New River IBA and Bluff Mountain Preserve - September 23-24
A 2006 Field Trip

ASFC is planning its second survey of the New River IBA and a very special trip to Bluff Mountain Nature Preserve.

Bluff Mountain Preserve is property owned by The Nature Conservancy and does not normally permit public access. We have made special arrangements for a guide from the preserve. We plan to meet at the McDonald’s just off US 221 in West Jefferson at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 23.  We will be met there by Doug Monroe, the Conservancy ranger for the Bluff Mountain Nature Preserve.  It is imperative that you be at the meeting place on time if you wish to bird the Nature Conservancy property. You cannot gain access to the preserve without our guide and our guide will be leaving promptly at 10 a.m.! See below for directions to meeting location.

Bring binoculars, a picnic lunch, water, a hat, sun screen and good walking shoes.  The hike is a moderate one of about two miles, sometimes over a bit of rocky terrain. 

We will bird (look up — it's hawk migration!) and botanize our way over eleven natural communities.  On the southeast side of the mountain is Bluff Mountain’s most celebrated natural feature, a twenty-five acre plateau consisting of a glade and a southern Appalachian fen, a wetland similar to a bog.

After our time at Bluff Mountain, we will make the short drive to Jefferson to the Best Western Eldreth Inn (see www.bestwesternnorthcarolina.com or call 336-246-8845 or 800-221-8802).  This is a convenient hotel for both Bluff Mountain and the New River Corridor.  They take AAA and AARP and breakfast is included with your room charge.  Feel free to make whatever arrangements you might want to make, however, as other hotels and camping are available nearby.  Doug Monroe may have a rental cabin available for the weekend. Contact Doug at 385-6507 if you are interested in that option.. We will have an orientation for the survey sometime during the afternoon or evening on Saturday. During the spring survey we all carpooled to a friendly restaurant in West Jefferson for dinner the evening before the survey.

On Sunday morning, the group will take a Christmas-type count at the 221 Access area of New River . Plan on an early breakfast and checkout so that we do not miss prime time. The goal is to be in the field as close to 7:00 a.m. as possible to take advantage of the early birding activity.   We should be finished by 11:00 or 12:00 and be free to stay around and canoe, hike, shop, bird on your own, or even head home.

Contact Don Adamick (at 766-8436 or dadamick@bellsouth.net )or Phil Dickinson (at 659-2464 or pdickins@triad.rr.com) for further information.

Directions to the meeting place for Bluff Mountain Preserve:
From intersection of 16 and 88: go left on 88 to 221, left on 221 (toward Boone), to West Jefferson traffic signal at 194/163. Turn right on 194, go one block to McDonald's. Doug Monroe will meet us in the parking area between McDonalds and the small shopping center. He will have a black and white GMC dump truck.
From Eldreth Inn: similar to above - take 221 toward Boone and interesection with 194/163, then follow the directions above.

Directions to New River State Park US 221 Access Area
The US 221 Access Area, at river mile 15, is located eight miles northeast of Jefferson off US 221.

Related Links:

Bluff Mountain Nature Preserve The Nature Conservancy's information about the Bluff Mountain Preserve
New River IBA: National Audubon Society's informational page about the New River Corridor IBA
Audubon NC IBAs: Information about all of NC's Important Bird Areas including the New River Corridor