For those birders who are new to the area or have never done one of these
counts, and for those I may have missed on the general email I sent to past
participants (I'm sure I missed some, so please don't take it personally),
there are two spring bird counts held along the Blue Ridge Parkway. I
have recently learned that the parkway will be reopening on May 15th and
Mount Mitchell State Park reopened today. This is for roads and trails,
not for facilities. So if you are interested in participating in one or
both of these counts, please let me know. If you are not familiar with
these counts they are run just like Christmas Bird Counts with teams
assigned to sections.
The Balsam Mountains count includes the parkway roughly from Mount Pisgah
to the south end of the parkway and, if the forest service roads and trails
are open, Shining Rock Wilderness, Middle Prong Wilderness and Graveyard
Fields. For this count your team can choose to do their assigned section
any one day between May 15 and May 23.
The Black Mountains count include the parkway from NC 80 to mile 360
(Balsam Gap aka Walker Knob), Mount Mitchell SP and trails coming off the
parkway or off MMSP. For this count your team may choose to do their
section any one day between May 23 and May 31.
If you like you may do another section on a different day for either count
with a different team or with the same team.
Please let me know if you are interested in participating in either or both
of these counts.
Thanks,
Marilyn
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Marilyn Westphal
Hendersonville, NC
