Hi all -
Nearly a dozen folks have emailed me privately to ask for specific
locations for the Painted Bunting(s) in Rutherford County at the *J. Percy
Priest WMA - Field Trials Area*, so after several individual responses, I
figure I'll post here separately. I'm glad that so many people are
interested and able to see these beauties - it's really nice to have a
chaseable rarity under the present conditions with social distancing and
all.
options:
1 - Googling the name (in bold above) of the Wildlife Management Area
should get you there just fine.
2 - Here's a link to the hotspot on ebird.
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1773726. If you use eBird, please use this
hotspot for your checklist. Remember that if you're mainly watching and
photographing the buntings, rather than trying to ID as many birds as
possible - make it an "Incomplete" checklist. There's no difference except
in the accuracy for scientists using the data later.
3 - Here is a GPS pin that you can cut and paste into a maps application:
36.040769,-86.511187
When you enter the WMA, the Old Jones Mill Road turns to gravel. The birds
have been on both sides of the road a couple hundred yards past the
entrance, just before the first 4-way intersection. Just stop, listen, and
look!
Cheers!
Graham Gerdeman
Nashville