A Beginner’s Guide to Birding the Blue Ridge
Photo Cover: Scarlet tanagers spend winters in South America and return to the Appalachians to breed. Photo by Rebecca Boyd
John Koon wasn’t always a birder. Though he grew up backpacking and camping, his avian expertise was only “Boy Scout merit badge-deep.” That changed during his last tour in the Navy, when he was stationed at an embassy in West Africa.
“The birds there were incredible,” Koon recalls. “I had some friends who were birders, and they got me into it. When I came back stateside, I was hooked for good.”
Now based in Asheville, N.C., Koon spends his days chasing scarlet tanagers and red-bellied woodpeckers as president of the Blue Ridge Audubon Chapter. He says the region is a birder’s paradise—its ridges, valleys, and river corridors knit together a mosaic of habitats that never disappoint.
“This area is wonderful for birds in pretty much any season of the year,” Koon says. “Go up a couple thousand feet on the Blue Ridge Parkway and you’ll meet one mix of species, then drop down into the valleys and it’s completely different again.”
Curious about the Blue Ridge’s feathered treasures, or just wondering who’s singing in your backyard? These beginner-friendly tips from Koon and other seasoned birders will help you spread your wings.
Tip #1: Tap the Apps, Crack the Books
Once upon a time, birders had to lug around brick-thick field guides, flipping through page after page to match a mystery bird. Now? There’s an app for that.
Merlin Bird ID, from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, helps you identify birds in seconds—whether you record a song, snap a photo, or type in a few details. Its sister app, eBird, shows real-time maps of what other birders are reporting nearby. “These apps have really lowered the barriers for people who want to get into birding,” says Koon.
But don’t ditch the paperbacks just yet. Kevin Burke, who owns Carolina Nature Tours in Hendersonville, N.C., still swears by his dog-eared copy of “The Sibley Guide to Birds” by David Sibley.
“There are a lot of good field guides out there,” Burke says. “Find one that works for you and have it handy while birding.”
Tip #2: Find Your Flock
If you’re new to the pastime, surround yourself with bird nerds—the kind who can tell a Carolina wren’s teakettle song from a white-throated sparrow’s plaintive whistle, or spot the tail-bobbing of an eastern phoebe.
“Connect with local bird watching enthusiasts,” says Tennessee nature photographer Rebecca Boyd. “They can become friends, companions on group outings, and guides to spotting elusive species.”
Luckily, there’s no shortage of company in the birding world. More than 500 Audubon chapters exist across the United States, and most host beginner-friendly walks in local parks and sanctuaries. There are also regional groups like the Carolina Bird Club, which unites bird lovers from both Carolinas for seasonal meetings, field trips, and educational programs.
Tip #3: Start Close to Home
You don’t need to disappear into the backcountry to be a birder. Some of the best lessons happen right outside your window. Cardinals at the feeder, chickadees in the hedges, robins tugging at worms in the lawn—these familiar faces are an easy way to ease into the bigger birding world.
“Once you know the common species,” says Burke, “the unusual ones stand out.”
Backyard birding also trains your eye for the subtleties: the downy woodpecker’s steady tap, the goldfinch’s buoyant flight, the nuthatch shuffling headfirst down a trunk. Pay close attention, and those “little brown birds” that once looked alike will start to reveal their differences.
When you’re ready to venture beyond the fence line, bring a solid pair of binoculars—8x42s strike the best balance of clarity, brightness, and comfort.
Tip #4: Don’t Be Afraid to Wing It
Every birder blows an ID now and then. In fact, it’s practically a rite of passage. Maybe you’ll swear a chipmunk’s chatter is some rare warbler or spend 20 minutes arguing with yourself over whether that hawk overhead is a Cooper’s or a sharp-shinned.
“Everyone makes mistakes,” says Koon. “What matters is showing up with a willingness to learn.”
Those slip-ups aren’t failures—they’re steppingstones. Each one pushes you to slow down, look closer, and listen a little harder the next time.
As Burke puts it, “The difference between a novice birder and an expert birder is that the novice birder has misidentified hundreds of birds, and the expert birder has misidentified thousands.”
Feathered Favorites: 4 Blue Ridge Birding Hotspots
These four birder-approved destinations showcase the Blue Ridge at its best.
Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary —Asheville, North Carolina
At just eight acres, this north Asheville gem is small but mighty. “It’s a migrant trap,” says Koon. “Birds flying along see this patch of woods by a lake and know it’s good for food.” More than 200 species have been recorded here, from green herons stalking the shallows to goldfinches brightening the meadows.
Peaks of Otter — Bedford, Virginia
Perched at around 4,000 feet on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Peaks of Otter is a haven for high-elevation and migrant-specialist birds. “I once hiked a mile there and saw 35 species,” says Koon. The area offers a mix of trails for all skill levels, from the gentle, family-friendly Abbott Lake Loop Trail to the steep, three-mile Sharp Top Trail.
Seven Islands State Birding Park — Kodak, Tennessee
Tennessee’s only state park devoted to birding packs remarkable diversity into its 416 acres. “Here, I first encountered indigo buntings and prothonotary warblers,” says Boyd. “Each visit yields memorable experiences.” The mix of grasslands, woodlands, and wetlands attracts everything from bald eagles to yellow-breasted chats, while careful habitat management helps northern bobwhite quail thrive in rare numbers.
Trout Lake — Blowing Rock, North Carolina
For Paul Laurent, a member of the Carolina Bird Club, Trout Lake is a must-stop. “It’s great for breeding warblers, as well as migrants in spring and fall,” he says. On good mornings, blackburnian warblers blaze orange from the canopy while wood thrushes call from the understory. “The diversity here really shows what makes the Southern Highlands so special.”
