The Folk School’s campus, which for its size, is very rich in birdlife, is a perfect setting for “Birds of Southern Appalachia,” which I’ve co-taught for the past several years.  From the purple martins, bluebirds, and tree swallows that make use of the birdhouses near Davidson Hall and Orchard House, to the eastern meadowlarks and red-winged blackbirds who canvass the school’s field for mates, to the cardinal, the Carolina wren, the brown thrasher, and the blue-grey gnatcatcher, who prefer creek-side living – the Folk School provides the beginning birder with a dizzying array of species to look at, listen to, and learn about.

The class spots some birds outside Orchard House.

Our class is usually just as diverse as the population of birds that share this campus with us: some students want to learn to recognize calls and songs, while others hope to improve their ability to identify birds by sight. Some are very good at spotting birds, while others aren’t the first to find a bird, but once they’ve seen it, are able to direct others to its location.

A day spent watching birds at the Folk School might easily yield a list of 50 species seen or heard. Inevitably, the sounds and sights of so many different kinds of birds begin to blur together for most students. As teachers, we don’t expect that everyone will learn to identify every bird by sight, or memorize every song we’ll hear during the week. Instead, our wish is that people leave the class feeling excited about watching birds when they get home, and also appreciating the marvelous adaptations that these amazing animals possess.

Bright and beautiful goldfinch. Photo by Judy Grove.

Members of our class learn that in the real estate business, it may be all about “location, location, location,” but in the world of bird-watching, it’s all about “habitat, habitat, habitat.” A morning spent at nearby Lake Chatuge underscores this fact. In addition to viewing various species we’ve seen earlier at the Folk School, we are treated with nice views of belted kingfishers, wood ducks, and rough-winged swallows near the water. The next day, in the mountains near Stecoah Gap, the treetops are alive with warblers, including black-and-whites, blackburnians, northern parulas, ovenbirds, black-throated greens, American redstarts, and black-throated blues. Like all of us, they’ve come from miles away to be at this place on this day. What brings them here is the availability of resources that they need to survive. For the warblers, those resources are shelter, water, space, and food – caterpillars, gnats, and other insects, to be exact. For the humans, it’s a bit more complicated. What’s brought us to the Folk School is the opportunity to learn, to create, to explore, to relax, to wonder, and to be inspired ­­– not only by what we, ourselves, are able to do in the space of a single week but also by the talents and kindness of others with whom we share the experience. What pleasure, indeed!

An unbearably cute four week old white kitten with blue eyes was recently discovered outside the Dining Hall.  The cat, stuck in a crawl space, must have been dropped by its mother, who was then unable to retrieve to kitten.  A staff member heard the pathetic little mews, almost mistaking them for bird chirps.  She quickly sent word to the Buildings and Grounds Department that there was an emergency.  Alan and James came to the rescue, having to actually chip away some concrete to reach the terrified and malnourished kitten.

A dining hall staff member has adopted the kitten and is considering naming him ‘JC” or “Campbell.”  He promises to make regular visits to the office so we can keep track of this lucky kitten!

Robins built their nest outside the Keith House stage (as they do each year) and I decided to document some of her accomplishments.  I was careful to set up the remote camera on the porch while they were out foraging for food, then sat in the far corner and awaited their approach.  I have not read that the male and female tend the nest but there were definitely two working together.  One would sit in the tree, watching over the nestlings while the other foraged for food.  While one was feeding the nestlings the other would start foraging on the lawn below.  Did they both feed?  I don’t know because the male and female look alike.

Looking at and listening for birds along the Rivercane Trail.

After a week of watching birds with my Folk School class, I have this (“Old Sam, Peabody, Peabody”) and several other mnemonics to remember bird calls racing through my head. Well, more like stuffed in and tumbling out as I try not to forget it all. In just 4 and a half days, we saw and heard over 60 species of birds. For a beginner, that’s a lot.

Tree Swallow at the Folk School. Photo by Judy Grove.

This year, the class was held a little earlier than in past years, and quite frankly, I’m glad. The leaves on most trees hadn’t flushed out yet, and for me, it made finding the birds a lot easier with the binoculars. Many of the birds were extremely cooperative – big thanks to the Tree Swallow, the Prairie Warbler, the Black-and-White Warbler, the Hooded Warbler, the Common Yellowthroat, and so many others for staying still – for just a moment – long enough to get a really good look. And thanks to the others that perched and sang at the same time. What an amazing way to to associate a bird with its song!

A good look at a Prairie Warbler

What struck me the most over the week was the stunning beauty of each bird when you got to actually stop and look at it – and recognize its black throat, or see its white wingbars, or its red crest. Aside from “There it is! There it goes…,” the most common phrase I heard (and exclaimed myself) during the week was “It’s so beautiful!”

Our wonderfully knowledgeable and fun instructors already thanked the birds for participating in our class, but in honor of Earth Day, I’d like to say it again. Nature Studies classes are a little different than other classes at the Folk School in that the “classroom” is mainly outside, but what I’m taking away is no different than any craft class I’ve been in. I have been inspired; I have learned; I have interacted with wonderful people; and I have left with a skill that I will continue on my own.

Listening to and differentiating between bird songs - not as easy as it may seem!

By the way, “Old Sam, peabody, peabody” is what the White-throated Sparrow says. We saw this lovely brown and white bird on the Rivercane Walk at the Folk School, singing its little heart out, just for us.

A marketing worker-bee by day, a dancer/weaver/botanist at 5 pm – that’s how I would have described myself a few months ago. I think I’ve been bitten by the birding bug, though, so I might have to revise this description.

It’s hard to avoid being at least a casual birder at the Folk School – the birds are literally everywhere! I was dancing in Open House yesterday and saw a Pileated Woodpecker in the woods towards Keith House. On my way home on Tuesday, I saw 11 Wild Turkeys on the side of the road just beyond the Folk School campground. The Eastern Bluebirds are always perched near Tower House, and the Red-winged Blackbirds are calling their distinct call from the wet areas near the Rivercane Trail. I’m expecting the Whip-poor-wils to start calling in the evenings very soon, and the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds that visit the Keith House will be arriving shortly.

These are all birds I’ve seen before I got really “into” this whole birding thing. At some point, I decided to start keeping track of what I’ve seen – right after I made a birding checklist for the Folk School as part of my job (since we’re on the NC Birding Trail). So, yesterday was a very exciting day, because I spotted some “new-to-me” birds. I walk a lot by the Little Brasstown Creek and saw a Belted Kingfisher, swooping over the water, and under the brush near the trail, I saw an Eastern Towhee. (That one took a while to identify.) Two new checks on the list, both in one day!

I’m taking the Birds of Southern Appalachia next month (with my mom, who will be visiting from Michigan), and I’m really excited. For two reasons, really. In my personal quest to learn more about nature, I feel that I am just at the tip of the iceberg when it comes to birds. Even more importantly, I get to spend quality time with my mom as we both learn something that’s new and exciting to both of us. A good birder friend of mine said that she couldn’t imagine life before birding by ear, and I think I’m beginning to understand what she meant.