Birders of the Tuckaseegee Watershed
Birders of the Tuckaseegee Watershed is a club aimed to cultivate the next generation of birders and ecological stewards by providing opportunities for young and diverse birders to socialize, learn, and share in our appreciation of the beautiful birds of Southern Appalachia.
Who is this group for?: Bird loving, bird nerdy, and bird curious people of all ages and experience levels are welcome to join us. We especially welcome young people who are new to the hobby of birding as well as BIPOC and people from other groups historically marginalized from outdoor recreation communities. All participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
We believe that owning expensive equipment should not be a barrier to participation and we have extra binoculars and field guides to loan out during our events to beginners.
We will be staying within a short distance of vehicles at most locations. Many locations where we will meet will be wheel-chair accessible. Please contact us with any questions or accessibility needs.
What is the cost?: This club is offered for FREE in the spirit of Gift Economy.
When and where will we meet?: Weekly meet-up details will be posted on our on our Birders of the Tuckaseegee Watershed Facebook Page, and on Instagram @tuckbirders.
The club meets most every week at various locations throughout the Tuckaseegee Watershed including the Jackson County Marsh, the Greenway, locations on the upper forks of the Tuckaseegee, and along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Our weekly locations will generally be within 30 minutes drive of downtown Sylva.
What do I need?: You don’t need to bring anything special to participate but please check the weather forecast and dress appropriately. Sudden temperature and weather to changes are common in this region, especially at higher elevations. Hiking shoes, warm layers and rain jackets are highly recommended even if the forecast looks clear and warm.
*Optional Gear List:
Binoculars: Please bring your own if you have them. 8x42 binoculars are the most commonly used optics for birding. Extra loaner binoculars are available to borrow during our events.
Notebook and Pen: Smartphones are amazing tools but nothing helps you learn birds like writing observations and making sketches
Field Guide: Bring along your favorite field guide and bird books. There will be time at the beginning and end of the meet-up to share and discuss our favorite birding resources.
Water and Snacks: Bring whatever you need to stay hydrated and sustained. Hot tea flasks are lovely on cool evenings
Bring a friend! Birding is more fun with buddies. All ages and experience levels are welcome (all participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.)