[TN-Bird] New Tennessee State BIRDING Park Announced

From: "Mort Massey" <massey6932@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 20 Sep 2013 14:33:37 -0400
I attended Knoxville's Legacy Park annual luncheon today at Seven Islands.
Seven Islands is about half way between Sevierville and Knoxville on the
French Broad River below Douglas Dam.  I had been told by my wife (State
Senator Massey) that the governor was going to announce that Seven Islands
would become Tennessee's 58th state park.  What I did not realize (nor she)
until I got there was that it was going to be named a Birding State Park.
The official new name will be Seven Island Birding State Park.  Wow, what a
thrill.

 

So what does it mean to be a state birding park.  I asked that question to
several officials and Brock Hill, Deputy Commissioner, Dept of Environment
and Conservation was the person who seemed to have the answers.  Basically
it sounds like there are not going to be dramatic changes to how Seven
Islands looks today.  It will primarily be a day use facility but they are
looking at putting in a few overnight camping sites on the edge of the park
for short term use for visitors (hopefully birders).  There will probably
not be hookups but may be a restroom.

 

What appears to be driving the designation as a Birding park is an effort to
create some birding trails in Tennessee.  Birding trails have popped up in a
number of states.  There seems to be a lot of interest to create a birding
trail in East and West Tennessee right now. Several important birding spots
will be identified to be included in each trail.  Seven Islands will be the
springboard location to kick this effort off. 

 

Eventually the hope is that there will be a dedicated website to each
birding trail much like the website for the state parks.  You could click on
one of the birding sites then go to a page that identifies information such
as location, facilities and of course, common birds at that location.  I can
tell you as a birder who regularly searches for birding locations when I
travel, Tennessee is far behind many other states in this regard.

 

In conclusion, I came away from the luncheon really excited about how the
state's recreation department is viewing the importance of attracting
birders to our state.  This will mean more emphasis on creating good birding
locations and habitat for birds.

 

Morton Massey

Knoxville
[TN-Bird] New Tennessee State BIRDING Park Announced

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