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 https://www.hiltonpondnorth.org/twahpn-20250306.html

Happy Nature Watching—And Listening!

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.

After listening to this podcast you can view the complete photo essay at https://www.hiltonpondnorth.org/twahpn-20250226.html

Happy Nature Watching—And Listening!

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 the complete photo essay at https://www.hiltonpondnorth.org/twahpn-20250218.html

Happy Nature Watching—And Listening!

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 to this podcast you can view the complete photo essay at https://www.hiltonpondnorth.org/twahpn-20250211.html

Happy Nature Watching—And Listening!

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 species we encounter almost every day during cold months of the year.

After listening to this podcast you can view the complete photo essay at https://www.hiltonpondnorth.org/twahpn-20250201.html

Happy Nature Watching—And Listening!

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 to Eastern Screech-Owls and Ruffed Grouse to American Goldfinches.

After listening to this podcast you can view the complete photo essay at https://www.hiltonpondnorth.org/twahpn-20250101.html.

Happy Nature Watching—And Listening!