White-breasted Nuthatch – Great Smoky Mountain Birds

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The White-breasted Nuthatch is commonly observed at Up the Creek RV Camp. Readily attracted to bird feeders, it spends much of its time laboriously carrying seeds away to hide them in crevices. It gets its name from its habit of jamming large nuts and acorns into tree bark, then whacking them with its sharp bill to “hatch” out the seed from the inside. White-breasted Nuthatches are agile birds that creep along trunks and large branches, often turning sideways and upside down on vertical surfaces as they forage.

White-breasted Nuthatches are loud, and often their persistent nasal calls will lead you right to them. The largest nuthatch, it has a large head and almost no neck, with a very short tail and a long, narrow bill that is straight or slightly upturned.

White-breasted Nuthatches are blue-gray on the back, with a white face and underparts. The black or gray cap and neck frame the face. The lower belly and under the tail are often chestnut. You can identify the White-breasted Nuthatch and many other native birds while camping in Pigeon Forge at Up the Creek RV Camp.

Pink Lady’s-Slipper – Great Smoky Mountain Wildflowers

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Pink lady’s-slipper is a fairly rare spring wildflower in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The blossom has a pink inflated pouch (“slipper”) & two large basal leaves that are strongly ribbed.It is a member of the orchid family & grows to up to 18 inches tall. Witnessing these amazing wildflowers in bloom is a truly exhilarating experience!

 

Wilderness Wildlife Week – Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

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May 9-13, 2017, is Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Last year, the International Festivals & Events Association awarded Wilderness Wildlife Week as the “Best International Event of 2016”. Most events including demonstrations, classes, storytelling, and a photography contest will take place at the Leconte Center in Pigeon Forge. Outdoor Excursions are also part of the event, including guided walks to Charlies Bunion, Walker Sisters’ Cabin, Mount LeConte, Grotto Falls, Goshen Prong, and Porters Creek, and historic bus tours of Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, Pittman Center and Cosby. Whitewater rafting, tubing and birding safaris are also on the schedule.

From the beginning, Wilderness Wildlife Week was intended to be an event, “committed to the education and enjoyment of the public as to the wonders of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.” With the creation of an enjoyable and enriching series of walks, talks, workshops, and informative exhibits, participants are encouraged to experience the abundant opportunities available in our beautifully diverse area. Wilderness Wildlife Week has since expanded into a celebration of wildlife throughout this country in “an attempt to illustrate how all things are truly connected.”

For more information, including a schedule of events for Wilderness Wildlife Week visit mypigeonforge.com

Up the Creek RV Camp has campsite openings for this event. Call 865-453-8474 to reserve your campsite in the Smokies!

Wildflowers of the Smoky Mountains – Flame Azaleas

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Pioneer botanist, William Bartram, discovered flame azaleas in 1791. He described the plant as “certainly the most gay and brilliant flowering shrub yet known.”

In the Great Smoky Mountains, flame azalea flower colors range from white to peach to orange, yellow, or red. Blooming time is April and May in the pine and oak forests at low to mid-elevation, but not until June or early July on the mountain tops. The famous displays on Gregory Bald bloom in mid to late June and on Andrews Bald in late June. Flame azalea can also be seen on Balsam Mountain Road.

Great Smoky Mountain Wildflowers

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One of the first wildflowers to bloom each year, the fragile bloodroot appears well before trees leaf out. Native Americans used bloodroot as dye for baskets and clothing, as well as for body paint. In large quantities, the orangish-red juice found in its rhizome is poisonous and can be lethal. These flowers appeared near the creek bank at Up the Creek RV Camp but can also be seen on Porters Creek Trail or Rich Mountain Road in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.