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Behind Blue Ridge Country

CURRENT Behind Blue Ridge Country

Birds of the Blue Ridge: White-throated Sparrow

These large, plump sparrows with a small bill scratch backward on the ground and are regular visitors to backyard feeders.

February’s Wild Edible: Turkey Tail Mushrooms

In our region, one of the most common mushrooms during the fall and winter is the turkey tail mushroom.

January’s Wild Edible: Teaberry

Gaultheria procumbens, also known as the winterberry, boxberry, and checkerberry more or less officially goes by the appellation of the Eastern teaberry, but most folks drop the first half of its name.

Birds of the Blue Ridge: Red Crossbill

Keep your binoculars at the ready. That “redbird” in the forest may not be a Cardinal!

Birds of the Blue Ridge: Pied-billed Grebe

The envy of all helmsmen piloting a submarine, this grebe is a master of buoyancy control.

Current Issue

70fed52a-a62d-11ed-84a6-12b3f1b64877-White-throated-Sparrow-4---photo-by-Mike-Blevins

Birds of the Blue Ridge: White-throated Sparrow

These large, plump sparrows with a small bill scratch backward on the ground and are regular visitors to backyard feeders.
Turkey tail growing on a dead hardwood stump.

February’s Wild Edible: Turkey Tail Mushrooms

In our region, one of the most common mushrooms during the fall and winter is the turkey tail mushroom.
Gaultheria procumbens.

January’s Wild Edible: Teaberry

Gaultheria procumbens, also known as the winterberry, boxberry, and checkerberry more or less officially goes by the appellation of the Eastern teaberry, but most folks drop the first half of its name.
844eb1d2-814c-11ed-8fbd-12b3f1b64877-Red-Crossbills-by-Michael-Todd

Birds of the Blue Ridge: Red Crossbill

Keep your binoculars at the ready. That “redbird” in the forest may not be a Cardinal!
0dc1a9de-814c-11ed-9a2f-12b3f1b64877-Pied-billed-Grebe-by-Michael-Todd

Birds of the Blue Ridge: Pied-billed Grebe

The envy of all helmsmen piloting a submarine, this grebe is a master of buoyancy control.
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Departments

At Coopers Rock State Forest, new Stargazer cabins invite guests to look up through skylights and telescopes.
Country Roads

Even Closer to Almost Heaven

New Stargazer cabins at Coopers Rock State Forest offer a skyward escape in the mountains of West Virginia.

June 29, 2026
©Duncan Seaman
Country Roads

A Mountain Tradition Turns 90 

Visitors flock to Galax, Virginia, each summer for the Old Fiddlers’ Convention, a days-long celebration of Appalachian music.

June 29, 2026
Synchronous Fireflies
Creature Feature

The Light Fantastic

Fireflies are struggling with the effects of artificial light.

June 29, 2026

CALENDAR OF EVENTS