Field Trips
The Piedmont Bird Club schedules a wide variety of field trips throughout the year, to birding locations in the Piedmont area and the broader region. Most local trips are just for the morning or day; trips that venture farther afield may stretch over several days. Field trips are led by knowledgeable birders from the Club; we encourage birders of all experience levels to attend. Unless otherwise noted, field trips are free and open to the public.
In addition to the scheduled field trips, which are organized in June, at the beginning of the Club year, the Club occasionally offers “impromptu” field trips to take advantage of an unexpected opportunity. PBC members are notified of these impromptu trips via the Club’s email listserv.
Participating in a PBC Field Trip
When considering participation in a field trip, be sure to consult the full trip description found on the website calendar and in our Yearbook. In addition to describing the location and the likely birds to be seen, the trip description will also contain important information about any limitations or restrictions, such as limit to number of persons or vehicles; presence of challenging walking terrain; or deadline for registering for the trip.
To register for a field trip, contact the trip coordinator listed in the description. The trip coordinator will provide accurate up-to-date information about meeting location and time, and other pertinent information about the trip.
Be sure to wear clothing and shoes appropriate for the terrain and weather. It is generally useful to bring binoculars and a field guide, if you have them. This is not a requirement, though; others on the trip are usually happy to share. If you expect to want food or drink during the trip, be sure to bring it with you, along with appropriate means to carry any trash or leftovers until they can be disposed of properly.
In addition to the scheduled field trips, which are organized in June, at the beginning of the Club year, the Club occasionally offers “impromptu” field trips to take advantage of an unexpected opportunity. PBC members are notified of these impromptu trips via the Club’s email listserv.
Participating in a PBC Field Trip
When considering participation in a field trip, be sure to consult the full trip description found on the website calendar and in our Yearbook. In addition to describing the location and the likely birds to be seen, the trip description will also contain important information about any limitations or restrictions, such as limit to number of persons or vehicles; presence of challenging walking terrain; or deadline for registering for the trip.
To register for a field trip, contact the trip coordinator listed in the description. The trip coordinator will provide accurate up-to-date information about meeting location and time, and other pertinent information about the trip.
Be sure to wear clothing and shoes appropriate for the terrain and weather. It is generally useful to bring binoculars and a field guide, if you have them. This is not a requirement, though; others on the trip are usually happy to share. If you expect to want food or drink during the trip, be sure to bring it with you, along with appropriate means to carry any trash or leftovers until they can be disposed of properly.
Field Trip Code of Birding Ethics
All participants in PBC field trips are expected to abide by the following general principles:
Group birding, whether organized or impromptu, requires special care
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Field Trip Safety
The PBC intends that participants enjoy and have a safe experience in all activities sponsored by the club. When you participate in any bird club event, be certain you review all relevant information and discuss any concerns with the Trip Coordinator.
Appropriate clothing, provisions, and necessary equipment are the responsibility of each participant. All participants in club activities, especially field trips, are expected to comply with precautions noted by Coordinators at the outset or during the events. Participants must note and comply with any safety/warning notices posted along trails or at other sites. When in doubt, err on the side of caution. Inform the Trip Coordinator of any unsafe conditions. If you need to leave the group during a trip, be sure to tell the Coordinator. Pets can cause safety problems for participants and frighten birds, so all pets are banned from field trips. Safety is a top priority. |
Schedule of Field Trips for 2025–2026
The 2025–26 PBC field trips are listed below. See the PBC Website Calendar for a description of each trip.
August 30 (Saturday) Guilford County Farm, Howerton Road*
September 6 (Saturday) Audubon Natural Area*
September 9 (Tuesday) Reedy Fork Trail, from Lake Brandt Road Trailhead
September 13 (Saturday) Haw River State Park, Iron Ore Belt Access
September 17 (Wednesday) Swifts Night Out*
September 23 (Tuesday) Old Bynum Bridge and Meadow
September 27 (Saturday) Africa Lake (Hippo Beach, NC Zoo)
October 1 (Wednesday) Southwest Park, Greensboro, NC
October 4 (Saturday) Chinqua-Penn Trail
October 7 (Tuesday) Price Park
October 15 (Wednesday) Guilford County Farm, Howerton Road
October 23 (Thursday) Richardson-Taylor Preserve
November 8 (Saturday) Company Mill Preserve
November 15 (Saturday) Nichols Longleaf Pine Nature Preserve
December 2 (Tuesday) Haw River State Park (The Summit)
January 10 (Saturday) White Street Landfill*
January 17 (Saturday) Selma Trogdon Ward Nature Preserve on Bachelor Creek
February 5-8 (Thursday-Sunday) Inner and Outer Banks Trip
February 28 (Saturday) Ridges Mountain Nature Preserve, Asheboro, NC
March 21 (Saturday) Guilford County Farm, Howerton Road*
March 25 (Wednesday) Price Park
March 28 (Saturday) NC A&T University Farm*
April 11 (Saturday) Purgatory Mountain Nature Area
April 14 (Tuesday) Audubon Natural Area*
April 16-19 (Thursday–Sunday) SC Trip to Huntington Beach State Park and Georgetown Area
April 22 (Wednesday) Tanglewood, Yadkin River Trail
April 28-29 (Tuesday-Wednesday) “Warbler Road”–Virginia’s Blue Ridge Parkway
May 5 (Tuesday) Company Mill Preserve
May 7 (Thursday) Birding from Kayaks/Canoes on High Point Lake
May 8 (Friday) Haw River State Park, Iron Ore Belt Access
May 12 (Tuesday) Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve
May 17 (Sunday) Chinqua-Penn Trail
May 19 (Tuesday) Richardson-Taylor Preserve
May 23 (Saturday) Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area
May 28 (Thursday) Hamilton Lakes
June 3 (Wednesday) Southwest Park, Greensboro, NC
*These trips are a joint activity with the T. Gilbert Pearson Audubon Society
August 30 (Saturday) Guilford County Farm, Howerton Road*
September 6 (Saturday) Audubon Natural Area*
September 9 (Tuesday) Reedy Fork Trail, from Lake Brandt Road Trailhead
September 13 (Saturday) Haw River State Park, Iron Ore Belt Access
September 17 (Wednesday) Swifts Night Out*
September 23 (Tuesday) Old Bynum Bridge and Meadow
September 27 (Saturday) Africa Lake (Hippo Beach, NC Zoo)
October 1 (Wednesday) Southwest Park, Greensboro, NC
October 4 (Saturday) Chinqua-Penn Trail
October 7 (Tuesday) Price Park
October 15 (Wednesday) Guilford County Farm, Howerton Road
October 23 (Thursday) Richardson-Taylor Preserve
November 8 (Saturday) Company Mill Preserve
November 15 (Saturday) Nichols Longleaf Pine Nature Preserve
December 2 (Tuesday) Haw River State Park (The Summit)
January 10 (Saturday) White Street Landfill*
January 17 (Saturday) Selma Trogdon Ward Nature Preserve on Bachelor Creek
February 5-8 (Thursday-Sunday) Inner and Outer Banks Trip
February 28 (Saturday) Ridges Mountain Nature Preserve, Asheboro, NC
March 21 (Saturday) Guilford County Farm, Howerton Road*
March 25 (Wednesday) Price Park
March 28 (Saturday) NC A&T University Farm*
April 11 (Saturday) Purgatory Mountain Nature Area
April 14 (Tuesday) Audubon Natural Area*
April 16-19 (Thursday–Sunday) SC Trip to Huntington Beach State Park and Georgetown Area
April 22 (Wednesday) Tanglewood, Yadkin River Trail
April 28-29 (Tuesday-Wednesday) “Warbler Road”–Virginia’s Blue Ridge Parkway
May 5 (Tuesday) Company Mill Preserve
May 7 (Thursday) Birding from Kayaks/Canoes on High Point Lake
May 8 (Friday) Haw River State Park, Iron Ore Belt Access
May 12 (Tuesday) Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve
May 17 (Sunday) Chinqua-Penn Trail
May 19 (Tuesday) Richardson-Taylor Preserve
May 23 (Saturday) Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area
May 28 (Thursday) Hamilton Lakes
June 3 (Wednesday) Southwest Park, Greensboro, NC
*These trips are a joint activity with the T. Gilbert Pearson Audubon Society