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X-WR-CALNAME:Highlands Biological Station
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://highlandsbiological.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Highlands Biological Station
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260514T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260515T153000
DTSTAMP:20260513T141623
CREATED:20260501T185314Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260501T185314Z
UID:30903-1778752800-1778859000@highlandsbiological.org
SUMMARY:Hop\, Slither\, Slide!
DESCRIPTION:May begins Herpetology Season! Hop\, slither\, or slide down to the Highlands Nature Center to learn about the reptiles and amphibians we share the world with. Connect with one of our Education Specialists to learn more about what ecoEXPLORE challenges are offered in May\, and stay tuned to find out about the upcoming Salamander Meanders! \nFREE\nThursday & Friday\nDrop-in from 10 am – 3:30 pm \nPlease note: Highlands Nature Center is closed Saturday May 16 \nProgram provided by:
URL:https://highlandsbiological.org/event/hop-slither-slide-week-3/
LOCATION:Highlands Nature Center\, 930 Horse Cove Rd.\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://highlandsbiological.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/herp-season.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260515T050000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260515T130000
DTSTAMP:20260513T141623
CREATED:20260424T164204Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260424T164204Z
UID:30756-1778821200-1778850000@highlandsbiological.org
SUMMARY:MAPS Bird Banding
DESCRIPTION:Join Highlands Biological Station and the Blue Ridge Bird Observatory for a morning of bird banding as part of the MAPS\, or Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship\, program.\nEstablished at HBS in 2020\, the MAPS bird banding station is part of a larger effort to assess trends in avian demographics across North America. During banding sessions\, trained researchers safely capture birds\, collect important biological data\, and fit each bird with a USGS-issued aluminum band with a unique identification number before release. Data collected may include age\, sex\, feather condition\, wing measurements\, and signs of disease or injury.\n \nVisitors strolling through the Highlands Botanical Garden during morning banding sessions are welcome to observe the process and learn more about the birds that call our campus home. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience real\, ongoing research and see conservation science in action.\nLocation: Highlands Biological Station / Cook Pavilion\n \nCost: Free to observeWeather Note: Bird banding is weather-dependent and may be canceled or rescheduled due to rain\, wind\, or other conditions that could affect bird safety.
URL:https://highlandsbiological.org/event/maps-bird-banding-2/
LOCATION:Highlands Biological Station\, 265 North 6th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://highlandsbiological.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Bird-Banding-2026.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Highlands Biological Station":MAILTO:hbs@wcu.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260518
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260523
DTSTAMP:20260513T141623
CREATED:20260106T154432Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260114T141859Z
UID:28863-1779062400-1779494399@highlandsbiological.org
SUMMARY:Introduction to the Vascular Flora of the Blue Ridge
DESCRIPTION:COURSE FULL – Join the waitlist via the link provided below \n2 Credit Hours\nMay 18–22\, 2026\nInstructor: Dr. Paul Manos\, Duke University\nCost: $500.00 \nThis course welcomes students\, professional biologists\, and plant enthusiasts alike. Centered on the rich botanical diversity of the Highlands Plateau\, it provides both an introduction and a refresher on studying vascular plant diversity. \nThrough a community-based lens\, participants will explore the flora of the Blue Ridge during field excursions and hands-on identification exercises. Course objectives include: \nUnderstanding key distinguishing features among lycophytes\, ferns\, and seed plants.\nLearning field characteristics of common and rare species and the habitats they occupy.\nDeveloping confidence in using identification keys.\nGaining a clearer understanding of the ecology of major regional plant communities and the biogeography of their species.\nThis immersive field experience offers a strong foundation for anyone interested in the botanical richness of the Southern Appalachians. \nJoin the waitlist: https://wcu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_elgLT5HEInl8Uey
URL:https://highlandsbiological.org/event/introduction-to-the-vascular-flora-of-the-blue-ridge/
LOCATION:Highlands Biological Station\, 265 North 6th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://highlandsbiological.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Flora.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Highlands Biological Station":MAILTO:hbs@wcu.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260521T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20260523T153000
DTSTAMP:20260513T141623
CREATED:20260501T185514Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260501T185514Z
UID:30905-1779357600-1779550200@highlandsbiological.org
SUMMARY:Hop\, Slither\, Slide!
DESCRIPTION:May begins Herpetology Season! Hop\, slither\, or slide down to the Highlands Nature Center to learn about the reptiles and amphibians we share the world with. Connect with one of our Education Specialists to learn more about what ecoEXPLORE challenges are offered in May\, and stay tuned to find out about the upcoming Salamander Meanders! \nFREE\nThursday – Saturday\nDrop-in from 10 am – 3:30 pm \nProgram provided by:
URL:https://highlandsbiological.org/event/hop-slither-slide-week-4/
LOCATION:Highlands Nature Center\, 930 Horse Cove Rd.\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://highlandsbiological.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/herp-season.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260525
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260530
DTSTAMP:20260513T141623
CREATED:20260106T154548Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260106T154645Z
UID:28866-1779667200-1780099199@highlandsbiological.org
SUMMARY:Identification and Conservation of Wetland Plants
DESCRIPTION:2 Credit Hours\nMay 25–29\, 2026\nInstructors: Dr. Joey Shaw\, UT-Chattanooga \nThis course is designed for anyone wishing to strengthen their skills in observing\, collecting\, identifying\, and assessing the ecological “quality” of wetland plant species. Accurate identification is essential not only for understanding wetland integrity and ecological condition\, but also for conducting professional wetland delineations. \nWhether you are new to wetland flora or looking to sharpen existing skills\, this course offers a supportive environment for learners at multiple levels. Students should have a basic understanding of botanical terminology and plant structures\, but there is no expectation that everyone enters with the same experience. Participants may focus on different plant groups—woody species\, graminoids\, or others—collecting specimens that align with their individual interests. \nEach day features a field excursion to a local wetland within roughly an hour of the Station. Students will collect plant specimens of interest\, then return to the lab for hands-on identification work using dichotomous keys\, online herbarium resources\, and other reference materials. Together\, we will use tools such as coefficients of conservatism to better understand the ecological integrity of the wetlands we explore. \nWhile the range of wetland types will be limited to what is found regionally\, the focus of the course is on building practical\, adaptable identification skills. Throughout the week\, Dr. Shaw will serve as a guide in interpreting key couplets\, terminology\, and diagnostic features. Students will also be encouraged to develop their own reference collections; the final portion of the course will be devoted to assembling and refining these materials. \nA working draft of the instructor’s forthcoming Second Edition of the Guide to the Vascular Plants of Tennessee will serve as the primary key for species identification\, and copies will be provided.
URL:https://highlandsbiological.org/event/identification-and-conservation-of-wetland-plants/
LOCATION:Highlands Biological Station\, 265 North 6th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://highlandsbiological.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Wetlands.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Highlands Biological Station":MAILTO:hbs@wcu.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260525
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260606
DTSTAMP:20260513T141623
CREATED:20260106T155528Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260106T160827Z
UID:28875-1779667200-1780703999@highlandsbiological.org
SUMMARY:Biology of Southern Appalachian Salamanders
DESCRIPTION:4 Credit Hours\nMay 25 – June 5\, 2026\nInstructors: Kenneth H. Kozak\, Ph.D. (University of Minnesota) & Joseph H. K. Pechmann\, Ph.D. (Western Carolina University) \nThe Southern Appalachians are home to one of the richest and most ecologically significant salamander assemblages on Earth. This immersive field- and lab-based course introduces students to the extraordinary diversity\, biology\, and evolutionary history of these remarkable amphibians. \nThrough a blend of lectures\, guided discussions\, hands-on laboratory work\, and targeted field excursions across multiple Appalachian mountain ranges\, students will explore foundational and advanced concepts in evolutionary biology and ecology. Topics include reconstructing evolutionary histories\, species concepts and delimitation\, life-history variation\, population and community dynamics\, and the role of salamanders in forest ecosystems. Readings from primary literature will deepen understanding of current research and methodologies. \nStudents will gain experience identifying regional taxa\, conducting field and laboratory analyses\, and interpreting evolutionary and ecological data—while engaging directly with the landscapes that make the Southern Appalachians a global hotspot for salamander diversity. \nPrerequisites: Introductory biology\, ecology\, or evolution\, or permission of the instructors.
URL:https://highlandsbiological.org/event/biology-of-southern-appalachian-mammals-2/
LOCATION:Highlands Biological Station\, 265 North 6th St\, Highlands\, NC\, 28741\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://highlandsbiological.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Salamander-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Highlands Biological Station":MAILTO:hbs@wcu.edu
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