Birding trifecta

The second phase of the North Carolina Birding Trail (NCBT) was officially opened on May 15 and The North Carolina Birding Trail Piedmont Trail Guide should be available any day now. You can check on the status of the Piedmont Trail Guide at http://www.ncbirdingtrail.org/trail_guide.asp. Or you can go to http://www.ncbirdingtrail.org/maps_piedmont.asp to see a map and get information regarding the piedmont sites.

The piedmont section of the NCBT contains 103 sites combined in 15 groups across the piedmont — basically west of I-95 and east of I-77. The sites range from the Charlotte area to Crooked Run Wildlife Management Area in Vance County in the northeast piedmont to the Sandhill’s Cape Fear Botanical Garden in Cumberland County.

The Piedmont Trail Guide joins the Coastal Plains Trail Guide, which boasts 102 sites east of I-95 to the Atlantic. The third part of this trifecta a guide to the mountain region, west of I-77 should be available by summer 2009.

Like visions of sugarplums the idea of a North Carolina birding trail began dancing around in the heads of birders and conservationists in the late 1990s. In 2003 work began in earnest on the North Carolina Birding Trail under the direction of a partnership that includes Audubon North Carolina, North Carolina Resources Commission, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, North Carolina State Parks, North Carolina Sea Grant and the North Carolina Extension Service. The mission of the NCBT is “To conserve and enhance North Carolina’s bird habitat by promoting sustainable bird watching activities, economic opportunities, and conservation education.”

It’s no secret that the outstanding natural resources of The Old North State, from it’s granite mountains, across The American Tobacco Trail to the Outer Banks provide high octane fuel for North Carolina’s economic engine.

A 2006 U.S. Census Bureau survey noted that 71 million people spent more than $44 billion across the country in activities related to feeding and/or watching birds and other wildlife. A study done on the economic impact of the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail in 1999 noted that birders spent an average of $78.50 per person per day while on the trail.

To help businesses and communities capitalize on the economic opportunities presented by the trail NCBT partners offer “Birder Friendly Business & Birder Friendly Community” training programs. According to the NCBT Web site, “This program provides tools and information to market your business or community to birders as they travel the NC Birding Trail. Through focused presentations and group work, this one-day training covers topics such as birders as clients, enhancing your business and community for birders, hospitality and etiquette, birding basics, and conservation practices.”

All too often economic development and wildlands preservation/conservation are at loggerheads. The NCBT provides a win-win. A chance for combatants to take off the gloves, shake hands and work shoulder to shoulder to protect North Carolina’s natural resources while adding to her coffers.

One hundred and six sites have been nominated for the mountain region of the NCBT. They include many here in Haywood County including Lake Junaluska, Max Patch and Heintooga Road. To learn more about the NCBT visit the Web site at http://www.ncbirdingtrail.org/ or contact trail coordinator Salinda Daley at info@ncbirdingtrail.org or by phone at 919.604.5183.

Don Hendershot can be reached at ddihen1@bellsouth.net