Parks & Recreation

Birding – 286 species and counting!

Carter County is one of the best places in the southeastern United States for bird watching. The great elevation difference between valleys and mountains, the prevalence of streams and lakes, large wilderness areas, and the generally mild climate create environments for over 280 species of birds, including many normally found far north of Tennessee. Excellent roads provide easy access to some of the best locations, and a county-wide network of trails gives the adventurous access to more-remote hot spots.

Carter County Parks & Rec works with the Lee & Lois Herndon Chapter of the Tennessee Ornithological Society  (the Herndon Birders) to make our county a great place to go birding!

Check out East Tennessee State University’s Eagle Cams (OK, they aren’t in Carter County, but they’re nearby, and we do have eagles in the county).  Eagle Cam 1   Eagle Cam 2

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

FREE CHECKLIST OF THE BIRDS OF CARTER COUNTY
Free birding map of Carter County – pending
Birding app for smart phones (Android) (Apple) – pending
Roan Mountain Naturalist Rally

Publications:
The Guide to Birding in Carter County – pending
The Birds of Northeast Tennessee by Rick Knight

Websites:
Tennessee Ornithological Society – Lee & Lois Herndon Chapter website
TOS state website
Tennessee Birding Trails
Ebird
TN Watchable Wildlife

Maps, books, and brochures are also available at the Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce office in Elizabethton on Highway 19E/321.

Interested in making Carter County an even better place to go birding? Contact TOS Herndon Chapter.

Do you have pictures made in Carter County you’d like to share?  Contact the webmaster.

Contact us

Thanks to Roy Knispel, Sparky Paessler, Ken Gough and Greg James for photos.