Springville, Tenn.–Our area–which is also the Mississippi Flyway– is home to the Wings of Winter Birding Festival (WOW), a multi-bird festival held over much of the Kentucky Lake/Lake Barkley region in West Tennessee with its headquarters at the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge in Springville.
In this area are a myriad of public lands managing a diversity of habitats that are also home to over 300 species of birds. About 200 of these species gather here in winter during their regular migration. Much of this spectacular show is why winter birders find this area a top destination.
The Wings of Winter event welcomes all levels of birders for three days of birding trips, presentations, meals and camaraderie. Now in its third year, the festival takes place January 24-26, 2020, during the peak of winter migration. Registration is open through midnight January 1st at https://friendstnwr.org/wingsofwinter/
“The host of the event, Friends of the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge, brings in exceptional speakers and guides who help ensure a weekend of wonder on Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake,” according to Ranger Joan Howe. “Having such expertise on hand has made a big difference in the success of this annual event. In the two years the TNWR has hosted the event, as many as 120 species of birds and waterfowl were spotted over the course of the three day festival, thanks to their participation of these speakers and guides.”
Keynote Speaker Scott Weidensaul is a celebrated naturalist, ornithologist, author and Pulitzer Prize finalist. He will join attendees on the pre-festival boat tour, lead a spectacular trip behind sanctuary gates, and direct a field trip to TVA’s Harmon Creek Management Unit.
Author of more than two dozen books, Weidensaul is especially intrigued by bird migration. His most recent work is Peterson’s Reference Guide to Owls of North America and the Caribbean, which will be available for sale at the festival.
Brian “Fox” Ellis portrays naturalists of historic note. Ellis will enlighten and inspire guests at Dinner with Charles Darwin. He will also portray John James Audubon as a guide on field trips and lead a workshop called “Bird Is the Word: Journaling, Poetry, Non-Fiction Writing, and Ornithology.”
Opportunities to explore this bird-rich region abound, thanks to a variety of public lands that offer a wealth of woods and water. Throughout the festival, tours visit birding hotspots such as the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge (TNWR). The trip to the Big Sandy Unit of the TNWR and historic Old 23rd area features waterfowl as well as wetland and woodland birds. It includes a bite to eat at Christopher Manor, a beautifully preserved log cabin that now serves as an eco-friendly restaurant.
The festival also features a trip to 170,000-acre Land Between the Lakes National Forest, where eagles, pelicans, raptors and woodland songbirds are familiar residents. The Winter Big Day is another chance for serious birding as participants and local experts spot as many species as possible during a marathon 12-hour timespan. Sightings often include rarities such as the Golden Eagle, Peregrine, LeConte’s Sparrow and others.
This region is brimming with local culture and history that WOW planners have incorporated into many festival activities. For instance, the Civil War Battlefields trip offers an opportunity to view several species on the grounds of Forts Donelson and Heiman. The active Bald Eagle nest at Fort Donelson is a special treat.
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