A Newbie’s Information to Birding the Blue Ridge
Picture Cowl: Scarlet tanagers spend winters in South America and return to the Appalachians to breed. Picture by Rebecca Boyd
John Koon wasn’t at all times a birder. Although he grew up backpacking and tenting, his avian experience was solely “Boy Scout advantage badge-deep.” That modified throughout his final tour within the Navy, when he was stationed at an embassy in West Africa.
“The birds there have been unimaginable,” Koon recollects. “I had some associates who have been birders, they usually acquired me into it. After I got here again stateside, I used to be hooked for good.”
Now primarily based in Asheville, N.C., Koon spends his days chasing scarlet tanagers and red-bellied woodpeckers as president of the Blue Ridge Audubon Chapter. He says the area is a birder’s paradise—its ridges, valleys, and river corridors knit collectively a mosaic of habitats that by no means disappoint.
“This space is fantastic for birds in just about any season of the 12 months,” Koon says. “Go up a pair thousand ft on the Blue Ridge Parkway and also you’ll meet one mixture of species, then drop down into the valleys and it’s fully totally different once more.”
Curious concerning the Blue Ridge’s feathered treasures, or simply questioning who’s singing in your yard? These beginner-friendly suggestions from Koon and different seasoned birders will enable you unfold your wings.
Tip #1: Faucet the Apps, Crack the Books
As soon as upon a time, birders needed to lug round brick-thick discipline guides, flipping by way of web page after web page to match a thriller fowl. Now? There’s an app for that.
Merlin Chook ID, from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, helps you determine birds in seconds—whether or not you report a tune, snap a photograph, or sort in a couple of particulars. Its sister app, eBird, exhibits real-time maps of what different birders are reporting close by. “These apps have actually lowered the limitations for individuals who need to get into birding,” says Koon.
However don’t ditch the paperbacks simply but. Kevin Burke, who owns Carolina Nature Excursions in Hendersonville, N.C., nonetheless swears by his dog-eared copy of “The Sibley Information to Birds” by David Sibley.
“There are numerous good discipline guides on the market,” Burke says. “Discover one which works for you and have it helpful whereas birding.”
Tip #2: Discover Your Flock
If you happen to’re new to the pastime, encompass your self with fowl nerds—the type who can inform a Carolina wren’s teakettle tune from a white-throated sparrow’s plaintive whistle, or spot the tail-bobbing of an japanese phoebe.
“Join with native fowl watching fans,” says Tennessee nature photographer Rebecca Boyd. “They will change into associates, companions on group outings, and guides to recognizing elusive species.”
Fortunately, there’s no scarcity of firm within the birding world. Greater than 500 Audubon chapters exist throughout the USA, and most host beginner-friendly walks in native parks and sanctuaries. There are additionally regional teams just like the Carolina Chook Membership, which unites fowl lovers from each Carolinas for seasonal conferences, discipline journeys, and academic packages.
Tip #3: Begin Near Residence
You don’t must disappear into the backcountry to be a birder. A number of the greatest classes occur proper outdoors your window. Cardinals on the feeder, chickadees within the hedges, robins tugging at worms within the garden—these acquainted faces are a simple strategy to ease into the larger birding world.
“As soon as you recognize the widespread species,” says Burke, “the bizarre ones stand out.”
Yard birding additionally trains your eye for the subtleties: the downy woodpecker’s regular faucet, the goldfinch’s buoyant flight, the nuthatch shuffling headfirst down a trunk. Pay shut consideration, and people “little brown birds” that when appeared alike will begin to reveal their variations.
If you’re able to enterprise past the fence line, convey a strong pair of binoculars—8x42s strike the perfect stability of readability, brightness, and luxury.
Tip #4: Don’t Be Afraid to Wing It
Each birder blows an ID at times. The truth is, it’s virtually a ceremony of passage. Perhaps you’ll swear a chipmunk’s chatter is a few uncommon warbler or spend 20 minutes arguing with your self over whether or not that hawk overhead is a Cooper’s or a sharp-shinned.
“Everybody makes errors,” says Koon. “What issues is displaying up with a willingness to be taught.”
These slip-ups aren’t failures—they’re steppingstones. Each pushes you to decelerate, look nearer, and pay attention somewhat more durable the following time.
As Burke places it, “The distinction between a novice birder and an knowledgeable birder is that the novice birder has misidentified a whole bunch of birds, and the knowledgeable birder has misidentified 1000’s.”
Feathered Favorites: 4 Blue Ridge Birding Hotspots
These 4 birder-approved locations showcase the Blue Ridge at its greatest.
Beaver Lake Chook Sanctuary —Asheville, North Carolina
At simply eight acres, this north Asheville gem is small however mighty. “It’s a migrant entice,” says Koon. “Birds flying alongside see this patch of woods by a lake and understand it’s good for meals.” Greater than 200 species have been recorded right here, from inexperienced herons stalking the shallows to goldfinches brightening the meadows.
Peaks of Otter — Bedford, Virginia
Perched at round 4,000 ft on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Peaks of Otter is a haven for high-elevation and migrant-specialist birds. “I as soon as hiked a mile there and noticed 35 species,” says Koon. The world provides a mixture of trails for all ability ranges, from the light, family-friendly Abbott Lake Loop Path to the steep, three-mile Sharp High Path.
Seven Islands State Birding Park — Kodak, Tennessee
Tennessee’s solely state park dedicated to birding packs exceptional variety into its 416 acres. “Right here, I first encountered indigo buntings and prothonotary warblers,” says Boyd. “Every go to yields memorable experiences.” The combination of grasslands, woodlands, and wetlands attracts all the pieces from bald eagles to yellow-breasted chats, whereas cautious habitat administration helps northern bobwhite quail thrive in uncommon numbers.
Trout Lake — Blowing Rock, North Carolina
For Paul Laurent, a member of the Carolina Chook Membership, Trout Lake is a must-stop. “It’s nice for breeding warblers, in addition to migrants in spring and fall,” he says. On good mornings, blackburnian warblers blaze orange from the cover whereas wooden thrushes name from the understory. “The variety right here actually exhibits what makes the Southern Highlands so particular.”
