Warriors' Path State Park, Kingsport, TN (2026)

05/30/2026

We’ve been looking EVERYWHERE for you! Even these watchful turtles are hoping you can join us for another GREAT week of "Summer In The Park" activities!

During the first week of June, you and your family can hike high and low, visit wildlife and wild plants, enjoy traditional crafts & tales, and much more. And it's all free!

Here's a detailed list of this week's events:

MONDAY, JUNE 1
6:00 PM FERN FUN - Make friends with some of the local ferns and their relatives. Meet at the park’s Mountain Bike Trail parking lot.
9:00 PM GRANDFATHER TALES - Evening is a perfect time to share a story! Come and hear the stories that Grandfathers have told for generations at the Open-air Chapel or the pool entrance if it is raining.

TUESDAY, JUNE 2
9:30 AM WAKE UP WALK - Let’s wake up our senses to morning in the forest. Meet at the main bath house for a refreshing morning walk.
10:30 AM CORN HUSK DOLLS - The early settlers along the Warriors' Path couldn't afford to waste anything! Even old corn husks could become a doll or toy. Meet at the Open Air Chapel to try this old-timey craft. If it's raining, meet at the main bath house.
11:30 AM ANIMAL HOMES - Meet some small “guest speakers” and discover more about who is “at home” here at the park. Come to the Open Air Chapel to find out about their habitats, and ours. In case of rain, meet at the main bath house.
1:30 PM FLINT & STEEL - We all enjoy watching a pretty campfire. But the early settlers needed fires to keep warm and to cook their meals. How did they start their fires without matches or lighter fluid? Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it rains.
3:00 PM LAKE SHORE ROUNDUP - We can help wildlife, and clean up their home at the same time! If they could talk, the critters would say "THANK YOU!!" Meet at the main bath house.
4:00 PM SPIDERS - Come discover more about our eight-legged neighbors! These tiny web-spinners have some incredible stories to tell. Meet at the main bath house.
5:00 PM BACKPACKING - Have you ever wanted to spend more than just a day in the back country? Here’s your chance to gain advice on how to begin your overnight expeditions. Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it is raining.
7:00 PM AWESOME OPOSSUM - Enjoy a talk on Tennessee’s only marsupial and discover all about their amazing role in our environment. Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if raining, to immerse yourself in the world of the Virginia Opossum.
9:00 PM DRAGONFLIES - These fascinating insects have some amazing life stories to tell. Come enjoy a slide-illustrated talk about these “bugs” that zip through the summer skies. Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or the main bath house if it’s raining.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3
11:00 AM GEOLOGY HIKE - Enjoy a hike across the rocky landscape, and learn to read the stories in stones. Meet at the Open Air Chapel.
2:00 PM WETLAND WALK - Wetlands are wet, and full of life! Come along for a soggy hike near Fall Creek, on the far side of the Devil’s Backbone. We might even spot a few dragonflies! Drive to the camp store, and we’ll carpool.
3:30 PM MAKE YOUR OWN TERRARIUMS - Build your own miniature green corner of the world! Bring a clear plastic jar or plastic bottle to the main bath house.
5:00 PM “WONDERFUL WACKY WET WEDNESDAY” - Let’s enjoy some kid-friendly water play and learning activities. You might even get to soak the Park Ranger. Meet at the Open Air Chapel and be prepared to get VERY WET!
6:00 PM HIKE LAKE HOLLOW – Enjoy a leisurely hike through the Lake Hollow Trail, and explore some of the unique habitats our animal neighbors call home. Meet at the camp store.
7:30 PM LOTS OF LEGS - Under rocks and logs, in cool damp places , we can meet some of our many-legged neighbors. Let’s go on a short walk to search for some centipedes and millipedes. Meet at the main bath house.
9:00 PM RACCOON RASCALS - Come discover more about these fascinating fur buddies, and learn more about their adventurous lives. Also find out how to keep them out of your campsite! Meet at the campfire circle, east end of the main campground (main bath house if it is raining).

THURSDAY, JUNE 4
9:30 AM SINKING WATERS RIDGE HIKE - Explore succession - the changing face of nature - on the first loop of the Sinking Waters Trail. We’ll discover the woodlands changing all around us! Drive to the camp store, and we’ll carpool to the start of the trail.
11:00 AM TURTLE TALK - Meet a real, live “shelled friend” and find out more about their amazing lives. Join our “wildlife ambassador” at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it is raining.
1:30 PM BAT & MOTH - Use your ears and your “bug hunting” skills! See if you could survive a night out in the woods and fields -- if you were a flying bug! Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it is raining.
3:00 PM TAG - You’re it! You’re the one we need to make all these great tag games work. Meet at the Open Air Chapel for all kinds of tag games. If it is raining, meet at the main bath house.
4:00 PM WHITETAIL HIKE - Come investigate some ancient forests, and find out more about this special habitat. We might even spot some deer “at home” in their habitat. Meet at the park’s Mountain Bike Trail parking area, at the end of Freeman Rd, Blountville TN.
5:00 PM JUNIOR RANGERS: CAMPGROUND CLEANUP - Make our park a cleaner, healthier environment! Make a big difference for our earth, and begin to earn a Junior Ranger badge. Meet at the main bath house. Be prepared to get dirty!
6:00 PM BARK RANGER - Is your dog ready to become an official B.A.R.K Ranger? Join us for a dog-friendly walk to learn what it takes to become a B.A.R.K Ranger! This hike is for dogs who are ready to demonstrate the 4 principles of being a B.A.R.K Ranger: 1.Bag your pet’s waste and dispose of it properly 2. Always wear a leash 3. Respect wildlife and park visitors 4. Know where you can go
Bring dog p**p bags and dog leash to the camp store.
8:30 PM OUR BACKYARD BATS - Bats live in almost every community in North America! Come discover more about our neighborhood bats with an interactive slideshow. Meet at the Open Air Chapel or pool entrance if it’s raining.

FRIDAY, JUNE 5
8:00 AM BEGINNER BIRDING - You don’t have to be an expert to appreciate birds, and Warrior’s Path is full of them! Walk through the campground for some tips about birding and identification. Meet at the main bath house, and bring your curiosity. You can bring binoculars if you have them (we’ll have some extras).
11:30 AM THE WARRIORS’ PATH - Why was our park named “Warriors’ Path?” Take a short hike to find out more. Meet at the main bath house.
1:30 PM WEB OF LIFE - Every living thing is part of the web! Help us get really “tied up” in our work as we build our own living web. You’ll see natural places like you’ve never seen them before! Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it is raining.
3:00 PM OLD-TIME WEATHER SAYINGS - Do wooly worms really predict winter weather? Find out about our region’s weather forecasting traditions. Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it rains.
4:00 PM RIVERBANK STROLL -This green river valley has seen generations of travelers. Let’s travel together and search for signs of the wildlife and the people who came before us. Meet at the main campground bath house.
5:30 PM NON-FLOWERING PLANTS RAMBLE - Not every green growing thing makes flowers! Come visit some of the ferns, mosses, and other non-flowering plants in the park. Meet at the main bath house to begin our walk.
7:00 PM OLD TIMEY GAMES - Enjoy some good-old fun! Try some games from the early settlement days of East Tennessee. Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it’s raining.
8:00 PM LEAF RUBBINGS - Let's "rub up against" some nature discoveries. Create a lasting reminder of nature's amazing textures. Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it is raining.
9:00 PM TENNESSEE TALES - Enjoy new insights into Tennessee Folklife as we share some good-old traditional tall tales. Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it rains.

SATURDAY, JUNE 6
Special Event - National Trails Day

Sunrise Hike - 6:00 AM
You’ve got to be an “early bird” to greet the summer sunrise! Come for a short hike as we watch the new day dawn across the green East Tennessee hills. Meet at the big Parking Lot uphill from Park Headquarters, and we’ll carpool.

Hike the Mountain Bike Trails - 10:00 AM or 1:00 PM
Did you know that there is a National Recreational Trail system here at Warriors’ Path? And National Trails Day is a perfect day to enjoy these awesome trails! Come enjoy one of two different scenic 2-3 mile hikes through diverse wildlife habitats. Wear comfortable hiking shoes. Bring water and snacks.
Meet at the Warriors’ Path Mountain Bike Trail parking lot.

Hike and Creek Walk - 3:00 PM
Hike to a clear flowing stream, and then walk IN the stream! Discover the amazing world of life under water. Wear old clothes and old tennis shoes - be prepared to get wet! Meet at the big Parking Lot uphill from Park Headquarters, and we’ll carpool.

100 INCH Hike - 6:00 PM
One hundred inches isn’t very far, unless you’re as small as a bug! Let’s explore life on the tiny side with a series of VERY SHORT hikes. Meet at the big Parking Lot uphill from Park Headquarters, and we’ll carpool.

Night Hike - 9:00 PM
Take a hike on the dark side of the day. We’ll find a whole new world of nature in the night-time forest. Wear good hiking boots and bring a dim flashlight. Meet at the big Parking Lot uphill from Park Headquarters, and we’ll carpool.

SUNDAY, JUNE 7
9:00 AM WORSHIP SERVICE - Enjoy a peaceful morning worship service at the Open Air Chapel, or at the pool entrance if it is raining. Sponsored by the Colonial Heights Baptist Church.

(PS - photo of Painted Turtles looking both ways for you by Ranger Marty)

05/27/2026

Soggy weather got you down? Well, cheer up! Our award-winning "Summer In The Park" nature discovery activities are held rain or shine. And there's plenty to enjoy for the rest of this week, and in the summer weeks to come.
Here's a link to the rest of this week's planned activities:

https://tnstateparks.com/events/summer-park-week-may-25-31-4

We'll post upcoming schedules about 2 weeks in advance at this website:

https://tnstateparks.com/parks/warriors-path

(PS - photo of soggy blue jay enjoying berry breakfast by Ranger Marty.)

05/26/2026

Our annual Dragonfly Day is coming SOON - Saturday June 13! Here’s your chance to learn abou these amazing insects. Dragonflies are fun and challenging to observe. They are also excellent indicators of the health of our natural places. Come spend a day learning to study dragonflies “at home” in their habitats, and also how best to record your observations with photographs.

Get all the details, and sign up at:

https://reserve.tnstateparks.com/register/dragonfly-day--16th-annual

(PS - photo of girl holding Swamp Darner dragonfly by Ranger Marty. Note that she was taught at a previous Dragonfly Day how to SAFELY hold the dragonfly - without any injury to the insect or to herself.)

05/24/2026

Memorial Day - it's much more than just the start of Summer Vacation season...

05/23/2026

Ready to leap into summertime? Well, we’ve got news worth “hopping” about. Our award-winning “Summer In The Park” activities are starting THIS MONDAY! During the week of May 25 - 31, you and your family can hike and explore, meet wildlife on land and in water, enjoy traditional games and ghost tales, and much more. And it's all free! So “jump on in” and join us.

Get all the details, and register (if you’d like) at:

https://reserve.tnstateparks.com/register/summer-in-the-park-May25-31-26Sa

IMPORTANT NOTE - You DO NOT have to preregister for these "Summer In The Park" activities. However, we are offering registration for those who wish to donate to the park's programming efforts.

Here's the detailed schedule for this week:

MONDAY, MAY 25
5:30 PM TREE COOKIES - Let’s read a small slice of nature! The inside of a tree holds many clues to the outside of the land! Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it is raining.
9:00 PM NIGHT VISION - Come find out who has great night vision and we’ll even test out our own. Meet at the Open Air Chapel.

TUESDAY, MAY 26
10:00 AM NATURE’S SKYSCRAPERS - Forests are like apartment houses! Come along on this forest hike, and we’ll find out more about who lives “upstairs.” Meet at the Campfire Circle on the east end of the campground.
11:30 AM OWL GAMES - Test your skills as an owl (or a mouse!) with some lively games! Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it is raining.
1:30 PM “INVADERS” AMONG US - Discover more about the dangers of invasive plant and animal species by playing a nature game about these invaders. Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it’s raining.
2:30 PM NATURE JOURNALS - Come learn the basics of nature journaling and create your own masterpiece. Meet at the Open Air Chapel (main bath house if it’s raining).
5:00 PM POLLINATORS ARE PRECIOUS- Let’s take a walk through pollinator country! Come help us discover the creatures who help craft our future by helping plants make seeds. Bring yourself and your keen eyes down to the camp store to begin a short hike.
7:30 PM EVENING STROLL - Let’s wake up our senses to evening in the forest. Meet at the main bath house for a short, refreshing hike.
9:00 PM PLANTS & POLLINATORS - Enjoy a slide-illustrated talk on native wildflowers, and the “busy bugs” who help them thrive. Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it’s raining.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27
8:30 AM WAKE UP WALK - Let's wake up to the sounds of nature around us. Meet at the the main bath house for a refreshing walk through the woods.
11:30 AM HOLSTON BLUFFS RAILROAD TOUR - Our park is tied to history through the rails! Let’s hike the old RR grade, and hear the stories of these early railroaders lives. Meet at the entrance to the Moody Bluff Campground.
1:00 PM LEAF SCAVENGER HUNT - You can be a tree detective!! Use the clues to find out more about Warriors’ Path. You might win a prize, and you’ll surely win lots of exciting discoveries. Meet at the Open Air Chapel to begin the hunt.
2:30 PM PAW PAW PATROL - Have you heard of Paw Paw trees? Let’s go “way down yonder to the Paw Paw patch!” We’ll discover more about this amazing native fruit tree. Join the “Paw Paw Patrol” along the trail. Meet at the Open Air Chapel.
4:30 PM MICRO-PARKS - Here’s your chance to plan and share your own nature park. You might even get “paid” by your “customers”! Bring your best park managing skills to the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it is raining.
6:00 PM NOISY TOYS - How did the pioneer children make music or noise? Make your very own “musical” instrument with a few simple things from nature. Meet at the Open Air Chapel to create some “beautiful music.” In case of rain, meet at the main bath house.
7:30 PM EDIBLE PLANTS RAMBLE - Are they weeds or are they dinner? Learn to make a salad from lawn plants. Meet at the camp store and let’s walk on down.
9:00 PM NIGHT SOUNDS - Nature is full of sounds when the sun goes down! Some seem eerie, but there’s no need to be nervous. Come find out whose noise is whose. Meet at the Open Air Chapel for a short slide show of the creatures who “talk” in the night! (At the main bath house if it is raining.) NOTE - there will be a special NIGHT SOUNDS contest for children after the show.

THURSDAY, MAY 28
9:00 PM APPALACHIAN “ENGLISHES” - Ever wonder where an accent comes from? Well, wander on down to the Open Air Chapel to find out how our landscape changes the way we speak. (In case of rain, meet at the main bath house).
11:30 AM OH DEER- Oh Dear a deer! See if you can find what a deer needs to survive. Join us at the Open-air Chapel. Or main bathhouse if it is raining.
2:00 PM LEAVE NO TRACE - We can enjoy the wilderness, and leave the land as beautiful as it was. Find out how to camp and hike, and leave no signs of your presence. Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it is raining.
3:30 PM BIRD BINGO - Discover new insights into our unique and different feathered friends. Afterwards, you’ll use your newfound knowledge to win a game of bird bingo. Meet at Open Air Chapel. In case of rain, meet at the main bath house.
5:00 PM SOIL STUDIES - It’s not just plain old “dirt!” Come “dig into” some new discoveries about the soil beneath our feet. Meet at the Open Air Chapel.
6:00 PM HIKING BY THE RIVER - This slow-paced hike is a chance to discover more about natural places along the water’s edge. Meet at the camp store.
7:00 PM SEED RACES - Wind, water, and animals carry seeds of new trees and plants all across the land. Our “wind” can help too! Meet at the Open Air Chapel to show off your “hot air” and plant some new life. Meet at the main bath house if it rains.
9:00 PM WILDLIFE TRACKING - You can be a wildlife detective! Learn to read the tracks, scats, and other signs of our nearby wild creatures. Meet at the Open Air Chapel to meet our 4-legged “wildlife ambassador” and enjoy his tracking lesson.(In case of rain, meet at the main bath house.)

FRIDAY, MAY 29
8:00 AM BREAKFAST WITH THE BIRDS - Come wake up to our feathered neighbors. Meet at the main bath house to begin a stroll through bird country! (The first 12 people to come get free doughnut & juice!)
10:00 AM LEAF PRINTS - “Ordinary” leaves come in such extraordinary shapes and textures. We can capture these patterns with ink and paper. Come make a leaf souvenir at the main bath house.
11:00 AM SPOTLIGHT STROLL - Let’s shine our light on some bright natural discoveries. Meet at the camp store for a short, sunlit hike.
1:00 PM LIVING DOWNSTREAM - We are all downstream of the earth’s resources. Let’s “build” a small community along a “river” and find out how we impact the world downstream of us. Wander on down to the main bath house, and bring along your ideas for your dream house or business.
2:00 PM INVASIVE PLANTS BOOKMARKS - Mark your place in your favorite summer reading while helping tame some invasive plants. Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it is raining.
3:00 PM TEN ESSENTIALS - Don’t hit the trail without them! Meet at the Open Air Chapel to find out what’s REALLY important for safe and fun nature exploration. In case of rain, meet at the main bath house.
4:00 PM BUTTERFLY WATCHING - Summer days are bright with these fantastic flyers! Come share exciting discoveries as we watch these lovely bugs. Meet at the camp store.
6:00 PM ID THE TREE - “Wood” you like to know what tree you are camping under? You don’t want to “leaf” the park without finding out! Meet at the main bath house, and we’ll learn some local trees together.
7:00 PM TAG - You’re it! You’re the one we need to make all these great tag games work. Meet at the Open Air Chapel for all kinds of tag games. If it is raining, meet at the main bath house.
9:00 PM CAMPFIRE - What a perfect combination: A dark night, a crackling fire, and some local, traditional ghost tales. Meet at the campfire circle, east end of the main campground. If it is raining, we’ll have an indoor “campfire” at the main bath house.

SATURDAY, MAY 30
9:30 AM RIDGELINE HIKE - Come hike the high ridges to get a new view of our park. Enjoy the ancient forests, the excitement of wildlife activity, and the peace of the deep green woods. Meet at the camp store, and we’ll carpool.
1:00 PM JUNIOR RANGERS: TRAIL CLEANUP - Make our park a cleaner, healthier environment! You’ll make a big difference for our earth, and begin to earn your Junior Ranger badge. Meet at the main bath house. Be prepared to get dirty!
2:00 PM PAW PRINT NOTE CARDS - Create your own personalized note cards, using local animal’s tracks! Your unique design is only a “footstep” away. Meet at the main bath house.
3:00 PM HOPPER ROUNDUP - It’s time to “round up” some discovery about the park’s amazing hopping insects. Meet at the Open Air Chapel for a hopping good time! In case of rain, meet at the main bath house.
4:30 PM DIY BIRDFEEDER - Want to help your bird neighbors get their snacks? Come build a peanut butter and pinecone bird feeder with park staff. Meet at the Open Air Chapel (main bath house if it’s raining).
7:00 PM OWL PELLETS - What could be more gross, but also more exciting, than checking out some owl vomit! Don’t worry, these pellets are all germ free. But they sure are full of bones. Use your detective skills to find out what the owls had for supper! Meet at the Open Air Chapel (main bath house if it is raining.)

SUNDAY, MAY 31
9:00 AM WORSHIP SERVICE - Enjoy a peaceful morning worship service at the Open Air Chapel, or at the pool entrance if it is raining. Sponsored by the Colonial Heights Baptist Church.

(PS - photo of Green Frog ready to “leap into summer” by Ranger Marty)

05/22/2026

Words for Bird Nerds - 55th (and last) in the series.

We hope you've enjoyed "words for bird nerds" from Bent's Life Histories of North American Birds. If you'd like to read even more charming excerpts from this amazing classic set of books, check out this website:

https://birdsbybent.com/

Our final bird in this series is very common and easily observed here. It's also our Tennessee State Bird. It's the MOCKINGBIRD.

And here are today’s bird words:

“Wherever the Mockingbird is mentioned, the hearer inevitably thinks of the South as the typical habitat. Surely, this is as it should be. Can anyone visualize the gray-clad aristocrat amid snow and ice, amid spruces and hemlocks, or upon cliffs battered by the might of the north Atlantic? Can one visualize it, indeed, without mental pictures of moss-bannered live oaks or towering magnolias, where the yellow jessamine climbs aloft to burst in golden glory among the pines and cypresses and the immaculate disks of Cherokee roses reflect the moonlight? Here, along coasts fringed with semitropical jungles of barrier islands, where the slow heave of rollers out of the Gulf Stream thunders softly upon yielding sands, is the mocker's home. Here, amid the crimson clusters of holly the mocker lives, or is equally at home in a moon-drenched old city whose garden walls and graceful spires reflect the golden civilization of a vanished era. Yes, to Charlestonians and other Carolinians, the entire scope of ornithology might be summed up and typified in a single species, and that species. . . the mockingbird”

(PS - photo of Mockingbird surrounded by "berry snacks" by Ranger Marty.)

05/22/2026

Words for Bird Nerds - 54th in the series (only one more left in this series)

It's time for more "words for bird nerds" - a park photo of a native bird, with some "bird words" from the classic Bent's Life Histories of North American Birds.

To explain: back in the early 20th Century, the Smithsonian Institution tasked a well-known ornithologist to prepare a complete life history of every North American bird species. Arthur Cleveland Bent's amazing work came to over 20 volumes, full of detailed information on each bird's habits. It's full of facts, and full of charm, as you will see from these charming and factual excerpts from Bent's classic work.

Today’s bird is a frequent summer visitor and nester here - the ORCHARD ORIOLE.

And here are today’s bird words:

“The orchard oriole is a gentle, friendly, and sociable bird that lives in perfect harmony with many other birds in more or less close association and seems to enjoy human environments. It is a restless, lively bird, and not particularly shy, but since it spends most of its time flitting about in the trees in search of insects, or keeping out of sight among the foliage, it is not as easily observed as some others. When it is singing freely in the spring, we are often attracted to it by its voice and can catch a glimpse of its pretty colors and its graceful, slender form as it hops from twig to twig, or makes short flights among the branches, or hangs head downward to pry under a leaf in search of its prey. During the courting season, an ardent male may sometimes be seen to rise high above the treetops and to pour out an ecstasy of song as it descends to its leafy shelter.”

(PS - photo of Orchard Oriole singing by Ranger Marty.)

05/21/2026

Words for Bird Nerds - 53rd in the series (only two more left in this series)

It's time for more "words for bird nerds" - a park photo of a native bird, with some "bird words" from the classic Bent's Life Histories of North American Birds.

To explain: back in the early 20th Century, the Smithsonian Institution tasked a well-known ornithologist to prepare a complete life history of every North American bird species. Arthur Cleveland Bent's amazing work came to over 20 volumes, full of detailed information on each bird's habits. It's full of facts, and full of charm, as you will see from these charming and factual excerpts from Bent's classic work.

Today’s bird is one of our less common woodpeckers at the park (although it is common elsewhere in Tennessee) - the RED-HEADED WOODPECKER.

And here are today’s bird words:

“I know of no species so frolicksome. Indeed, their whole life is one of pleasure. They find a super-abundance of food everywhere, as well as the best facilities for raising their broods. They do not seem to be much afraid of man, although they have scarcely a more dangerous enemy. When alighted on a fence-stake by the road, or in a field, and one approaches them, they gradually move sidewise out of sight, peeping now and then to discover your intention and when you are quite close and opposite, lie still until you are past, when they hop to the top of the stake, and rattle upon it with their bill, as if to congratulate themselves on the success of their cunning. Should you approach within arm's length, which may frequently be done, the woodpecker flies to the next stake or the second from you, bends his head to peep, and rattles again, as if to provoke you to a continuance of what seems to him excellent sport.”

(PS - photos of Red-Headed Woodpeckers by Ranger Marty. The one on the left is hiding a beech nut.)

05/19/2026

Words for Bird Nerds - 52nd in the series (only three more left in this series)

It's time for more "words for bird nerds" - a park photo of a native bird, with some "bird words" from the classic Bent's Life Histories of North American Birds.

To explain: back in the early 20th Century, the Smithsonian Institution tasked a well-known ornithologist to prepare a complete life history of every North American bird species. Arthur Cleveland Bent's amazing work came to over 20 volumes, full of detailed information on each bird's habits. It's full of facts, and full of charm, as you will see from these charming and factual excerpts from Bent's classic work.

Today’s bird is the largest daytime predatory bird at the park - the RED-TAILED HAWK.

And here are today’s bird words:

“The red-tailed hawk is the most widely distributed, most universally common, and best known of all our hawks, though in certain sections some other species may be much commoner. But this fine hawk, the largest and most powerful of our eastern Buteos, is no longer common over much of its former range. The widespread prejudice against all hawks is exterminating this useful species. It will be a sad day indeed when we shall no longer see the great red-tail sailing over the tree-tops on its broad expanse of wing and ruddy tail, or soaring upward in majestic circles until lost to sight in the ethereal blue, or a mere speck against the clouds.”

(PS - photos of Red-Tailed Hawk enjoying a garter snake dinner by Ranger Marty.)

05/17/2026

Words for Bird Nerds - 51st in the series (only a few more left in this series)

It's time for more "words for bird nerds" - a park photo of a native bird, with some "bird words" from the classic Bent's Life Histories of North American Birds.

To explain: back in the early 20th Century, the Smithsonian Institution tasked a well-known ornithologist to prepare a complete life history of every North American bird species. Arthur Cleveland Bent's amazing work came to over 20 volumes, full of detailed information on each bird's habits. It's full of facts, and full of charm, as you will see from these charming and factual excerpts from Bent's classic work.

Today’s bird is a common, year-round resident here at the park, more often heard than seen - the EASTERN TOWHEE.

And here are today’s bird words:

“The Towhees, because of their short wings, cannot fly at much altitude or stay in the air for a long time; so they travel only by fluttering from hedge to hedge, from bush to bush, and they are never seen at the top of tall trees. They hunt on the ground for the different seeds they feed on, pushing the leaves and weeds that hide those seeds aside with their bill and feet; they seemed to me to be quite fond of small acorns, eating usually only those that are fallen; they live in pairs through summer, gathering in families during September and large flocks toward the end of October. Those birds like to stay in summer in the thickness of thickets and at the edge of woods. Then we can see the male on the top of a medium height tree where he sings for hours at a time; his song is made of only a single short and often repeated musical phrase, but it seemed to me sonorous and pleasant enough to make me regret that the bird would stop as soon as there were young ones.”

(PS - photos of Eastern Towhees - male on the left, female on the right, by Ranger Marty.)

Warriors' Path State Park

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