When: October 6, 2026 @ 9:00 am
Help endangered birds raise their families
The Golden-Winged Warbler is one of the most threatened forest-dwelling birds in the United States. This species has suffered a severe population decline in the past fifty years, and is currently under review to be offered full protection via the Endangered Species Act. Their population crash is due in part to loss of breeding habitat; these brightly colored birds nest in dense, high-elevation meadows, but once their chicks leave the nest, the parents move their teenage young to mature forests to teach them how to thrive as a woodland warbler. This means that Golden-Winged Warblers not only require intact, high-elevation meadows, but also healthy, mature forests.
Here in Western North Carolina, we are at the southernmost edge of Golden-Winged Warbler breeding habitat, and Mainspring is turning our focus on creating and maintaining habitat that these birds can raise their babies in. Join us and Friends of Panthertown for this workday at our newly acquired property within the Panthertown Valley to transform an overgrown meadow into a warbler nursery!
Learn more about Golden-Winged Warblers through the Golden-Winged Warbler Working Group, or Cornell’s All About Birds. This workday is supported by a Cornell University grant.
We will meet at 1767 Rock Bridge Rd in Tuckasegee just before 9:00am on Tuesday, October 6th, and work until noon. See the map at the bottom of this page for exact meeting location. There is a short (1/4 mile) hike from the parking area to the workday location, mostly along old gravel forest roads. During this workday, we will be cutting small trees- mostly white pines- by hand with loppers and hand saws, then using the debris to form wood piles that encourage further wildlife diversity. We will also conduct some trail corridor clearing while we walk from our cars to the workday location. Volunteers are encouraged to wear long pants and closed toed shoes, and bring plenty of water. Long sleeves and a hat are recommended, as well as work gloves if you have them (we will have extras.) Mainspring will provide tools and snacks.
Please leave pets at home. This workday is weather dependent. In case of any weather-related delays or cancellations, registered volunteers will be notified via email.
Contact Kaitlyn at [email protected] to RSVP or with any questions.
