HOT SPRINGS CELEBRATES NEW BANDING STATION
On Friday, April 11th, the Madison County birding community came together for an evening of avian appreciation and trivia to commemorate the official debut of the Blue Ridge Bird Observatory’s Hot Springs Banding Station. The establishment of this new station in Hot Springs marks the first step in BRBO’s River of Birds project, which aims to expand existing banding efforts and increase accessibility for outreach education and community involvement.
The Hot Springs Banding Station is set up between River Road and the French Broad where it will allow researchers to gain insight into the populations and migratory habits of bird species that travel through riparian ecosystems. Paired with the long-term data collected from BRBO’s existing station on Big Bald Mountain, this new site will help round out our understanding of bird communities in the French Broad watershed from headwaters to bottomlands. The data collected by this new station may prove crucial to informing conservation policies for populations that are becoming increasingly imperiled in WNC.
The Blue Ridge Bird Observatory has always emphasized the importance of incorporating citizen science into research efforts by directly involving community partners in the banding process. The Hot Springs Banding Station will make prioritizing outreach easier than ever by expanding BRBO’s capacity for hands-on educational programming with student groups in an accessible space conveniently located near several schools and community centers.
MEET THE PURPLE MARTIN: THE SPRING CREEK COMMUNITY CENTER’S NEW AVIAN RESIDENT
Latin name: Progne subis
Diet: Insectivorous
Habitat: Open areas near humans
Nesting: Cavity
Purple Martins are North America’s biggest swallow species and are characterized by males iridescent blue-indigo feathers, swooping flight patterns as they catch insects on the wing, and unique nesting habits. Historically, this species were cavity nesters that made their homes in tree hollows and woodpecker holes, but now populations in the Eastern United States depend entirely on specially constructed Purple Martin houses such as the units recently added to the Spring Creek Community Center in Madison County. This relationship between Purple Martins and humans has been cultivated over hundreds of years: these round white houses are the modern equivalent of the empty gourds originally hung out by Native American peoples prior to European settlement.
11TH ANNUAL BIRDS FOR BOOKS BIRDATHON COUNTS OVER 70 SPECIES
On the cool morning of April 27th, a small group of eager bird enthusiasts set off from downtown Hot Springs with binoculars in hand to spot and document local bird species for the 11th annual Birds for Books Birdathon tradition. During this event, Woodson Branch Nature School and the Blue Ridge Bird Observatory partnered to bring together both experienced birders and those new to the hobby for a day of close observation and careful listening. As the group traveled along River Road, they counted 72 unique bird species including a group of blazing orange Baltimore orioles, double-crested cormorants drying their wings beside foraging spotted and solitary sandpipers, and five different types of raptors.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
May 14th:
Woodson Branch Nature School field trip to the new Murray Branch banding station
May 15th:
Audubon Climate Watch Surveys Begin
June 1st – 30th ATBI Bird Surveys
June 7th
Bird Bioblitz at Laurel Community Center
MAY BANDING SCHEDULE
May 20th: Highlands Biological Station
May 24th: Hot Springs Murray Branch Station
May 25th:
Big Bald Station
May 31st:
Hot Springs Murray Branch Station
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Looking for skill-building opportunities?
Want to contribute to local conservation efforts?
Love birds?
Volunteer with
Blue Ridge Bird Observatory this banding season.
Contact bigbaldbanding@gmail.com for more information.
COME SEE US!
Come see us at the 28th annual Bluff Mountain Festival run by the Madison County Arts Council on June 14th. The event will be at the Hot Springs Resort and Spa with entertainment and food.
WELCOME TO THE BLUE RIDGE OBSERVATORY TEAM
KRISTIN GILES- RESEARCH TECHNICIAN
Kristin Giles holds a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Conservation and Management from Western Carolina University. Passionate about wildlife conservation and education, Kristin brings hands-on experience with a variety of wildlife survey techniques. She has also shared her love for the natural world through her work at Woodson Branch Nature School, where she helped foster environmental awareness in young learners. Kristin is thrilled to be part of the BRBO team, where she continues to support conservation efforts. When she’s not in the field, she enjoys hiking and camping with her husband, Andrew, and their dog, Speck.
LEVI LARGEN- RESEARCH TECHNICIAN
Levi Largen is a graduate from Berea College who has enjoyed Wildlife Rehab and now finds himself assisting in MAPS research. He enjoys climbing the hills of Appalachia, but also has spent plenty of time inside playing video games. He lives by faith in the power of nature over our lives.
JAQ REED- OUTREACH EDUCATOR
Jaq is a graduate from the UNC-Asheville biology department with a background in both research and outreach education. In addition to their new role with the Blue Ridge Bird Observatory, they also work as the STEAM Coordinator for the Partnership for Appalachian Girls’ Education (PAGE) program and volunteers with multiple entomology-focused projects and organizations. As a lifelong naturalist, Jaq hopes to inspire curiosity and empower others to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for the living world through hands-on, place based learning.
