About the Club

Mission Statement

The Carolina Bird Club is a non-profit organization that represents and supports the birding community in the Carolinas through its website, publications, meetings, workshops, trips, and partnerships, whose mission is


Join us — Join, Renew, Donate

The Carolina Bird Club, Inc., is a non-profit educational and scientific association open to anyone interested in the study and conservation of wildlife, particularly birds.

The Club meets each winter, spring, and fall at different locations in the Carolinas. Meeting sites are selected to give participants an opportunity to see many different kinds of birds. Guided field trips and informative programs are combined for an exciting weekend of meeting with people who share an enthusiasm and concern for birds.

The Club offers research grants in avian biology for undergraduate and graduate students, and scholarships for young birders.

The Club publishes two print publications (now also available online). The Chat is a quarterly ornithological journal that contains scientific articles, reports of bird records committees and bird counts, and general field notes on bird sightings. CBC Newsletter is published bimonthly and includes birding articles and information about meetings, field trips, and Club news.

The Club provides this website to all for free.

By becoming a member, you support the activities of the Club, receive reduced registration fee for meetings, can participate in bonus field trips, and receive our publications.

Join, Renew, or Donate now!


Other Resources (NOT sponsored by Carolina Bird Club)



Jocassee Gorges

Robin Carter

Directions

From the intersection of SC 11 and US 178 in northern Pickens County go north, up the mountain, on US 178 for 8.3 miles. Here turn left onto Road and then immediately turn right onto an unpaved road, Laurel Fork Road. Follow Laurel Fork Road for about 0.3 miles to a parking lot for the Foothills Trail. Park here and continue along the road (not the Foothills Trail). At about 0.2 miles from the parking lot you will reach the Eastatoe Gorge Trail, on your left (south), or you can hike the Foothills Trail into the Jocassee Gorges area. There are many unpaved roads in this area. These roads may or may not be gated. None of them is suitable for low clearance two-wheel drive vehicles.

Birds to look for

Ruffed Grouse, Wild Turkey, Broad-winged Hawk (s), Yellow-billed Cuckoo (s), Whip-poor-will (s), Common Raven, Wood Thrush (s), Northern Parula (s), Black-throated Blue Warbler (s), Black-throated Green Warbler (s), Yellow-throated Warbler (s), Pine Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler (s), American Redstart (s), Worm-eating Warbler (s), Swainson's Warbler, Ovenbird (s), Louisiana Waterthrush (s), Kentucky Warbler (s), Hooded Warbler (s), Scarlet Tanager (s), Indigo Bunting (s)

Description

The Jocassee Gorges are a huge natural area at low to mid elevations in the Blue Ridge Mountains of northern Pickens County, SC. Eastatoe Creek Heritage Preserve is adjacent to Jocassee Gorges and has similar habitats. Much of the area is wild and remote. Visitors much hike in, or drive in on primitive roads (four wheel drive recommended). Sassafras Mountain, the highest point in South Carolina, is part of Jocassee Gorges, but has its own description. Most of the Jocassee Gorges area is much lower in elevation than Sassafras Mountain, i.e. below 2500 feet. The bird life of the Jocassee Gorges area is not well known. Here is your chance to explore.

Links

Map

Get directions



Return to South Carolina site map

Return to South Carolina site table of contents

Return to CBC Main Page