| It’s a nature-lover’s paradise, right outside the front door of Telliquah Outfitters. Our shop fronts on the Cherohala Skyway (TN 165), a 43-mile national scenic byway which climbs over 4,500 ft in elevation. The rugged mountains, sparse human population and diverse habitats of Tennessee's eastern border make it home to an amazing variety of wildlife. Protected in the 640,000-acre Cherokee National Forest, the largest tract of public land in Tennessee, are more than 20,000 species of plants and animals. From the rocky bed of the Tellico River, to the high elevation mountain forests, diverse ecosystems thrive. | |
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Birding There’s hardly a better bird watching location than right outside the door of Telliquah Outfitters. The current list of bird species seen at least once in Tennessee is close to 400. In the Cherokee National Forest, where we are located, 262 bird species are known to reside year-round or to visit seasonally. |
| Some of the birds you can expect to see are wood warblers, vireo’s, grosbeaks, birds of prey, and flycatchers. Birds will be identified by sight and sound.
More about birding in this area... The high bird count in our area can be attributed to the diverse habitats found in our “south end” of the Cherokee National Forest. Elevations range from about 700 feet to over 6000 feet above sea level in the Cherokee National Forest create a variety of ecosystems. Forests on the high mountain peaks are moisture-rich stands of red spruce, Fraser fir in shaded, dense stands. Under this canopy the ground is carpeted with apron moss, ferns and wood sorrel. In this habitat some northern birds reach the southern stretch of their breeding rang. Also found at high elevations are grassy “balds”, fields of mountain oats, grasses and wildflowers. The grassy bald is good for broad-winged hawk, American woodcock, raven, eastern bluebird, gray catbird, and chestnut-sided warbler. The Cherokee National Forest also includes cove and hardwood forests, mixed oak-hickory forests – environments which host the pileated woodpecker, winter wren, veery, blue-headed vireo, black-throated blue warbler, rose-breasted grosbeak, and a few blackburnian warblers. Nesting season peaks from May to early July. Several fall migration banding stations are staffed by the Tennessee Ornithological Society in mid- to late September. Take a Nature Walk... Take a Nature Walks and explore the wonders of the woods, in the Cherokee National Forest which surrounds us. Search for many different species of birds, salamanders, flowers, trees, molds and other wonders of nature. Our shop has books describing the many nearby hiking trails. |
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Wildflowers East Tennessee is blessed with a bounty of beautiful wildflowers, starting in early March continuing through early November. The colors and variety of wildflowers in this area is amazing, supported by the diversity in habitats. Discover sunny hilltops covered with meadow flowers, delicate ground covers blossoming in the shade of the forest canopy, riversides bordered by giant flowering shrubs, and endangered specimens whose beauty will fill you with wonder. |
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