ISSN 0026-3575 ^ QU/\RTER.LY JOURNAL DEVOTEDvTO TEN N ESSEK BIRDS THETENNESSEE ORNITHOLOGICAL k SOCIETY J mmm MARCH 1991 VOL. 62, NO. 1 THE MIGRANT A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY FIRST ISSUE PUBLISHED IN JUNE 1930 Published by THE TENNESSEE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY Founded at Nashville, Tennessee on 7 October 1915 The T.O.S. is a non-profit, educational, scientific, and conservation organization. EDITORIAL STAFF Editor — T. David Pitts, Biology Dept. UTM, Martin, TN 38238 State Count Compiler — Susan McWhirter, 4962 Gwynne, Memphis,TN 38117 Season Editor — Robert P. Ford, Tennessee Dept, of Conservation, 460 Ozier Road, Pinson, TN 38366 OFFICERS FOR 1989-1991 President — Barbara Finney, P.O. Box 1 1667, Knoxville, TN 37919 Vice Presidents: East Term. — J.B. Owen, 2324 Antietam Road, Knoxville, TN 37917 Middle Tenn. — Portia MacMillan, 3201 Overlook Drive, Nashville, TN 37212 West Tenn. — Virginia Reynolds, 4241 Waymar Dr., Memphis, TN 38 1 17 Directors-at-Large: East Tenn. — Dee Eiklor, Rt. 1 1, Box 178, Gray, TN 37615 Middle Tenn. — David Snyder, Biology Department, Austin Peay State University, Clarfeville, TN 37044 West Tenn. — John R. Conder, P.O. Box 443, Camden, TN 38320 Curator — James T. Tanner, 417 Switzerland Dr., Knoxville, TN 37920 Secretary — Nancy Tanner, 417 Switzerland Dr., Knoxville, TN 37920 Treasurer — George R. Payne, 5834 Edge water Cove #2, Memphis, TN 38134 All TOS members receive The Migrant and the TOS newsletter, The Tennessee Warbler. The newsletter carries information about meetings, forays, and club activities. Annual dues are $10.00 for an Active membership. Other categories of membership are: Student - $5.00; Family - $12.00; Library - $15.00; Sustaining - $20.00; Life - $200.00. Chapters may collect additional fees to cover local expenses. Dues, contributions, and be- quests are deductible from Federal income and estate taxes. Back issues of The Migrant may be purchased from the Curator. Please correspond with the Treasurer for subscriptions, memberships, and changes of address. Published quarterly (March, June, September, and December). Printed by Tennessee Industrial Printing Services, Inc., 51 Miller Ave., Jackson, TN 38305. Copyright © 1990 by the Tennessee Ornithological Society THE MIGRANT Published by the Tennessee Ornithological Society, to Record and Encourage the Study of Birds in Tennessee. Issued in March, June, September, and December. VOL. 62 March 1991 NO. 1 The Migrant, 62(l):l-2, 1991. r 1 1 <■1 fi:. SOME DEDUCTIONS FROM RECAPTURE RECORDS OF BANDED COMMON YELLOWTHROATS Paul A. Stewart 203 Mooreland Drive Oxford, North Carolina 27565 Although many wood warblers have been banded during recent years, most of these have been banded when in southward migration. Fewer warblers have been banded during the nesting season. The extensive breeding range of Common Yellowthroats {Geothylpis trichas), which extends southward in the United States to the Gulf Coast, provides an opportunity for banding these birds in the United States during the nesting season. Amelia R. Laskey banded Common Yellowthroats, which can be assumed to have been on their nesting grounds, in Tennessee during 1932-1972. I have examined 43 resulting returns in quest of information on the return of these birds to their nesting grounds. METHODS Mrs. Laskey banded 279 Common Yellowthroats during 1932-1941; from 1942-1972 she banded an additional 17 yellowthroats. Apparently all of these birds were banded in the vicinity of her home at Graybar Lane in Nashville. Since she banded few yellowthroats after 1941, 1 assume that either she devoted less effort to trapping yellowthroats or the habitat changed and fewer yellowthroats were present. Therefore, I have limited my analysis to those birds banded prior to 1942. Of the 279 yellowthroats banded during 1932-1941,43 (15.4%) were recaptured in a subsequent year. The 43 returns of Common Yellowthroats contained in the listing were tabulated according to the number of years after banding returns were made to the banding site, and the listing was examined for repeated returns. All of the 43 birds were recaptured and released in the same 10-minute block of latitude and longitude where they had been banded. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION All of the 43 Common Yellowthroats recaptured were both banded and recaptured during the period between 28 May and 12 September, suggesting that they were on their nesting grounds both when first captured and when recaptured. Of the 43 returns, 18 were recaptured only once, 10 were recaptured twice, 6 were recaptured three times, 2 were recaptured four times, 3 were recaptured five times, 3 were 1 2 THE MIGRANT MARCH recaptured six times, and 2 were recaptured nine times. Twenty-seven of the 43 yellowthroats were aged when banded; all were after-hatching-year birds, further suggesting that they were on their nesting grounds. It is, of course, unknown whether the Common Yellowthroats evading capture returned to their nesting places or moved elsewhere. None of the 43 banded birds was reported elsewhere than at the banding site, suggesting that failure to recapture the birds did not indicate a failure to return to the banding site. Some Tennessee Common Yellowthroats survived into their sixth year (Table 1). As the birds were aged as after-hatching-year birds when banded, they were actually one year older than is shown in the table. As the sample used consisted entirely of birds on their nesting grounds in one area, it cannot be known how this finding on length of life applied to Common Yellowthroats elsewhere. Also, the sample used consists of data collected almost half a century ago, and the relevance of these findings to the present-day environment is uncertain. I found that some Yellow-rumped Warblers (Dendroica coronata) also survived into their sixth year (Stewart 1988. N. Am. Bird Bander 13: 106) Table 1. Survival of Common Yellowthroats after their initial capture (based on 43 returns). Length of survival (in years) after initial capture 1 2 3 4 5 6 Number 23 8 8 2 1 1 Percent 53.5 18.6 18.6 4.7 2.3 2.3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am grateful to Mrs. Portia MacMillan of the Cumberland Museum in Nashville and personnel of the Bird Banding Laboratory for making available to me the records used in this paper. The paper is dedicated to the memory of Amelia R. Laskey, whose indefatigable commitment to bird banding resulted in the collection of the records used herein. Accepted 2 January 1990. The Migrant, 62(l):3-4, 1991. POSSIBLE BREEDING OF PINE SISKINS AT LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, TENNESSEE Ted Caldwell 310 Fairy Trail Lookout Mountain, TN 37350 On the evening of 27 May 1990 and on two other occasions in the following four days, my wife, Beth, and I observed a fledgling Pine Siskin {Carduelis pinus) begging and receiving food from a mature Pine Siskin at out back porch feeding station. The feeders on our porch are 5.8 m (19 feet) above the ground in the dogwood canopy which is shaded by the oak-hickory canopy above. The feeder used was a Droll Yankee “Big Top” with the top all the way down, permitting access only to birds that will hang from the bottom edge. The flegling, apparently unable to land at the feeder, begged from the dogwood approximately 1 m from the feeder and less than 3 m from our supper table on the porch. We observed at leisure the begging and feeding during three evening meals from 27 May-31 May. The observations were made in good, but indirect, sun light through the porch screen. Binoculars were not used due to the short distance between the birds and us. The heavy streaking of the adult, small size and slender bill were evident. The adult showed less yellow in the wings and base of the tail than many siskins. The fledgling showed no yellow, and it appeared buffy with less defined streaking on its breast. We did not observe a nest or any nesting activity. We did not see any siskins in the area after 1 June. Siskins substantially outnumbered all other species at our feeders throughout the winter of 1989-1990, but most of the flock had departed by early April 1990. I noted in my journal on 17 April that a small number of siskins persisted in visiting our feeders which we continued to fill with black oil sunflower seeds throughout the spring and summer. Our home on Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, is at an altitude of approximately 560 m and rests on the north slope of a small, wooded ravine which is composed of about 10% conifers (mostly pines). The Tennessee-Georgia boundary lies some 130 m to the south of our feeding stations. The nearest habitat that seems to be suitable siskin nesting habitat is a neighbor’s one acre lot approximately 150 m to the east; the lot is landscaped with a diverse selection of conifers including blue spruce, Norway spruce, Douglas-fir, eastern hemlock, yew, southern white pine, and several species of hard pines all of which were planted during the 1930’s and 1940’s. Siebenheller and Siebenheller (1987) observed nesting siskins in New York and hypothesized that feeding stations maintained into the summer may encourage siskins to breed outside of their normal range. Williams (1987) presented evidence of siskins breeding near feeders at Ashville, North Carolina, at an elevation of 680 m. Hull (1989) reported eight confirmed breeding records in southern Michigan; all occurred at feeders that (1) were heavily used by siskins the previous winter, (2) were stocked with feed into the breeding season, 2ind (3) were located near conifers. Our observations, which occurred under the same circumstances described by Williams (1987) and HuU (1989), support the hypothesis of Siebenheller and Siebenheller (1987). McNair (1988) in his review of siskin breeding records in the southern Appalachians noted several summer records of siskins and evidence of 3 4 THE MIGRANT MARCH breeding on an irregular basis; he did not find positive evidence of nesting in Tennessee. The observations I have reported here provide the best available evidence of Pine Siskins nesting in Tennessee. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Kenneth H. Dubke provided the literature cited in the manuscript. Much of the excitement I have developed for bird observation over the past six years was encouraged by Ken and his wife Lillian. LITERATURE CITED Hull, C. 1989. Additional Pine Siskin nesting records for southern Michigan. Jack-Pine Warbler 67:131-133. McNair, D.B. 1988. Review of breeding records of Red Crossbill and Pine Siskin in the southern Appalachian Mountains and adjacent regions. Migrant 59: 105-113. Siebenheller, B., and N. Siebenheller. 1987. Possible effects of artificial feeding on nest-site selection by Pine Siskins. Chat 51:57-58. Williams, N. 1987. Preflight Pine Siskins at Ashville, N.C. Chat 51:58. Accepted 20 September 1990. The Migrant, 62(l):4-5, 1991. HISTORICAL BREEDING EVIDENCE OF THE BACHMAN’S SPARROW IN THE NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS Douglas B. McNair 303 Robinson Street Rockingham, NC 28379 and Charles P. Nicholson P.O. Box 402 Norris, TN 37828 Three nests of the Bachman’s Sparrow {Aimophila aestivalis) discovered by John S. Cairns at Weaverville (elevation 702 m), Bimcombe County, North Carolina, are the only evidence this sparrow ever nested in the North Carolina mountains (Simpson 1978). However, the actual details of each breeding record have remained undocumented. We have located those three nests in museum egg collections, plus two additional egg sets, also from Buncombe County. In addition, we have located three Bachman’s Sparrow specimens collected by Cairns, then sent to William Brewster. This note further documents those five breeding records and the three collected specimens. Cairns collected a fresh clutch of 5 eggs and the nest on the ground from underneath a bunch of grass on a hillside on 14 May 1894 (Univ. Miami). In 1895, Cairns collected two fresh clutches of 4 eggs with their nests, both placed on the ground underneath small pine saplings, on 9 May and 14 May (Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Chicago). On 20 April 1896 and 20 May 1897, W.M.R. (identity unknown) collected for Samuel B. Ladd, a friend of Cairns’s, a fresh clutch of 4 eggs and 1991 BACHMAN’S SPARROW 5 another clutch of 4 with incubation begun, both from nests that were placed on the ground under bunches of overhanging grass. The exact sites in Buncombe County are unknown (Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Chicago; collection of B.M. Snyder). Cairns collected a male Bachman’s Sparrow at Weaverville, North Carolina, on 19 June 1890 (Museum Comparative Zoology 247584) and again on 10 August 1894 (Museum Comparative Zoology 247585). He collected a female on 15 July 1892 (Museum Comparative Zoology 247586). We do not know of any other confirmed breeding records of Bachman’s Sparrow in the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province south of Virginia (Nicholson 1976; McNair 1986, Tanner 1988). Excluding occasional records of spring transients (birds detected from April to mid-May on one day only and without further information), we know of only one other nesting or breeding-season record of Bachman’s Sparrow in the Blue Ridge, that also a historical record. An adult male was collected on 26 May 1885 on the outskirts of Franklin (elevation 644 m), Macon County, North Carolina (Museum Comparative Zoology 210545); it was singing in an old field with sassafras sprouts (Brewster 1 886; Simpson 1980). This was the only Bachman’s Sparrow that Brewster observed during his 12-day trip to the North Carolina mountains. The breeding or breeding-season records cited above from seven years in the late nineteenth century in the North Carolina mountains suggest that the Bachman’s Sparrow was an uncommon breeding species at low elevations where suitable early-successional habitats existed. The absence of twentieth-century breeding or breeding-season records from the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province is probably a result of an unexplained range contraction and population reduction. Recent evidence of fairly large populations of Bachman’s Sparrow in west and central Tennessee (Tanner 1988) yield some hope that Bachman’s Sparrow may again be found breeding in the Blue Ridge south of Virginia. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We thank O.T. Owre and R.A. Paynter, Jr., curators of the egg collections at the University of Miami, Florida, and the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, respectively, D. Willard, collection manager for birds at the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, and B.M. Snyder for nest record and specimen data of Bachman’s Sparrow. We thank H.E. LeGmnd, Jr., and E.F. Potter for reviewing this note. LITERATURE CITED Brewster, W. 1886. An ornithological reconnaissance in western North Carolina. Auk 3:94-112, 173-179. McNair, D.B. 1986. Past breeding distribution of eleven species in Georgia based on nest records from egg data slips. Oriole 51:28-31. Nicholson, C.P. 1976. The Bachman’s Sparrow in Tennessee. Migrant 47:53-60. Simpson, M.B., Jr. 1978. The letters of John S. Cairns to William Brewster, 1887-1895. North Carolina Historical Review 55:306-338. Simpson, M.B., Jr. 1980. William Brewster’s exploration of the southern Appalachian Mountains: the journal of 1885. North Carolina Historical Review 57:43-57. Tanner, J.T. 1988. Changing ranges of birds in Tennessee. Migrant 59:73-87. Accepted 21 February 1991. The Migrant^ 62(1):6, 1991. BOOK REVIEW WHERE HAVE ALL THE BIRDS GONE?. 1989. Terborgh, J. Princeton University Press, Princeton, N.J. 207 pp. Hardback $47.50; paperback $14.95. “Get a copy of this book and read it. Look at the graphs on pages 9 (loss of Wisconsin forest), 55 (cowbirds on Christmas counts), 125 (photo of Haitian landscape), and 170 (loss of Costa Rican forest), think about the 18 suggestions on pages 184-186, and take action on two of them.” Were I authorized to give readers of The Migrant instructions about this book, those would be my instructions. An eminent ecologist. Dr. Terborgh here applies his considerable skills and insight to a readable and authoritative treatise on migratory birds. I agree with his lament: “As a nation, we simply lacked the foresight to preserve samples of the undisturbed environment. Had we done so, ecologists today could speak with authority on how greatly the rest of the environment has been altered. But in the absence of controls, we know we don’t have a scientific leg to stand on, and so by and large we remain mute, even though we may be horrified by what we see.” He begins with personal experiences from his boyhood in northern Virginia. His experiences of landscape changes and bird community changes in his lifetime are much like mine in Michigan and those of my children in Nashville. He painstakingly, almost excruciatingly, examines deficiencies in our schemes of counting birds. He then goes on, in light of these uncertainties, to look at changing land use patterns and the changes in bird communities that have followed those changes in the Western Hemisphere. He explores the roles of predation, parasites, competition and habitat degradation in the change in populations, from those of waterfowl in Chesapeake Bay to warblers in the Caribbean Basin. The ideas are presented in a coherent sequence of chapters, which treat with some rigor a summary of research results from North America, with less rigor the situation for migrants in winter in the tropics, and conclude with an impassioned plea and clear plan for action to assess the status and then conserve migratory birds that we so love to see. I found myself at turns adamantly opposed and enthusiastically in favor of Terborgh’s ideas. I think he failed to tell us about the importance of continental wind patterns as these affect the distributions and abundances of migrants. I think he very clearly articulated the importance of both winter and breeding grounds for migrants. His discussion of the diversity of winter behavior and seasonal changes of behavior among some species was, for me, very stimulating. His suggestion that local chapters of organizations like the Tennessee Ornithological Society undertake longterm Breeding Bird Census projects is one that I heartily endorse. Already, since publication of this work, an international symposium devoted to ecology and conservation of Neotropical migrants has taken place. Major efforts are underway by Federal land managing agencies to incorporate protection of habitats for migratory birds into their activities. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has undertaken a major private conservation initiative in support of these efforts. My fond hope is that the noble ideals so clearly stated by Terborgh, and embodied in these other efforts, result in protection of habitats and the species they contain. Otherwise, the answer to the question posed by the title of this splendid little book will not be a place. — Paul B. Hamel 6 The Migrant, 62(l):7-9, 1991. MINUTES OF THE FALL 1990 TOS BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING AND SYMPOSIUM The Fall 1990 TOS Board of Directors Meeting was held at the Holiday Inn in Dickson, TN, on 27 October. The meeting was called to order by President Barbara Finney at 4:35 p.m. A quorum was present. Audrey Hoff was appointed to serve as secreta^ for Nancy Tanner, who was unable to attend due to the illness of Jim Tanner. Minutes from the Spring 1990 TOS Board of Directors and Annual Meeting were distributed. The minutes were approved as submitted. VICE-PRESIDENTS AND DIRECTORS -AT-LARGE: There were no reports. TREASURER’S REPORT: George Payne reported that current assets are $61,442.77. From 5 May 1990 to 24 October 1990 income was $5,142.24, and expenses were $4,7 10.65. Anticipated liabilities are estimated at $6,100.00. Since the Spring Meeting, total assets have decreased by $598.97, primarily due to decreases in the stock market. George submitted the Budget for 1991: Projected income = $15,825.00; from dues: $9,950.00 (with slight growth anticipated); miscellaneous income: $5,875.00 (includes interest from money market fund, dividends from MIT funds, contributions, memorials, bird seed sales). Projected expenses = $15,275.00 for publications: $8,800.00; officers’ expenses: $225.00 miscellaneous: $3,605.00 (includes mailing and permits, charter renewal, supplies, misc. expenses); Atlas: $2,645.00 (newsletter, blockbusting, expenses). Ben Coffey moved to accept the budget at submitted and Bill Fowler seconded. The motion carried. The Treasurer’s report is filed with the secretary. SECRETARY: No report sent by Nancy Tanner. President Barbara Finney requested that all chapters send the secretary an updated list of all chapter officers and directors and their addresses. Some recent mailings sent to the last listed officers have not reached the proper people. Barbara requested that any such mail received be forwarded to the current officers. CURATOR: No report. EDITOR of The Migrant David Pitts reported that the December 1989 issue of The Migrant should have been received by members recently. This issue contains a species index. David will begin to publish the species index every year, instead of every three years. The March 1990 issue will have the membership list, printed with a disclaimer not to use without permission. The membership list will be published every three years. David asked that chapter treasurers update membership lists with current addres- ses. He stated that as of 1989, 43% of the TOS membership had been members for less than five years. With this high rate of turnover, it is important to keep address lists current so that The Migrant will reach all members. 7 8 THE MIGRANT MARCH The December 1990 issue will be the special 75th Anniversary edition. David requested photos to be submitted for publication in this issue. He also requested manuscripts and would welcome any comments about The Migrant. NOMINATING COMMITTEE: No report. FINANCE COMMITTEE: No report. BREEDING BIRD ATLAS: Chuck Nicholson reported that the 1990 field season was very successful with good progress in all regions. Next year (1991) will be the last field season. Most of the East Tennessee regions are close to completion. There are still many unworked blocks in West Tennessee and in south Middle Tennessee. The project is in good financial shape for the short term. Chuck said that several fund raising activities are planned for the next few months, including bird seed sales. Also, TWRA’s budget request for the next congressional session includes a request for a $25,000 appropriation to subsidize publication of the Atlas book. RECORDS COMMITTEE: Rick Knight reported that some records were voted on by mail this year. The current members of the Records Committee are: East TN — Rick Knight, Chm. (no alternate has been appointed); Middle TN — David Vogt (Don Davidson, alt.); West TN — Bob Ford (George Payne, alt.). CONSERVATION: Ken Dubke reported that he has written a letter to John P. Waters, TV A, concerning fluctuating water levels in the lakes and the effect of water levels on wildlife and aquatic vegetation. He has also written to Gary Myers and Bob Hatcher, TWRA, about the Sandhill Cranes at Blythe Ferry. Ken expressed concern about the renewed discussions of channelization of the Obion and Forked Deer Rivers in West TN and asked that Bob Ford keep him updated about this. PATCHES AND DECALS: Fred Carney sent a report that he had contacted the Boy Scouts of America to get prices for new TOS patches. A simple design would cost $1.00 each for an order of 200-400 and a more elaborate design would cost $1.25, with a minimum order of 600. Fred asked that the treasurer be authorized to send a check for the full amount of the order, not to exceed $900. Fred said that sketch had been offered by a representative of BSA, and that he would send this on to other members of the committee for their approval. Barbara Finney said that she also had a design submitted to her by Bill Bridgeforth. George Payne said that there was no money budgeted for 1991 for patches, and if they were added, other expenses may have to be limited. There was no motion made to allocate money for patches. Barbara Finney suggested that designs be submitted to the committee for approval, and that money be included in the next year’s budget. FALL SYMPOSIUM: Barbara Finney thanked George Mayfield and David Pitts for making the arrangements for the Symposium, and Cleo Mayfield and Gaither Gray for the refreshments. Volunteers were requested to chair next year’s symposium. “TENNESSEE WARBLER’’: Barbara Finney reported for Jim Finney that the Postal Service has been very uneven in the time of their distribution of the “Warbler”. She asked that information for the spring “Warbler” be sent in time for the “Warbler” to be mailed in late February. OLD BUSINESS AWARDS COMMITTEE: Ron Hoff sent forms to distribute to chapters to nominate members for the TOS Distinguished Service Award. The pins have been sent to last year’s recipients. Barbara Finney reminded the Vice Presidents and 1991 1990 TOS MINUTES 9 Directors-at-Large that they have a responsibility to see that information, such as these nominations, get to members-at-large. The deadline for nominations will be published in the “Warbler.” Ron has also requested that the chair be rotated through each of the three state regions. Beirbara said that since this is an appointed position, the State President will be responsible for filling this position. MIGRANT COVERS: David Pitts stated that no new covers have been submitted. NEW BUSINESS SPRING MEETING: Nashville will host the Spring Meeting, which will be 26-28 April 1991. NEW CHAPTER: Lula Coffey officially welcomed the new TOS chapter in Jackson. The Directors accepted the new chapter and welcomed them (retroactively) to TOS. The Jackson chapter was formed in October 1989, and TOS dues were paid in February 1990. OTHER ITEMS: Barbara Finney read a letter received from Lois Herndon expressing her deep appreciation for the Distinguished Service award and the pin. Barbara reminded chapter presidents to encourage election of directors who can come to the state meeting regularly. Only directors can vote at the state meetings, as stated in the State Constitution. Some directors have been elected who rarely come to the meetings. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:43 p.m. SYMPOSIUM The program of the 1990 TOS Symposium was arranged by T. David Pitts. The speakers and the titles of presentations follow. Saturday afternoon (27 October) Some effects of tree harvest on the breeding bird populations of LBL, by David Snyder. The Monsanto ponds, by Bedford Lochridge. Social dominance hierarchies in captive groups of White-crowned Sparrows, by Anna Ross. Comments on the distribution of the Bewick's Wren, by Ben Coffey. Conservation of neotropical birds: case of the Prothonotary Warbler, by Lisa Petit. The Pine Siskins of Chattanooga, by Tommie Rogers. The asynchrony of arrival of Yellow-rumped Warblers in upper East and Middle Tennessee, by George Mayfield. Foray reports and Breeding Bird Atlas update, by C.P. Nicholson. Saturday evening Beautiful, Bountiful, but Beleaguered: Winter Birds of Belize, by Dan Petit (University of Arkansas). Respectfully submitted, Audrey R. Hoff Secretary pro tern, TOS The Migrant, 62(l):10-20, 1991. THE 1990 CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT Susan N. McWhirter INFORMATION ON THE COUNTS Twenty-four counts were conducted in Tennessee for the 1990-1991 season with the resulting total of 149 species plus 1 additional species seen during the “count week” (3 days before and after count day). This surpasses all previous species totals, but the pending status of three gull species and the lack of documentation for several species rare for the CBC bring this total into question. The mild weather preceding the count period made for the increased possibility of sightings of lingering species, and several such sightings were made, but in some cases no details were submitted to substantiate. Without any documentation one must consider questionable those sightings that are not within the parameters of past records such as those cited in Robinson (1990) and Knight (1986). Anyone using this count information for scientific or other similar purposes must first examine each separate count for documentation of a specific species. Many counts reported spring-like high temperatures that were well above average. Only one count reported below-freezing temperatures, but even these were above average by the day’s end. Rain was reported on 14 counts, and cloudy skies on all. The Jackson count is new and notable for its large concentration of American Crows. Several species never before recorded in a Tennessee CBC made their debut this year including Western Sandpiper, Glaucous Gull, California Gull*, Thayer’s Gull*, Lesser Black-backed Gull*, Great Black-backed Gull, and Black-chinned Hummingbird. The latter supports Robinson’s (1990) recommendation that careful study should be made of all late fall hummingbirds due to the tendency of western species to wander. The American White Pelican (3rd CBC record) at Savannah caused some excitement in the Pickwick area. The “Savannah Courier” featured a story on this bird with an accompanying photograph that clearly shows a white pelican; unfortunately, the paper identifies it as “a common European white stork {Ciconia ciconia).. .originating from Central Asia”! *pending review by TN Bird Records Committee LITERATURE CITED Robinson, John C., 1990, An annotated checklist of the birds of Tennessee. University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville. Knight, Richard L., 1986, Tennessee Christmas bird counts, as reported in the Migrant, 1930-1986. Unpublished monograph. MEMPHIS — 16 Dec; 0500-1700; cloudy with drizzle and rain; temp. 42-43F, wind SW, 5 mph; 46 observers in 10-15 parties; 128 party hours (95 on foot, 33 by car) plus 2 owling; 197 party miles (72 on foot, 125 by car) plus 2 owling. Good details submitted for Western Sandpiper (MW, RP, DB, MG, TF); 2nd winter record for Shelby Co. and 3rd for TN, 1st CBC record. 92 species, 21, 282 individuals. Trish Ardovino, Buzz Bean, Dianne Bean, Betty Blaylock, David Blaylock, Claude Brown, Barbara Bullock, Carolyn Bullock, Fred Carney, Ben B. Coffey, Lula Coffey, Julian Darlington, Harold Elphingstone, Jim Ferguson, Bob Ford, Bill Fowler, Tim Furr, Murry Gardler, Joe Guinn, Van Harris, Barbara 10 1991 1990 CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT 11 Hollobon, Tony Hollobon, Bob Ilardi, Ginger Ilardi, David Kesler, Jo Levy, Selma Lewis, Mac McWhirter, Susan McWhirter, Gerry Papachristou, George Payne, Jeanne Payne, Bill Peeples, Rob Peeples, Martha Ramey, Ernie Restivo, Virginia Reynolds, Arlo Smith, Noreen Smith, Beverly Spore, Dick Spore, Richard Taylor, Phil Waldon, Martha Waldron (compiler — 1626 Yorkshire Dr., Memphis 38 1 19), Barbara Wilson, Rich Wilson. REELFOOT LAKE — 18 Dec; 0700- 1 630, rain in AM, partly cloudy PM; temp. 53-58F; wind N, 3 mph; 13 observers in 5 parties; 47 party hours (16 on foot, 31 by car); 220.5 party miles (13.5 on foot, 207 by car); 91 species, 50,328 individuals. Judy Barnes, Dianne Bean, Ben B. Coffey, Lula Coffey, Donald Doster, Harold Elphingstone, Bob Ford, Bill Fowler, Mark Greene, Dick Preston, Glenn Stanley, Bettie Sumara, Eddie Wilbanks (compiler — 407 Wynn St., Tiptonville 38079). JACKSON — 29 Dec, 0630-1700, cloudy with some light rain; temp. 59-68F, wind W 5-15 mph; 9 observers in 5 parties plus 4 at feeders; 36 party hours (19 by car, 17 on foot) plus 6.5 feeder hours; 267.5 party miles (257 by car, 10.5 on foot); 69 species, 313,127 individuals. Linda Barber, Neal Barber, Joyce Campion, Martha Ellis, Bob Ford, Mark A. Greene (compiler — 174 Mt. Orange Rd., Trenton 38382), Allen Hight, Helen Hight, Selena Little, Jackie Utley, Corene Welch, Linda Welch, Lynn Williams. SAVANNAH — 29 Dec; 0300-1700; cloudy with occasional light mist; temp. 59-66F; wind SW, 3-18 mph; heavy flooding, 4 observers in 2 parties plus 2 at feeders; 20 party hours ( 1 1 .2 by car, 8.8 on foot) plus 3.5 owling and 5.5 at feeders; 167.5 party miles (160.4 by car, 7.1 on foot) plus 50 owling; 90 species, 4,631 individuals. Good details submitted for Am. VTiite Pelican (DS, m.ob.). Details also submitted for Greater Scaup (DS), California Gull* (DS, m.ob.) (first state record), Thayer’s Gull* (DS), Lesser Black-backed Gull* (DS), and Great Black- backed Gull (DS); all gulls are first count records except the Great Black-backed (2nd record). Sheila Franks, Jeff Gamer, Lois Johnson, Ned Piper, Damien Simbeck (compiler — 600 Sugg PL, Dyersburg 38024), Dennis Stevens. *pending review by TN Bird Records Committee CROSS CREEKS NWR — 15 Dec; 0530-1700; rain in AM, cloudy in PM; temp. 36-62F; wind N, 7 mph; 1 1 observers in 6 parties; 56.5 party hours (20.5 on foot, 36 by car); 330.5 party miles (15.5 on foot, 315 by car); 99 species, 39,171 individuals. Good details submitted for Sedge Wren (DB). No documentation on LeConte’s Sparrow. Donald Blunk, Jerry Drewry, Clayton Ferrell, Carol Hale (compiler — Rt. 1, Box 556, Dover 37058), Ken Haskins, Lucia Haskins, Edward Landers, Madge Lawrence, Joyce North, Chris Sloan, Ed Toone. BUFFALO RIVER — 28 Dec; 0630-1715; cloudy with light rain all day and fog in PM; temp. 43-55F; wind SW, 0- 10 mph; 10 observers in 4 parties; 35.5 party hours (23 by car, 12.5 by foot) plus 3.25 owling; 21 1.5 party miles (197.5 by car, 14 on foot) plus 6 owling; 77 species, 5,407 individuals. Good details submitted for Rough-legged Hawk (DaS), Sandhill Crane (DoSi, RN, JS, HB), and Lincoln’s Sparrow (DoSe, JN, MB). Michael Beverlein, Hugh Bullock, Chester McConnell, Royce Neidert, Jane Newell, Donnette Sellers, Damien Simbeck, Don Simbeck (compiler — 117 2nd Ave. N., Loretto 38469), Joy Springer, Morris Williams. 12 THE MIGRANT MARCH CLARKSVILLE — 29 Dec; 0700-1630; cloudy with light rain in PM; temp. 55-65F; wind SW, 5 mph; 12 observers in 5 parties plus 17 at feeders; 50 party hours (33.5 by car, 16.5 by foot) plus 10.5 at feeders; 321 party miles (303.5 by car, 17.5 by foot); 73 species, 17,270 individuals. No details submitted on White eyed Vireo, Black-and-white Warbler or Common Tern. Gerald Emlay, Jeannie Emlay, Carol S. Hale, Ken Haskins, Lucia Haskins, Annie H. Heilman, Bill Hudson (compiler — 619 Idlewild Dr., Clarksville 37040), Gloria Milliken, Bill Milliken, Carl Mowery, Louise Powell, Barbara Wilbur. Feeder counters: Joe Allen, Agnes Ellis, Nancy Hughes, Mike Lee, Thurston Lee, Dr. and Mrs. William Lyle, Mary McCray, Helena Minningham, Evelyn Nixon, Pascal Phillips, Shelia Smith, Jean Thomas, Margaret Vansoijk, Ellen Walker, James Watts, Stanley York. COLUMBIA — 24 Dec. 0530-1600; heavy overcast with light to moderate rain, a few intervals without rain; wind S, 5-15 mph; temp. 50-65F; 7 observers in 4 parties plus 2 at feeders; 27 party hours (20 by car, 7 by foot) plus 10 at feeders and 3.5 owling; 381 party miles (375 by car, 6 on foot) plus 17 owling; 87 species, 108,947 individuals. Stephen Brinkley, William Jemigan, Allyn Lay, Anne and Bedford Lochridge, Cleo and George Mayfield (compiler — 999 Sunnyside Dr., Columbia 38401). Nancy Beyer and Larry Thomas at feeders. NASHVILLE — 22 Dec; 0545-1515; all day rain, fog, flooding; wind S, 5 mph; temp. 35-67F, but back down to 45 in PM; 1 8 observers in 6 parties; 40 party hours (18.5 by car, 21.5 by car); 223 party miles (207 by car, 16 on foot); 76 species; 7,97 1 individuals. The White- winged Scoter has been a regular visitor; good details submitted on Rose-breasted Grosbeak (DV, BH, KW). Bob Bray den. Kin Cosner, Jerry Drewry, Richard Figari, Bob Hatcher, Pamilla Hopkins, Ed Landers, Ken Lundstrom, Scott Lovell, Joseph McLaughlin, Chris Sloan, Joe Stone, Ann Tarbell (compiler — 6033 Sherwood Dr., Nashville 37215), Ed Toone III, ^ Toone IV, Oma Vaughn, David Vogt, Kenneth Walkup. HICKORY PRIEST — 1 Jan; 0500-1730; partly cloudy in AM, clear in PM; still water partly frozen, wind SW, 10 mph; temp. 19-5 IF, 8 observers in 5-6 parties; 46.5 party hours (19 by car, 27.5 on foot); 266 party miles (248 by car, 18 on foot); 83 species; 16,076 individuals. Linda Anderson, Jerry Drewry (compiler — 1115 Golf Course Ln., Ashland City 37015), Mark Hackney, Dick Newton, Chris Sloan, Joe Stone, Ann Tarbell, David Vogt. MURFREESBORO — 5 Jan, 0700-1800; mostly cloudy; wind SW, 5-15 mph; temp 40-50F; 12 observers in 7 parties; 36 party hours plus 8 at feeders and 1 owling; 273 party miles (270 by car, 3 on foot), 68 species, 17,367 individuals. Details submitted on Glaucous Gull (TW, DM) and Lark Sparrow (L&BE, TW, DM). Bertha Chrietzberg, Lou and Bill Erwin, Anne (compiler — 1018 Lawndale Dr., Murfreesboro 37129) and Bob Hettish, Richard and Wilma Hunter, David McCarroll, Larry McFarlin, Eugene and Ruth Odom, Terry Witt, Caryl Witt at feeder. LEBANON — 5 Jan; 0700-1800; cloudy; temp. 40-52F; 16 observers; 150 party miles plus feeders; 60 species; 7,295 individuals. No details submitted on Osprey. E.C. Berry, V.C. Berry, F. Crawford, N. Crawford, Hazel Cassel, Kathleen McCracken, Ruth V. McMillan (compiler — Rt. 2, Box 141, Lacassas 37085), Larry Norris, N. Kay Norris, Anna M. Parker, Ramona See, Dorothy Stockard, Clara Thomas, Ann Tomlinson, Melissa A. Turrentine, Roy Turrentine. 1991 1990 CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT 13 HIGHLAND RIM — 29 Dec; 0420-1800; cloudy, with intermittent rain and drizzle; wind S, 8- 12 mph; temp. 55-65F; 20 observers in 10 parties; 42 party hours (34 by car, 8 on foot) plus 3 owling; 449 party miles (440 by car, 9 on foot) plus 40 owling; 86 species; 9,775 individuals. Good details submitted for Greater Scaup (DD, KD, LD) and Vesper Sparrow (DD, LD). John J. Bruner, Lois J. Bruner, Donald L. Davidson (compiler — 1703 2nd Ave., Manchester 37355), Kenneth H. Dubke, Lillian H. Dubke, Marquerrite D. Hernandez, Jerry L. Ingles, Ruth W. Luckadoo, Corinne R. Martinez, Jose H. Martinez, Chloe W. Peebles, J. Howell Peebles, Erma L. Rogers, C. David Rutledge, Mary E. Shelton, Quincy N. Stykes, Stewart White, Lillie D. Willard, Grady M. York, Wilma P. York. McMinnville — 29 Dec; 0545- 1645; partly cloudy; wind S, 12 mph; temp. 58-66F; 7 observers in 3 parties; 18.5 party hours (12.25 by car, 6.25 on foot); 163.75 party miles (161.5 by car, 2.75 on foot); 53 species; 5,724 individuals. Amy Delong, Denise Delong, Timothy Jones, Clyde Malone (compiler — 114 Kennedy Cl., McMinnville 37 1 10), James Pearsoll, Donna Ware, Mickey Ware. NICKAJACK LAKE — 29 Dec; 0500-1725; cloudy, foggy, light intermittent rain; wind S, 0-15 mph; temp. 45-57F; 18 observers in 8 parties; 65.25 party hours (27 by car, 38.25 by foot) plus 4.25 owling; 335.25 party miles (314.75 by car, 20.5 on foot) plus 25.25 owling; 94 species, 76,964 individuals. Nelson Bennett, Koyle Blevins, Kenton Dickerson, Jerry Drewry, Gilbert Foster, Anita Gaddy, Danny Gaddy, John Henderson, Albert Jenkins, Starr Klein, Johnny Parks (compiler — 1610 East 17th St., Chattanooga 37404), Tom Patton, Peter Robinson, Joe Stone, Carl Swafford, Bemie Thompkins, Sabin Thompson, Bruce Wilkey. CHATTANOOGA — 15 Dec; 0730-1800; cloudy and foggy; wind S, 12-15 mph; temp. 46-62F, 27 observers in 12 parties, plus 5 at feeders; 66 party hours (27 by car, 39 by foot), plus 38 hours at feeders and 4.5 owling; 419 party miles (380 by car, 39 on foot) plus 49 owling; 99 species, 17,629 individuals. The Black- chinned Hummingbird was banded, has been accepted by the TN Bird Records Committee, and is the first state record. Good details submitted for Green-backed Heron (DR, DC) and House Wren (JH, TR). Nelson Bennett, Clyde Blum, David Chaffin, Louise Cash, Brainard Cooper, Chad Dom, Ken Dubke, Lil Dubke, Bill Haley, Linda Harris, Paul Harris, John Henderson (compiler — 7323 Fairington CL, Hixson 37343), A1 Jenkins, Bill Lane, Polly Lane, Barbara McMahan, Mike McMahan, Tom Patton, Bob Pierce, James Randolph, Don Ritzhaupt, Tommie Rogers, Robin Rudd, Donnie Rush, Bemie Tompkins, Dan Williams, Dick Wodzenski. HIWASSEE— 1 Jan; 0500-1800; cloudy; wind W5-10mph; temp. 45-54F; 16 observers in 8 parties; 78 party hours (13 by car, 61 on foot, 4 by boat) plus 3 owling; 314 party miles (363 by car, 25 on foot, 12 by boat) plus 12 owling; 96 species, 10,143 individuals. Extensive details submitted for the warbler species, but identification uncertain (possible female Hooded ?). Clyde Blum, Carl Campbell, Richard Clark, Andrew Core, Ken Dubke, Lil Dubke, Bill Haley, Dick Hughes, A1 Jenkins, Chuck Nicholson, Johnny Parks, Robin A. Rudd (compiler — 7611 Davidson Rd., Chattanooga 37421), Gene Ryther, Boyd Sharp, Bumie Tompkins, Dick Wodzenski. 14 THE MIGRANT MARCH KNOXVILLE — 12 Dec; 0645-1745; cloudy-partly cloudy; wind 0-10 mph; temp. 44-57F; 28 observers in 19 parties plus 2 at feeders; 90 party hours (41.2 by car, 48.8 on foot) plus 2 owling; 474 party miles (435 by car, 39 on foot) plus 17 owling; 83 species, 12,999 individuals. Details submitted for Spotted Sandpiper (MD, DH). Jane Beintema, Betty Reid Campbell, James Campbell, Bob Collier, Lara Collier, Andrew Core, Marcia Davis, Barbara Finney, Jim Finney, Louise Fuller, Brice Gilmer, Maurice Grigsby, Paul Hartigan, Audry Hoff (compiler — 4523 McCloud Rd., Knoxville, 37938), Ron Hoff, Andrew Howe, Tom Howe, David Howell, Tony Koella, Bettie Mason, James Mason, Chester Massey, Charles Nicholson, Holly Overton, Paul Pardue, Mike Reeves, Mike Ryon, Boyd Sharp. GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK — 30 Dec; 0630-1645; partly cloudy with light rain in afternoon, wind SW, 15-20 with gusts to 50 mph; temp. 42-75F; 1 1 observers in 8 parties; 184.25 party miles (129 by car, 55.25 on foot) and 1 1 owling; 59.75 party hours (14.25 by car, 45.5 on foot) plus 1 owling; 55 species; 1,139 individuals. The Black-capped and Carolina Chickadees were in mixed flocks as Black-capped move to lower elevations in the winter. Jane Beintema, Richard Clark, Don DeFoe (compiler — GSMNP, Gatlinburg, 37738), Paul Hartigan, Susan Hoyle, Burt Jones, Tony Koella, Charles Nicholson, Holly Overton, Paul Pardue, Martha Rudolph, Boyd Sharp. GREENVILLE — 29 Dec; 0600-1800; cloudy with fog in AM; wind N, up to 2 mph, temp. 40-62F; 22 observers in 11 parties plus 13 at feeders; 215.7 party miles (200.2 by car, 12.5 on foot, 3 by boat) plus .25 owling; 49 party hours (20 by car, 25 on foot, 4 by boat) plus .75 owling and 18 at feeders; 64 species, 29,21 1 individuals. Mark Britton, Orland Britton, Phine Britton, Justine Carlos, Cynthia Cragin, H.E. Cragin, King Gant, Margaret Gant, Juanita Heckart, Lenard Heckart, Don Holt, Jim Holt (compiler — 311 Colonial Cl., Greeneville, 37743), Cindy Jones, Richard Nevins, Willie Ruth Nevius, Daniel J. Nieves, Doug Ratledge, Helen Reed, Jo Anne Routledge, Doug Routledge, Jean Weaver, Virginia Wil- liams. KINGSPORT — 29 Dec; 0800-1600; cloudy; wind 0-5 mph; temp. 35-45F; 74 observers in 14 parties (includes 48 observers who participated in a Kid’s Count only); 478 party miles (454 by car, 24 on foot) plus 51 owling; 75.5 party hours (47 by car, 28.5 on foot) plus 3.5 owling; 74 species; 10,803 individuals. Good details on Black-capped Chickadee (LH) and Double-crested Cormorant (AS). Frank Altom, Dean and Julie Anderson, Reva Baker, Marla and Andrew Bell, Sandra and Danny Blakely, Vada Church, Suzanne, Stephen, Emily and Katy Clark, Goldie and Shannon Coykendall, Chris Crawford, Joan and Stephen Cross, Jane Ensign, Michelle Fout, Aubry Gaby, Jim Gilland, Carrie Grey, Ligia Hawkins, Wynn Herbert, Errol and Anna Hess, Jean Horton, Marie and Senter Jackson, Dick and Nicholas Jackson, Rick Knight, Greg and Graham Kramer, Robbie Larkin, George, Suzanne and Violet Larkins, Gary and Sylvia Morin, Danny Mumford, Ian Myers, Lisa Parrott, Ron Pendleton, Jason Phipps, Bob Quillen, Sue and Peter Raber, Connie and Jarrod Reed, Tricia Riddle, Emily Sikora, Marty, Chris, Jacob, Rachel, Mary, David, Hannah, and Sarah Silver, Arthur Smith (compiler — 100 Otari Dr., Kingsport 37664), Sarah and Rachel Sprinkle, Jeanne and Mike Ubal- dani, Tina Vincent, Frank Williams, Becky, John and Randy Wofford, Kristin, Zachary, and Nicholas Zimet. 1991 1990 CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT 15 ELIZABETHTON — 16 Dec; 0500-1830; clear to partly cloudy, wind W 0-20 mph; temp. 39-57F; 17 observers in 6 parties; 341 party miles (325 by car, 16 on foot) plus 21 owling; 5 1 party hours (23 by car, 28 on foot) plus 4 owling. Details submitted for Cattle Egret (RE, GW, FW). 71 species, 5,833 individuals. Fred Alsop, Wallace Coffey, Brian Cross, Martha Dillenbeck, Rusty Dunn, Dee Eiklor, Elizabeth Funkhouser, Dick Hegler, Dan Hurrine, Rick Knight (compiler — 804 N. Hills Dr., Johnson City 37604), Richard Lura, Tom McNeil, Glenn Swoford, Gary Wallace, Frank Ward, Jim and Shirley Wayland. BRISTOL — 30 Dec; 0700-1800; cloudy with brief morning shower; wind S, 0-1 mph; temp. 47-68F; 13 observers in7 parties; 383 party miles (371 by car, 12 on foot) plus 37 owling; 51 party hours (33 by car, 18 on foot) plus 4.5 owling; 78 species, 7,048 individuals. J. Wallace Coffey, Bert Hale, Ken Hale, Loraine Hale, Joe Jackson, Rick Knight, Tom Laughlin, Richard Lewis (compiler — 407 V.I. Ranch Rd., Bristol 37620), Don Littrell, Alice Nair, John Shumate, Jr., Lorrie Shumate, Randy Smith. ROAN MOUNTAIN — 23 Dec; 0630-1600; light to heavy rain; wind S, 0-10 mph; temp. 55-65F; 10 observers in 3 parties; 131 party miles (127 by car, 4 on foot) plus 3 owling; 18 party hours (12 by car, 6 on foot) plus 1 owling; 42 species, 1,160 individuals. Fred Alsop, James Brooks, Brian Cross, Dan Huffine, Rick Knight (compiler — 804 N. Hills Dr., Johnson City 37604), Kelli and Rad Mayfield, Frank Ward, Jim and Shirley Wayland. 1990 CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT fn o ^ ♦ ♦ ♦ o ^ m ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ « r) « « « ♦ ♦ ♦ *0 r4 ♦ «n ON 00 00 00 ^ « ^ rt ^ c4 \n m o * ♦ ^ NO ♦ ♦ ♦ B?; J5 O * ts ♦ — ' « 'O Tt S ?i S -T -J fo r«-) O (S O H c-s I -i i’sl-g ^ 1 t > Q D. . T3 ■s I §■ a» ^ o a c oc o ii « ^ O -o I 6J? 16 Red-breasted Merganser merganser sp. 1990 CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT ufT Clark Colu Nash Hick-Pr Murf LebaHigh McMinn Nick Chat Hiwa Knox GSMNP Gree King Eliz ec BQ 2 I E.2 H tS « _s/ III fe ^ 8 z 5 u E. VO 00 Os r" « r« « * n — ' IT) © 'O ♦ 'O a - a rn <<% « cn ir> in 00 in u a; S u S sl s|1f fist. § fc -o - US’?! |Ie| = Illll •S'fe 8 ^ z 5: I |PI| Illll Is I el|i 1^1 i ml OQ U H oo 18 White-breasted Nuthatch 1990 CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT Species Memp Reel Jack Sav CCWR BufT Clark Colu Nash Hick-Pr Murf LebaHigh McMinn Nick Chat Hiwa Knox GSMNP Gree King Eliz ♦ O « ro « « VO * VO * r~ cn rs (S f<> O') * 00 o fS ^ ^ ^ O' ♦ rf S ^ Sn * ^ C ♦ « 00 oe > -H (S (S w-v ^ 00 ir> * * © ir> * ro ©oor^ r'^cor'© ^ ♦ * 4 .E T3 I i I ii ^ 5 V £ g st g M ^ a o oi ca "9 c-=i- ^ 1 1 I J I 2 1 i EH 1 1 1 1 I il 1 1 1 cn .£ H C/5 s > ^ 1/3 g , ^-i 1> ^ u ^t3l •o 8- - H ou 4 ? I es O ^ =g JZ >- I i OQ U i '& ~o i6:i i i'll aj as < I ill g.’i C« h * g « « S fe s U, > J 00 ? 1 1 i i-i 0.00 JE g g .E II H a. r E a J 5 ^ 19 1990 CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT lufT Clark Colu Nash Hick-Pr Murf Leba High McMinn Nick Chat Hiwa Knox GSMNP Gree * S 0\ >0 « VO Q 'O * VO ® ® 2 ^ in oi ♦ S § ♦ o m >0 ♦ CM VO -I IQ * CM ^ Ov * O ’-I rr> «n VO CM -I -I CM ■» VO Ov CM otf 1 os -? W X 20 The Migrant, 62(1): 21-28, 1991 THE SEASON Robert P. Ford, Editor This summer season contributed its share of first class birding to those observers going afield. During June, field trips for the Breeding Bird Atlas and Breeding Bird Surveys added valuable information to our knowledge of the status of breeding birds across the state, while field work in July resulted in reports of several vagrants. Weather patterns were considered close to normal across the state, although stretches of dry weather occurred in each region. For several species, nesting documentation was encouraging. Cedar Waxwings were once again reported as nesting in the Coastal Plain of west Tennessee, and were found in 1 1 counties of the Ridge and Valley Region. As in past years. Grasshopper Sparrows were discovered at new sites in middle Tennessee. The Eastern Mountain Region reported a noteworthy overlap of Willow and Alder Flycatchers. However, some species did not fare as well. Only in the eastern mountains were “good” numbers of woodland vireos and warblers reported. A new state record appeared along the Mississippi River in July, an Arctic Tern. Unfortunately, only one person was able to see the bird, but it was observed at unusually close range. Other vagrants were observed in the Ridge and Valley, most notably a high number of White Ibis and one Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. As always, this report contains many hidden treasures for those reading through it. Please take note of those records, and in the upcoming seasons add to them by contributing your observations to the regional compilers. Abbreviations used in this report include: ad-adult, BBS-Breeding Bird Survey, Co.-County, EOP-end of period, ers-earliest recorded sighting for period, et al-and others, fide-reported by, f-female, im-immature, m-male, max-maximum number reported during period, m.ob.-many observers, pr-pair, yg-young, *-record has been documented. WESTERN COASTAL PLAIN REGION - The unseasonably hot, dry weather might have been a contributing factor to a lower than usual number of sightings for the summer. However, an Arctic Tern was observed at Island 13 in Lake County for a new state record. Nesting Cedar Waxwings were observed in Chester County for a second nest record in west Tennessee. Attention was given to breeding birds as a consequence of the atlas and the summer breeding bird surveys. 21 22 THE MIGRANT MARCH Grebe-Moorhen: Pied-billed Grebe: 1 1 Jul (30, 2-3 family groups) PRI (VBR, CHB, MGW). American White Pelican: 15/22 Jul (1 ad) Hwy 79 W, LKC (WGC). Double-crested Cormorant: 9 Jun (2) Is 13 Rd, (1) REL, LKC (WGC). Tricolored Heron: 1 1 Jul (1) PRI (MGW). Yellow-crowned Night Heron: 6 Jun (4 im) Dixon Art Gallery, MEM (ITOD, SSL, Mark Orr), a report of 3 nests and 10 yg were observed by grounds personnel prior to the Jun confirmation of yg. Black-crowned Night Heron: 22/24 Jul (6 ad, 5 inV16+) Hwy 79 W, LKC (WGC). White Ibis: 2 Jul (1 im) Hwy 79 W, LKC (WGC). Hooded Merganser: 1 1 Jun (3) Hwy 412, NE of Dyersburg, DYC (MAG). Black Vulture: 5 Jun (18) Bluff Rd, GBC (MAG). Turkey Vulture: 5 Jun (21) Bluff Rd, GBC (MAG). Osprey: 3 Jun (1) Walnut Log REL, OBC (WGC); 4 Jul (4 nests, 8 ad) REL, OBC and LKC (MAG, SDL). Mississippi Kite: 1 Jun (37) LKC (WGC); 26 Jun (30+) FPP (Knox Martin); 27 Jun (1) Youngerman Rd, 4 miles W and 1 mile S of Middleburg, HEC (DPB); 14 Jul (36, 1 nest with yg) FPP, (17) Hwy 19, LDC (MAG, SDL); 17 Jul (13) Is 13, LKC (WGC). Broad- winged Hawk: 5 Jun (1) Bluff Rd, GBC (MAG). Cooper’s Hawk: 28 Jun (1) Old Eaton Rd, 3 miles E of l^ton, GBC (MLG); 3 Jul (1) Dowdy Rd, 1 mile E of Old Brownsville Rd, FYC (VBR, CHB). American Kestrel: 5 Jun (1) FYC (CHB, VBR); 15 Jun (1) LKC (WGC); 26 Jun (10 im) banded and released. The yg were brought to the MEM Zoo. Six birds were from within the city limits of MEM, and four were from Collierville (Knox Martin); 20 Jun (pr with yg) SW MEM (GBB); 21 Jun (1) LDC (MGW, VBR, CHB); 26 Jun (3) S of Henry, HNC (CHB, DPB). Common Moorhen: 1 Jun/30 Jun (1/1 ad, 2 im) Kirby Pocket, REL, OBC (MAG, RPF). Shorebirds: The sludge lagoons in Ensley Bottoms, now known as THE EARTH COMPLEX (TEC), was visited on the average of twice a week. The data represent the highest and lowest numbers recorded during the period. The observers reporting for the TEC are MGW, JEW, VBR, MLG, CHB, unless otherwise noted. This year the 110 acre wetland adjacent to the sludge lagoons provided additional nesting sites for the Black-necked Stilt. Lesser Yellowlegs: 4 Jul-EOP (1-14) TEC. Solitary Sandpiper: 4 Jul-EOP (2-17) TEC; 7 Jul (2) Phillipy Pits LKC (WGC); 19 Jul (1) HWR, HYC (MAG). Willet: 11 Jul (1) PRI (VBR, MGW, CHB), early for SBC and west Tennessee. Spotted Sandpiper: 15 Jul-EOP (5-1) TEC. WHIMBREL: 21 Jul -EOP (1) TEC (BBC, LCC, Lynn Gardler, MLG, JRW, m. ob.). Ruddy Turnstone: 3 Jun (1) Phillipy Pits, LKC (WGC). Sanderling: 21 Jul (2) Junction 103 and Great River Rd, DYC, 22 Jul (1) Is 13, LKC (WGC). Semipalmated Sandpiper: 19 Jul -EOP (115-25) TEC. Western Sandpiper: 15 Jul-EOP (2-20) TEC. Least Sandpiper: 7 Jul (20) Phillipy Pits, LKC (WGC); 15 Jul-EOP (27/2) TEC; 15 Jul (28) Hwy 79 W, LKC (WGC). Baird’s Sandpiper: 15 Jul (1) TEC (MLG). Pectoral Sandpiper: 7 Jul (2) Phillipy Pits, LKC (WGC), 15 Jul-EOP (45-987) TEC. Stilt Sandpiper: 24 Jul (1) TEC. Black-necked Stilt: 6 Jun (2) Hwy 412, NE of Dyersburg DYC (MAG); 10 Jun (1) 2 miles S of 104 and Great River Rd, DYC (WGC); 1 Jun-EOP (18+) TEC, highest number of successful nests since 1982. Yg were first observed as early as the second week of Jun and downy yg as late as 3 1 Jul. Gull-Waxwing: Herring Gull: 23 Jul (1 im) Trenton Shady Acres Park, GBC (MAG, SDL, JCG). Caspian Tern: 9 Jun/20 Jul (2) Is 13 Rd, LKC (WGC). ARCTIC TERN: 6 Jul (1 breeding plumage) Is 13 Rd, LKC (WGC), accepted by State Certification Committee. Forster’s Tern: 17/22 Jul (1) Is 13, LKC (WGC). Least 1991 THE SEASON 23 Table 1. Results from a chuck- wiirswidow (CWW) 2ind Whippoor-will (WPW) survey in west Tennessee (BBC, LCC). CWW WPW Kilometers No. No. Date County surveyed Total per km Total per km 4 Jun Benton 12 17 1.4 24 2.0 6/7 Jun Carroll 38 48 1.3 57 1.5 6/7 Jun Henderson 42 78 1.9 36 1.2 Tern: 1 1 Jul (6, 2 yg) nest on PRI (VBR, MOW, CHB); 7 Jul (90) Is 13 (WGC). Black Tern: 3/9 Jun (4) Is 13 Rd, LKC (WGC); 9 Jun (10) Boothspoint, DYC (MAG, SDL); 22 Jul (17) TEC (MLG, m.ob.); 10/17 Jul (1) Is 13, LKC (WGC). Bam Owl: 15/17 Jun (1) Parks Well Rd near Liberty, WKC (MAG, SDL, JCG). Common Nighthawk: 20 Jun (7 in 5 locations) MEM, numbers seem to be down (LCC). Chuck-wilPs-widow and Whip-poor-will: A summary of 1990 survey results are listed in Table 1 (BBC, LCC). In NW HEN, nothing heard at 1/4 of stops; SW CLC, nothing at 1/5 of stops; SW HAC, nothing at 1/3 of stops. Old Bethel Rd (CLC) and Forrest Hill Rd (HAC) best for WPW, stormy weather allowed for only 2 all night runs. 3 Jun (3 WPW) Shiloh NMP, (none in 1989); 7 Jun (1 WPW) SE GBC (BBC, LCC). Scissor-tailed Flycatcher: 29 May-EOP ( 1 pr, nest with 2 eggs in a Loblolly Pine, unsuccessful) PDP, HDC (DJS, m.ob.). Bank Swallow: 1 Jun (150+ nesting colony) Hwy 104 near Heloise, DYC (MAG); 12 Jun (120 holes, 25 birds) MS River, DYC (WGC); 30 Jun (87 holes, 47 birds) Pt. Pleasant, LKC (RPF); 13/22 Jul (150/600) Is 13, LKC (WGC); 18 Jul (1200+) Midway, DYC (MAG). Cliff Swallow: 18 Jul (43) Midway, DYC (MAG); 19 Jul ( 12) Midway, DYC (MAG). Fish Crow: 26 Jun (1) Bluff Rd, GBC (MAG); 6 Jul (1) BCT, WKC (MAG); 15 Jul (1) Phillipy Pits, 22 Jul (3) Is 13, LKC (WGC). House Wren: 30 Jun (2) Pt. Pleasant, LKC (RPF); 14 Jul (1) FPP, LDC (MAG, SDL). Sedge Wren: 19 Jul (1) TEC (MLG). Eastern Bluebird: 23 Jun (common) in Block 5 of Massey ville and Rosecreek quads during atlassing project (MGW, JEW). Loggerhead Shrike: 12/15 Jun (8) HAC (VBR, MGW, CHB); 25 Jun (1 1) WKC and CLC, 27/28/29 Jun (9) DTC and HEC, 2 Jul (1) FYC (MGW, VBR, CHB); 2/3/8 Jul (6) FYC (CHB, DPB); 3/8 Jul (9) FYC (VBR, MGW, CHB). Cedar Waxwing: 16 Jun (pr) PDP, HDC (DJS); 27 Jun (1 nest) Pin Oak Lodge, NTP, HEC (CHB, DPB), second confirmed nesting for west Tennessee during the atlas project; 27 Jun (1 im) Tatlock Lake, Tipton Co. (RLW). Vireo-Bobolink: Warbling Vireo: 1 Jun-EOP (3) PDP, HDC (DJS); 25 Jun (1) Macedonia Bottoms, GBC (MAG). Black and White Warbler: 15 Jun (1) BCT, WKC (MAG); 26 Jun ( 1 m) Elkins landing, 3 miles SE of Mt. Lebanon, DTC (DPB, CHB); 15 Jul (2) DTC (CHB). Swainson’s Warbler: 2 Jun (3) Hatchie River boat trip with the Nature Conservancy, Hwy 76 to Hwy 70, HYC (VBR, RPF), (3) HWR, HYC BBS (CHB, MLG), (2) HWR, HYC BBS (BBC, LCC, JBG); 5/11 Jun (1) Vildo Rd N of Hwy 100, HAC (CHB, RPF); 21 Jun (4) LDC (MGW, VBR, CHB); 23 Jun (1) CSP, HAC (MAG, SDL); 24 (1) PEF (VBR); 26 Jun (2) 0.2 to 0.3 miles S of the South Fork of Obion River, NW of Trezvant, CLC (CHB, DPB). Hooded 24 THE MIGRANT MARCH Warbler: 2 Jim (3) HWR, HYC BBS (BBC, LCC, JBG); 15 Jim (2) BCT, WKC (MAG); 23 Jun (2) CSP (MAG, SDL); 24 Jun (1) PEF (VBR). Louisiana Waterthrush: 2 Jun (5) Hatchie River boat trip with the Nature Conservancy, Hwy 76 to Hwy 70, HYC (VBR, RPF), (1) HWR, HYC BBS (BBC, LCC, JBG), (7) HWR HYC BBS (CHB, MLG); 15 Jun (1) BCT, WKC (MAG); 23 Jun (1) CSP (MAG, SDL). Scarlet Tanager: 23 Jun (1) CSP (MAG, SDL); 27 Jun (1 m) Mays Chapel Rd, 1 mile W of Pin Oak Lodge, Natchez Trace State Park, HEC (DPB, CHB). Bachman’s Sparrow: 1 Jim-EOP (pr) Burnt Church Rd, HDC (DJS). Lark Sparrow: 27 Jun (2) 1.4 miles S of Middleburg; 28 Jun (1) 2.5 miles S of Middleburg, HEC (DPB, CHB). Grasshopper Sparrow: 27 Jun (2) 1 .4 miles S of Middleburg, HEC (DPB, CHB); 6 Jul (1) UT Martin campus, WKC (MAG). Song Sparrow: 2 Jul (1) Pt. Pleasant, LKC (RPF); 21 Jul-EOP (1) TEC (MLG, m.ob.). Bobolink: 5 Jun (1 f) Bluff Rd, GBC (MAG), late. Locations: BCT-Big Cypress Tree State Natural Area, Weakly Co.; CLC-Carroll Co.; CSP-Chickasaw State Park, Chester Co.; DTC-Decatur Co.; DYC-Dyer Co.; FPP-Ft. Pillow Prison, Lauderdale Co.; FYC-Fayette Co.; GBC-Gibson Co.; HAC-Hardeman Co.; HDC-Hardin Co.; HEC-Henderson Co.; HWR-Hatchie Na- tional Wildlife Refuge; HYC-Haywood Co.; LDC-Lauderdale Co.; LKC-Lake Co.; MEM-Memphis; OBC-Obion Co.; PDP-Pickwick Dam Park, Hardin Co.; PEF-Penal Farm, Shelby Co.; PRI-President’s Island, Shelby Co.; REL-Reelfoot Lake, Lake and/or Obion Cos.; SBC-Shelby County; TEC-The Earth Complex, Shelby Co.; WKC- Weakly Co. MARTHA G. WALDRON, 1626 Yorkshire Dr., Memphis, TN 38119 HIGHLAND RIM AND BASIN REGION - Rainfall in Nashville was about 1 .5 inches below normal for Jun and almost an inch above normal in Jul. Temperatures were near normal for the period. Several species not normally found summering in the region were reported during the period. Among these rarities were a Pied-billed Grebe, a pair of Double-crested Cormorants, a Hooded Merganser, and a Great Egret. Tennessee Breeding Bird Atlas field workers reported encouraging numbers of Great Blue Herons, Homed Larks, and Grasshopper Sparrows. Grebe-Merganser: Pied-billed Grebe: 23 Jun (1) Stauffer Pond, MUC (OBL, WNJ). DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT: 31 July (2) PPL, RUC (MLM), first Jul record for Nashville area. Great Blue Heron: reported from 13 locations in the following counties; RUC, Marshall Co., Dekalb Co., Warren Co., Trousdale Co., Bedford Co., DVC, Clay Co. Great Egret: 1-3 Jul (1) Shelby Bottoms, DVC (Mark S. Hackney). Cattle Egret: 5 Aug (29) OHL, SUC (Robert M. Hatcher). HOODED MERGANSER: 6 Jul (1 f) OHL, SUC (Richard Newton, Grace Newton), photo and documentation were submitted for this first Nashville area record. Hawk-Warbler: Sharp-shinned Hawk: 6 Jun (2 ad*) 4 miles S of Watertown, Wilson Co., (N. Kay Norris, RVM); 21 Jul (1 ad, 2 im) Murfreesboro, RUC (TJW), the yg were observed being fed by the ad for a 2 week period. Cooper’s Hawk: 16 Jun (1) near Hermitage Springs, Clay Co. (CPN), an ad carrying food; 16 Jun (1) near Sunrise, Macon Co. (CPN); 21 Jun (1 im) near Halltown, Trousdale Co. (DFV). Homed Lark: 6 Jun (1) near Portland, SUC (ATT); 9 Jun (1) near Hollow Springs, 1991 THE SEASON 25 Cannon Co. (DFV); 14 Jun (1) near Kedron, Maury Co. (DFV); 26 Jun (1) near Morrison, Cannon Co. (DFV). American Redstart: 24 Jul (lb) L^wis Co. (GRM). Sparrow-Siskin: Lark Sparrow: 17 Jun (1) Lascassas, RUC (RVM). Grasshopper Sparrow: 1 Jun (1) Horseshoe Bend, DVC (DFV); 9 Jun (2) near Hollow Springs, Cannon Co. (DFV); 13 Jun (1) near Centertown, Warren Co. (JWW); 16 Jun (1) near Red Boiling Springs, Macon Co. (CPN); 17 Jun (1) near Webb’s Jungle, RUC (DFV); 18 Jun (3) near Deason, Bedford Co. (DFV); 26 Jun (5) near Morrison, Warren Co. (DFV), max; 28 Jun (1) Readyville, Cannon Co. (RVM); 29 Jun (2) near Beech Grove, Cannon Co. (DFV). Pine Sisldn: 9 Jun (1) BAH, PUC (RWS). Locations: BAH-Bames Hollow; DVC-Davidson Co.; MUC-Maury Co.; OHL- Old Hickory Lake; PPL-Percy Priest Lake; PUC-Putnam Co.; RUC-Rutherford Co.; SUC-Sumner Co. DAVID F. VOGT, 7818 Old Charlotte Pike, Nashville, TN 37209 EASTERN RIDGE AND VALLEY REGION - Weather conditions should have been conducive to a successful nesting season, other variables permitting. Precipitation for the season was near normal, ranging from +0.2 inches at Chat- t2Uiooga to -0.9 inches at Johnson City. However, distribution of this rain was uneven, with late June to mid- July being very dry. Temperatures were near normal with a few minor fluctuations. Atlasing accounted for much of the data presented. This report contains observations from 30 of 42 (7 1 %) counties that are all or partly in the region, which matches the figure for 1988 (1989 was lower). Highlights include a group of Cattle Egret nests and two Sharp-shinned Hawk nests in the Knoxville area, another Bam Owl nest in the Tri-cities area, and Cedar Waxwing nests from 1 1 counties. Aside from breeding birds, good numbers of wandering herons and White Ibises were en- countered, as was a vagrant Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. Read through these and the other interesting sightings listed below. Cormorant-Ibis: Double-crested Cormorant: 4 Jun (2) Fort Loudoun Lake, KNC portion (Boyd Sharp); 10 Jun (1) near Niota, McMinn Co. (RC); 15 Jul (1/1 im) Tellico Lake, Blount Co./KSP (ARH/ ARH, KHD, LHD). Least Bittern: 1, 14 Jul (1) HRA, MEC portion (CDB, TLR et al.). Great Blue Heron: 9 Jun (4 nests with yg) Nickajack Lake, MAC (KHD, LHD), first breeding there. Great Egret: 7 Jun (1) COR (STS, RS); 13-21 Jun (1) BLV (BGM et al.); 26 Jun (2) Bristol, SLC (JWC); 9 Jul (1) Cove Lake S.P., CPC (RLK); 15-31 Jul (max 9) KSP (m.ob.); 15 Jul (6) MAC landfill (TLR); 28 Jul (1) Piney Flats, SLC (JWC). Snowy Egret: 3 Jun (1) Nolichucky Waterfowl Sanctuary, GNC (Jim Holt); 28 Jul (2) HRA (KHD, LHD). Little Blue Heron: 17, 29 Jul (2 im) KSP (RLK); 28 Jul (7) HRA (KHD, LHD); 31 Jul (2) Savannah Bay, HLC (KHD). Cattle Egret: 7 Jun, 2 Jul (1) COR (STS, RS); 22, 26 Jun (8-9 prs on nests in Black-crowned Night-Heron colony) Fork Creek section of Fort Ix)udoun Lake, LOC (RC), rare nester in east Tennessee; 28-29 Jul (1) AUS (JWC et al.). Black-crowned Night-Heron: 7-31 Jul (max 14) AUS (JWC et al); 16 Jul (1) Savannah Bay, HLC (KHD). Yellow-crowned Night-Heron: 7 Jun/ 14 Jul (6 ad/2 im) BLV (BGM et al); 9 Jul ( 1 im) Jonesborough, WGC (James Brooks). White Ibis: 12-13 Jun (1 im) Nolichucky Waterfowl Sanctuary, GNC (Jim Holt); 4-30 Jul (1 im) Collegedale, HLC (Dick Wodzenski 26 THE MIGRANT MARCH et aL); 9 Jul (1 im) Cocke Co. (fide J.B. Owen); 17 Jul (2 im/3 im) COR/Blount Co. (STS, RS/ fide J.B. Owen); high number of occurrences. Duck-Woodpecker: Northern Pintail: 28 Jul (1 m) KSP (LHD). American Wigeon: 28 Jul (1 m) KSP (KHD, LHD). Osprey: 23 active nests at Watts Bar Lake, MEC, RNC and Rhea Co. 2ind 3 active nests on Melton Hill Lake, KNC (fide Ed Beddow); 24 Jun ( 1) AUS (JWC). Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1 6 Jun (ad on nest) Walden Ridge, ANC (RDH); 20 Jun (nest with 3 yg) south KNC (Jim Heptinstall, fide RDH). Cooper’s Hawk: sightings in ANC, CUC, Grainger Co., GNC, HLC, JEC, RNC, WGC (m.ob.). American Kestrel: “seemed to be more common than usual” in GNC, SLC, WGC area (RLK). Peregrine Falcon: 29 Jul (1) Signal mountain, HLC (Dan Williams, Jr.); see addendum. Greater Yellowlegs: 15 Jul (1) KSP (KHD, LHD), ers. Lesser Yellowlegs: 6 Jul (1) Bledsoe Co. (JWW), ers. Solitary Sandpiper: 17 Jul (1) COR (STS, RS), ers. Least Sandpiper: 9 Jul (1) LST (RLK), ers. Pectoral Sandpiper: 29 Jul (1) LST (RLK), ers. Americsin Woodcock: 25 Jun (1) Meadowview Marsh, SLC (FJA); 14 Jul (2) Prentice Cooper State Forest, MAC (TLR et al.). Caspian Tern: 15/28 Jul (5/3) KSP (ARH, KHD, LHD). Black Tern: 14 Jul (4) HRA (CDB, TLR et al.); 15 Jul (1) Tellico Lake, Monroe Co. (ARH). Rock Dove: apparently nesting on cliffs at Fall Creek Falls S.P., Van Buren Co. and Savage Gulf, Grundy Co. (RLK). Black-billed Cuckoo: 3 Jun (1) CIC (RDH, ARH). Bam Owl: 1 1 Jun (2 ad, 2 yg at nest) Bristol, SLC (JWC); WGC sites still active (Dan Huffine). Red-headed Woodpecker: pr all season at LST (BLC et al.). Flycatcher-Wren: Willow Flycatcher: pr near Jellico, CPC (RDH, ARH); 6 Jun (2) Vandever, CUC (CPN); 13 Jun-EOP (2) BLV (BGM); 25 Jun (2) Meadowview Marsh, SLC (FJA); 1 Jul (nest with 3 eggs) HRA, MEC portion (CDB, TLR); also reported from several regular sites. SCISSOR-T AILED FLYCATCHER: 2 Jun (1) Camp Creek, GNC (RLK). Homed Lark: 5 Jun (1 in large clearcut) Dorton, CUC (CPr^; 13, 15 Jun (2 ad, 1 im) Mascot, KNC (RDH, ARH), “first KNC summer report in years” (CPN); singing birds at Morristown airport, Hamblen Co. and at McCLoud and Mohawl^ GNC (RLK). Tree Swallow: 2 Jun (1) Kinser Park, GNC (RLK); 2-3 Jun (pr at nest) Holston River at Kingsport, SLC (Stan Strickland); 6 Jun (2 pr, used nest) Vandever, CUC (CPN); 17 Jun (pr at nest hole) Cherokee Lake, Grainger Co. portion (RDH); continues to expand in region. Bank Swallow: 1 3 Jun (colony with 175 cavities, 100+ birds) Mascot, KNC (RDH, ARH), site has been used several years; 1 Jul (about 200 cavities, many birds) New Market, JEC (Miles Wright, RDH, ARH), a new site; both in zinc mine tailings. House Wren: singing birds at Cleveland, Bradley Co. (TLR et al.) and Athens, McMinn Co. (KHD, LHD); a few reports from KNC, as usual (fide CPN); 2 singing birds in CIC (RDH, ARH). Waxwing-Oriole: Cedar Waxwing: “After lots of nest reports in 1988, there were fewer last year; however, many reports again this year. Locations include both the Cumberland Plateau and Ridge and Valley provinces.” (CPN); nest reports came from ANC (3 sites), CPC, CUC (3 sites), HLC (Signal Mountain), JEC, LOC, Monroe, Morgan, Rhea, RNC and Scott Cos. (CPN, RDH, ARH, RC, Tom Patton). Loggerhead Shrike: 12 Jun (ad with 3 yg) Mohawk, GNC (RLK); 21 Jun (ad with 2 yg) Bradley Co. (Robert Pierce, KHD, LHD); nests reported near Lake City, ANC (RDH) and Lenoir City, LOC (RC); birds seen in CIC, GNC, WGC (RDH, ARH, RLK, BLC). Solitary Vireo: 1 each at 2 sites near Savage Point and 1 site near 1991 THE SEASON 27 Ketner Gap, Sequatchie Co (Robert Pierce), on the southern plateau. Warbling Vioreo: 2-3 Jun (pr at nest, same tree as Tree Swallow nest) Holston River in Kingsport, SLC (Stan Stricldand); pr thru Jun at LST (BLC, RLK). Prothonotary Warbler: 2 Jun (1) Kinser Park, GNC (RLK). Swainson’s Warbler: singing birds found at Tackett Creek, CIC (RDH); 5 birds near Nemo, Emory River, Morgan Co. (CPN); 3 birds at 2 sites in Fentress Co. (CPN); “but several observers have been unable to find the species at some formerly reguleir spots in CPC” (CPN). Canada Warbler: 2 Jun (1) low elevation in CPC (RDH, ARH), probably a late migrant. Norhtem Oriole: 19 Jun (1) Boone Lake, SLC (FJA); 5 Jul (1) Gray, WGC (Dee Eiklor). Addendum: Peregrine Falcon: 1 1 Jul 1989 (1 ad) Stone Door section of Savage Gulf, Grundy Co. (Barbara Stedman), in suitable nesting area; no sign of occupancy in Jul 1990 (RLK). Locations: ANC-Anderson Co.; AUS-Austin Springs, Washington Co.;BLV- Brainerd Levee, Hamilton Co.; CPC-Campbell Co.; CIC-Claibome Co.; COR- Corryton, Union Co.; CUC-Cumberland Co.; GNC-Greene Co.; HLC-Hamilton Co.; HRA-Hiwassee River Area, primarily Meigs Co., but also Bradley, McMinn and Rhea Cos.; JEC- Jefferson Co.; KSP-Kingston Steam Plant, Roane Co.; KNC- Knox Co.; LST-Limestone, Washington Co.; LOC-Loudon Co.; MAC-Marion Co.; MEC-Meigs Co.; RNC-Roane Co.; SLC-Sullivan Co.; WGC- Washington Co. RICHARD L. KNIGHT, 804 North Hills Dr., Johnson City, TN 37604 EASTERN MOUNTAIN REGION - Temperatures and precipitation were near norml for the summer period. No shorebirds were reported due to high lake levels. A territorial Alder Flycatcher during June at 2800’ elevation was near a previous site of territorial Willow Flycatchers, a noteworthy overlap of breeding locations for these two species. Tree and Cliff Swallows continue to increase nesting sites in the northern part of the region. Most vireo and warbler species occurred in good numbers in suitable habitat. Loon-Turkey: Common Loon: 20 Jul-EOP (2, winter plumage) SHL (BLC, GWS, et al.). Great Blue Heron: 2 Jun (1) Heaton Creek, RNM (FJA); 15 Jun (1) WTR (RLK). Great Egret: 25 Jun (1) SHL (RPL). Yellow-crowned Night Heron: 1-2 seen regularly along WTR in ELI (GOW). Osprey: 26 Jun (1) WTR in Watauga, CRC (BLC). Bald Eagle: 27 Jul (1 im) ERW (BLC). Sharp-shinned Hawk: no reports, unusual. Cooper’s Hawk: 2 reports, RNM and LBL. Red-shouldercd Hawk: 15 Jul (1) RNM (SR). Peregrine Falcon: May and Jun (pr on territory) Alum Cove, GSMNP (RLK, et al.), courtship flight observed; 1 Jul (1) PKL (Tommie L. Rogers, CDB). Ruffed Grouse: 16 Jun (1) Clingman’s Dome, GSMNP (RPL), above 6000’ elevation, drumming. Wild Turkey: 10 Jun (2) Cross Mountain, CRC (GOW); 30 Jun (1) Simmerly Creek, CRC (FJA). Cuckoo-Wren: Black-billed Cuckoo: 9 Jun (1) SHL (RPL). Willow Flycatcher: singing males in Jun at Heaton Creek (1), ERW (1), SDV (1), MTC (4), LBL (3), ELI (1) (RLK, FJA). Alder Flycatcher: thru 21 Jul (6+) RNM (RLK, GOW, et al.); 5-22 Jun (1 singing male) SDV (Ed Schell, Arthur Smith, RLK, GOW), 2800’ elevation. Least Flycatcher: common at RNM; thru Jun (4+) MTC-LBL (RLK). Tree Swallow: nests at 3 locations, Butler, JHC (RLK), third consecutive year in 28 THE MIGRANT MARCH motel sign, SDV (JWC) and Hunter, CRC (Howard P. Langridge). Cliff Swallow: 2 active nesting sites at SHL (JWC, RLK, RPL). Common Raven: 26 Jun (2) WAT (BLC); 20 Jul (1) SHL (RPL), both low elevation. Red-breasted Nuthatch: 20 Jun (1) Unaka Mountain, UNC (RLK); 2 Jul (1) Chestoa, UNC (RLK). BROWN- HEADED NUTHATCH: 21 Jun (nest) PKL (CPN). Brown Creeper: 18 Jun (1) Iron Mountain, JHC (RLK); 20 Jun (1) Unaka Mountain (RLK). Carolina Wren: 21 Jul (1) RNM (GOW, et al.), 5000’ elevation. Cedar Waxwing: nesting records in JHC and UNC. Thrush-Grosbeak: Hermit Thrush: 6 Jun (1, singing) at summit of Laurel Top, GSMNP (RLK). Loggerhead Shrike: 14 Jul (recently fledged yg) Doe Valley, JHC (SR). Blue Grosbeak: 29 Jun (1 male) RI^ (BLC, GWS), 5800’+ elevation. Dickcissel: 21 Jun (1) Carden Spring, Polk Co. (CPN). Vesper Sparrow: 16 Jun (1) SDV (RLK, GOW, BLC); 17 Jun (1) MTC (RLK); 29 Jun/4 JUL (2/1) Round Bald, RNM (BLC/RLK). Northern Oriole: 17 Jun (female feeding yg) MTC (RLK). Red Crossbill: 19/29 Jun (10/4) RNM (RLK/BLC, GWS). Evening Grosbeak: thru Jun (If) Simmerly Creek, CRC (Tom McNeil, FJA), at feeder, could fly and was apparently not injured. Locations: CRC-Carter Co.; ELI-Elizabethton; ERW-Erwin, Unicoi Co.; GSMNP-Great Smoky Mountains National Park; JHC- Johnson Co.; LBL-Laurel Bloomary, Johnson Co.; MTC-Mountain City, Johpson Co.; PKL-Parksville, Polk Co.; RNM-Roan Mtn, Carter Co.; SDV-Shady Valley, Johnson Co.; SHL-South Holston Lake area, Sullivan Co.; WAT-Watauga, Carter Co.; WTR- Watauga River, Carter Co.; UNC-Unioci Co. RICHARD P. LEWIS, 407 V.I. Ranch Road, Bristol, TN 37620 OBSERVERS: FJA - Fred J. Alsop CHB - Carolyn H. Bullock BBC - Ben B. Coffee BLC - Brian L. Cross RC - Richard Clark HBD - Helen B. Dinkelspiel LHD- Lillian H. Dubke RPF - Robert P. Ford JCG - J. Chris Greene ARH - Audrey R. Hoff WNJ - William N. Jemigan RPL - Richard P. Lewis SDL - Selena D. Little MLM - Margaret L. Mann RVM-RuthV. McMillan CPN - Charles P. Nicholson VBR - Virginia B. Reynolds RS - Rebecca Satterfield DJS - Damien J. Simbeck RWS - Richard W. Simmers, Jr. DFV - David F. Vogt JWW- JoesphW. Wahl JEW - James E. Waldron GOW - Gary O. Wallace CDB - C. Del Blum DPB - Diane P. Bean LCC - Lula C. Coffee WGC - William G. Chriswell JWC - J. Wallace Coffey KHD - Kenneth H. Dubke MAG - Mark A. Greene JBG - Joe B. Guinn MLG - Murray L. Gardler RDH-RonD. Hoff RLK - Richard L. Knight OBL - O. Bedford Lochridge SLL - Selma L. Lewis GRM - George R. Mayfield BGM - Barbara G. McMahan SR - Sue Ridd TLR - Tommie L. Rogers STS - Steve Satterfield GWS - Glenn W. Swofford ATT- Ann T. Tarbell JRW- JeffR. Wilson TJW- Terry J. Witt MGW - Martha G. Waldron INSTRUCTIONS TO AUTHORS The Migrant records observations and studies of birds in Tennessee and adjacent areas. Most articles are written by members of the Tennessee Ornithological Society. SUBMISSIONS: The original and, if feasible, two copies of the manuscript should be sent to the Editor: T. David Pitts, Biology Department, University of Tennessee at Martin, Martin, TN 38238. Manuscripts that have been published in other journals should not be submitted. MATERIAL: The subject matter should relate to some phase of Tennessee ornithology. It should be original, factual, concise, and scientifically accurate. STYLE: Both articles and short notes are solicited; recent issues of The Migrant should be used as a guide in the preparation of manuscripts. Where more detail is needed, reference should be made to the Style Manual for BiologicalJournals; this book is available at many public libraries and from the American Institute of Biological Sciences, 1401 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22209. COPY: Manuscripts should be typed double spaced on 8.5 x 11” paper with adequate margins for editorial notations. Tables should be prepared on separate sheets with appropriate title and column headings. Photographs intended for reproduction should be sharp with good contrast on glossy white paper; black and white photographs will usually reproduce better than color photographs. Weights, measurements, and distances should be in metric units. Dates should be in “con- tinental” form (e.g., 16 March 1968). Use the 24-hour clock (e.g., 0500 or 1900). NOMENCLATURE: The common and scientific names of a species should be given the first time it is mentioned. The scientific name should be underlined. Names should follow the A.O.U. Check-list of North American Birds (1983 edition or subsequent supplements). TITLE: The title should be concise, specific, and descriptive. ABSTRACT: Manuscripts of five or more typed pages should include an abstract. The abstract should be less than 5% of the length of the manuscript. It should include a brief explanation of why the research was done, the major results, and why the results are important. LITERATURE CITED: List all literature citations in a Literature Cited section at the end of the text. Text citations should include the author and year. IDENTIFICATION: Manuscripts including reports of rare or unusual species or of species at atypical times will be reviewed by the TOS Certification Committee before publication in The Migrant. Verifying evidence should include: date, time, light and weather conditions, exact location, habitat, optical equipment, distance, behavior of bird, comparison with other similar species, characteristic markings, experience of observer, other observers verifying the identification, and reference works consulted. REPRINTS: Reprints are available to authors on request. Billing to authors will be through the TOS Treasurer. SEASON REPORTS: Observations that are to be considered for publication in The Season section should be mailed to the appropriate Regional Compiler. Consult a recent issue of The Migrant for the name and address of the compilers. CONTENTS ^ SOME DEDUCTIONS FROM RECAPTURE RECORDS OF BANDED COMMON YELLOWTHROATS Paul A. Stewart 1 POSSIBLE BREEDING OF PINE SISKINS AT LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, TENNESSEE Ted Caldwell 3 HISTORICAL BREEDING EVIDENCE OF THE BACHMAN’S SPARROW IN THE NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS Douglas B. McNair and Charles P. Nicholson 4 BOOK REVIEW Paul B. Hamel 6 MINUTES OF THE FALL 1990 TOS BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING AND SYMPOSIUM 7 THE 1990 CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT Susan N McWhirter 10 THE SEASON — SUMMER: 1 JUNE — 31 JULY 1990 Robert P. Ford 21 Western Coastal Plain Region. Martha G. Waldron 21 Highland Rim and Basin Region. David F. Vogt 24 Eastern Ridge and Valley Region. Richard L. Knight 25 Eastern Mountain Region. Richard P. Lewis 27 Observers 28 (Vol. 62, 1991) ACTUAL MAILING DATE: 26 June, 1992