Pittsylvania County

Grasshopper Sparrow, © Tucker Beamer

William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, former Prime Minister of Great Britain, as well as the namesake of Pittsburgh, also lends his name to both Pittsylvania County and its seat, Chatham. The county is situated in the south-central part of Virginia’s piedmont region, along the North Carolina border. Its northern boundary is formed by the Roanoke River and also includes a small portion of massive Smith Mountain Lake, while at the southern end the Dan River snakes in and out of the county. At 978 sq. miles in total area, it also claims the distinction of Virginia’s largest county. It also contains the largest untapped uranium deposit in the U.S., which has led to legal fights against a statewide ban on uranium mining that has thus far prevented further exploration or mining. Historically, the economy was dominated by tobacco farming, and even today much of the county remains rural. However, an equally important aspect of Pittsylvania’s story has been determined by the now-independent City of Danville, which once enjoyed status as an important railroad hub and served as a major Confederate supply depot during the Civil War. Today, the county continues to maintain close ties with Danville. The relationships between many independent cities and their neighboring counties have often been contentious, plagued by issues such as annexation or reversion. The level of cooperation achieved by Pittsylvania and Danville, including the creation of a joint Regional Industrial Facility Authority and the sharing of revenue from industrial sites, serves as a model for the region and stands in stark contrast to the thorny relationship between nearby City Martinsville and Henry County.

Given its massive size, exploring Pittsylvania can be daunting for birders, but those who take on the task are likely to find many interesting birding locations. The White Oak Mountain W.M.A. is one of the largest tracts of public land available for birding, with plenty of forest including some riparian woods along the Banister River. Birders will do well do explore Game Reserve Road, which is the southeastern access point to the W.M.A., as well as the seasonally-opened Spring Buck Road and Fawn Way. The eastern terminus of South Meadows Road offers another prime vantage of the Banister, and is often a good spot for Wood Ducks and Yellow-throated Warblers. On the northern end of the county, Pittsylvania County Wayside Park is easily accessed from U.S. 29, and gives birders a splendid collection of edge and forested habitat which can be especially productive when searching for migrant passerines. The northwestern corner of the county includes a small sliver of Smith Mountain Lake, which can be a good spot for winter waterbirds but may also vex those birders who maintain county lists. In the eastern part of the county, Elkhorn Lake is also a prime location for waterbirds such as Horned Grebe, and has the advantage of being easily viewable from the road.

Notable records include Swallow-tailed Kite and Rufous Hummingbird, as well as species of regional interest such as Snow Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Lark Sparrow, and Red Crossbill.

—Mary Foster


Hotspots

Amenities

While nearby Danville is the urban hub of the area, visitors will still find much to do in Pittsylvania County. Outside of Danville, the most options for lodging are in Gretna, conveniently located at the center of the county. Gretna also offers an emergency room, as well as several restaurants including C&E’s, Mama Rosa’s, and J.T.’s at the Lavalette. There are also multiple dining options to be found in Dry Fork and Tightsqueeze, while the Chatham Public House is a good stop for drinks and pub food. Just across the river in neighboring Campbell County, Altavista also has several options. Wine aficionados will doubtless enjoy The Homeplace Vineyard and Tomahawk Mill Vineyard & Winery, conveniently located near each other just to the northwest of Chatham. Also in Chatham, the Reid Street Galley is a fine place to peruse local art, and perhaps even take some home. History buffs are likely to enjoy the Mt. Airy Roller Mill near Gretna, as well as the AAF Tank Museum in Danville. Certainly one of the more unusual museums is the Simpson Funeral Museum in Chatham, which traces the history of funerary and burial practices from Ancient Egypt to modern-day.

Christmas Bird Counts

The Chatham Christmas Bird Count first began in 19 and continued for several years. It began again in 2008. It centers in front of the courthouse on Main St. Chatham, VA. The compiler is Mary Foster and she can be reached by email at chathambirds08@hotmail.com.

Sources

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