“Simon Says” Birding Walks and Programs for 2010

Simon Thompson joined Chimney Rock Park as staff ornithologist in 1989. He has written our guide to the Birds of Chimney Rock Park and updates it annually for Park guests. Simon also owns and operates Ventures, Inc., and regularly leads wildlife and nature tours abroad in England, Kenya, Ecuador and the Peruvian Amazon, and to many locations within the Carolinas and the US. Join Simon on any or all of the “Simon Says” guided birding hikes.

Simon Says Guided Bird Walk - Early Arrivals
Dates:	Mar 27th
Cost:	$25 for Adults; $10 for Annual Passholders; $12 for ages 6-15; $5 for Grady’s Kids Club Members.

Early spring in Chimney Rock can be exciting as recently arrived spring migrants like Black-throated Green and Black-and-white Warblers are singing. Blue-headed Vireos have been moving through for the past couple of weeks as well.

Be sure to stick around for the Grand Opening of our Birdhouse exhibit at 12:30pm.

Click here to register online now.

Simon Says Guided Bird Walk - Spring Birding
Dates:	Apr 18th
Time:	9am-noon
Cost:	$25 for Adults; $10 for Annual Passholders; $12 for ages 6-15; $5 for Grady’s Kids Club Members

Many of our breeding birds are singing and the wildflowers are in bloom. American Redstarts and Hooded Warblers are easy to see along the Hickory Nut Falls trail where several pairs of Scarlet Tanagers and Wood Thrush also nest every year. This is the time of the year when learning the bird songs can really help you find the birds.

On occasion, a substitute ornithologist/guide may lead walks.

Click here to register online now.

Simon Says Guided Bird Walk: Summer Birding
Dates:	Jun 20th
Time:	9am-noon
Cost:	$25 for Adults; $10 for Annual Passholders; $12 for ages 6-15; $5 for Grady’s Kids Club Members

During the summer, dozens of species of warblers breed in the Park. Join Simon Thompson to see or hear these species, including Worm-eating, Swainson's, Black-and-white, Hooded and Yellow-throated Warblers. Both the summer-resident Scarlet Tanagers and Wood Thrushes should be singing and establishing their territories.

Flock to the Rock
Dates:	Sep 25th - Sep 26th
Time:	Walks and Programs All Day
Cost:	No additional cost with Park admission.

Birds flock to Chimney Rock! And we’re offering all kinds of programs to get you going bonkers over birds, too. We’ll have guided walks with area ornithologists, opportunities to “get up close and personal” with non-releasable birds of prey, and lots of workshops and other fun activities. This weekend also marks the annual hawk migration over our area when dozens, sometimes hundreds, of hawks can be seen heading to southern wintering grounds.

Check back soon for a full schedule of events.

Simon Says Guided Bird Walk – Southbound Migration
Dates:	Oct 10th
Time:	9am-noon
Cost:	$25 for Adults; $10 for Annual Passholders; $12 for ages 6-15; $5 for Grady’s Kids Club Members

Many southbound migrant birds pass along the ridges and valleys of Hickory Nut Gorge. Mixed flocks of tanagers, warblers and vireos move through the woods on their journey to warmer climates in Central and South America. We will search the forests looking and listening for these often fast moving flocks and identifying all of the birds may be a real challenge.

Click here to register online now.