Just Passing Through
Those southerly April breezes make sleep a chore for bird enthusiasts in Southern Appalachia. As the night skies fill with neotropical migrants on their way north to nesting grounds in the upper reaches of North America, birders have a fleeting chance to see and hear these special songbirds. Keep an eye and ear out for these three migrants this spring:
Go big or go home: The blackpoll racks up superlatives. With the longest migration of any passerine (songbird), this warbler flies more than 11,000 miles—that’s a potentially nonstop flight of up to 88 hours. He travels in style, too, wearing a black and white stripe, black cap, and a lightly streaked breast. Boasting one of the highest pitches of any songbird, the blackpoll sings while foraging high in the treetops throughout the region. Sounds like: “tsi-tsi-tsi.”
Double take: Absence makes the heart grow fonder of the bay-breasted warbler: The species typically migrates west of the mountains, making appearances here a rare treat. This mysterious beauty has a black face, rich chestnut crown and throat, and a creamy belly (but no yellow coloring). He’s big at five to six inches but tends to be a silent fellow, though his short, high-pitched song can occasionally be heard at spots such as Tsali Recreation Area near Fontana Lake. Sounds like: “teeesi – teeesi – teees.”
Getting cheeky: The Cape May warbler flaunts a bold yellow neck, throat, and breast with fine black streaking, a dark cap, and a chestnut cheek patch. A semi-tubular tongue proves handy when feeding on nectar in its West Indies wintering grounds. Spruce budworms are the lifeline of the species; listen for their distinctive, thin song coming from the dense spruce foliage near the cross at Lake Junaluska. Sounds like: “seet, seet, seet, seet.”
Gear Up for Spring Migration
Southern Appalachia is a playground for birders of all levels. Here’s how novices can do more than get a stiff neck:
Find an expert: Learn the basics from experienced birders. Stephen Lyn Bales, the senior naturalist at Knoxville’s Ijams Nature Center as well as the author of Ghost Bird about one man’s quest for the ivory-billed woodpecker, suggests joining a bird-watching field trip for beginners, such as those offered by Ijams. North Carolina organizations that offer birding outings include Elisha Mitchell Audubon in Asheville, the Franklin Bird Club in Franklin, and the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society in Highlands.
Choose your gear: Top-of-the-line brands like Swarovski, Leica, and Nikon offer quality optics, but there’s no need to spend thousands of dollars on binoculars to get in the game. Laura Mahan, co-owner of the Compleat Naturalist in Asheville, recommends Vortex Diamondback 8x42 for beginners, which cost around $220. Mahan says the model offers “excellent optics for the price, and the field of view is 420 feet, making it easier for beginners to keep the bird in the field of view.” Pair the binoculars with the current Peterson Field Guide to Birds for beginners, and learn bird songs with the help of a CD such as Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs: Eastern Region.
Get outside: The Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina provides ideal conditions to look for spring migrants. Perched at treetop level, the overlooks allow bird seekers to avert the dreaded “warbler neck.” Mount Mitchell at milepost 355 and Heintooga Spur Road at milepost 458 offer opportunities for high-elevation specialties including winter wrens, red crossbills, hermit thrushes, and more. The yellow-breasted chat, blue grosbeak, willow flycatcher, and white-eyed vireo can be found at low-lying sites such as Kituwah Farms, between Cherokee and Bryson City.
Learn more: A knowledgeable outfitter is an invaluable resource and can help explain what all those binocular numbers mean as well as sift through the subtle differences of the various field guides. Try the Compleat Naturalist in Asheville as well as Wild Birds Unlimited, with locations in Asheville and Knoxville. Online resources for birding in the Smokies include birding trail websites in North Carolina (ncbirdingtrail.org) and Tennessee (tnbirdingtrail.org).