mouth of the James and Hampton Roads Harbor. This park is best visited in winter, when birders can brave the cold to scope for sea ducks, loons, and grebes that are easier here than further up the peninsula. Some shorebird species, particularly Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, and Dunlin, are also encountered here more frequently than elsewhere in the city.

Newport News is the capital of Virginia for Black-throated Gray Warbler, with four distinct records spanning 1973-1975. It can also claim the state’s first Lazuli Bunting, a record from 1966. Other notable records include LeConte’s Sparrow, Swainson’s Warbler, Western Tanager, and Painted Bunting.

 —Jason Strickland and Matt Anthony

Hotspots

STAKEOUT HOTSPOTS

The following hotspots should only be used to input historical records pertaining to a specific staked out rarity, as indicated in the hotspots names.

Sources