Our Purple Finch

This little charmer flees colder climes for a far more comfortable winter and spring here on the Plateau.

The Purple Finch, the state bird of New Hampshire, is a seasonal resident of the Highlands Plateau during winter months as flocks migrate to the southeastern U.S. from Canada. That’s right, this short-distance migrant comes to our temperate rain forest for the winter.

Larger than a sparrow and smaller than a cardinal, the female Purple Finch, pictured above, is an elegant brown and white with bold streaks on her head, breast and belly, a white “brow” above the eyes and lower moustachial markings. The male, described by Roger Tory Peterson as a “sparrow dipped in raspberry juice,” has a reddish wash over its head, back and wings. Both have distinctive notched tails and triangular bills. There are slight differences between the eastern and western subspecies of this finch and the Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) is not to be confused with a House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus). Their habitat is mixed and coniferous woodlands. During the summer Purple Finch feed on seeds, insects, berries and buds high in the trees. In winter they forage lower in the forest, searching for seeds, competing with other ground feeders.

Their breeding grounds are in Canada, California and the northeastern U.S. ranging from Minnesota to West Virginia. They build their nests on horizontal branches and tree forks using twigs, grass and moss, creating wellshaped cups that are lined with animal hair and fine grass. The female lays and incubates four or five blue-green eggs with brown spots on the larger end. Hatchlings appear in about 13 days, fed by both parents until they fledge about two weeks after hatching.

Finch, like most other birds, sing little in the winter, foraging for food taking precedence over social activities. If they did sing, the song would be something like plidi tididi preete plidi tititi preer. Did you get that?! They are often seen congregating with other finch and local winter birds around feeder stations offering sunflower seeds.

Happy March birding from the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society.

by William McReynolds

What do you get when you toss a handful of college students together for a semester at the Highlands Biological Station? Impact.

An ongoing collaboration between the Station (a multi-campus center of Western Carolina University), UNC-Chapel Hill’s Institute for the Environment, the Highlands Biological Foundation, and several local organizations culminates in the Highlands Field Site program.

Led by local field biologist and researcher Dr. Rada Petric, this program welcomes a cohort of UNC students to the Station each fall to be immersed in hands-on learning experiences and opportunities to engage with environmental experts. The students participate in field trips and various research projects throughout the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, and beyond, learning about the vast biodiversity of the southern Appalachians and the impact humans have made on the region.

In late 2020, the Highlands Biological Foundation made a 3-year commitment to invest $100,000 annually into the program. This year marks the 3rd year of support. With a mission to stimulate, promote, and fund biological research and education in the southern Appalachians, the Foundation has been elated with the success of the program.

“As a former biology teacher, it is inspiring to watch Dr. Petric and the Station lead the students toward careers in research and a love of science,” said Jennie Stowers, President of the Highlands Biological Foundation’s Board.

A semester at the field site serves as an introduction to field work and environmental research equipping students with experiences and references to seek further academic and professional opportunities as they transform into environmental leaders themselves. The impact can be seen in the enthusiasm and dedication of the students who have participated. Each has left the program with a better understanding of ongoing environmental challenges as well as new skills and knowledge to help address these challenges.

“The Highlands Field Site provides tremendous training opportunities for the students, and it provides a leg up for them when they’re searching for their next job or position. We find that it increases the likelihood of students’ succeeding and exploring spaces in the field they haven’t considered before,” explained Dr. Petric.

Students often return to the Station to continue research efforts, work seasonal positions, teach, or even write articles such as this. Having been a Highlands Field Site student during the fall of 2017, I know first-hand how this program leaves a lasting impact on each participant, and it continues to get better each year.

Funding provided by the Foundation is made possible by the wonderful support of our community and members. Individual contributions and local grants are instrumental in empowering the next generation of environmentalists through these types of endeavors. To learn more about the Highlands Field Site and other programs supported by the Highlands Biological Foundation, visit highlandsbiological.org/foundation

by Winter Gary, Highlands Biological Foundation