Plus, Warren Wilson College votes to conserve 600 acres.
 
April 24, 2024 6AM-Top banner logo-small.png

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Today’s Forecast

68º | 20% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:45 a.m. | Sunset 8:11 p.m.

 

Look and listen for these local birds

eastern phoebe
The plump Eastern Phoebe gets its name from its song. | Photo by Andrew Cannizzaro
Hear that outside? With the nonstop chiming and chirping all over Asheville, this is the season to get into birdwatching. And lucky for us, NC is home to hundreds of year-round and migrating bird species, meaning there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy this joyful (and free) hobby.

In honor of our feathered friends, we’re sharing 20 of the birds you may be seeing or hearing in your backyard now — plus a few tips for perfecting your birdwatching approach.

Eastern Phoebe

This tail-wagging bird is the only flycatcher species that regularly winters in NC, and it frequently nests on rafters of houses and buildings. They also like nesting on rock ledges and around farms. In the spring, you can hear the song that gives them their name: a raspy “fee-bee.”

Black-Throated Green Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler

These beauties aren’t typically a backyard bird.

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Photo by @ncbirdwatch

Known as a relentless songbird, this sweet, lemon-faced bird loves mountain forests and can be spotted in high branches along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Its song is distinct and sounds a bit like someone chanting, “Trees, trees, I love trees.”

Tree Swallows

Tree swallows asheville

Tree Swallows love to chat.

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Photo by @ncbirdwatch

These handsome, chipper blue birds are often the first spring migrants to arrive in the Blue Ridge Mountains each year. These birds are also known for having acrobatic flight patterns (especially when chasing down bugs). You can often find them nesting in tree cavities, with a song that’s high-pitched and split into three sounds: a chirp, whine, and gurgle.
 
 
Events
 
Wednesday, April 24
  • Adlib Clothing’s Anniversoiree | Wednesday, April 24 | 5-7 p.m. | Adlib Clothing, 23 Haywood St., Asheville | Free | Celebrate 35 years of business with live music from Mr. Jimmy and Paul McIntire, small bites, drinks, and door prizes.
  • AVL Writers Weekly Critique | Wednesday, April 24 | 6-8 p.m. | Odd’s Cafe, 800 Haywood Rd., Ste. A-110, Asheville | Free | Bring a project to share with the group, or just join to discuss + get inspired — RSVP before attending.
Thursday, April 25
  • Thomas Wolfe Literary Award Ceremony | Thursday, April 25 | 6-8 p.m. | Ferguson Building Auditorium at A-B Tech, 19 Tech Dr., Asheville | $0-$10 | Help honor the 2024 recipient of the award, which is presented annually for printed works that focus on WNC.
  • Craft Beer Dinner | Thursday, April 25 | 6-8:30 p.m. | Twisted Laurel Weaverville, 10A S. Main St., Weaverville | $60 | Indulge in a specially curated menu paired with craft beers from Salt Face Mule Brewing Co.
Friday, April 26
  • Asheville Spring Herb Festival | Friday, April 26-Sunday, April 28 | Times vary | Davis Center at WNC Agricultural Center, 765 Boyleston Hwy., Fletcher | Free | Spring into the season by exploring 70+ vendors of herbs and herb-based products, enjoying food, and attending workshops.
  • Blind Date Live! | Friday, April 26 | 7 p.m. | The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave., Asheville | $22-$25 | Watch as real Asheville singles look for love, sight unseen — the special show for Mother’s Day will feature local moms + dads.
  • Thurgood | Friday, April 26-Sunday, May 19 | Times vary | North Carolina Stage Company, 15 Stage Ln., Asheville | $10-$48 | Follow the life and work of Thurgood Marshall, the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court.
Saturday, April 27
  • Spring Out ‘24 | Saturday, April 27 | 1-7 p.m. | Wedge Brewery at Foundation, 5 Foundy St., Asheville | Free | Gear up for the community ride with three routes, a pop-up bike park, and an ongoing bicycle frolic.
Click here to have your event featured.
 
 
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Outdoors
 

🚴‍♂️ 3 reasons Columbia is an outdoor enthusiast’s playground

A GIF of images showing a family riding bicycles together and the Congaree National Park.
The revamped Three Rivers Greenway is part of a 15.5 mile (and growing) riverfront trail system that follows the Broad, Saluda, and Congaree Rivers, and is your ticket to outdoor fun. | Photos by Forrest Clonts
With warmer days upon us, it’s time for some outdoor fun. Enter: Columbia, SC, just a hop + skip away and bursting with springtime activities.

Here are a few on our list:
 
News Notes
 
Regional
  • We’re bringing to light a big announcement. Great Smoky Mountain National Park’s annual synchronous firefly viewing will take place Monday, June 3 through Monday, June 10 — and the vehicle reservation lottery is about to open. Apply for viewing access from Friday, April 26 at 10 a.m. to Monday, April 29 at 11:59 p.m.
Civic
  • Buncombe County is seeking community input on its Early Voting Plan for the 2024 Presidential Election with a brief survey on the proposed locations + times for early voting. The Board of Elections will also hear in-person feedback at its Tuesday, April 30 meeting and will vote on the plan on Tuesday, May 7.
Outdoors
  • For the first time since 2019, the full scope of the Mountain Science Expo and Native Azalea Day are returning to The North Carolina Arboretum. This Saturday, April 27, stop by for a day of plein air artists, STEM learning, nature walks, wildlife talks, and a presentation from the UNC Asheville STEAM artists + engineers.
Civic
  • During the Monday, April 22 public hearing, the Buncombe County Planning Board deferred the vote for proposed short-term rental amendments — the deferment initially lasts 100 days but could be extended. Citing community discussion based on “misinformation,” the board postponed the vote to further explore public input. (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Community
  • You’ve got mail. This week, a random sampling of Buncombe County residents will receive a survey to give feedback on the Systemwide Parks & Recreation Master Plan. The survey will arrive by mail and will take around 15-20 minutes to complete. If you don’t get a survey, you can still share input online.
Number
  • $444.9 million. That’s the expenditure total for Buncombe County’s proposed FY25 budget — along with $416.5 million in revenues. This second-pass budget decreased expenditures by $18.5 million and added $4.2 million in revenue updates. The County will seek community input throughout May and hold a public hearing on Tuesday, June 4.
Drink
  • Riverbend Malt House, the local malt production facility and first craft malt house in the South, became the first Certified Regenified malt house in the world earlier this year. This certification recognizes the processing of certified regenified grains and regenerative agricultural practices, which focus on soil health for ecosystem support.
Kids
  • Got a budding artist on your hands? MountainTrue is hosting its first-ever Kid’s Merchandise Design Contest, where participants ages 10-14 can illustrate their love of the beauty + biodiversity of the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains. Check out the guidelines and submit designs by Friday, May 24.
Health
Number
  • $9,000. That’s how much you may be eligible to receive in solar + battery system rebates with Duke PowerPair. Combined with the existing Federal Tax Credit, homeowners can save 50% or more of the total system cost. Find out if you’re eligible before the deadline.*
 
 
Environment
 

On-campus conservation

A high shot overlooking green farmland, trees, and in the distance, mountains of Warren Wilson College campus.
The 600 acres cover agricultural land and undeveloped terrain. | Photo via Warren Wilson College
Last week, the Warren Wilson College Board of Trustees unanimously voted to establish four conservation easements with the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC). The easements would cover 600 acres of farm + forest land in the Swannanoa Valley.

The 600-acre piece of land is the largest remaining privately held tract of farm and forest land in Buncombe County, and the college and SAHC have been discussing its conservation for decades. These easements would help preserve some of the area’s biodiversity, and according to the college, the land is essential for the new Master of Science in Applied Climates Studies, which was announced in February and will launch in the fall of 2025.

SAHC evaluates the conservation value of potential projects (looking at plot characteristics like types of habitats and water quality), and the SAHC Board will vote on final approval of the easements this summer. The establishment process could take as much as four years to complete, hinging on the procurement of grants and funding.
 
The Buy
 
A two-in-one wine stopper and pourer. We love: The drip-proof pour and how easy it is to flip the lever down for air-tight storage.
 
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The Wrap
 
Molly Wilson.jpeg

Today’s edition by:
Molly

From the editor
On today’s episode of “Super Niche Science News with Molly” (just a working title), I wanted to share a development in the world of microscopic animals and radiation. Courtney Clark-Hachtel, assistant professor of biology at UNC Asheville, found that tardigrades are able to fix radiation damage by increasing production of DNA repair genes — and the knowledge could help in trying to protect other animals and microorganisms from harmful radiation. Learn more about the research that will continue right in our backyard.
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