Jim Poling

The BRNN Annual meeting was held on Tuesday Nov. 16^th. We awarded Jim Poling with the Blue Ridge Naturalist of 2021. Barb Harrison did the following Introduction.

Every year since 2013 excluding 2020, the Blue Ridge Naturalist Network has selected a person who has influenced the public in understanding the ecological relationships, tremendous biodiversity and the beauty of these WNC mountains. Jim Poling is one of these special people.

Jim received his BRN certificate in 2013 and almost immediately began offering monthly bird walks and wildflower walks for the Black Mountain community where he lives. The walks started out small but before long Jim had a following which went beyond his community. 

It is not unusual to drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway in the morning and see Jim surrounded by a large group of people at one of the mile markers getting ready for a wildflower or bird hike. Jim in his broad brimmed hat, camera strapped on one side of his body, binoculars hanging from his chest and a satchel containing a variety of books, He is off to educate all of us and to show us what these mountains have to offer. Jim keeps us all up to date on what wildflowers are blooming at the time, what birds are migrating, through his incredible photography that he has shared with all of us through the BRNN Facebook page and our website.

IF you are lucky to attend one of Jim’s walks you will realize that he has a tremendous love for these mountains and has a gift for inspiring us to get out there which he will share with us.  

 Your passion and commitment for the natural world of our mountain region is truly inspiring and we are honored and privileged to recognize you as the Blue Ridge Naturalist of 2021. Congratulations.

Well, deserved, my friend.