[TN-Bird] Eagle on lower Pickwick
- From: tnbarredowl@xxxxxxx
- To: albirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, missbird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 20:51:21 -0500 (EST)
I helped conduct surveys of some TVA-managed lands on lower Pickwick Reservoir
today. Part of the survey was counting eagles present on these properties. As
has been the trend this winter numbers were low, VERY low to be exact. We put
our boat in the water at Pickwick State Park (TN), went up-river to Yellow
Creek (MS), then continued up-river on the MS side of the reservoir to the
mouth of Panther Creek (AL). We crossed the reservoir to Panther Creek, went
into the embayment, then traveled down-river on the AL side to the TN state
line We stayed east (back side) of State Line Island, then traveled the
east/north shoreline to Pickwick Dam before crossing again to return to
Pickwick State Park. The total trip was about 15 miles up-river and 15 miles
back. We were on the water from 9:30 until 2:30, but that did include some
time conducting some surveys on various shorelines. Our grand total eagle
count for the day was TWO (2)! Now, that actually wasn't as bad as it could
be. The eagles seen were one adult Golden and one adult Bald Eagle. The
Golden Eagle was first seen just south of Wates Cemetery (AL, immediately south
of the state line). That bird eventually flew north to almost the state line,
then headed west across the river to the MS shoreline. I do not think it
actually made it into TN skies, but clearly was a two state bird. The Bald
Eagle was soaring over TN waters and never attempted to cross state lines.
Other sightings included several Common Loons (all three states), Horned (AL
and TN) and Pied-billed (all three states) Grebes. The only ducks seen today
were Bufflehead (TN and AL).
Damien Simbeck
Killen, AL
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