Mainspring Conservation Trust

Stewards of the Southern Blue Ridge

Buy MerchDonate
  • About
    • Our Story
    • Board of Directors
    • Our Staff
    • Our Projects
    • News
    • Publications
  • What We Do
    • Where We Work
    • What Is A Land Trust?
    • Land Conservation
    • Brownfield Remediation
    • Stream Restoration
    • Youth Environmental Education
    • Aquatic Biomonitoring
    • Cultural Heritage
    • WNC Wildseed Library
      • Wildseed Library FAQs
  • Get Involved
    • Conserve Your Property
    • Events
    • Get Outside
    • Visit Our Properties
    • Volunteer
    • Ways to Support
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Events / Nature Walk: Birds

Nature Walk: Birds

When: September 18, 2025 @ 5:30 pm

Walk through the seasons with Mainspring!

Once a month, spend your Thursday evening taking a casual stroll with a naturalist! We’ll amble through one of Mainspring’s preserves, taking the time to appreciate and learn about this season’s happenings. Our schedule changes with the seasons; this month’s special focus is birds! How do we identify birds by sound? Which birds live here year-round, and which birds are just passing through on their fall migration? Where is the best habitat to find birds? Are there any species that are unique to this region? Binoculars will be available to borrow during this event.

This event is free and open to the public, and registration is not required to attend. Just bring yourself, your water bottle, and your curiosity! We’ll meet at the parking lot of Tessentee Bottomland Preserve just before 5:30pm on Thursday, September 18th. See the map at the bottom of the page for exact location. The walk will take about an hour and a half. Trails at Tessentee vary from wide, even, and mostly flat to narrow and sloped.

This event is weather-dependent; we will update this listing and our social media with any scheduling changes. Please leave pets at home. Location changes per month, see the schedule below. Email Skye with any questions.

2025 SCHEDULE:

February 6th, 4:00pm-5:30pm, Tessentee Bottomland Preserve in Franklin: Winter Wildlife

March 6th, 4:30pm-6:00pm, Welch Farm Preserve in Andrews: Early Spring Flowers

April 3rd, 5:00pm-6:30pm, Welch Farm Preserve in Andrews: Birding

May 1st, 5:30pm-7:00pm, Tessentee Bottomland Preserve in Franklin: Wildflowers

June 5th, 5:30pm-7:00pm, Welch Farm in Andrews: Salamanders

July 10th, Tessentee Bottomland Preserve in Franklin, 9:00pm-10:00pm: Full Buck Moon

August 7th, 5:30pm-7:00pm, Welch Farm Preserve in Andrews: Mushrooms

September 18th, 5:30pm-7:00pm, Tessentee Bottomland Preserve in Franklin: Birding

October 16th,  5:00pm-6:30pm, Welch Farm Preserve in Andrews: Fall Foliage

November 6th, 3:30pm-5:00pm, Tessentee Bottomland Preserve in Franklin: Mosses

December 4th, 3:30pm-5:00pm, Welch Farm Preserve in Andrews: Winter Tree ID

MEET YOUR GUIDE

As Mainspring’s Conservation Outreach Director, Skye Cahoon inspires people to connect with their local landscape and value the conservation efforts that protect it. As a kid, she could often be found climbing trees, hunting for salamanders, or chasing fish at the swimming hole. Her passion for nature grew with her, and in 2020 she earned her Zoology B.S. from the University of Maine. Integrating her experience in wildlife research with her excitement about the natural world, Skye now strives to make science fun and accessible. She leads a variety of educational programs here at Mainspring, and enjoys continuing to learn about the diverse and fascinating creatures that call the Southern Appalachians home.

« Back to Events

E-Newsletter Sign-Up

Latest News

Now Open: Executive Director Position

2024 Annual Report

2024 Land Steward

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo
557 East Main Street
Franklin, NC 28734
828-524-2711

© Copyright 2025 · All Rights Reserved.