Blue Ridge Birds and Nature at Hilton Pond North

#45—Chinese Praying Mantids: Tan Or Green . . . And Predatory

“This Week at Hilton Pond North” we explore the life of the Chinese Mantid, an oversized non-native insect with an overblown reputation as a control for garden pests. Alo

#44—Ten "Native" Wildflowers: Summer's Last Bouquet 🌸

Colorful “native” wildflowers were everywhere “This Week at Hilton Pond North,” some planted and some volunteer. Installment #44 showcases these blossoms and their ecolog

#43—Late July Miscellany: Flowers, Wildlife, Owl Boxes, And A Visit From An Old Friend

Late July at Hilton Pond North was packed with nature happenings! Join us as we build owl nest boxes, explore spectacular wildflowers on Pond Mountain, celebrate National

#42—Bats In Our Trees, But Not In A Belfrey

Thirty-two tiny teeth, paper-thin wings, and a life spent among the leaves—meet the Eastern Red Bat in Installment #42 of “This Week At Hilton Pond North.” Our latest pod

#41—Bears? Yes, We Have Bears. Lots!

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 pro

#40—Eastern Box Turtle: Mayapple's Designated Driver

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

#39—Black Bears, Coyotes, and More! Our Annual Trail Cam Special

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 annu

#38—A Quintet Of New Warblers (Plus A Hummingbird Flower)

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

#37—Remarkable Returns Of Ruby-throats And A Warbler

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-t

#36—Dogwoods And Hummingbirds: Sure Signs Of Spring

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 Po

#35—Ashe County's Amphibolite Mountains

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 f

#34—Spring Hummingbird Alert (And The Tadpole Saga Contunues)

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

#33—Bees, Butterflies, Beetles: The “Bugs” Of Winter (Frogs, Too)

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 enou

#32—Sharp-shinned Hawk (Alias “Little Blue Darter”)

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"

#31—A White-tailed Buck Loses It

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-ta

#30—Groundhog vs. The Mouse: Who's A Better Winter Forecaster?

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" podca

#29—Livestream Our Nature Cams: Tons of American Goldfinches

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 a

#28—Another Wayward Purple Finch: How Far Did It Fly?

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 patter

#27—2025 Bird Banding Results: An Exception, Or The Norm?

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 Di

#26—Let It Snow . . . Bunting!

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