The Smoky Mountains are a paradise for bird lovers and anyone else who enjoys the breathtaking sight of eagles, parrots and other wonders of flight! You will find several wonderful attractions near our cabins that showcase the beauty and diversity of these amazing animals, not to mention countless viewing options at the National Park! Here are the top 4 attractions in the Smoky Mountains that bird lovers need to visit:
1. Parrot Mountain and Gardens
One of the top attractions in the Smoky Mountains for bird lovers is Sevierville’s Parrot Mountain and Gardens, which is home to 4 acres of stunning landscaped gardens, thousands of flowers and hundreds of gorgeous tropical birds! The secret garden area features toucans, magpies and other birds flying freely, while the bird garden contains approximately 70 feathered residents that you can feed right from your hand! You also won’t want to miss the baby bird nursery where you can see babies at different stages of development, pet the babies and see them being hand fed! If you don’t have time to make it up to Parrot Mountain and Gardens, visit their satellite store at The Island in Pigeon Forge to get your picture with tropical parrots or take home an exotic gift!
2. Eagle Mountain Sanctuary at Dollywood
The Eagle Mountain Sanctuary at Dollywood is a 30,000 square foot aviary that houses the country’s largest presentation of non-releasable bald eagles! This is a unique opportunity to get a rare glimpse of nature’s most impressive birds of a prey in a spectacular mountain setting! All of the bald eagles residing within the Eagle Mountain Sanctuary are permanently disabled and would not be able to survive in the wild, so members of the American Eagle Foundation provide fresh water, food and a visual health inspection on a daily basis. Each eagle is also given a complete physical once a year when their enclosures are inspected and renovated. The exhibit can be viewed at any time that Dollywood is open to the general public!
3. Ober Gatlinburg Wildlife Encounter
Another one of the top attractions in the Smoky Mountains for bird lovers is the Ober Gatlinburg Wildlife Encounter! This is a privately funded, municipally sponsored zoo that has been established to provide guests with an up close viewing of native wildlife in a safe environment. While exploring the zoo, you will find river otters, bobcats, a black bear family and a Nocturnal House that includes various species of native Smokies wildlife. Bird lovers will want to head directly to the Birds of Prey exhibit in the enclosed aviary!
4. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
When it comes to birdwatching, no visit to the Smokies is complete without at least one day at Great Smoky Mountains National Park! Since the Smoky Mountains feature so many different elevations and diverse habitats, nearly 240 species of birds have been spotted within the borders of the park! There are 60 species of birds that live in the national park all year round, while nearly 120 varieties breed in the Smokies. One of the best places to view birds in the National Park is from Clingmans Dome, which is the highest point in Tennessee. From this viewpoint, some of the birds you may spot include the Common Raven, Black-capped Chickadee, Canada Warbler, Red-breasted Nuthatch and the Winter Wren!
Check out all of our cabins in the Smokies today to enjoy a relaxing vacation near these attractions in the Smoky Mountains for bird lovers! We look forward to seeing you soon!
