The beautiful North Carolina Mountains are bursting with abundant wildlife and filled with numerous species of birds. The 4,000 acres of agricultural lands as well as streams, lakes and wetlands provide ideal habitat for our local feathered friends. While there are quite a few of these, we’ll give you a guide to identifying the ones you see most often!
The wonderful world of birding is a simple pleasure you don't have to travel far to experience. In fact, the best birding can even be enjoyed from your own backyard. Engaging in this beloved pastime is both easy to do and can be done anytime, anywhere, especially when residing in such a nature-rich area.
If you want to learn more about the birds you are observing, guide books on the birds commonly found in the Blue Ridge Parkway can be helpful, or scroll to the bottom for a free app! Adding nest boxes on your property can bring more birds to your favorite bird watching spot. As amazing as it is to add bird feeders to your property, you must be aware that doing so will attract more than just your favorite birds; you may find a bear or two visiting as well. Our recommendation is to avoid the feeders, concentrate on installing many nesting boxes, and keep those binoculars handy to see them more clearly. Caring for the avian neighbors in your local area can support and provide homes to wildlife, ensuring they will be around for years to come.
Warblers - The Blue Ridge supports a large population of Warbler birds including the Black-throated Green Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, and Canada Warblers.
Northern Saw-whet Owl - Northern hardwoods provide excellent habitat for high-elevation species. They are named for their song, which reminded settlers of the sound of a whetstone sharpening a saw.
Black-capped Chickadee - This lively little cheery sounding bird is full of active behavior and is often accompanied by nuthatches and kinglets. They’re also a big fan of sunflower seeds at the feeders!
Red-breasted Nuthatch - This little bird has little fear in the presence of humans and may come close! They typically nest in conifer forests and you can find them in their dense forest habitat.
Scarlet Tanagers - These brilliantly bright birds can be commonly found in oak forests in the summer months, but make sure to look up to find them! Tanagers often remain out of sight in the upper branches above.
Veery - You may hear this springy bird in summer or see it bouncing across the forest floor with little hops!
Bird life thrives in the mountains and it can be exciting to catch sight of the numerous different species and even capture photos of them! Whether in your backyard or on the best bird watching trails in the area, birding can help you to be more aware of your environment and the vibrant life surrounding you.
Bird watching is a great activity for those who love getting out into nature around them and observe the many different kinds of animals found right in their back yard. It can be rewarding to develop an appreciation and care for birds both large and small! Visit this link for fun Birding Bingo games to get started with backyard birding today.
www.nps.gov/blri/learn/nature/backyard-birding
For those interested in identifying and keeping track of the birds you’ve seen and exploring the avian world more in-depth, you can download the Audubon Bird Guide App for free on the iPhone App Store and Google Play. It's now easier than ever to identify a bird you just saw and learn more about the birds you love.
/www.audubon.org/app