When: September 18, 2025 @ 9:30 am
Lets Go Birding!
Join Mainspring’s Outreach Associate and professional bird guide Alina Martin for this beginner-friendly morning full of angsty teenage birds and restless adult birds, many of which are getting ready to migrate south! Indigo Buntings, Warblers, Finches, Sparrows, oh my! Binoculars will be provided to those without, and participants are encouraged to download the Merlin Bird ID app before the walk, and we will discuss how to use this fantastic, self-guided learning resource during the walk. Birds are more active in the morning because they are hungry, it hasn’t warmed up too much, and because who doesn’t love mornings? There is also a late afternoon/evening birding event for those who don’t love mornings.
We will begin gathering at 9:00am at Tessentee Bottomland Preserve on Thursday, September 18th and will be ready to go just before 9:30am. See the map below for exact location. The walk will take about two hours and will be on mostly even, level ground with slight elevation gain. The trail alternates between wide, grassy trails and thinner dirt trails.
This event is free and open to birders of all skill levels, from newbies to experts. Please bring a water bottle, binoculars (if you have them), closed-toed, water-resistant shoes (wet grass), and your curiosity! Binoculars will be provided for those who don’t have their own.
This event is weather-dependent; we will proceed in light rain, but cancel in the event of dangerous weather conditions like thunderstorms or high winds. Please leave pets at home.
Meet your Guide
As Mainspring’s Conservation Outreach Associate, Alina Martin aims to encourage the protection and appreciation of land by connecting communities to the birds, plants, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles that share our home here in the Southern Blue Ridge. Her birding adventures up and down the east coast have introduced her to a wide variety of habitats, and those experiences inspire her to continue nurturing her understanding of wildlife and plant ecology. Armed with her identification knowledge and ever-increasing wonder, Alina leads a variety of educational programs here at Mainspring, and finds something curious and new each time. She is a life-long birder, all-around naturalist, and avid user of eBird and iNaturalist.
Please treat your registration as a formal ticket. Read this event description thoroughly and ensure that the date, time, and location work for your schedule. We monitor event sign-ups, and restrict group size to ensure you have a quality experience out in the woods with us. If you register and can no longer attend, email Alina at [email protected]. Thank you!
