Birders of the Tuckaseegee Watershed (Tuck Birders for short) is a club aimed to cultivate and support a our local community of bird enthusiasts by providing opportunities to learn, socialize, and share in our appreciation of the beautiful biodiversity of Western North Carolina.

All Tuck Birders events are free and open to all. There are no membership fees but we do encourage you to add your name to our email list so that you can be notified of future events and any last minute changes or cancellations. Some events with limited capacity may require pre-registration.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

SUMMER/FALL 2026

August 16 6:00pm Judaculla Rock

September 6 8:30am Monteith Park

September 20 6:00pm Tractor Supply Wetlands

October 4 8:30am Kituwah Fields (carpool available)

October 18 6:00pm Waterrock Knob (carpool available)

November 1 9:00am Oconaluftee Visitor Center (carpool available)

November 15 6:00pm Montieth Park

December 6 9:00am Lake Junaluska (carpool available)

For event details and carpooling locations please sign up for our email list

Who is this group for?: Bird loving, bird nerdy, and bird curious people of all ages and experience levels are welcome to join us. We especially welcome young people who are new to the hobby of birding as well as BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and people from other groups historically marginalized from outdoor recreation communities. All participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

We believe that owning expensive equipment should not be a barrier to participation and we have extra binoculars and field guides to loan out during our events to beginners.

We will be staying within a short distance of vehicles at most locations. Many locations where we will meet will be wheel-chair accessible. Please contact us with any questions or accessibility needs.

What is the cost?: This club is offered for FREE in the spirit of Gift Economy.

When and where will we meet?: Bi-monthly meet-up details will be posted on our schedule above, via email, as well as on our on our Facebook Group, and on Instagram @tuckbirders.

The club will generally meet the first and third Sunday each month. The first Sunday will be a morning bird walk and the third Sunday will be an evening bird walk. We will meet at various locations throughout the Tuckaseegee Watershed including Montieth Park, Jackson County Marsh, Judacullah Rock, and along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Our weekly locations will generally be within 30 minutes drive of downtown Sylva.

What do I need?: You don’t need to bring anything special to participate but please check the weather forecast and dress appropriately. Sudden temperature and weather to changes are common in this region, especially at higher elevations. Hiking shoes, warm layers and rain jackets are highly recommended even if the forecast looks clear and warm.

*Optional Gear List:

Binoculars: Please bring your own if you have them. 8x42 binoculars are the most commonly used optics for birding. Extra loaner binoculars are available to borrow during our events.
Field Guide: Bring along your favorite field guide and bird books. There will be time at the beginning and end of the meet-up to share and discuss our favorite birding resources.
Water and Snacks: Bring whatever you need to stay hydrated and sustained. Hot tea flasks are lovely on cool evenings
Bring a friend! Birding is more fun with buddies. All ages and experience levels are welcome (all participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.)

Birders of the Tuckaseegee Watershed (Tuck Birders for short) is a club aimed to cultivate and support a our local community of bird enthusiasts by providing opportunities to learn, socialize, and share in our appreciation of the beautiful biodiversity of Western North Carolina.

All Tuck Birders events are free and open to all. There are no membership fees but we do encourage you to add your name to our email list so that you can be notified of future events and any last minute changes or cancellations. Some events with limited capacity may require pre-registration.

*Optional Gear List:

Binoculars: Please bring your own if you have them. 8x42 binoculars are the most commonly used optics for birding. Extra loaner binoculars are available to borrow during our events.

Field Guide: Bring along your favorite field guide and bird books. There will be time at the beginning and end of the meet-up to share and discuss our favorite birding resources.

Water and Snacks: Bring whatever you need to stay hydrated and sustained. Hot tea flasks are lovely on cool evenings

Bring a friend! Birding is more fun with buddies. All ages and experience levels are welcome (all participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.)