Saturday April 5. Hospital Fields. With sparrows moving through at this season, the brushy fields along the bike trail still remain the best place locally to search for them. Meet at the Rec. Dept. parking lot at 9 a.m.

Saturday April 12. Calvert fields/ Lyons Mt. Road. Though much of Calvert has been converted to sod, there still remain enough brushy edges to attract sparrows, pipits and other field species, and this place always seems to bring a surprise or two. Meet at the parking lot of the Cherryfield Baptist Church on Whitmire Road at 9 a.m.

Wednesday April 16. Hospital Fields. This is the first of our spring bonus walks, which will continue on Wednesday mornings through May. Meet at the Rec. Dept. parking lot at 9:00 a.m.

Saturday April 19. Cathey’s Creek Road. A slow drive along this rural road usually produces early songbirds at this season. And last year we heard a grouse drumming! Meet at the Sav-Mor parking lot on Rosman Highway at 9:00 a.m.

Wednesday April 23. Hospital Fields. See April 16 entry for details.

Saturday April 26. Pink Beds. Our annual "Blackburnian warblers guaranteed" trip to this bird-rich site. Bring lunch if you want to extend your day to include the Parkway. Meet at the BiLo parking lot, Rt. 276 entrance, at 9:00 a.m.

Wednesday April 30. Hospital Fields. See April 16 entry for details.

Saturday May 3. Spring Bird Count. We are moving the count up one week to take advantage of the height of migration in this area and also to eliminate conflict with Mother’s Day weekend. The entire county is our territory, so we need all of you to take part! Field participants and feeder watchers are equally important for this count. Call Norma Siebenheller (884-5443) to register.

Wednesday May 7. Hospital Fields. See April 16 entry for details.

Saturday May 10. Devil’s Courthouse. Meet at the BiLo parking lot, Rt. 276 entrance, at 9:00 a.m. and we’ll drive directly to the Courthouse, to explore the area for northern breeding species, unique to this elevation in spring.

Wednesday May 14. Hospital Fields. See April 16 entry for details.

Saturday May 17. Poplar Lane. A stroll down this riverside lane usually brings nice surprises in spring. Meet at the beginning of Poplar Lane, off Everett Road, at 9:00 a.m.

Wednesday May 21. Hospital Fields. See April 16 entry for details.

Saturday May 24. Yellow Gap Road. A stop-and-look trip along this quiet Forest Service road should turn up warblers and other forest-breeding species. Bring a lunch or snack for possible late return. Meet at BiLo parking lot, Route 276 entrance, at 9:00 a.m.

Wednesday May 28. Hospital Fields. See April 16 entry for details.

Saturday May 31. Low-elevation forest sites. Meet at the Ranger Station at 9:00 a.m. for short walks through some nearby sites. (Exact destinations to be determined.)

Saturday June 7. Makeup Date. Meet at Kmart parking lot, near the EMS building, at 9 a.m. and we’ll decide on the spot where to go.

Saturday June 14. Hospital Fields. One last walk around our favorite haunts to see how the breeding birds are progressing. Meet at the Rec. Dept. parking lot at 9 a.m.

Membership in TCBC is $10 per address per calendar year. To join, send your check (made out to TCBC) to Marvin Barg, Treasurer; 265 Sylvan Byway, Pisgah Forest NC 28768.