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| The melodious winter wrens nest high in the Smokies |
Many thanks to all who attended our Birding & Brunch last Saturday. Our workshop titled On Top of Old Smoky, covered the birds to look for in the Smokies that nest above 4,000 feet.
If the class got you excited, join Jay Sturner for a KTOS field trip to look for winter wrens and the others. Here are some details.
Where: Alum Cave Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
When: Sunday June 14, 2015, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Leaders: Jay Sturner, (865) 244-7819, flowerpetalsonthecreek@yahoo.
Join Jay and Keith for a very exciting field trip to the Smoky Mountains to experience one of the most beautiful sounds of the spruce-fir forest, the unforgettable song of the Winter Wren!*
They will hike 2.2 miles to Alum Cave Bluffs and find many high altitude species including Winter Wren. After we reach the bluffs we will look for Peregrine Falcons before turning back. At a birder’s pace it will take about three hours to get there, about two coming down, and will be moderately difficult. Other species we may encounter include black-capped chickadee; red-breasted nuthatch; chestnut-sided, black-throated blue and Canada warblers; brown creeper; veery; and possibly common raven, hermit thrush and red crossbill. Just to name a few!
Meet at the Sugarlands Visitor Center in the first parking lot (the one farthest from the bus lot) no later than 7:30 a.m. From there we will carpool to the Alum Cave Trail. The hike itself will last roughly five hours, so bring plenty of water, food, rain gear, maybe a walking stick, and sunblock.
*Special note: This hike was inspired by a wonderful article written by Ijams naturalist Stephen Lyn Bales called “The Smokies’ Winter Wren: Operatic Pixie of the Highlands,” which is featured in the current issue of Smokies Life Magazine. For a write-up on this article, which includes a short, poetic passage from the piece, visit Stephen’s blog at http://stephenlynbales.
See you there!
Sugarlands Visitor Center
1420 Little River Gorge Rd
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
35°41'08.0"N 83°32'12.1"W or 35.685562, -83.536691
Alum Cave Bluffs: http://www.hikinginthesmokys.
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| Birds on top of Old Smoky workshop at Ijams |
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