Explorations with Your Riverkeeper: Shenandoah Birdwatching Paddle w/ Shenandoah Riverkeeper
Friday,
June 5 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Join Shenandoah Riverkeeper Mark Frondorf for a relaxing and wildlife-filled float down one of the most scenic stretches of the South Fork of the Shenandoah River. This 5+ mile journey begins at Andy Guest Shenandoah River State Park and drifts downstream to Karo Landing — and along the way the river becomes our front-row seat to some of the Valley’s best birding.
We’ll be joined by expert birders Mark Abdy and Heather McSharry, Washington County Coordinators for the Maryland Ornithological Society’s Breeding Bird Atlas 3 Project. With their sharp eyes and deep knowledge, you’ll learn to spot and identify the many feathered residents and migrants that call our river corridor home. Mark and Heather conduct birding trips as far away as Africa but graciously return every spring to share their knowledge with us.
Expect a lively cast of characters. In past floats, we’ve encountered Wood Ducks and Mergansers shepherding ducklings, Great Blue and Green Herons stalking the shallows, and — if luck is with us — Bald Eagles soaring overhead. We’ll even glide past an active Great Blue Heron rookery. Sometimes they are still on the nests, other years they will have already fledged. In the immortal words of Forrest Gump, ‘Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.’ And that is the case on our beautiful Shenandoah River.
And because this trip falls during peak migration, every bend in the river has the potential to reveal something new. Last year, the big surprise was coming across a large family of otters scampering about the shoreline looking at us while we looked at them. Hard to tell who was more excited as everyone and everything was jabbering like crazy and looking in amazement at one another.
Bring your binoculars and your sense of adventure. We’ll have walkie-talkies for almost everyone so we can share sightings in real time (“Eagle river right just above the tree line!”), and if you have your own radio feel free to bring it along.
Space is limited and these trips tend to fill quickly, so grab your spot early and join us for a memorable day of birds, river, and good company.
Come float the river with your Shenandoah Riverkeeper and two of the region’s best birding guides — you never know what might fly into view around the next bend.
TRIP DETAILS
- Arrival Location:
Front Royal Outdoors
8567 Stonewall Jackson Highway
Front Royal, VA 22630
- Arrival & Check in Time: 9:00 am
- Shuttle Departs to Put-In: 10:00 am
- Estimated End Time: 4:00 pm
- Paddle Level: Beginner
Included with each registration:
- Riverkeeper Leader
- Rental canoe or kayak
- Paddle insurance
- Personal flotation device for the day (with rental)
- Shuttle Service (if applicable)
- SRK Swag Bag
WHAT TO BRING:
- Binoculars
- Packed lunch
- Reusable water bottle (please no single-use plastic bottles or glass)
- Wear proper footwear. NO FLIP-FLOPS. Old gym shoes, sandals with a strap, and water shoes work great
- Sunscreen, hat and rain gear
- Snacks and drinking water (no glass bottles)
- Change of clothes
- Dry Bag or Waterproof Container (if you bring a phone or a non-waterproof camera, you need a way to protect it)
To do in advance:
- PRKN Waiver – Participant Waiver
- Please fill out and return by EMAIL to
