[tn-bird] Silly Meadowlark! and Smokies birds
- From: Charlie <cmmbirds@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 1 Apr 2002 15:58:17 -0800 (PST)
Hi Folks,
Here at Tremont (Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Blount County,
TN) we have a field that is about 10 Hectares (forgive me, but I
honestly have NO idea how big it is in acres...) and today we had an
activity that kept 101 6th graders and 13 8th graders very active on
the field for about 3 hours. They were moving in groups of 9-12,
stopping at designated locations and doing 15 minute activities that
were anythig but quiet.
During all of this an Eastern Meadowlark was trying to stake a claim
on this field of short grass, in the middle of a narrow valley. Not
what I'd call prime meadowlark habitat, even without 114 hormone
cases! The poor thing got up and flew 10-30 meters every time the
kids moved. In between it pretty much paced and looked nervous.
Got my 3rd swallowtail species of the year for the valley today:
Spicebush. I'm not sure why I saw Pipevine before Spicebush, seems
kinda strange, but I had good looks at both.
Yesterday I hiked Abrams Falls to the falls with a couple of out of
town non-birding friends and their cute little slime-maker, er, I
mean 10 month-old baby. It was raining off and on. I decided to
leave the bins behind in those less-than-ideal conditions. Wouldn't
you know it? I saw at least a dozen Louisiana Waterthrushes, and saw
some nice aerial combat by a pair of males that staked territories on
opposite sides of the creek. I also saw a number of singing (in the
rain!) Yellow-throated Warblers, Blue-headed Vireos, both kinglets,
etc. I thought I had my first Black-and-White-Warbler of the year,
but I can't be sure.
Pine Siskins are still at our feeder, first time I've ever seen this
species anywhere in the month of April.
Chipping Sparrows have absolutely invaded Cades Cove and Tremont.
Everywhere.
I visited the Ravens Nest on Middle Prong on Saturday. No sign of
Ravens, but there is Raven activity in the area. Perhaps they got
tired of the voyeurs (Allan?) and moved a short distance? I didn't
stay long or look around, as the above-mentioned rugrat needed to
keep moving.
Good day!
Charlie
=====
**************************************************
Charlie Muise, Senior Naturalist
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont
Townsend, TN lat 35 deg, 38'23" long 83 deg, 41'22"
"Do something. If it works, do it again. If it does not work, do something
else. But above all else: Do Something." (Franklin Delano Roosevelt)
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