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Birders keep their eyes on the skies -- and on trees, bushes and ponds

Carol Woods's residents are fortunate to have the free time and the perfect habitat for viewing and admiring the fine feathered friends that grace the campus year round.

The mixture of woods, edges, water and fields attract many species of birds, from songbirds to raptors. With 30 years of mature growth, the towering pines and oaks provide the perfect home for many, as do the hedges and flowering bushes that surround the cottages and apartments.

On a morning or afternoon walk on most any day at Carol Woods, one can hear the "che-wink" of a rufous-sided towhee, or the garbled whistles of a resident eastern bluebird saying, "cheer, cheer, cheerful charmer."

One way for residents to learn how to identify and better appreciate these birds is through the Carol Woods Bird Club, a resident-run club that is open to anyone and everyone in the community.

Birds were on the minds of the inaugural residents of Carol Woods as early as 1980. At that time, three dozen residents displayed an interest in forming a bird club. It was soon made official, and resident birding commenced.

Records of Christmas bird counts in Carol Woods' archives reach back to 1979, when a handful of residents recorded 28 species, including eleven quail and sixteen purple finches, which are no longer seen on campus today.

Interest in the club waxed and waned over the past few decades until Audrey Booth, a Nebraska native and nature-lover, came onto the scene in 1996 and investigated a way to get involved in the community as a new resident.

"I had my clipboard and my binoculars and I walked all around the perimeter of the campus, counting the bird baths and bird houses to see what's going on here," explained Booth. "I met a lot of people!"

Booth found enough renewed interest to revive the Bird Club that remains together today.

Bird lovers meet once a month in the Assembly Hall to compare notes and bird-related stories. A program is always planned in advance. The general purpose of Bird Club meetings is to educate residents about serious ornithology and environmental issues, at the same time offering entertainment activity related to birds. From lectures to live raptor shows, there is never a shortage of activities for bird lovers.

Recent activities include watching the latest bird documentaries, attending on-campus lectures given by local bird experts such as Cynthia Fox, owner of the Wild Bird Store in Eastgate; Chris Canfield, the North Carolina Audubon Executive Director; and Kate Dixon, Executive Director of Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail. Many bird-loving residents who enjoy traveling to faraway countries often bring back photographs and stories that they share with the Bird Club.

Last spring, the Bird Club brought birds and their trainer from the Carolina Raptor Center of Charlotte to Carol Woods for a Bird Club meeting. The event featured several different species including a hawk, falcon and owls. Residents enjoyed this exciting learning experience as they viewed the magnificent creatures at close range.

Members have also contributed funds for a 30-box bluebird trail that winds around campus, a $2,000 setup for two purple martin houses, several bird feeders and bird baths throughout campus, and have been participants in every Meadow Wood summer camp that Carol Woods hosts on campus. The Bird Club spends time teaching the children about bluebirds and how they nest and fledge, and give the kids a chance to look in the boxes and view live birds.

The Bluebird Trail has been monitored since 1995. Residents monitor and collect data during the four- to five-month nesting season using the 30 boxes on campus. Once the data is collected, it is submitted to the state and then is ultimately pooled into the North American Bluebird Society's data bank.

Residents in Garden Assisted Living apartments are active in bluebird monitoring as well. One resident and Carol Woods Bird Club member maintains two bluebird boxes and bird feeders in the gardens of the two buildings near where he lives. This residents' contribution has brought joy to many Assisted Living residents who take their meals within sight of the boxes and feeders.

Rod Gorham, former President of the Carol Woods Bird Club, was a member from the beginning of his residency at the community.

"I was approached by birders when we were staying at the Guest House as prospective residents, and the next thing I knew I was the president of the bird club," Gorham said. "I have always been a birder. When we first moved from Maine, we were looking forward to seeing new birds and more birds in the south."

Gorham and his wife, Nancy, lead spring bird walks at Carol Woods from March to early May. He says that in 90 minutes the birders will see about 25 species of birds.

"The best part is that we stay on paved walkways, so any resident can go, even with the ones that use walkers," said Gorham. "They learn something, and we have fun."

Judy Smallwood is the official "convener" of the club and uses her note-taking and organizational skills to contribute to the group. She helps make sure everyone in the community can take part in birding, no matter what their circumstance.

"For those who are shut in and can't get out and go birding, we meet their needs and the needs of those who like to get out and go hiking and take pictures," Smallwood said.

She's not a "birdbrain," she said, but she is picking up the habit.

"Gently, I'm learning," she said. "In the meantime I'm painting. I want to look at the bird pictures and make some contemporary paintings of the birds."

Booth said there's no shortage of potential new members.

"We try to harness new resident's energy if they like birds," Booth said with a smile.