birding Archives -
Select Page
Adventure Guide Button
New Adventures, New Moments: An Easier Walking Series with Spanish/English Interpretation – Brevard Greenway – Nuevas Aventuras, Nuevos Momentos: Una serie de caminatas más fáciles con interpretación en español/inglés – Vía Verde de Brevard

New Adventures, New Moments: An Easier Walking Series with Spanish/English Interpretation – Brevard Greenway – Nuevas Aventuras, Nuevos Momentos: Una serie de caminatas más fáciles con interpretación en español/inglés – Vía Verde de Brevard

Where/Dónde: Brevard Greenway/en la Vía Verde de Brevard When/Cuando: April 27, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m./27 de abril de 9:00 a.m. a 11:00 a.m. Distance and difficulty/Distancia y dificultad: 1-2 miles, easy; trail type – out and back on a paved greenway/1-2 millas, fácil; Tipo de sendero: ida y vuelta por vía verde pavimentada. Free/Gratis Join us for a walk on the Brevard Greenway to appreciate nature among community. This easy walk will take place on a relatively flat trail and will be led by a guide that can speak Spanish and English. Guides will be talking about bird activity taking place on the Brevard Greenway and hope to see some newly arriving songbirds migrating to the area from Central and South America! The Brevard Greenway is 4.8 miles, from the Davidson River Campground in Pisgah National Forest to McLean Road in Brevard; however, for this walk, the group will be exploring a total of about one to two miles of the paved trail. *RSVP Required at event website* Directions will be provided after RSVP. For more information or questions, please email Mary at mary@conservingcarolina.org. Acompáñenos en un paseo por la Vía Verde de Brevard para apreciar la naturaleza entre la comunidad. Esta caminata fácil se realizará por un sendero relativamente plano y será dirigida por un guía que habla español e inglés. ¡Los guías hablarán sobre la actividad de las aves que tiene lugar en Brevard Greenway y esperan ver algunos pájaros cantores recién llegados migrando al área... Read More
Safety in the Outdoors

Safety in the Outdoors

This workshop will introduce a risk assessment and safety management model. Then that model will be applied as we investigate the most common dangers and hazards in the backcountry and explore steps to mitigate those risks. Topics will include: encounters with wildlife (snakes, bears, insects, etc.), lightning and weather related hazards, toxic plants, water crossings, sketchy humans, hazards in camp, sound decision-making, and more. Class sizes are intentionally small to offer participants guided hands-on practice. Visit our website to... Read More
Safety in the Outdoors

Safety in the Outdoors

This workshop will investigate the most common dangers and hazards in the backcountry and explore steps to mitigate those risks. Topics will include: encounters with wildlife (snakes, bears, insects, etc.), lightening and weather related hazards, toxic plants, water crossings, sketchy humans, hazards in camp, sound decision-making, and... Read More
The Birds & The Bees

The Birds & The Bees

The Birds & The Bees Catching up with Brevard’s flying friends Brevard’s forests, mountains and streams are home to an endlessly fascinating and diverse population of wildlife to discover during North Carolina’s year of the trail. Some of its most interesting residents tend to go high, soaring over the trees and hovering over flower beds. Brevard is a special place to catch up on the birds and the bees, whether you’re the queen bee of honey hoarders or just looking to put a new feather in your cap. See You Later, Pollinator Adventurers with a sweet tooth will find much to enjoy at Killer Bees Honey in Toxaway. This small, family-owned apiary offers a variety of bee tours and honey tastings. If you want to get a true “hive” experience, you can suit up and drone with the drones themselves. Afterwards, sample some of the sweet stuff with cheese, crackers, meats, fruit, and a beverage (alcoholic or non-). Designated by the North Carolina Wildlife Commission as a Wildlife Refuge, Killer Bees provides a welcoming place for all the insects and animals that pollinate the surrounding Pisgah National Forest. A Warm Wel-Comb  Up the road from Killer Bees, the Southern Highlands Reserve is appropriately celebrated as a spectacular, native Blue Ridge plant arboretum, research center, and an A+ spot for scenic views. Gorgeous gardens, however, depend on happy bees.  Over the last ten years, Reserve staff noticed that “feral” or “wild” honeybees were on site.  For the past two years,... Read More
Mountain Roots Day Camp 2023

Mountain Roots Day Camp 2023

Discover and learn in the mountains of WNC this summer with Mountain Roots’ fun and educational day camps! Our camps are focused on the outdoors and connecting campers to each other, their community, and the natural environment. Preschool camp (ages 4 and 5): 9am – 12:00pm. Rising 1st-4th grade: 9am-4:00pm. Operating over the course of 7 weeks, the first 5 weeks will take place at Brevard Academy and the final 2 weeks will be at Fern Leaf Community Charter School. [PLEASE NOTE: Camp is in TWO locations]. See why so many families return to Mountain Roots Day Camp year after... Read More
Route Planning & Navigating with CalTopo

Route Planning & Navigating with CalTopo

The purpose of this class is to learn to use the computer-based program, CalTopo to explore, plan, and create custom routes and maps. Then, access those maps, navigate, record your hike, and add data on-trail using the CalTopo phone app…..even on Airplane mode. Never wonder if you’ve made the right turn again! Bring your laptop. 4703 Island Ford Rd, Brevard, NC Note: The Navigating with Map and Compass workshop is highly recommended as a... Read More
Leave No Trace Awareness Workshop

Leave No Trace Awareness Workshop

This is an introduction to the seven principles of Leave No Trace. Even if you have a basic understanding of the concept of Leave No Trace, this workshop will provide a deeper understanding of recreational-related impacts and how Leave No Trace skills and ethics can help protect the outdoor places we love. This workshop will be experiential, fast-paced and have tips for a variety of outdoor users: hikers, mountain bikers, rock climbers, backpackers,... Read More
Backyard Birding by Ear: For Beginners

Backyard Birding by Ear: For Beginners

Identify common backyard birds by their calls and songs. Start in the classroom with some listening quiz games and then move outside to put our skills to the test. Light hiking outside. Ages 10 and up. Registration required. Call (828) 877-4423 or sign up online at... Read More
Visitors’ Day

Visitors’ Day

Visitors’ Days are held the first Tuesday of each month, April – October. Visitors’ Days provide the perfect outing for backyard gardeners, plant enthusiasts or professionals in the fields of horticulture, design and ecology. Visitors’ Days are best suited for first-time guests to SHR and are led by a Garden Tour Docent. Tours begin promptly at 10 am and will last 2 to 2.5 hours. Please arrive at 9:30 – 9:45 for check in. Directions provided will give you an idea of approximate drive time. Roads to the gardens are curvy; plan according to your riders’ comfort level. Located at 4,500 feet elevation, we cover varied terrain much like hiking in the mountains of Western NC and the Blue Ridge Parkway. These conditions create a moderate to strenuous hiking/walking experience. Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes, bring water bottle, camera, and bug spray. We also invite our visitors to bring a sack lunch and enjoy lunch on the Rooftop Terrace or at the Chestnut Lodge picnic table following the... Read More
Bird Hike

Bird Hike

Join professional birder Kevin Burke for a birding exploration of Holmes Educational State Forest. Kevin has been birding for 17 years and uses his expertise to guide trips in North Carolina, Tennessee, Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. Most recently Kevin has led trips to Columbia and Portugal. On this hike we can expect to see/hear warblers (such as Ovenbird, Black-throated Green Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, and Northern Parula), tanagers (Scarlet) and vireos (Red-eyed and Blue-headed) among others. You MUST SIGN UP for this program to participate. Call now (828 692-0100) or email holmesesf.ncfs@ncagr.gov to reserve your spot! Program is limited to 15 participants. The group will meet in our main parking area at the kiosk. It is recommended that you bring comfortable shoes, a water bottle, camera, and bird field guide if you have one. The hike is set to end at 11am but feel free to explore the rest of Holmes Educational State Forest on your own time. We offer hiking trails, picnic areas, and a variety of educational... Read More