Date: July 22, 2023

Time: 8:00 a.m.

Location: Swiftwater Farm

Guide: Clifton Avery of Ventures Birding Tours

Join us for an easy 2-hour guided bird walk in search of residents and Neotropical migrants that visited the region to raise their young. We will be exploring open grassy fields, brush, and edges along the Green River where we will have the opportunity to see and hear a large diversity of species. Highlights along the river should include Louisiana Waterthrush and Yellow-throated Warbler.

Clifton was born and raised in the foothills of western North Carolina. He has always had a passion for nature and the outdoors but did not discover his love for birds until he saw a Painted Bunting off the coast of North Carolina on an early summer morning. Soon after this eye-opening experience, Clifton had the opportunity to participate in a National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) course in Brazil where he was overwhelmed by the beauty and diversity of the birds of the Amazon Rainforest. Following this experience, Clifton went to Appalachian State University where he majored in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology with a focus in Ornithology.

Clifton worked for various ornithological research projects after college where he banded and nest searched for a wide range of avian species in Peru, Colombia, and Nicaragua. He also worked a couple seasons for the NC Audubon Society studying the Golden-winged Warbler on its breeding grounds in northwestern NC. For the past 5 years Clifton has worked for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission as the Mountain Wildlife Diversity Technician. His duties include conducting surveying, monitoring, habitat management, and public outreach for wildlife conservation projects focusing on species of greatest conservation need that occur in western North Carolina. He mostly focuses on birds, flying squirrels, and Hellbender salamanders. He currently lives in Asheville, NC and is the father of a 4-year old boy. He does not have any inside pets but the bears and turkeys that pass through his yard regularly suffice.

For your safety, do not attempt this activity if it is beyond your ability and experience. Participants should bring binoculars and wear appropriate clothing and footwear and bring a snack, water, and any personal medication that may be required.

In case of inclement weather, please contact Pam Torlina by e-mail, [email protected], by 7 a.m. on the day of the walk and/or check the Conserving Carolina website or Facebook page to see if the walk will take place.

Space is limited. RSVP required below! For more information email Pam Torlina at the address above. More information and details will follow after registration.