Blue Ridge Birds and Nature at Hilton Pond North

“This Week at Hilton Pond North" we observed National Moth Week, setting up a light trap that attracted individuals like the Rosy Maple Moth and other less showy but still fascinating species. “Deep Dive” Podcast #16 includes all these, plus photos of birds seen or banded during the period. After listening to this podcast you can view the complete photo essay at https://www.hiltonpondnorth.or...

From our first fledgling Ruby-throated Hummingbird of the year to a new dragonfly and a lavender wildflower to a baby garden spider, we watched a smorgasbord of natural happenings unfold "This Week at Hilton Pond North." Podcast #15 covers visits this plus another three bear sightings. Our “Deep Dive” includes lists of birds banded and recaptured during the period. After listening to thi...

In the world of nature things really started to pop during the last half of June at Hilton Pond North. We saw it all—from baby birds to butterflies and fungi to flowers, with trail cam videos of a fawn and a feral cat. As always in our “Deep Dive” podcast we include list of birds banded and recaptured during the period—including a remarkable tally of returning Ruby-throated Hummingbirds so far fro...

So-called "bee hotels" to protect native bees are all the rage, but are they really best for these little pollinators? "This Week at Hilton Pond North" we take a “Deep Dive” into that question and present both sides. There's also a tadpole and a butterfly info in thenpodcast, along with interesting news about newly banded birds and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds returning from...

The latest "This Week at Hilton Pond North" podcast is a “Deep Dive about flowering Tulip Trees that dominate many eastern woodlands and offer food for everything from butterflies to hummingbirds. We also include three new Black Bear info, miscellaneous Nature Notes, and our usual tallies of birds banded or recaptured. After listening to this podcast you can view the complete photo essay...

When we moved to the Blue Ridge Mountains we knew we'd probably have bears so we're not surprised these big furry beasts have made their presence known this spring. Our latest “This Week at Hilton Pond North" podcast reveals just how much trouble bears have been for our research. As always the “Deep Dive” include lists of all birds banded or recaptured during the period, plus notes ab...

“This Week at Hilton Pond North” we describe three "firsts" for our new mountain site: First Ruby-throated Hummingbirds of the year, first known RTHU returns for Ashe County NC, and first-ever American Crow to cross our banding table. The 18-30 April 2025 “Deep Dive” podcast includes our usual "Nature Notes" plus lists of birds banded/recaptured during the period. After listeni...

“This Week at Hilton Pond North” we share our first ever nature video collection, the product of several trail cams scattered about our 35+ acres. There's everything from white-tails to turkey tails and 'possums to hawks--all going about their business without knowing we're spying on them. The “Deep Dive” podcastdescribes the videos. After listening to this podcast you can view the com...

Although our current “This Week at Hilton Pond North” podcast highlights the bursting forth of spring wildflowers like Virginia Bluebells, there are also interesting "Nature Notes" about Eastern Bluebirds and info about the status of Wood Frog eggs laid earlier. As always in our “Deep Dive” analysis, we include lists of all birds banded and recaptured during the period. after listening t...

Here Come The Hummingbirds! “This Week at Hilton Pond North” it’s time for our annual Ruby-throated Hummingbird podcast, including when and how to hang your feeder, a summary of our 2024 hummer banding results, plus cautionary remarks about hummingbirds and AI. We include banding tallies from a very productive week (Pine Siskin!). After listening to this podcast you can view the complete photo ess...

When folks heard we moved to North Carolina property under a "conservation easement," they wondered how that would impact our bird banding and other natural history research. In “our “Deep Dive” podcast summary of “This Week At Hilton Pond North" we explain the easement and how it actually enhances our work. After listening to this podcast you can view the complete photo essay at ht...

Bird banding results from our first year of research at our new site in the Blue Ridge Mountains far exceeded our expectations, with more than 2,000 birds captured and released! In a “Deep Dive” podcast of “This Week at Hilton Pond North" we summarize our efforts in 2024, with descriptions of our "Top Five" species--including Blue Jays and, of course, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. Aft...

Bird banding is important, but follow-up encounters with banded birds are even more valuable. For the “Deep Dive” Podcast #4 of "This Week at Hilton Pond North" we describe remarkable recaptures of White-breasted Nuthatches we banded here on Fall 2024. Lots of nuthatch factoids and a tally of all birds banded and recpatured during the period. After listening to this podcast you can view...

Things are rolling along with our new Web site for Hilton Pond North: Blue Ridge Birds & Nature. A “Deep Dive” in Podcast #3 of "This Week At Hilton Pond North" describes the pond itself and its amazingly loud population of Wood Frogs that are already laying eggs in nearly frozen water. Included, as always, are lists of birds banded and recaptured during the period. After listening t...

Last week we unveiled our brand-new Web site for Hilton Pond North: Blue Ridge Birds & Nature, including the first installment of "This Week At Hilton Pond North." We're already in the groove and today announce Installment #2, a primer on woodpeckers found in winter in these North Carolina mountains. Our latest “Deep Dive” podcast for 1-10 February 2025 describes SIX woodpecker s...

Although we came to North Carolina back in February 2024, it took time to create a new Web site and blog series, so this Podcast #1 wasn’t actually produced until January 2025. The “Deep Dive” analysis for “This Week at Hilton Pond North” talks about the big move from South Carolina’s Piedmont to upper Ashe County NC in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. There’s mention of birds from Blue Jays...