wildlife finds a home in southwest virginia

RUSSELL, Va, October 2005- Since 1998, Randy Rhea has devoted 50 acres of his land to his hobby and passion--birds.  Rhea signed up for the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to create and enhance wildlife habitat in the Belfast community.

A game biologist from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) helped Rhea develop a wildlife improvement plan.  Randy installed field borders around open fields and meadows using mixed shrubs and switch grass. He cut back undesirable woody vegetation.  He keeps his fields open by mowing after nesting season and by disking and spraying.

Rhea said that he had already wanted to do this project, but the cost share incentive from WHIP and the advice from VDGIF really helped him out.  He is most proud of his VA 70 Shrub Lespedeza borders.  It makes a thick mat on top with open areas underneath which is an ideal home for quail and grouse. They are well protected from hawks and other predators.   If a fox or coyote enters, the birds can quickly escape.

The VA 70 and the switch grass also provide food for songbirds.  Rhea says, “This is a good thing for farmers to do.  I wish more would take part because it’s good to have these travel corridors for birds and other wildlife.” 

Rhea enjoys watching the wildlife and training his bird dogs. He raises quail and pheasant most summers to release in the fall.  He conditions them which results in a 50 percent survival rate.  Grouse have come in naturally and he is able to harvest around four per year.  

 During a recent visit by the NRCS representative, Rhea commented, “You guys should promote this program; it’s a good thing to do.”  NRCS is doing just that.  On October 1, USDA announced sign-up for the WHIP and two other cost-share conservation programs.  Interested landowners should contact their local NRCS office.  You can also look up WHIP at www.va.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/.

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