Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will present a two-hour, 2.5 mile hike focusing on modern and historical birding in Chickamauga Battlefield. This tour will begin on Saturday, March 31, at 7:30 a.m., at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center, then caravan to the program site.
In April 1895, Bradford Torrey reached Chattanooga in the midst of a “rattling” thunderstorm. Torrey’s primary mission while visiting was bird watching, and a few days after his initial introduction to the Scenic City, he stepping off a train at Lytle Station and into Chickamauga Battlefield.
The following year, he published
Spring Notes from Tennessee, which cataloged his time in the battlefield, including meeting Henry Boynton, one of the park’s original proponents, visiting a family at the Kelly House, where he purchased some minié balls, and napping on Snodgrass Hill. In addition to learning about Torrey’s visit and some of the historical birds he encountered, NPS Volunteer Danny Gaddy will be along to point out birds that call Chickamauga Battlefield home today.
Please remember to wear clothing appropriate for the weather, bring along water, and be sure to wear sturdy hiking shoes or boots.
For more information about programs at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, contact the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center at 706-866-9241, the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center at 423 821-7786, or visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/chch.