Red Beebalm

Carolina Chickadee

Swainson's Thrush

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (adult male)

Allegheny River Cruiser (male)

Blue Jay

Wood Frog (adult)

Wood Frogs are fascinating creatures that live here in Ashe County and forests of northern North America. They're easily recognized by brown coloration and distinctive dark masks across their eyes. They have amazing ability to be completely frozen during winter months and coming “back to life” in spring as temperatures warm up. They spend summers hopping around the woods, hunting for insects and small creatures among the fallen leaves where a camouflaged appearance helps them blend in perfectly. When spring arrives, wood frogs gather at temporary pools and ponds to breed, males making calls that sound like quacking ducks to attract mates. A female can lay more than 1,000 eggs that soon hatch into little black tadpoles. (Photo © Dr. Bill Hilton Jr., www.hiltonpondnorth.org)

Virginia Bluebells, Mertensia virginica, are spring wildflowers that transform our Ashe County woodlands into enchanting displays of blue. These native perennials start as burgundy shoots that unfurl into broad, oval leaves with a distinctive blue-green hue. The real magic happens when clusters of tubular flowers appear, starting as pink buds that open into sky-blue bells hanging gracefully. These ephemeral beauties bloom for just a few weeks in April and May before disappearing completely by midsummer, leaving no trace above ground. Virginia Bluebells thrive in rich, moist woodland soils and partial shade. Their flowers attract early pollinators including bees and butterflies emerging from winter dormancy. After blooming, the plants store nutrients in underground rhizomes as the plants go dormant until the following spring. (Photo © Dr. Bill Hilton Jr., www.hiltonpondnorth.org)

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds grace Ashe County gardens and woodlands mid-April through early October. Adult males have a brilliant ruby-red throat (gorget) that in sunlight flashes like fire. These remarkable birds weigh half a nickel yet undertake incredible migrations, some flying nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico. Their wings beat 80 times per second, creating a distinctive humming sound and allowing them to hover and maneuver with unmatched precision. Ruby-throats feed on flower nectar, plus tiny insects and spiders for protein. Males arrive here first in spring and establish territories. After mating, females build nests of spider webs and lichens and raise young; adult males often begin southbound migration in early August. (Photo © Dr. Bill Hilton Jr., www.hiltonpondnorth.org)

Virginia Bluebells

Allegheny River Cruisers are large dragonflies that patrol Ashe County's rushing mountain streams and rivers with remarkable skill. These dark insects show bright yellow markings on thorax and abdomen, plus distinctive green eyes that seem to glow. Males are territorial guardians of their domains, flying tirelessly back and forth along stretches of fast-flowing water, hunting smaller insects and defending prime breeding spots. Females lay eggs by dipping abdomens into moving water, often in areas with rocky beds where nymphs develop. These aquatic larvae spend years underwater, crawling the bottom in pursuit of aquatic insects and small fish. Adults emerge in summer, living only a few months but making the most of their brief aerial existence in our pristine New River watersheds. (Photo © Dr. Bill Hilton Jr., www.hiltonpondnorth.org)

Blue Jays are energetic birds that bring color and personality to Ashe County backyards year-round. Their striking blue plumage, bold crests, and raucous calls make them unmistakable visitors to feeding stations. While some folks consider them "backyard bullies," jays actually serve important ecological roles and display remarkable intelligence. They plant thousands of oak trees by burying acorns for winter storage and forgetting their locations. They also act as sentinels, alerting other birds to approaching predators with their loud alarm calls. At feeders, their seemingly aggressive behavior is natural foraging efficiency—they're gathering food to cache for lean times. Blue Jays are devoted parents, highly social, and capable of mimicking other birds' calls. We should appreciate their complex behaviors, stunning appearance, and vital contributions to forest regeneration of our mountain woodlands. (Photo © Dr. Bill Hilton Jr., www.hiltonpondnorth.org)

Roundneck Burying Beetle

Raccoons are intelligent, adaptable mammals that thrive throughout Ashe County's diverse landscapes, from wooded valleys to suburban neighborhoods. These nocturnal bandits are instantly identified by  distinctive black facial masks and ringed tails, plus dexterous front paws that function almost like human hands. Raccoons are omnivores, eating everything from crayfish, frogs, and carrion to fruits, nuts, and—unfortunately—human garbage when available. Their curiosity and problem-solving abilities often cause conflict with homeowners as they raid trash cans, pet food, and bird feeders with little fear and remarkable persistence. Female raccoons typically give birth to 3-5 kits in spring, teaching them essential survival skills throughout summer. Despite their mischievous reputation, Raccoons play important ecological roles as seed dispersers and help control insect populations and roadkills across our mountain region. (Photo © Dr. Bill Hilton Jr., www.hiltonpondnorth.org)

Raccoon

Creeping Phlox

Creeping Phlox, Phlox stolonifera, is a delightful native groundcover that transforms Ashe County's woodland floors into carpets of spring color. This low-growing perennial spreads by runners—horizontal stems that extend above ground—creating dense mats of oval leaves that remain attractive throughout the year. In April and May clusters of five-petaled flowers emerge in shades ranging from pure white to deep purple, although soft lavender-blue is most common in our mountain forests. Unlike its more aggressive cousin Garden Phlox, Creeping Phlox behaves in native gardens, slowly expanding without becoming invasive. It thrives in partial shade and moist, well-drained, organic soils and attracts early butterflies and native bees while providing excellent erosion control on slopes. (Photo © Dr. Bill Hilton Jr., www.hiltonpondnorth.org)

Scientists authorized by the federal Bird Banding Laboratory capture, band, and release wild birds. Near Lansing NC, the Carolina Chickadee above received a numbered aluminum band that may provide valuable information about migration, survival, and site fidelity. When banded birds are encountered later, scientists can track individual life histories spanning years or even decades. The process is carefully conducted by trained researchers using humane techniques that minimize stress to birds. Data collected from millions of banded birds across North America help inform conservation decisions, habitat protection efforts, and our understanding of how climate change affects bird populations from hummingbirds to ducks. Each tiny band offers a window into secret lives of our feathered neighbors in Ashe County and beyond. (Photo © Dr. Bill Hilton Jr., www.hiltonpondnorth.org)