Blue Ridge Birds and Nature at Hilton Pond North

Thanks to trail cams and personal observations we concluded “This Week at Hilton Pond North” we’re hosting at least EIGHT American Black Bears on our forested 35-acre property! These big furry mammals are out and about day and night, as described in our latest “Deep Dive” podcast. Give a listen and learn something new about these amazing wild creatures; then take a look at our bear videos in photo...

Mayapple is a favorite native wildflower across the eastern U.S.; parts are highly toxic but many of its seeds are disseminated by box turtles. “This Week At Hilton Pond North” we discuss this complex relationship and talk about birds we’ve recently banded or recaptured, including Eastern Wood-Pewees and Gray Catbirds. All this and more in Podcast #40. After listening, check out the full photo ess...

Trail cameras offer a glimpse into the secret lives of wild creatures that often pass unnoticed in our forests. In this episode, we review highlights from our second annual collection of video clips recorded at Hilton Pond North, featuring mammals and birds ranging from Black Bears and Coyotes to White-tailed Deer and Red-tailed Hawks. We also summarize recent bird-banding activities and seasonal...

For a birder (or a bander) hardly anything is more enjoyable than spotting the first warblers of the new spring season. “This Week At Hilton Pond North” we showcase five of these colorful creatures, plus a couple of other migrants. There’s also an account of a much-overlooked native hummingbird flower you might plant, with our usual lists of all birds banded or recptured during the period. Learn a...

One of the most informative aspects of banding comes when a banded bird migrates away and returns. Such was the case "This Week at Hilton Pond North” when a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird appeared here for the third year in a row. Our latest essay includes her account AND info about two other hummers and a Hooded Warbler that also returned. The podcast also describes an important local butt...

In spring when Flowering Dogwoods open their bright white bracts in Appalachian woodlands, we know Ruby-throated Hummingbirds can’t be far behind. “This Week At Hilton Pond North” (Lansing NC) we reveal the hidden ties between dogwoods, snails, and salamanders, and even butterflies and leaf beetles. Installment #36 includes discussions of our first ruby-throat and Indigo Bunting of the season as w...

You’ve heard of the Smokies, the Appalachians, and the Blue Ridge, but how about the Amphibolite Mountains? They’re right here in Ashe County NC and are home to diverse flora, from Flame Azaleas to Scottish Harebells. “This Week at Hilton Pond North” we talk about these unique high ridges and toss in info about birds from finches to phoebes and cowbirds, too. There’s our usual tadpole update, alon...

The hummers are coming and our time-honored map suggests when to have your feeder up to get the first Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. Installment #34 of “This Week At Hilton Pond North” is bird-centric, with images and info about Northern Flickers, Chipping Sparrows, and Pine Siskins—plus Wild Turkey videos. There’s also an update on our huge colony of Wood Frog tadpoles, plus data on some very intere...

Despite the calendar, “This Week at Hilton Pond North” we found insects out on warm days in early March, from bees to beetles to butterflies. The pond finally thawed enough for Wood Frogs to lay eggs that fast-hatched into millions of tadpoles. American Goldfinches continued to mob our feeders, and we banded a locally scarce Field Sparrow and discuss some Downy Woodpecker secrets. Hear all about i...

When birds at your feeder scatter for no apparent reason, it's possible a Sharp-shinned Hawk has entered the vicinity. Installment #32 of "This Week at Hilton Pond North" focuses on this little raptor AND unveils our latest venture: This brand-new Podcast series to complement our photo essays. We add some ifasinating info about Wild Turkeys, a feeder thief, and a nocturnal scenario d...

While we were snowbound "This Week at Hilton Pond North," life went on for wildlife in frigid mountain woods as the cycle of nature had an impact on a particular White-tailed Deer buck. Hundreds of birds from Mourning Doves to Eastern Towhees to American Goldfinches mobbed our feeding station and our pond stayed frozen solid to the exclusion of Wood Frogs—on standby for early breeding. Hear all ab...

Who's better at forecasting winter: Punxsutawney Phill or Hilton Pond Harry, the White-footed Mouse? You'll get the answer in Hilton Pond North's latest "Deep Dive" podcast #30 for 28 Jan 2026. We also talk about winter birds and the DANGER of feeding corn to White-tailed Deer in winter. After listening to this podcast you can view the complete photo essay at https://www.hilt...

Hilton Pond North is excited to announce a 24/7 Nature Cam Livestream, focusing on bird feeders and a multitude of happenings in the wild. And did w mention snow and an army of American Goldfinches? All this and more in our latest "Deep Dive" podcast. After listening to this podcast you can view the complete photo essay at https://www.hiltonpondnorth.org/twahpn-20260116.html . From there...

Although we learn a lot about birds from just banding them, even more most significant knowledge comes when a banded bird is recaptured, telling us about migration patterns and possibly longevity and site fidelity. Such was the case "This Week at Hilton Pond North" (Lansing NC) when we caught a Purple Finch banded far away from us and even in a different country! Hear all about it in the...

You won't want to miss our 2025 bird banding results in "This Week at Hilton Pond North" (Lansing NC). Is YOUR favorite bird—maybe a Wood Thrush—on the list? The “Deep Dive Podcast” explores an always-interesting tally of banded birds that returned to our site, plus action at a deer carcass and an acknowledgment of "Top Tier" supporters. After listening to this podcast you...

If you live in Alaska or Greenland, it's no big deal to see Snow Buntings, but when one appears in Ashe County NC birders flock to see it. "This Week At Hilton Pond North" we chronicle in our “Deep Dive” podcast our visit to see this wayward Arctic bird on a grassy bald in Pond Mountain Gamelands, where another rare avian species also appeared. After listening to this podcast you can...

After several nights of trying, "This Week at Hilton Pond North" we finally caught another Northern Saw-whet Owl, only the third fully documented record for that species here in Ashe County NC. For info about this elusive nocturnal migrant check out out latest “Deep Dive” podcast. After listening to this podcast you can view the complete photo essay at https://www.hiltonpondnorth.org/twahpn-202511...

“This Week at Hilton Pond” (Lansing NC) the Aurora Borealis was terrific but there were lots of other nature happenings, from snow and fog to an earthquake and the arrival of two winter bird species. Check out our lkatest “Deep Dive” podcast for all that, plus info about White-tailed Deer, a seldom-seen insect, and our usual tallies of birds banded and recaptured. After listening to this podcast y...

We hadn’t seen a hummer since 30 September, so “This Week at Hilton Pond” (Lansing NC) it’s time for our Ruby-throated Hummingbird banding summary for 2025. As explained in our “Deep Dive” podcast, It was a very good second year—especially for RTHU returns from 2024. Our latest installment includes Nature Notes about fungi, robins, and woodpeckers, plus a ravenous young White-tailed Deer. After li...

From fall foliage to colorful fruits and migrant warblers to predatory insects—box turtles, too!—nothing beats the wonders of October in the mountains. All this we describe in our latest “Deep Dive” podcast for "This Week at Hilton Pond.” There's also info about a Red Fox and our usual summary of birds banded or recaptured. Autumn's Showcase is just for you. After listening to this po...

What do a multi-hooked seedpod and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have in common? "This Week at Hilton Pond" we explore the connection, so please take a liste to at our latest “Deep Dive” podcast. There's also a description of an amazing ant swarm and discussion of not-so-confusing fall warblers. As always, "Nature Notes" and bird banding results are part of the mix. After list...

The anticipated wave of fall migrants didn't arrive "This Week at Hilton Pond" (Lansing NC), but we still banded a few colorful birds. Plus there were plenty of other natural gems to see—including a diminutive Gray Hairstreak butterfly (and another insect that might eat it!). From Milkweed to Monarchs and tanagers to hummers-—plus our usual banding tally—they're all part of our l...

Fall hayfever? No, NOT from glorious goldenrod, a common roadside native that plays important ecological roles and gets a bad rap about autumn sneezes. Just as important are its pollinators, from bees to beetles, butterflies to wasps. In our “Deep Dive” podcast of "This Week at Hilton Pond North" we explore all this, with info on a blue-hued warbler, a weasel reprise, and a tally of bird...

"This Week at Hilton Pond North" (Lansing NC) we reached another milestone as a fledgling male Ruby-throated Hummingbird became our 3,000th banding here in just 18 months. We also captured an unexpected bird new to our property and encountered via trail cam a sinuous little mammal we'd never seen in the wild. Then there was a colorful caterpillar whose name finally made sense. All th...

We were excited "This Week at Hilton Pond North" to encounter not one but TWO colorful species of Burying Beetles, rightfully called "undertakers" of the natural world. And the beetles brought a few "friends," too. Hear about this fascinating relationship in —our “Deep Dive” Podcast, plus info about local warblers, an unexpected Wild Turkey happening, and lists of all...