[TN-Bird] bbrrrrrdddddsssssss
- From: Charlie <cmmbirds@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 17:50:05 -0800 (PST)
Hi folks,
Tracey Everson and I did a 13.5 mile hike up to Russell and Spence
Fields in Great Smoky Mountains National park on Sunday (Blount
County, up to 5000 foot elevation - take that Memphis!)
We didn't see a lot of birds. They must be smarter than we are.
High temp for the day was certainly below freezing. And unlike the
birds, we had to actually *walk* through the 9 inches of snow along
the Appalachian Trail. My life is so hard. Having to withstand such
beauty, and all.
Anyway, the species total (sans binoculars, as usual) was a whopping
seven, as follows.
Northern Common Local Whatever Raven (or whatever they call it
nowadays. Let Allan Trently tell you. I just love seeing and
hearing them. This guy went right over our head.
Black-capped Chickadee. This may be the only day I've seen JUST
Black-capped and no Carolina since I've been in Tennessee. I
Identified 4 birds as such, and failed to ID 3 others, but suspect
they are the same. At least half were *singing* as all the ones here
in walker Valley have been off and on for 2 weeks. One of the birds
at high elevation had a mixed up song. Carolina usually have 4
notes, that go up down, up down. Black-capped usually have 3 notes
that go up, down, down (I remember it like they say "Hey, Sweetie)
But this guy, who looked all Black-capped, did up, down, up. Like he
was singing HEY sweeTIE.
Golden-crowned Kinglet. But not until we got to low elevations with
just 4 inches of snow.
Dark-eyed Junco. Can't be in the Smokies without these guys.
Most common bird of the day was Downy Woodpecker. Seemed to be
everywhere. Just one Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and no Pileateds,
though one recently dismembered Ironwood tree gave proof to their
recent presence.
Blue jay. One at the Cades Cove Picnic Area as we returned to the
truck, visions of Rasta Pasta and Newcastle Ale from the local pub
dancing in our minds
For those of you who consider this to be a dead time of year, we did
see Gray Squirrels. And we saw lots of signs of life, even up at
5000 in the wind and snow. Lots of Coyote tracks. A couple sets of
deer tracks. Most entertaining were the numerous tracks left by
rodents. Considering they were running atop snow that is about 10
times taller than they are, it's pretty brave of them. Lots of
tracks going from one log to another. 2 foot prints (when they run
in this stuff, rear feet land in prints of forefeet) and a tail drag.
In a few places we could see where they'd chewed on something.
Down at Cades Cove the deer are finishing up a late rut, and a few
are still knocking heads. And there are the requisite morons who
insist on approaching within 10 feet for a picture. I'm just
awaiting the first human death by deer in this park. It happened in
Yosemite a few years ago and now they have signs up everywhere.
Being an EMT, I hope I get the call next time someone is trampled, so
I can assist the person, and then tell them what an idiot they are -
in a nice, informative, reassuring tone of voice, of course!
Have a good day! And go climb a mountain.
charlie
=====
**************************************************
Charlie Muise, Senior Naturalist
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont
Townsend, TN lat 35 deg, 38'23" long 83 deg, 41'22"
"Up, Sluggard, and waste not life; in the grave will be sleeping enough"
- Ben Frankline, Poor Richard's Almanac
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