[TN-Bird] Unusual martin nest

From: Carole Gobert <cpgobert@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Tennessee Bird List <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 31 May 2012 14:16:13 -0400



At Melton Hill Park in west Knox County this morning I was amazed to find 
Purple Martins at a nest in a broken light fixture next to the small pier at 
the parking lot.  There were at least 7 martins on that and another light post 
but only the one nest that I could see.  I watched for quite a while and took 
photos.  At times there were two martins on the nest at once; there didn't 
appear to be any young in the nest nor eggs being incubated.  I was here last 
Wednesday and saw no martins. I had no idea that martins would nest in such a 
structure.  A few of my photos can be viewed on Flickr beginning at 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/foxysparrow/7309106260/in/photostream/
I
have been going to Melton Hill Park about once a week for a little over a year
now.  There are two lovely meadows with paths mown through them where
Meadowlarks presumably nest; though I've never seen them on a nest, at this
time last year there were quite a few Meadowlarks in the meadows.  Three
weeks ago I was dismayed to find that the meadows, which had been starting to
grow back since they were mowed in late January, had been mowed again.
 As this is a Knox County Park I called and spoke with the director at
Parks and Recreation.  He told me that the meadows had been mowed at the
request of the Boy Scouts for a jamboree and campout event they held there.
 He said that the meadows would be allowed to grow through the
summer and that they were considering allowing them to remain through the
winter to provide some cover for wildlife and then mow them after they'd gone
to seed. He also said they probably would not mow as much next year for the Boy
Scouts as he didn't think it was necessary to mow quite so extensively.  He 
actually sounded pretty reasonable and we had a fairly pleasant conversation.  
In
talking with him and his secretary I learned that they normally mow just twice a
year; perhaps in 2011 the Boy Scouts held their event earlier.  I also
learned that the paths through the meadows are created for various events that
they hold at the park such as bicycle races and the Marine Mud Run in the fall.
 In any case, the meadows are slowly growing back though they are nowhere
near as beautiful as they were at this time last year and there were two
meadowlarks flying around but not singing.

 Other swallows seen at the park today were two Barn Swallows, two 
Northern-rough winged swallows and a Tree Swallow.  Quite a few Orchard Orioles 
and two Ospreys.
Carole GobertKnoxville, TN
[TN-Bird] Unusual martin nest

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