3rd Annual Uwharrie Naturalist Weekend 2015 – May 9th and 10th

Hosted by The LandTrust for Central NC and NC Museum of Natural Sciences

Location: 860 Low Water Bridge Rd, Troy NC 27371

Guided Nature walks, Hikes, Canoe Trip, Camping

The LandTrust for Central North Carolina and staff from the North Carolina Museum of Sciences are hosting our 3rd annual Uwharrie Naturalist Weekend on May 9 and 10, 2015 – a weekend of nature exploration in the Uwharries. This naturalist weekend is the only one of its kind in the area and showcases the 1,300-acre Low Water Bridge Preserve on the Uwharrie River.

The first year we hosted the event, more than 50 folks came out and over the course of the weekend we spotted more than 20 bird species, at least 14 species of wildflowers in bloom, and 6 amphibian and reptile species, including one large timber rattlesnake! Last year was equally exciting and this year promises to be the same, as we will have John Gerwin, ornithologist at the N.C. Museum of Sciences in Raleigh, with us again, leading hikes in the morning and afternoon on Saturday – pointing out unique bird species by sight and sound along the way. This is the prime of birding season for neotropical migrants, so participants will see birds like red-eyed vireos, ovenbirds, summer and scarlet tanagers, prothonotary warblers, and more. John will talk about his research banding and tracking these birds in the Uwharries and Central America.

New this year, we will also have local rattlesnake expert, Zach Orr with us on Sunday. Zach describes himself as “a country boy that’s had a life long passion for critters, especially pit vipers or crotalids.” Most of his time has been spent tracking and monitoring all three of NC rattlesnake species along with copperheads and cottonmouths and various other snake species from VA to GA, residing in NC and keeping up with den and timber rattlesnake populations and identifying their habitat in the Uwharries since 1993. On the side in his spare time he has been expanding Randolph Rattlesnake Refuge and Research Center, where he does various programs and educational outreach workshops promoting conservation on native snakes for a variety of folks from schools, scouts 4-H, youth groups to safe handling workshops for emergency workers and game wardens along with housing a variety of snakes, several of which are rescues or confiscations from various areas in situations where individuals did not have the permits to possess them.

At the event there will be morning and afternoon hikes each day, starting at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Hikes will also feature discussions on native plants and any reptiles, amphibians or other species found along the way. There will be an option to camp on Saturday night and a late evening hike as well, listening for owls and nightjars. The event can be enjoyed for one or both days, as hikes will take place on different trails.

The event also includes a canoe trip on Saturday afternoon at 2pm and thanks to Boy Scout Troop 442 in Salisbury, we will have canoes for the first 30 people to RSVP. This usually fills up fast so if you want to join us please let us know soon! The float trip will also be open to anyone who brings a canoe or kayak.

The event is free but you must sign up. To RSVP please call or email Crystal at 336-633-0143 or crystal@landtrustcnc.org.

Check out this recap and picture gallery from our amazing adventures at last year’s Uwharrie Naturalist weekend.