Rachel Davis is a lifelong Appalachian and passionate naturalist driven by curiosity about wildlife and a desire for understanding through observation and research. She holds strong beliefs in appreciation, coexistence, and the power of curiosity. Her journey into the natural world began early, learning from her father about animal tracking, native plants, and the rich traditions of Appalachian folklore. Her favorite days are spent walking the mountain with Whitetail Deer, or guiding bird and nature watching tours while sharing natural and cultural history through storytelling.
Rachel’s educational background spans fine and applied arts, marketing, business, and community and economic development. Today, she wears many hats, including: small business owner, founding board member of a local Business Owners Association, event planner, off-road nature tour guide for New River ATV, and property manager/developer of Fayette Adventure Cabins. She also serves as a member of the CBC Community Advisory Committee, and sits on the Board of Directors for Family Nature Summits.
Since 2007, Rachel has served as Marketing Director, co-coordinator, co-host, and local guide for the New River Birding & Nature Festival. A year later, she helped establish the New River Birding & Nature Center, where she continues to develop and lead outdoor education programs. Rachel also designed the logo for the New River Birding & Nature Festival - a graphic that gained recognition when it was included in National Geographic’s The 10 Best of Everything National Parks, 2nd Edition, published in December 2024.
Thousands of young people have benefited from the environmental education offered in the outdoor classroom at the Center, which also serves as an IBP MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) station and a WV DNR Motus station in a network across the state to track migratory birds, bats, and butterflies. The center has earned several distinctions over the years: it was named “Best Birdwatching Spot” in Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine’s 2022 Best of the Blue Ridge Awards, and in 2023, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection recognized it as one of the state’s twelve “Wild & Wonderful Wetlands.” Contact Rachel.
