Friday, June 18

The Highlands Plateau Audubon Society will kick off the weekend with a bird walk around the Cashiers Commons Boardwalk beginning 8 a.m. Romney Bathurst, a well-traveled birder, will lead the walk and search for both nesting migrants and year-round species. Meet at the Jackson County Recreation Center parking lot in Cashiers. RSVP to 828.743.9670.

Friday morning will also feature a Gorges State Park Program and hike and a Panthertown Valley hike followed by a children’s program in the afternoon called “Creepy, Crawly Things are Wildlife, Too”. Call ahead of time to reserve a spot. 

Steve O’Neil, an advocate for wild lives and wild places, will give a reptile and amphibian presentation for children at 3 p.m. in a program titled “Our Most Misunderstood Wildlife.”

A silent auction, with proceeds to benefit Mountain Wildlife Days’ Western North Carolina Wildlife Outreach outdoor education opportunities, will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Sapphire Valley Community Center. The auction will continue throughout the day Saturday. 

The “Caring for God’s Creation” portion of the event will open with gospel music from Pinnacle Ridge at 7 p.m. Following the music, Bill Lea will give a presentation alongside his nature photography and piano music from Bryan Heller. 

Saturday, June 19

Michael Skinner of Balsam Mountain Nature Center will give a presentation featuring live birds of prey at 10:15 a.m. 

At 11:10 a.m., Kim Delozier, a retired Great Smoky Mountains National Park ranger and author, will share some of his exciting wildlife encounters. 

At 1 p.m., Dr. Dave Unger, biology professor at Maryville College, will give a presentation titled “What Little Red Riding Hood Didn’t Tell You About the Big, GOOD Wolf.” 

North Georgia Zoo will present their “Wildlife Wonders” program to get up close with a variety of unusual animals at 2 p.m. 

828.743.7663.