The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will hold its fall “Field Day” at Presquile National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, October 5, 2013. This event (in addition to one in the spring) offers the public a chance to get to and from the 1,329-acre island refuge without the typical permit requirements. During any other time of the year, visitors are to sign-up for a refuge sponsored tour or request an access permit and provide their own transportation.
The ‘Field Day’ event provides transportation and access to 3 ½ miles of wildlife observation trail, boardwalks, an interior creek water trail and select facilities. Visitors can meet FWS employees, view interpretive materials and displays within the Menenak Discovery Center, and learn about the energy-efficient components of the James River Ecology School facilities. Guided and self-guided tours will be available throughout the day. Family-friendly programs and activities will be offered, including canoeing and basic archery. James River Association educators will offer programs for kids and highlight environmental education programming opportunities with the Ecology School.
Activities begin at 9 a.m. with pontoon boat transportation to and from the island every half hour until approximately 4 p.m. Participants should gather at 4700 Bermuda Hundred Road in Chester. Parking is free. Pre-registration is not required. In preparation for your adventure, dress appropriately for the weather and bring drinking water. Contact Cyrus Brame at 804-829-9020 for more information.
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Here’s one that should get the kids excited — and by kids, I mean anyone who enjoys a zipline or a tree house: The Times-Dispatch reported yesterday that sometime this fall the Metro Richmond Zoo will open a “treetop adventure park.” As Louis Llovio wrote, “According to Florida-based Treetop Adventure Concept, the course will include tightropes, ziplines, jungle bridges and ‘other diabolical bridges that run between platforms nestled high in the trees.'”
I’m not sure my 3-year-old could think the zoo is any cooler, but this might just do it. And if treetop adventure courses are your thing, there are a few options not far from Richmond that you may not be aware of. Remember when Byrd Park was the prospective site for the Go Ape! treetop course? That ended up in Williamsburg’s Freedom Park. That’s less than hour east of Richmond. About an hour south of here, near Farmville, there’s a similar course at Sandy River Retreat. Both are worth the drive.
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The Sports Backers announced today the first annual CarMax Tacky Light Run will be held on Saturday, December 14, 2013, at 6 p.m. This six kilometer (3.72-mile) holiday-themed fun run takes one of Richmond’s favorite traditions – tacky holiday lights – and meshes it with a celebration of an active lifestyle.
“The trend we’re seeing in the industry is that running is becoming more and more of a social sport. People want to share their experiences with friends and family, both physically and through social media outlets,” said Sports Backers executive director Jon Lugbill. “With all of the energy, lights and decorations out on the course, the CarMax Tacky Light Run will perfectly mirror that trend.”
The CarMax Tacky Light Run starts and finishes in Midlothian Mines Park, looping participants by some of the most festive homes in the adjoining Walton Park neighborhood.
An untimed event, the CarMax Tacky Light Run is fit for families and groups alike. Team rebates will be offered to encourage group participation. Teams with six to 14 members will receive a $3 rebate on all entries, and teams with 15 or more members will receive a $7 rebate on all entries.
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When the Sports Backers introduce a new event, Richmond usually responds by turning out in droves. That’s been the case with the Monument Avenue 10K, of course, which has grown into one of the largest road races in the U.S. The Anthem Moonlight Ride seems to set a new participation records every year. Riverrock is hugely popular in May, and last year’s inaugural event, the Martin’s Tour of Richmond drew close to 1000 participants (with this year’s pre-race entries tracking ahead of last year’s). So, when the SBs roll into Midlothian Mines Park at 10 a.m. Thursday to announce a new winter event, expect Central Virginians to take notice.

The Monument Ave. 10K is one of the largest road races in the country. Credit: Richmond.com
Sports Backers PR maven Jackie Stoneburner didn’t want to divulge too much, but she said the event will be held December 14th at 6 p.m. The press release she sent out last week said that SBs’ executive director Jon Lugbill will be joined at the announcement by Bill Nash, CarMax Executive Vice President of Human Resources and Administrative Services, Daniel A. Gecker, Midlothian District Supervisor, and Katie Bozzo, of the Walton Park Neighborhood Association. The release also said that “visuals” at the announcement would include “Christmas carolers and holiday decorations.”
We’ll see what the Sports Backers have in store (check here on Thursday for the announcement). Chances are, whatever it is, it’ll be well-attended.
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The Wildlife Center of Virginia, a leading teaching and research hospital for native wildlife, will release a bald eagle on Friday, August 30 at 11 a.m. at Jamestown Beach Park. The release is free and open to the public. Individuals who wish to attend are asked to RSVP to the Center at lkegley@wildlifecenter.org.
The eagle will be released by Ed Clark, President and Co-Founder of the Wildlife Center. Also participating in the release event will be Stephen Living, a wildlife biologist at the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

Ed Clark, of the Wildlife Center of Virginia, holds a bald eagle he’s preparing to release.
This Bald Eagle was one of two hatched earlier this year at a nest on Jamestowne Island at Colonial National Historical Park. The eagles were blown from their nest during a storm; a re-nesting effort by VDGIF was not successful. The two eagles were admitted to the Center on June 14 and assigned Patient Numbers #13-1477 and #13-1478. While Eagle #13-1477 did not survive, #13-1478 has done well. The eagle has spent several weeks growing and maturing and perfecting its flight skills in the Center’s outdoor flight pens. A complete history is available on the Center’s website at: http://wildlifecenter.org/critter-corner/current-patients/bald-eagle-13-1478
The eagle has been one of the featured patients on Critter Cam – the Center’s web-based live camera feed.
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Based on the pictures and numbers, the first ever “Tire-less James,” organized by the James River Association, the Virginian Canals and Navigation Society and the Heart of Virginia Council of the Boy Scouts of America, looks to have been a roaring success. On August 17th, according to Christina Daniel of the JRA, 154 volunteers floated 59 miles of the middle James River (between Richmond and Lynchburg) and removed 479 tires. All the tires were then picked up and recycled by Bridgestone Americas’ corporate One Team, One Planet Spent Tire Program. Here are some pictures of how it went down.

Tires on a batteau.
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Credit: VCU
I’ve got this in the Slate of Events, but I wanted to highlight it here with a post because it looks to be a really cool trip. Our friend Captain Mike Ostrander is offering two September boat tours on the tidal James in search of sturgeon. Along for the ride as the resident expert will be VCU sturgeon researcher Matt Balazik. Considering Atlantic sturgeon are a federally endangered species, it’s likely this kind of tour is offered no where else on the East Coast. Why? Because no other river has a population viable enough to make it likely to see a sturgeon breach. Pretty cool stuff. Here’s Capt. Mike’s write-up with the details:
Sturgeon Tour on the James with Dr. Matt Balazik
On the evenings of September 4 and September 16, join Dr. Matt Balazik onboard the Spirit of the James for the Sturgeon of the James River Tour. The area on the James between the Appomattox River and Presquile Island is a prime area to see breaching Atlantic sturgeon. Watch carefully for these ancient behemoths to breach (leap completely out of the river) while Dr. Balazik shares information from his research on the sturgeon of the James River.
Atlantic sturgeon, recently placed on the endangered species list, are living fossils that have been swimming in the waters now known as the James River for 120 to 140 million years.
In August, Atlantic sturgeon return to the upper tidal James River on their annual Fall spawning run. They are in the river the entire month of September and into October. This remnant population of ancient sturgeon range from New Brunswick, Canada to the eastern coast of Florida.
We are incredibly lucky to have a spawning population of Atlantic sturgeon here, on the James River, and this tour is a great way for you and your friends to come out and have an excellent chance at seeing them. There is no guarantee you will see a sturgeon, but we will put you in the best possible position, during the best time of year and at a great time of day to see them.
This 2 1/2-hour tour will depart from Jordan Point Marina at 5 p.m. and return at approximately 7:30 p.m. Join us during this magical tour and peer out over the expanse of river near Presquile Island for breaching sturgeon.
When: Wednesday, September 4, 5:00 – 7:30pm & Monday, September 16, 5:00 – 7:30pm
Cost: $55 per person
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It always amazes me how many Richmonders have never heard of York River State Park. It’s less than an hour drive from here, on the eastern side of Williamsburg, and it’s absolutely beautiful. If you’ve never been, there’s a good chance to check it out coming up. Maybe take the kids for something different as summer winds down.

Taskinas Creek where it enters the York River. Credit: Virginia DCR
York River SP’s Estuaries Day offers canoeing, kayaking, fossil hikes and wagon rides focusing on Taskinas Creek on Saturday, Aug. 24. The festival runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There is no charge for the event, however there is a $3 per car parking fee during festival hours.
The Virginia Institute of Marine Science boat will offer tours provided there are enough advance registrations. You can register by calling the park at 757-566-3036. Kayak and canoe trips are offered on a first come, first served basis with sign-up available the day of the festival. There is no charge for any of the boat tours or trips.
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Credit: JRA
Volunteers are needed to remove tires — and only tires — from the James River between Lynchburg and Richmond during the James River Association’s first Tire-less James Event.
JRA is partnering with Virginia Canals & Navigations Society and the Heart of Virginia Council Boy Scouts of America in The Tire-less James project on August 17. Bridgestone Americas LLC is supporting JRA’s efforts by providing free hauling and recycling of all tires collected during the cleanup through its “One Team One Planet” Spent Tire Program.
This is a self-directed cleanup. Volunteers are asked to select a section of the James for their cleanup and register online. Tire drop off sites for each section are listed on the map. Because this is a water cleanup, volunteers must supply their own boats and equipment that are appropriate for safely floating tires down their selected section of river. If you do not have easy access to canoes, consider contacting a local outfitter about renting boats for the day to help the James.
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In my Outdoors column in Sunday’s T-D I featured a local photographer who spent the past year working on a very cool project. Once a week for the past 52 weeks, Elli Morris took her iPhone down to the James River (and around it) and shoot video of the people who use it and what they use it for. She talked to anglers, boaters, tubers, standup paddleboarders, rock climbers, hikers, birders, mountain bikers and more.
On Friday, Morris will present the result of all that footage, a 45-minute film called Affair with the James, at Diversity Park just south of the Mayo Bridge along the floodwall in Manchester. The premiere begins at 9 p.m. and is free and open to the public. To learn more, check out her website. Below you’ll find the movie trailer.
Affair with the James: Trailer from Elli Morris on Vimeo.
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