The Great Smoky Mountains: A Cades Cove Experience
Many of you know that I like to create videos from the photos and video clips I capture during my photo trips. Recently, I finished a series from my time in Cades Cove, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, between April 27 and May 2, 2025.
Rather than making one long video, I’ve decided to break it up into six separate short stories—one for each day.
These videos are something I create primarily for myself, but I’m happy to share them with others who have a similar interest.
Only the true wildlife lovers will make it through all 6 days. If you don’t, well… you really don’t know what you’re missing.
Ready for day 1? The first day of a trip is always about discovery. I like to explore as much as possible, finding a wide variety of subjects without lingering too long. There’s plenty of time to dive deeper during the rest of the week.
Sit back and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Eastern Tennessee, along with a glimpse into the lives of its incredible wildlife.
Welcome to day 2 of my 6-day series from a springtime adventure in Cades Cove, nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains. In this 5-minute glimpse, you'll find a mix of furry and feathered encounters, plus scenes from a peaceful ride along Rich Mountain Road, a lesser-traveled mountain road with scenic views overlooking Cades Cove. During that ride, I had a special moment—spotting a Swainson's Warbler for the first time. A true lifer!
The cicadas emerged on day 3 in Cades Cove, much to the delight of the bears. This short video follows a couple of bears as they search for cicadas and concludes with a peaceful scene of Eastern Meadowlarks in the grasslands.
Day 4 in Cades Cove was all about the bears.
The morning started with a quick encounter: a sow and her three cubs. After that, I revisited the denned sow with two cubs—the same family I introduced a couple of videos ago. I wanted to give you another glimpse into what their day looks like.
To end the day, I spent time with a sow and her lone cub.
When there's only one, mom has to fill every role—parent, protector, and playmate. This video captures some truly tender and intimate moments between the two.
The day 5 video runs about 9½ minutes and focuses almost entirely on one Black Bear family. It offers a heartfelt look at the challenges mother bears face while raising their cubs.
Did you know that male black bears often try to kill cubs? You’ll find out why in this video. Don’t worry—there’s nothing graphic or disturbing shown. Instead, you’ll follow a powerful story of a sow and her three cubs as they navigate a single day in their fight for survival.
I'll be wrapping up the 6-day Cades Cove series with this final video.
Have you ever seen the full courtship ritual between a gobbler and a hen turkey? It’s surprisingly elaborate—and lengthy. From strutting displays to treading and eventually copulation, the whole process took about 45 minutes, which I’ve condensed into a 5-minute highlight. Their behavior is truly fascinating to watch.
Later that day, I spent some time with a sow and her lone cub—the same pair I introduced in an earlier video. Observing wildlife, even during quiet moments like grooming, always captivates me. There's so much to learn just by watching.
Thank you for your interest and support.