Confessions of a birding tour leader

Published 5:30 pm Thursday, April 20, 2017

Pacolet Area Conservancy and Walnut Creek Preserve welcome Simon Thompson

The Pacolet Area Conservancy (PAC) and Walnut Creek Preserve (WCP) invite the public to attend a free presentation by Simon Thompson, owner of Ventures Birding Tours, on “Confessions of a Birding Tour Leader.” The program will be held at the Anne Elizabeth Suratt Nature Center at Walnut Creek Preserve on Saturday, April 29 at 10:30 a.m.

Leading a birding or nature trip sounds like a dream job, exploring the world and seeing wonderful sights and animals, but like any adventure, things can wrong. Join Simon Thompson for a somewhat tongue-in cheek look at the fun and games he’s encountered while leading birding tours around the world.

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To get to Walnut Creek Preserve’s Nature Center from the Tryon and Columbus area, take Hwy. 108 E and turn left on Hwy. 9 toward Lake Lure. Follow Hwy. 9 north for five miles and turn right onto McGuinn Road (at the Exxon Station).

Go one mile to the intersection with Big Level Road; turn left, go 2/10ths of a mile and take the first right onto Aden Green Road. Follow Aden Green for 4/10ths of a mile and turn left on Wood Thrush Lane and into Walnut Creek Preserve.

Take the first left onto Conservatory Lane, which takes you to the parking area for the nature center. GPS coordinates to the Nature Center are available at the PAC website.

For more information or directions from another location, contact the Pacolet Area Conservancy at 828-859-5060 or e-mail landprotection@pacolet.org.

The next PAC/WCP program will be held on May 27, when mycologist and owner of Mushroom Mountain, Tradd Cotter, will present, “Amazing Fungi – The Dark Matter that Bounds all Life.”

For more information about Walnut Creek Preserve, visit walnutcreekpreserve.com. Walnut Creek Preserve is private property and guests are only allowed on the property by invitation (a planned event or scheduled group).

Article submitted by Pam Torlina