Christmas Gift Idea for that Birder in Your Life!

Red and The Peanut - A Cincinnati Birding and Nature Journal shares with us this amazing new book!

A Perfect Gift for that Birder or VMN in your life!

A new kind of birding book! "The Birding Life—A Passion for Birds at Home and Afield"

Kelly wrote:  I was very excited when Carly from Clarkson Potter Publishers asked me if I'd like to review "The Birding Life—A Passion for Birds at Home and Afield," by Laurence Sheehan. The book sounded unique. It was about birding, but focused on birds as artistic muses and home decor inspiration! Could a description be any better? I couldn't wait for the book to arrive...

With over 200 photographs and interesting text, "The Birding Life, A Passion for Birds at Home and Afield," by Laurence Sheehan, is sure to be a favorite of birders and avian art lovers...

• Read the entire article here with beautiful photographs and learn more about this beautiful book for Birders!
• Follow Red and The Peanut blog here - subscribe to get updates on great articles!
• Here is the discounted price on Amazon.com and more info about this book!

The next BRFAL Chapter Basic Training for Aspiring Virginia Master Naturalists is coming up in March at The Franklin Center in Downtown Rocky Mount VA! You can get the Draft Schedule of Classes and View the Itinerary here, and get the Information Letter and Application here.  If you have any questions about this upcoming basic training please send an email to:  contact@brfal.org 

Learn more about the Virginia Master Naturalist Program here. We hope to see you at the next training!

Create a Certified Wildlife Habitat

Turn Your Yard Into a Haven for Wildlife!

By providing food, water, cover and places for wildlife to raise their young, your garden can join the nearly 140,000 Certified Wildlife Habitat™ sites across the country.

Start here to certify your habitat >>

Whether you have an apartment balcony or a 20-acre farm, you can create a garden that attracts beautiful wildlife and helps restore habitat in commercial and residential areas. By providing food, water, cover and a place for wildlife to raise their young--and by incorporating sustainable gardening practices--you not only help wildlife, but you also qualify to become an official Certified Wildlife Habitat™.

How to Create a Wildlife-Friendly Garden

Birding and Wildlife Viewing Gear

National Parks Traveler is sharing this info specifically for birders and their gear!
Birding in the National Parks: Lowepro's Optic Series For Wildlife Viewing

Birders and wildlife watchers are starting to get used to the fact that gear manufacturers recognize us and want to make equipment specifically for us. So it wasn’t a surprise, but definitely great news, when Lowepro came out with their Optics Series for wildlife viewing.

Lowepro has long been a respected source for camera-carrying packs of all varieties, so I was particularly excited to receive two samples from the Optics Series to put to work on my birding outings.

Read the whole article here with images of the birding gear and review!

As always BRFAL Chapter of Virginia Master Naturalist wants you to get outside, explore and learn something new today. Get involved in something cool, learn more about the Virginia Master Naturalist program here! 

*This information is provided for your reference, we do not endorse any specific product at BRFAL.

Birding Location: Smart View Recreation Area

Recommended Birding Location from MyBirdMaps.com:

Smart View Recreation Area in Franklin County VA

photo © 2011 John Benson | more info (via: Wylio)

The Smart View Recreation Area is a top location for birdwatching in the State of Virginia. The Smart View Recreation Area is profiled on the United States Geological Service (USGS) Endicott Topological map. The Smart View Recreation Area is located at the latitude and longitude coordinates of 36.9259683 and -80.1864329 at an elevation of 659 feet. Smart View Recreation Area is situated in Franklin County in the State of Virginia. Birding enthusiasts interested in experiencing the many wonderful bird families in the surrounding areas of Smart View Recreation Area should print out the Topological map and bring it along on their birdwatching adventures. Birdwatching enthusiasts should also draft and submit a comment or report on Smart View Recreation Area to allow your fellow birdwatchers to learn about Smart View Recreation Area.

We truly hope your birdwatching and outdoor adventures are more fullfilling through the use of our social birding website (www.mybirdmaps.com). Before visiting any birding location always contact the Virginia Department of Natural Resouces (DNR) to confirm there are public access to these locations. Our birding site also provides users the ability to record your our topological maps, establish birding groups to communication with your birding friends and family, find birding shops and birding event locations and most importantly the ability to submit your bird sighting photos for contests to win birdwatching equipment and accessories.

Visit Mybirdmaps.com to see google map and topo map of Smart View Recreation Area and more information.

More information about Franklin County Virginia click here.

BRFAL Chapter of Virginia Master Naturalist wants you to 

GET OUTSIDE and DON'T FORGET TO TAKE THE KIDS OR GRANDKIDS WITH YOU!