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| Directions |
| Take I-77 North to Exit 18 [W. T. Harris Blvd.] |
| Go west on Harris Blvd. past the mall the intersection where it ends. |
| Turn left onto Mt. Holly Huntersville Rd.. |
| At the next light, Beatties Ford Rd. turn right. |
| Turn left onto Sample Rd. [It's in the middle of the stone wall.] There will be signs for the Preserve and the Raptor Center. |
| Follow Sample Rd. into the Preserve. |
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| MAS Home > Birding Spots > Latta Plantation Nature Preserve |
| Latta
Plantation Nature Preserve [8] [Bird List] [Trail Map] |
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| Not far down stream from Cowan's Ford on Mountain Island Lake is
the Latta Plantation Nature Preserve. This area was part of
an old working piedmont plantation. The plantation house has
been restored and is used for educational purposes. The rest
of the preserve is open to the public for horseback riding and
hiking. |
Several areas of the 1290-acre preserve are very 'birdie' but of particular
interest is the piedmont prairie restoration project area. Working
with students and faculty at UNC Charlotte the County has undertaken
a project to restore a prairie like ecosystem for the endangered
Schweinitz's sunflower
(Helianthus schweinitzii). |
| While exploring this preserve you will want go to the Carolina Raptor Center which is also located in the preserve. The Center includes a large, eagle aviary contains 7 bald and 2 golden eagles. Other birds of note at the center are saw-whet owls, Mississippi kites, and short-eared owls. It should be noted that some of the best passerine birding in the preserve is also around the Raptor Center. There is a entrance fee for the Raptor Center unless of course you are already a member. |
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