Birding in Cherokee: a vacation for a song.
Some of the best shows are completely free. This performance includes colorful, elaborate costumes, starlets, intricate songs, and a story of survival. These performers are the birds of Cherokee. Twitter, be gone. Here, you’ve got the real music. Birding experts name Western North Carolina, and Cherokee specifically, one of the best spots for bird watching in the southeastern United States. You don’t have to be an ornithologist to relish the joy of spotting a Pileated Woodpecker drilling for a meal in a tree. From tranquil forest coves to teeming river and stream habitats, Cherokee is a veritable one-stop shop for earnest birders.
A different kind of musical.
Every May, migratory birds return from South America and begin building their ever-growing symphony throughout the Smoky Mountains. Occupying the stage of this Appalachian orchestra is a staggering array of birds—the Wood Thrush, Louisiana Water Thrush, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Hooded Warbler, Spotted Sandpiper, Indigo Bunting, and many more. Maybe you’ll spot the Kingfisher, who according to Cherokee legend got its sharp bill after the animals fashioned a fishgig on his beak to help him catch fish. What makes birding in Cherokee so much fun is learning about these old bird stories as you spot the birds amid the trees. Who do you think won the race between the hummingbird and the crane to win the beautiful woman’s heart? We don’t want to spoil the end, so come see for yourself.
