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Everyone in WNC knows that Chimney Rock Park's beautiful 1,000 acres of forests and hundreds of gorgeous and rare birds are special, but recently, the Park has been honored for both.
With the help of NC State University, the NC Division of Forest Resources recently updated the state's Register of Big Trees. The Park nominated one of its slippery elms, sand hickory and white basswood species. Each one qualified as a Champion Tree. In upcoming hikes, Park Naturalist Ron Lance will show off these great beauties by including them on some of the "Off the Beaten Path" hikes. The Carolina Bird Club also honored the Park with inclusion in its recent print and online publication of Birding North Carolina. From Peregrine Falcons and Common Ravens to Wood Thrushes and Scarlet Tanagers, the publication's print and online versions highlight picks for best bird sites in North Carolina. Numerous species of birds are mentioned as being seen in Chimney Rock Park. The authors specifically name our Four Seasons Trail and the Great Woodland Adventure as the best for birding. Here's some more of what these authors have to say: "From its riverbanks to its highest cliffs, Chimney Rock Park is a haven for birds and bird lovers. Deciduous forests on the north and east-facing slopes attract many summer-breeding birds such as Scarlet Tanagers and as many as 15 varieties of warblers and vireos. The most elusive of these are the Cerulean and Swainson's Warblers. You can spot Cerulean Warblers in the tall trees immediately below the parking lot at the Chimney and the Swainson's Warbler in the rhododendron thickets, especially along the Hickory Nut Falls trail." Visit the Park's web site at www.chimneyrockpark.com for opportunities to join new bird walks and guided hikes and visit www.carolinabirdclub.org to learn more about this must-have new bird book. (Images provided by Chimney Rock Park.)
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