About the Club

Mission Statement

The Carolina Bird Club is a non-profit organization that represents and supports the birding community in the Carolinas through its website, publications, meetings, workshops, trips, and partnerships, whose mission is


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The Carolina Bird Club, Inc., is a non-profit educational and scientific association open to anyone interested in the study and conservation of wildlife, particularly birds.

The Club meets each winter, spring, and fall at different locations in the Carolinas. Meeting sites are selected to give participants an opportunity to see many different kinds of birds. Guided field trips and informative programs are combined for an exciting weekend of meeting with people who share an enthusiasm and concern for birds.

The Club offers research grants in avian biology for undergraduate and graduate students, and scholarships for young birders.

The Club publishes two print publications (now also available online). The Chat is a quarterly ornithological journal that contains scientific articles, reports of bird records committees and bird counts, and general field notes on bird sightings. CBC Newsletter is published bimonthly and includes birding articles and information about meetings, field trips, and Club news.

The Club provides this website to all for free.

By becoming a member, you support the activities of the Club, receive reduced registration fee for meetings, can participate in bonus field trips, and receive our publications.

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Other Resources (NOT sponsored by Carolina Bird Club)



Field trip directions

Field Trip Sites. Please take a copy of the directions with you on each trip. We will caravan as much as possible, but sometimes the caravan gets split up. This should get you to the first stop. Travel times are approximate. Take the leader's cell number. Google maps is your friend.

IMPORTANT. The time listed for the trip is when the cars are lined up and leaving, not when to meet. Please be downstairs at least 10 minutes earlier and ready to go. Look for the placard with your trip number, either in the lobby or the parking lot. Friday trips are planned earlier to try and beat rush hour traffic.

-Trips to Blue Ridge Parkway may be changed from the description, to work around road closings. The leaders are very knowledgeable of the area and will do everything possible to keep it as close as possible to what was planned.

-All-day trips should take lunch. Morning trips should be back at the hotel by noon. Afternoon and all-day trips by 5:00.

To Head West on I-240 to connect with I-40 west, I-26 east, Blue Ridge Parkway south

Drive out of parking lot in front of hotel straight down Resort Drive to the stop sign. Traffic is one way and you can only turn Right. Immediately get in left lane and bear left, following signs to I-240 west. Once on I-240, follow signs for exits for I-40 west (only Max Patch) or I-26 east.

To Head East on 1-240 to connect with 1-40 east, Hwy. 74A, Blue Ridge Parkway north,

Drive out of front parking lot and turn right to follow Expo Drive along the south side of hotel buildings; you are still on hotel property. Take a LEFT onto Regent Park Blvd. It goes downhill, makes sharp right, then sharp left and ends at stoplight on Patton Ave. next to Denny's Restaurant. Go LEFT at this light, and get in either of the 2 left lanes. You will cross French Broad River on bridge. To stay on I-240 east, follow signs and go straight in either of the left 2 lanes. Once past exit 8, you will see signs for I-40 east and exit LEFT onto I-40 if going to Owen Park. If you are going to the Parkway, you follow the signs to 74A and Blue Ridge Parkway. Do not get on I-40! The entrance to the Parkway is just after you go under I-40. If you are going to Chimney Rock, you stay on 74A. For Beaver Lake, you will have exited onto Merrimon Ave at exit 5A off I-240.

Max Patch Area. 45 minutes. Follow I-240 west for 3.1 miles, and merge onto I-40 west. Take Exit 24, going north on NC 209. This is Crabtree Rd. which becomes Rush Fork Rd. After 8 miles, at the intersection of Betsy's Gap Rd. stay straight. This road becomes Max Patch Rd. (SR 1175), which runs for 13 miles to the bald. Bird along this road and NC 209. No need to go to the bald. Restrooms in nearby gas station.

Blue Ridge Parkway North sites – Curtis Creek, mile 347. Take FSR 482 south. Mt. Mitchell, mile 355. Craggy Gardens, mile 364. Some trips will start at Folk Art Center, mile 382. Restrooms.

Blue Ridge Parkway South sites. To access BRP south. Take I-240 west for 3.1 miles. Merge onto I-26 east and follow to Exit 33. Turn left at end of ramp. The access to the BRP is at the Arboretum entrance a mile or two down the road on the right.

Mt. Pisgah, mile 407-410. Pisgah Inn, mile 409. Devil's Courthouse, mile 422. Restrooms.

Green River Cove Rd/Lake Adger headwaters head southeast toward Patton Ave, turn right onto Resort Dr., sharp right onto Patton Ave, use left lane to keep left, merge onto I-26 E, take exit 59 toward Saluda, keep right at the fork, follow signs for Saluda, turn right onto state Rd 1142, look for Marathon Gas where Friday trip will meet the other trip leader.

Chimney Rock State Park. 35 minutes. Take Interstate 240 East to Exit #9 (Blue Ridge Parkway and Highway 74A East). Stay on 74A East for 20 miles and the Park entrance will be on the right. There is a fee of $17 per person. It needs to be paid in one lump, so please have the exact amount ready in cash and give it to the leader. Restrooms.

Sandy Mush Gamelands . 40 minutes. To Head West on Patton Ave, Drive out of front parking lot and turn right to follow Expo Drive along south side of hotel buildings; you are still on hotel property. Take a LEFT onto Regent Park Blvd. It goes downhill, makes a sharp right, then sharp left and ends at stoplight on Patton Ave. next to Denny's Restaurant. Go RIGHT at this light. In about a mile turn right at light onto Hwy. 63, Leicester Hwy. which has 2 right- turn- only lanes. An Ingles grocery store is on the corner. Drive about 8 miles to Leicester and turn right onto Alexander Rd. Then slight left onto Old State Highway 20. Follow it 1,7 miles ten continue straight onto Cedar Hills Rd. After 0.6 miles turn left onto Martin Candler Rd. Meet at 35 degrees, 43'.093" N 82 degrees40'16.4"W. Make sure you have your guide's phone number in case you get lost!! Hills and uneven ground. Can be muddy if it has rained. No restrooms.

Beaver Lake Sanctuary. 15 minutes. Take I-240 east to Exit 5A (Merrimon Ave.) Go north for 2.5 miles. Sanctuary is on left at intersection with Dover Rd. Restrooms in nearby library.

Owen Park/Warren Wilson. 25 minutes. 875 Warren Wilson Rd. Swannanoa, NC. Take I-240 east to I-40 east. Follow 2 miles to Exit 55 (Porter Cove Rd.). Turn left and in 0.8 miles, turn right on US 70. Travel 1.7 miles. Turn left onto Warren Wilson College Rd. Travel 2.5 miles. Look for a one-story beige Manufacturing plant on the right. Just past is small brown sign for Owen Park. Turn here and follow behind plant to parking lot at restrooms. About three miles walking. Restrooms.

Point Lookout Trail Friday – meet guide at Ingles Markets, 550 NC-9, Black Mountain, NC. 28711. Head southeast toward Patton Ave, turn right onto Resort Drive, sharp right onto Patton Ave, use right lane to keep left, then use the right lane to take the ramp to Downtown. Merge onto US-19 N/US-23N/US-74 ALT E, keep left to stay on I-240 E, use the left 2 lanes to take the I 40E exit toward Statesville (6.2 mi), keep left to stay on I-40 E (4.8 mi), take exit 64 for NC-9 toward Black Mountain/Montreat, turn right onto NC-9 S, turn right at Brookside Ave, turn right to Ingles Markets.

Saturday – meet your guide in the hotel parking lot. Directions if on your own: head southeast toward Patton Ave, turn right onto Resort Dr., sharp right onto Patton Ave, use the right lane to take the ramp to Downtown, merge onto US-19N/US-23 N/ US-74 ALT E (3.8 mi), keep left to stay on I-240 E, use the left 2 lanes to take the I-40 exit toward Statesville, keep left to stay on I-40 E, take exit 66 toward Ridgecrest, turn right onto Dunsmore Ave, turn left onto Yates Ave for 1.8 miles. Point Lookout Trail, Ridgecrest Trailhead will be on your right.