Birds of Pond Mountain Game Land

The Pond Mountain Game Land is a state-owned, 3,000-acre game land in Ashe County. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission actively manages the property with prescribed fire to provide quality early succes- sional habitat. This area is home to several of North Carolina's bird Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Pond Mountain Game Land map Driving Directions: From Boone take HWY 421 N for 37 miles. Turn right onto TN-167 N/Forge Creek Road and travel 7.5 miles. Turn left onto South Flatwoods Road and drive 6.6 miles. Turn right onto Rock Fence Road and drive 0.9 miles. Kiosk and entrance to Pond Mountain Came Land on the left. Lower gate is open April 1 - January 1. Second gate is open September 1 to January 1 and during Turkey Season. Cate by hangar is closed year-round. Suggested Bird Walk: A 3-mile out-and-back walk along main game land road. The turn around point is at the highest point of the ridge near an old airplane hangar. Birders can continue even further along this road into the backcountry section of Pond Mountain if they would like a 5-mile out-and-back walk. This list contains 122 species of birds observed by biologists with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and birders from the High Country Audubon Society. Some species were observed on land adjacent to the game land. Bird data for the game land are incomplete, and the checklist may not contain all credible sightings. We encourage birders to use eBird and to visit the High Country Audubon Society website (highcountryaudubon.org). Find additional information about hunting seasons in North Carolina: N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission's website. ncwildlife.org/hunting/hunting-in-North-Carolina Find additional information about birding in North Carolina: • N .C. Wildlife Resources Commission's website, ncwiidlife.org/Outdoor-Activities/Outdoor-Activities-in-North-Carolina * High Country Audubon Society, highcountryaudubon.org N.C. Birding Trail website, ncbirdingtrail.org ^П1^П (_/OUntry •Audubon Society Observer(s) _ Date - Start/End Times _ / Weather Conditions - Stationary or Traveling? - Distance Traveled - Locations - Remarks: BIRDS OF Pond Mountain Came Land A publication of the N.C.WIdlife Resources Commission Cover arc Vesper Sparrow by Jan Hayes Seasonal Occurrences and Relative Abundance of Bird Species on Pond Mountain Came Land S- Spring March-May s-Summer June-August F-Fall September-November W-Winter Decern ber-Feb rua ry C-Common Detected regularly in suit¬ able habitat F-Fairly Common Likely to be detected in suitable habitat U-Uncommon Present, but may not be detected O-Occasional Detected only a few times during a season R-Rare Not detected every year A-Accidental Detected only once W-W/nter Resident S-Summer Resident P-Permonent Resident M-Spring/Fall Migrant W/S/M-Present year round but not permanent resident *Suspected Resident Species in bold text indicate Species of Greatest Conservation Need as identified in the NC Wildlife Action Plan (ncwildlife.org/plan). Ducks, Geese, Swans Sp s F w Canada Goose R Wood Duck R New World Quails Northern Bobwhite 0 Crouse and Allies Ruffed Crouse u U u и Wild Turkey C C c c Pigeons and Doves Mourning Dove C c c c Cuckoos Yellow-billed Cuckoo и и и