the Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary.
"In 1988, we acquired this 8-acre wetland to protect it from commercial development. A boardwalk allows visitors to observe birds and other wildlife in several different habitat types. In addition, the sanctuary is home to many species of butterflies and dragonflies/damselflies."
We took the 3/8 mile boardwalk trail that took us past a pond
ecosystem, and then walked to the lake where we observed
birds and insects. On the way back we walked through a wetlands
habitat and finally through a prairie-like habitat ending back
at the parking lot.
If you are not a wheelchair user, you can also take the longer trail
that encircles the lake, which is about 3 miles long.
For information about Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary click here.
I want to thank the Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary for having this lakeside boardwalk,
allowing wheelchair users to get out into a natural habitat and just explore the outdoors!!
You don't know what a difference it makes for my psyche to be able to get out among
the butterflies, and birds, trees, and wildflowers. Thank you!!!
This is the Boardwalk Trail, great for wheelchair users, like me.
This is the Boardwalk Trail, great for wheelchair users, like me.
Make sure that, with every "walk" that you take, you take it slowly,
observing everything around you, with all your senses.
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| The entrance showing the beautiful sculpture. |
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| We began our walk here and went clockwise on the boardwalk. |
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| The small pond is to the left of the boardwalk. |
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| The pond ecosystem is the first habitat you'll walk by. |
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| A male and female mallard enjoying this small pond. |
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| A great blue heron fishing in the small pond! |
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| A species of Bulrush. |
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| Marilyn and Sara can see a Spotted Touch-Me-Not, below. It's also known as Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis). |
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| A Jewelweed flower being pollinated by a bee!! |
| Spiderwort growing next to the boardwalk. |
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| Close-up of beautiful Spiderwort flowers. Click any photo to enlarge it. |
Click here for Information on Edible Weeds.
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| This is a deciduous forest habitat with its characteristic bird species. |
As we headed to the lake observation deck, we saw the typical birds
that are found in this habitat, such as, cardinals, robins, crows,
chickadees, titmice, bluejays, and bluebirds.
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| What is the name of this caterpillar? |
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| At this point "walkers" can vier off the boardwalk onto a short trail leading to the edge of the lake. Wheelchair users can go on up to the observation deck, ahead, to discuss today's observations. |
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| Off the boardwalk trail. |
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| A species of Carp swimming near us. |
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| Flowering Spurge? |
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| Sometimes called Sweet Pea. The flower of this Everlasting Pea is about 1 inch long. Info on Everlasting Peas |
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| This is the first observation deck with a great view of the lake! |
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| Here is the view from the observation deck with a great view of Beaver Lake.  Kai spotted a Green Heron near the house in the background (photo above) the last time he was here. |
Photo taken from the Cornell website, below.
Info on Green Herons
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| Grama Grass (Bouteloua species) |
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| Continuing on the boardwalk in a clockwise direction. |
Below is an arachnid called Daddy Longlegs.
They are harmless and NOT poisonous!!
Don't believe the myth that's being spread.
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| They are arachnids but they are not spiders, just as ticks and mites are arachnids but not spiders. |
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| Bittersweet Nightshade |
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| Another place to sit and observe the view. |
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| A view of Beaver Lake from the 2nd observation deck. |
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| Continue on the boardwalk and you'll come upon the wetland habitat. |
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| Horse Nettle |
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| A marshy area with Cattails and other wetland species. |
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| I like this resting area, where you can talk about the birds you've seen or heard... or you can sit in silence and appreciate it. |
We saw an Orchard Oriole in this area.
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| Photo taken from the Cornell website, below: Info on the Orchard Oriole including its calls and song. |
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| A species of Daisy. Notice the fibonacci spiral spacing pattern in the center of the flower...nature's way of maximizing limited space. |
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| We viered off of the boardwalk and got on a trail leading through a small grassland habitat...wheelchair users please stay on the boardwalk.
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| We saw a House Wren parent enter the box several times feeding its young. |
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| Photo taken from the Cornell website, below: Click here for information about House Wrens. Included are photos and calls and songs. |
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| This grassland habitat is right in front of the parking lot. Continue walking toward the pond. Wheelchair users should be on the boardwalk, seen at the top of the photo. Everyone can meet at the entrance to the sanctuary. |
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| Wild Quinine |
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| Not very showy, but, still, beautiful flowers. |
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| Some very beautiful Butterflyweed plants with flowers. |
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| Spectacular flowers. |
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| I turned around and got this photo of the short trail we just walked through, the grassland habitat. The pond is behind me. |
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| Some Carolina Roses or a cultivar. |
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| Simple and beautiful...Carolina Rose. |
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| Potato Dandelion? |
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| We have made a full circle and have completed the boardwalk hike. Kai is facing the pond, which we saw at the beginning of the hike. We turned left and headed back to the entrance, where the wheelchair users are discussing what they observed, today. At the entrance to the sanctuary we all saw the beautiful cardinal flowers. |
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| Some beautiful Cardinal Flower! |
Beaver Lake is open all year!
One of my favorite things to do is to get up on the
Winter Solstice and go to Beaver Lake with my family.
It's cold, quiet, and so beautiful!
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| The mountains are snowcapped!! |
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| The top of a frost-covered post!! |
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| A Sibling Conference...Sara & Kai. |
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| The fantastic winding boardwalk, with much to see and hear! |
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| The frosty boardwalk! |
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| I smell a photo-bomb! |
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| Everything is frost-covered...so beautiful!! |
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| I absolutely love coming here, where I can get out in nature with my wheelchair and see/hear the birds and smell the air! |
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| A mallard visiting the natural sculpture. |
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| This is truly a sanctuary, and not just for the birds! Just ask Kai, Marilyn, and Sara (next to me). My wheelchair is to my left, out of view. |
If you're in the Asheville area you need to stop here and take a walk
on the Boardwalk Trail, or if you're wanting a longer hike take
the trail that goes around Beaver Lake.
(The longer trail is not for wheelchair users).
I will come here everytime I visit Asheville, NC, USA.
Get out and explore the natural world around you!
