Community News

Northern cardinals, such as this male, were abundant on the Unicoi County Summer Bird Count, which tallied a total of 108 cardinals throughout the county. (Photo by Bryan Stevens)

By Bryan Stevens

The Lee and Lois Herndon Chapter of Tennessee Ornithological Society conducted the fifth annual Unicoi County Summer Bird Count on Saturday, June 16. Nineteen counters in five different parties found a total of 110 species.

I counted with Brenda Richards, as well as Brookie and Jean Potter, in the Limestone Cove community near the town of Unicoi. Our count area took us along Highway 107 all the way to the North Carolina state line.

Some of the exceptional birds on this year’s count included ruffed grouse, double-crested cormorant, bald eagle, hermit thrush, magnolia warbler and grasshopper sparrow. The most abundant birds included European starling (272), American robin (245), indigo bunting (141) and red-eyed vireo (136). A total of 18 species of warblers, presumably all nesting in the county, were found on this year’s summer count.

The total for this year’s Unicoi County Summer Bird Count follows:

Canada goose, 86; wood duck, 5; mallard, 33; ruffed grouse, 2; and wild turkey, 16.

Double-crested cormorant, 1; great blue heron, 7; green heron, 1; black vulture, 1; and turkey vulture, 30.

Sharp-shinned hawk, 1; Cooper’s hawk, 3; bald eagle, 1; red-shouldered hawk, 1; broad-winged hawk, 7; red-tailed hawk, 5; and American kestrel, 1.

Killdeer, 9; rock pigeon, 46; mourning dove, 70; yellow-billed cuckoo, 2; Eastern screech-owl, 3; barred owl, 4; chuck-will’s-widow, 5; whip-poor-will, 11.

Chimney swift, 26; ruby-throated hummingbird, 16; belted kingfisher, 3; red-bellied woodpecker, 10; yellow-bellied sapsucker, 3; downy woodpecker, 9; hairy woodpecker, 5; Northern flicker, 4; and pileated woodpecker, 11.

Eastern wood-pewee, 11; Acadian flycatcher, 33; least flycatcher, 3; Eastern phoebe, 45; and Eastern kingbird, 4.

White-eyed vireo, 4; blue-headed vireo, 27; warbling vireo, 2; red-eyed vireo, 136; blue jay, 76; American crow, 136; and common raven, 5.

Northern rough-winged swallow, 36; purple martin, 41; tree swallow, 85; barn swallow, 115; and cliff swallow, 115.

Carolina chickadee, 56; tufted titmouse, 57; red-breasted nuthatch, 2; white-breasted nuthatch, 6; brown creeper, 2; house wren, 30; winter wren, 2; and Carolina wren, 74.

Blue-gray gnatcatcher, 15; golden-crowned kinglet, 12; Eastern bluebird, 49; veery, 25; hermit thrush, 4; wood thrush, 24; and American robin, 245.

Gray catbird, 20; brown thrasher, 22; Northern mockingbird, 25; European starling, 272; and cedar waxwing, 18.

Ovenbird, 57; worm-eating warbler, 14; Louisiana waterthrush, 8; black-and-white warbler, 19; Swainson’s warbler, 1; Kentucky warbler, 1; common yellowthroat, 4; hooded warbler, 65; American redstart, 11; Northern parula, 24; magnolia warbler, 1; Blackburnian warbler, 1; yellow warbler, 3; chestnut-sided warbler, 14; black-throated blue warbler, 23; yellow-throated warbler, 10; prairie warbler, 2; and black-throated green warbler, 45.

Grasshopper sparrow, 1; chipping sparrow, 63; field sparrow, 15; dark-eyed junco, 29; song sparrow, 161; and Eastern towhee, 49.

Yellow-breasted chat, 4; scarlet tanager, 36; Northern cardinal, 108, rose-breasted grosbeak, 1; and indigo bunting, 141.

Eastern meadowlark, 7; orchard oriole, 8; Baltimore oriole, 1; red-winged blackbird, 85; brown-headed cowbird, 10; and common grackle, 84.

House finch, 9; American goldfinch, 70; and house sparrow, 9.

The Herndon Chapter of TOS is the only birding organization in Northeast Tennessee to conduct bird counts in every season of the year. For more information, visit Elizabethton Bird Club on Facebook.

Subtle plumage differences, as well as habitat, behavior and seasonal presence, are factors in distinguishing the Louisiana waterthrush, pictured, from the closely related Northern waterthrush. The Louisiana waterthrush nests along fast-moving streams in the area while the Northern waterthrush does not breed in the region. (Photo by Adobe Stock)

By Bryan Stevens

On occasion, readers seek out my help with identifying birds they encounter. I am always glad to assist. Photographs, a recording of the bird’s song, or even a well-written description are often all that’s necessary to pinpoint the identities of mystery birds.

Lewis and Jeana Chapman, residents of Laurel Bloomery, Tennessee, notified me in an email that they have been enjoying some good birdwatching trips. They also wanted some help with the identity of a bird they observed last summer. 

“My wife and I love to go to the Creeper Trail in Virginia and enjoy the creek,” Lewis wrote in an email. “On these trips in the summer months, we have watched this bird run along the rocks of the shore feeding.”

He also mentioned that he had attached in his email some photos, which proved extremely helpful. “Our closest guess at what type of bird it is was a spotted sandpiper, but its beak/bill seems too short. Any help you can give us would be greatly appreciated.”

A quick scan of the photos the Chapmans sent with their email helped me narrow the options down to two related birds — a Louisiana waterthrush and a Northern waterthrush. I used three criteria — location, season and plumage — to identify the bird in their photos as a Louisiana waterthrush.

The Chapmans had good reason to suspect the bird might have been a spotted sandpiper, but for the true identity of the bird in question, it’s necessary to delve into the family of warblers, which includes species such as American redstart, ovenbird, common yellowthroat, Northern parula and black-throated blue warbler.

The two waterthrushes are very similar in appearance. Louisiana Waterthrushes has a heavier bill and a white eye line, while the Northern Waterthrush’s eye line is usually somewhat yellowish-beige. A Louisiana waterthrush typically also has a whiter belly and underparts.

Appearance wasn’t even the most important element of the criteria. Location and season more readily helped confirm the identity. The Louisiana waterthrush has a range concentrated on the southern part of the eastern half of the United States, mostly south of the states of New York, Michigan and Wisconsin. In this region, only the Louisiana waterthrush is known to nest. The Northern waterthrush is strictly a spring and fall migrant, electing to nest near bogs and slow streams in Canada and the northern tier of states in the United States.

The Louisiana waterthrush also attracts attention with its characteristic “teetering” gait. Much like the spotted sandpiper, this waterthrush bobs the rear half of its body up and down as it walks and forages by the sides of streams. In their behavior, this shorebird and this warbler are very much alike. The waterthrush will often turn over wet leaves or other stream debris to search for prey items, such as aquatic insect larvae, crustaceans, snails and even small fish. The Louisiana waterthrush was once known as the water wagtail, which makes reference to the aforementioned teetering gait.

Many warblers have shown signs of decline in recent years. The Louisiana waterthrush, however, appears to have bucked that trend. According to the website All About Birds, Louisiana waterthrush populations were stable between 1966 and 2015, based on statistics from the North American Breeding Bird Survey. Partners in Flight estimates a global breeding population of 360,000, with almost all of those individuals spending at least part of the year in the United States. About a quarter of the population retreats into Mexico during the winter season. The rest winter in Florida and some of the Gulf Coast states, as well as the islands of the Caribbean.

While most songbirds are fortunate to survive two or three years in the wild, at least one Louisiana waterthrush lived to the age of at least 11 years and 11 months. The bird, a male, was seen in New Jersey in the wild and identified by a band on one of his legs. He had been banded in the same state, according to All About Birds.

The two waterthrushes are the only species in the genus Parkesia, so named to honor American ornithologist Kenneth C. Parkes, who was for many years Curator of Birds at Carnegie Museum of Natural History. The common name of the Louisiana waterthrush is not a very apt one, as this bird does not have any special affinity for the state of Louisiana. Someone collected some of the early specimens of the Louisiana waterthrush in its namesake location, and the name has stuck through the years.

Not every bird mystery that comes my way via Facebook or in an email is so easily resolved. This identification, which happened to involve the New World warblers, my favorite family of birds, once again showed me the amazing diversity of this group of birds.

From the terrestrial Louisiana waterthrush to the treetop-dwelling cerulean warbler, it’s an amazing group of songbirds I’m always happy to introduce to bird enthusiasts.

By Bryan Stevens

The bald eagle makes an appropriate and majestic symbol for the United States of America. (Photo by Karen Laubenstein/USFWS)

Happy Fourth of July to everyone. I thought this week’s column should focus some attention on our national bird, the American bald eagle, which officially became the national emblem in 1782 when the great seal of the United States was adopted.

Despite elevating this native bird to such lofty status, we have not always been kind to the bald eagle. We allowed habitat destruction and toxic pesticides to bring this eagle to the brink of extinction. With some protection, however, the bald eagle rebounded. In fact, the Department of Interior took the eagle off the endangered species list on June 28, 2007.

The bald eagle has been more frequently observed by birders in Northeast Tennessee in recent years. Some of the area lakes in the region are good places to look for Bald Eagles, particularly in the fall and winter. A few lakes even host nesting bald eagles. For instance, this eagle has been documented nesting at Holston Lake in recent years.

I’ve observed bald eagles in Tennessee, South Carolina, Florida and Virginia. My most unusual observation of a wild bald eagle took place on Labor Day many years ago when an adult eagle flew over my grandparents’ home in Limestone Cove in Unicoi County.

North America’s other eagle, the golden eagle, is a very rare visitor to northeast Tennessee. The golden eagle is primarily a bird of the western United States while the bald eagle ranges widely across the United States as well as into Canada and Mexico.

The eagles are incredibly majestic birds and important symbols of the value of natural places and creatures.

The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a member of a genus known as Haliaeetus, or sea eagles. There are seven other living species in the genus: the white-bellied sea eagle, Sanford’s sea eagle, African fish eagle, Madagascar fish eagle, Pallas’s fish eagle, white-tailed eagle and Steller’s sea eagle.

The bald eagle, however, is not considered closely related to eagles in the genus Aquila, or “true eagles,” in which the golden eagle is included.

Both male and female adult bald eagles have a blackish-brown back and breast; a white head, neck and tail; and yellow feet and bill. Juvenile bald eagles are a mixture of brown and white and reach full maturity in four to five years.

The female bald eagle is 35 to 37 inches in length, slightly larger than the male, with a wingspan that ranges from 72 to 90 inches. Bald eagles weigh from 10 to 14 pounds.

Despite these impressive characteristics, the bald eagle is dwarfed in comparison to one of its now-extinct relatives. The largest eagle ever to evolve was Haast’s eagle, which once thrived in New Zealand. This eagle was named for the German geologist Julius von Haast, who founded Canterbury Museum at Christchurch in New Zealand. Haast, who died in 1887, was one of the first scientists to study large flightless birds such as the moa family that once roamed New Zealand.

In fact, Haast’s eagle was considered a major predator on the population of New Zealand moas, some of which reached a height of 12 feet tall and a weight of more than 500 pounds. By contrast, female Haast eagles probably reached a weight of 22 to 33 pounds. Males, as is the case with most living eagles, are smaller than females and probably weighed between 20 to 26 pounds. This mega-sized eagle possessed a relatively short wingspan of roughly 8 to 10 feet wide. This wingspan compares to that recorded for large specimens of golden eagle and Steller’s sea eagle. Even the largest of today’s eagles, however, are about 40 percent smaller in body size than the size of Haast’s eagles. Despite their superior size, moas simply lacked any defense against the huge razor-like talons and sharp bill of the Haast’s Eagle.

Here are a few other eagle facts:

— Eagle bones are light because they are hollow. The beak, talons and feathers are made of keratin.

— The Madagascar fish eagle is the most rare eagle on earth, and one of the most rare birds. The current population is estimated at less than 400 individual birds, with perhaps around 120 breeding pairs.

— Bald eagles have 7,000 feathers.

— Wild bald eagles are long-lived birds and may live as long as 30 years. In captivity, however, the oldest documented Bald Eagle lived to be 47 years old.

— Bald eagles can lift as much as four pounds. They feed mainly on fish, but they will take advantage of carrion and scavenge for their meals. They will occasionally also take waterfowl as prey.

— The hunting area of bald eagles varies from 1,700 to 10,000 acres. Home ranges are smaller where food is present in great quantity.

— Bald eagles can fly to an altitude of 10,000 feet. During level flight, they can achieve speeds of about 30 to 35 miles per hour.

— All eagles are renowned for their excellent eyesight.

— Once paired, bald eagles remain together until one dies. Bald eagles lay from one to three eggs. The 35 days of incubation duties are shared by both male and female.

— Today, there are about 10,000 breeding pairs of bald eagles.

•••

I look forward to hearing from readers. Those who wish to ask a question, share an observation or make a comment may reach me at ahoodedwarbler@aol.com.

Some birds lay clutches with many eggs while others, like this flamingo, invest their energy and dedication to a single egg each time they nest. This Chilean flamingo at Zoo Atlanta is a relative of the American flamingo. (Photo by Bryan Stevens)

By Bryan Stevens

The nesting season is in full swing for most of the bird species that breed in eastern North America. Although they may employ a variety of strategies to ensure nesting success, they all start off their attempts with a clutch of eggs.

It’s the egg that separates birds from most mammals while still linking them to their reptilian kin. Let’s leave the question of which came first, the prototypical chicken or the proverbial egg, to philosophers and instead take a look at the differences birds employ when it comes to the precious life-giving egg in its fragile yet protective shell.

A few birds devote an enormous investment of time to a single egg. For instance, the American flamingo lays only a single egg, which is incubated atop a nest made from a mound of mud for about a month. This flamingo breeds extensively through the islands of the Galápagos, coastal Colombia, Venezuela and nearby islands, Trinidad and Tobago, along the northern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, Cuba, Hispaniola, the Bahamas, Virgin Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. While other flamingo species are common attractions at zoos, the American flamingo was considered extinct in the United States by 1900. However, recent research indicates that wild birds still make their way into southern Florida. As recently as 2014, a large flock of about 150 wild individuals spent time in the Sunshine State.

While there are more than 300 species of hummingbird distributed throughout the New World, the offspring of these tiny birds all emerge, just like all other birds, from an egg — albeit a very small one. Most hummingbirds are “twins,” hatched with a single sibling that will share their nest and the care of a dutiful mother. The female ruby-throated hummingbird lays two eggs. A female hummingbird gets no assistance from the male and has to find enough food to fuel her own body and help her young in the nest grow and thrive.

Most birds lay multiple eggs, although the number in a clutch may vary dramatically from species to species. A female American robin will usually lay three to five eggs in a nest that builds alone in the fork between tree branches. The size of her clutch of eggs is fairly typical for many songbirds.

Other songbirds are even more prolific. A female house wren, although a rather small bird, may lay as many as eight or nine eggs. Likewise, the golden-crowned kinglet is one of North America’s smallest songbirds, but the female kinglet may lay as many as 11 eggs in a small nest woven of moss, spider’s silk, lichens and strips of bark. By comparison, the female blue-gray gnatcatcher, while similar in size to a kinglet, attempts to lay no more than three to five eggs.

On the other hand, some birds adjust clutch size depending on the resources available to them. In years when their food — a type of caterpillar often injurious to spruce trees — is abundant, the Cape May warbler may lay as many as nine eggs. In years when the aforementioned spruce budworms are scarce, the female warbler may reduce her clutch size to a mere four eggs.

Eggs look fragile, but are actually surprisingly strong. Egg-shaped or “ovoid” objects are considered to be among the strongest shapes in nature. However, strength is no guarantee against a host of hungry predators. Many birds rely on camouflage to protect their eggs. For instance, the female ruffed grouse will usually lay 9 to 14 eggs in a no-fuss nest constructed of leaves in a basin on the forest floor. While incubating her eggs, the grouse hen’s mottled brown plumage makes her almost invisible.

In a similar fashion, the female Eastern whip-poor-will does not build a nest and invariably lays only a pair of eggs, which are placed directly on the forest floor. Her plumage helps her blend with her surroundings, making it extremely difficult to discover a whip-poor-will incubating her eggs.

Many species of ducks are prolific layers of eggs. The wood duck hen may lay as many as 16 eggs in her nest, which may be in a natural tree cavity or a human-made nesting box.

However, not all waterfowl lay a large clutch of eggs. The common loon usually lays only one or two eggs.

Once young loons hatch from their eggs, the parents are devoted caregivers, providing food and protection for the one-month period required for young loons to achieve a degree of independence.

Most of our common birds lay eggs that are significantly smaller than the egg of a chicken. Wild turkey hens lay eggs — as many as 17 eggs in some cases — that are noticeably larger than an average chicken egg.

Who takes the prize for largest egg? That distinction, not surprisingly, goes to the world’s largest bird. Africa’s common ostrich hen, which can weigh as much as 220 pounds, lays the largest known bird egg.

Furthermore, a female common ostrich will usually incubate about 20 of these large eggs, which can reach a diameter of six inches and weigh three pounds.

Whether a bird’s eggs are small or large, these fragile shells — when all goes well — break open to release some amazing miracles. I think anyone who enjoys the hummingbird hovering near a flowering basket on the porch or the flock of American goldfinches at thistle feeders in the backyard will readily agree.

A ruby-throated hummingbird perches at a feeder filled with a solution of four parts water to one part sugar. Other additives, especially red dyes, should be avoided to protect the health of these tiny flying gems. (Photo by Bryan Stevens)

By Bryan Stevens

Jane Arnold, a resident of Bristol, Tennessee, emailed me to ask a question about hummingbird numbers this spring.

In her email, Jane wrote, “My mom (Betty Poole of Bristol, Virginia) asked me to email you and ask if you have received any emails from fellow hummer enthusiasts about the number of hummers they are seeing this year.”

Jane went on to explain that her aunt, Alyce Pennington, Montcalm, West Virginia, and her cousin, Hal Pennington, Huntsville, Alabama, have also reported not seeing many of these tiny birds this spring. “When they arrived in April, they would see them off and on all day long,” Jane wrote. “But the last couple of weeks their presence has dropped off quite a bit.

In addition to Jane’s email, I also received a similar question in an email from Garland Depew of Bluff Hollow, Virginia.

“I’d like your opinion on my hummingbirds,” Garland wrote. “They always show up in mid-April, and by this time (early June) I usually have a dozen or so fighting for the feeders. It’s been that way for years.”

Garland noted that this year he had about eight hummingbirds show up by late April. “Then all of a sudden in the middle of May they just vanished,” he added. “I have just one or two now.”

In the past Garland said that he had “literally a cloud of birds at the feeders” and that “it’s hard to get an accurate count, but last year we had about 18 hummers, and similar numbers in the years before that.”

He noted that he has been using feeders to attract hummers for at least 10 years.

Garland also checked with a neighbor who lives about a quarter mile down the road from his home regarding the number of hummingbirds at their feeders. She informed him that she has seen six or seven hummingbirds, whereas she estimated she had as many as 20 last year.

“I can’t think of anything I might have done to cause this,” he said. “Any ideas?”

It’s unfortunate, but it is a fairly common and disappointing aspect of hummingbird lives that their numbers tend to decline after they burst back on the scene every April. Some of those spring ruby-throated hummingbirds in April are migrants that are going to keep pushing farther north. They stick around for a while at a place they like but will eventually keep moving on, which is why numbers stay fairly consistent in late April and early May.

In late May, however, those hummingbirds intending to spend the summer north of us have departed the region. We are left with the hummers that have liked our yards and gardens enough to stick around with us for the entire summer. It’s also true that numbers of hummingbirds in any one specific area will fluctuate from year to year. It’s just possible that, for a reason that may be nothing greater than a garden planted with their favorite flowers, hummingbirds have shifted where they live for a season.

I experienced similar aspects of this situation myself this spring. I had probably a dozen hummingbirds at my feeders in late April, but throughout May their numbers dwindled. We have arrived in June, and I probably have two or three males and possibly one or two females. That means that the two females are probably nesting nearby. It’s also a fact that local numbers of birds fluctuate from year to year. Attracting them one year is not a guarantee they will return every subsequent year.

By May, the spring hummingbird migration is basically finished for the region. A few of the female hummingbirds, finding our yards to their liking, will conclude their epic journey here and spend the next few months tending to a new generation of hummers. Female ruby-throated hummingbirds lay two eggs. There are some reasons why it’s always a pair of eggs. First, the nest is so small that there is barely room for two eggs, let alone more. Second, once the young hatch, the nest has just enough room to accommodate them as they grow, fed well by their mother. Third, feeding two hungry young hummingbirds is a demanding task. A female hummingbird has to find enough food to fuel her own body and help her young in the nest grow and thrive. It’s a full-time job during the daylight hours. She’s hard-pressed to succeed at raising two young. Attempting to rear more would most likely prove impossible.

The entire process — from building the nest to incubating eggs to tending hatchlings —  requires a commitment of more than two months. The female hummingbird builds her exquisite nest from lichen and various plant fibers, much of it held together by collected spider silk. Once that time-consuming task is completed, the female hummingbird lays her eggs. She will spend about the next 18 days incubating them. Once they hatch, the young will remain in the nest about 28 days (nearly a month) and depend on their mother to bring them regular meals. If that’s not enough, the ruby-throated hummingbird is known to nest twice in a season. It certainly must rank a female hummingbird as one of the busiest of our summer birds.

Of course, a few adult males will also put an end to their migration once they reach the region. The males, however, don’t assist with the rearing of their own young. For male hummingbirds, summer is mainly a time to thrive on the abundance of nectar-bearing blooms, as well as a profusion of tiny insects and spiders that also make up a good portion of their diet.

The good news is that hummingbird numbers will increase later this summer and in early fall. All those hummers that went farther north will migrate back through, and in the autumn they will be traveling with their kids. Be sure to keep feeders available when we hit August to offer places for hummers to rest and refuel as they migrate through again.

Only a single species — ruby-throated hummingbird — nests in the eastern United States, while several species nest in the western half of the nation, especially in the American southwest. Worldwide, the 300 some species of hummingbirds have been giving some incredibly descriptive names such as Andean blossomcrown, black inca, blue-chested hummingbird, buffy helmetcrest, bumblebee hummingbird, charming hummingbird, coppery emerald, gorgeted sunangel, great sapphirewing, green-breasted mountaingem, lesser violetear, long-tailed woodnymph, purple-bibbed whitetip, saw-billed hermit, spangled coquette and white-throated hummingbird. This sampling of the dazzling variety of names for these tiny birds is indicative of their long-standing popularity with people.

As I have done in years past, I advise a patient but proactive approach for attracting hummingbirds. Keep feeders readily available. Don’t add red dyes to your sugar water mixture, which is perfectly acceptable at a ratio of four parts water to one part sugar. If possible, offer flowers in addition to feeders. Don’t keep your landscape too tidy. A perfectly manicured lawn is like a desert for hummingbirds. Provide some shrubs and trees to provide cover and perching branches. Water features, particularly waterfalls and fountains, are also a reliable means of attracting hummingbirds, as well as other birds. These tips also help attract other sorts of birds, as well, so it’s a win-win situation for bird enthusiasts.

Knoxville resident Rebecca Boyd captured this photograph of a great crested flycatcher after she heard the bird producing its unmistakable “wheep” call from some trees near her home. (Photo by Rebecca Boyd)

By Bryan Stevens

Knoxville resident Rebecca Boyd shared on Facebook on May 27 that she enjoyed seeing a new bird at her home. “Although the guidebooks say this is a common bird, this morning was the first time I’ve ever seen a great crested flycatcher,” she wrote on her post.

I congratulated her and asked if she heard the bird make its loud “wheep” call. Only one bird — the great crested flycatcher — produces that loud, whistled “wheep!” She reported that she did indeed hear the call, which helped her find the bird in a tree in her yard.

Many species of birds have been given puzzling common names, and this is certainly the case for the great crested flycatcher. This bird does indeed sport a raggedy crest. For a flycatcher, it is almost a showy bird with its brown and dull yellow plumage. There’s not much to explain the adjective “great” in this bird’s name. It’s only about eight inches long. Helped by the shaggy crest, this flycatcher looks like it has a head slightly too large for its body.

The great crested flycatcher is unique among the region’s flycatchers in nesting inside natural cavities, just like such popular cavity-nesting birds as Eastern bluebird, Carolina chickadee, and wood duck. This flycatcher will also nest inside bird boxes, although the entrance hole needs to be slightly larger than the ones required for bluebirds, swallows and other small songbirds. During spring visits to coastal South Carolina, I’ve observed these flycatchers attempting to nest inside wooden paper delivery boxes. I’m not sure what the newspaper subscribers thought of these clever attempts to take up residence in the boxes.

This flycatcher is famous for including a shedded snake skin into the construction of its nest. This prevalent tendency on the part of great crested flycatcher isn’t practiced as a whim. Studies suggest that the snakeskin serves as a deterrent to ward off potential predators that might seek to eat the flycatcher’s eggs.  With the advent of the era of mass production, the great crested flycatcher occasionally substitutes cellophane or other varieties of clear plastic in place of the traditional snakeskin. The speculation is that the bird mistakes the cellophane for the remnant left behind when a snake sheds its old skin.

As Rebecca did, you’ll probably hear a great crested flycatcher before you see it. Even when hidden in the forest canopy, the great crested flycatcher betrays its presence with its loud “Wheep! Wheep!” calls. They’re not skittish birds, however, and some patience will sometimes result in a visual observation of the bird.

Like with most other flycatchers, insects are the focus of the dietary preference of this bird. However, the great crested flycatcher will also eat some seasonally available fruit, including various berries. One of their ways of foraging for insects is to perch on a branch until an insect wanders into range. Once it spots an insect, the flycatcher swoops down to capture its prey.

The great crested flycatcher belongs to the Myiarchus genus of flycatchers, which consists of about two dozen species ranging throughout Central, South and North America.  In the United States, the other two members of the genus are the ash-throated flycatcher, which resides in the western United States, and the brown-crested flycatcher, a resident of southern California, southern Nevada, central Arizona and southern Texas. Both of these species also range into Mexico and Central America. The island of Jamaica is home to one of the members of the genus with a claim to a rather unusual name. The sad flycatcher, better known in Jamaica as “little Tom Fool,” is considered a common resident of Jamaican forests.

The tyrant flycatchers (Tyrannidae) are a family of passerine birds which occur throughout North and South America. They are considered the largest family of birds, with more than 400 species. They are the most diverse avian family in every country in the Americas, except for the United States and Canada, where they are present but without the diversity seen south of the U.S. border. Other flycatchers in the United States during the summer nesting season include the well-known Eastern phoebe and Eastern kingbird, as well as such species as willow flycatcher, olive-sided flycatcher, and scissor-tailed flycatcher. The great crested flycatcher nests throughout the eastern United States and retreats to Mexico and Central America during the winter months, although a few migrate south only as far as Florida for the colder season.

Other descriptively named tyrant flycatchers include rufous flycatcher, stolid flycatcher, black-capped flycatcher, yellow-bellied flycatcher, fork-tailed flycatcher, golden-winged tody-flycatcher, flammulated flycatcher, boat-billed flycatcher, ornate flycatcher, cinnamon flycatcher and vermilion flycatcher. The latter is a bit of a standout among flycatchers in having brilliant red plumage.

Listen for that “wheep” call from up in the woodland canopy. The hidden singer often repeatedly produces the call. Once the summer nesting season ends, these birds are typically silent. On occasion, however, an individual bird will not remain mute, and I have heard the loud “wheep” call even in September and October during fall migration.

Although the great crested flycatcher is found in the region, I have observed this bird with more frequency farther south in states like Georgia and South Carolina. You just have to use a little more effort to observe this interesting bird closer to home.

During Saturday’s Clinchfield Pride Gathering at the Clinchfield Railroad Museum, Eddie Williams, who worked on the railroad for 36 years, was presented with one of the Clinchfield Hall of Fame awards. (Erwin Record Staff Photo by Kendal Groner)

By Kendal Groner

Close to 100 people turned out for the Clinchfield Pride Gathering on Saturday, June 2, to celebrate the season opening of the Clinchfield Railroad Museum and to support the preservation of the railroad’s history and its far-reaching impact.

“We had a great turnout today,” said Martha Erwin, curator of the museum.

The museum opening occurred on the same day as the graveside service for the famous railroader George Hatcher, who touched the lives of many people in his community.

“A lot of the railroaders attended George Hatcher’s graveside service and then they came by the museum after,” Erwin said. “We did lots of things for George when he was alive and we are so glad that we had George Hatcher day.”

One of the highlights of the day was the performance of Ray Poteat, a former railroader and member of the Clinchfield Hall of Fame, and his southern gospel band, the Royal Quartet.

Poteat worked on the railroad for 43 years as an agent operator that ran the depots.

“I just enjoyed it all; I enjoyed it the first day I went to work and the last day I went in,” Poteat said. “I worked in every station we had on the Clinchfield Railroad and I loved moving around from one place to another and experiencing the whole railroad.”

Poteat currently performs as the bass singer for the quartet, which started in 1958 and eventually disbanded in 1969.

“Forty years later, three of the original members, including me, got together and started again back in 2009,” Poteat said.

In addition to singing with the quartet, Poteat is also the president of the Carolina Clinchfield Chapter of the Railroad Historical Society and publisher of the railroad magazine known as the Jitterbug.

“The name of the Jitterbug comes from the nickname of a local freight on the Clinchfield Railroad and we named the magazine after it,” he said. “It’s all about the history of the Clinchfield Railroad. We have people from Australia, Canada and England that joined our historical society just to get the magazine.” 

Poteat expressed his appreciation for the work done at the museum to preserve the railroad’s history and said he enjoyed spending time with so many railroad enthusiasts.

“I got to see a lot of people I used to work with and speak with them,” he said. “It was a really good time for everybody.”

Following the performance of the Royal Quartet, the Clinchfield Hall of Fame awards were presented to both a deceased and living railroader. Pat A. Brown was awarded the deceased railroader hall of fame award and Eddie Williams was awarded the living railroader hall of fame award.

“I spent 36 years here in Erwin working for the railroad,” Williams said. “I started out as a brakeman conductor for two years and from there they asked me if I wanted to become an engineer.”

After going through training as an apprentice, eight months later Williams was working as an engineer. 

“I got into the flow of it and I had a motorcycle that I used to ride a lot, but I got to the point where I couldn’t ride so I just buckled down and really dove into my work and the years went by so quickly,” said Williams.

One of Williams’ most memorable jobs involved a washout at the Nolichucky Gorge where the train was utilized to carry over a dozen cement trucks.

“These concrete trucks would pour this concrete around these curves where all the rocks were so the water wouldn’t wash the track out,” he said. “That was amazing, just to see a train that these trucks could drive up into. That was one of the neatest jobs I ever worked.”

Williams said he also enjoyed the excitement of going on excursions where diesel locomotives were used to haul passengers.

“I feel like it’s good to look back and see these old pictures and items and the things we have acquired here, it’s nice to just enjoy it,” Williams said about the Clinchfield Railroad Museum. “I like to see old friends, and I got to see a couple of conductors I used to work with.”

In the coming months, Erwin said railroad lovers can expect more festivities, such as a bluegrass music event in July and a silent auction and antique roadshow in August.

“More details will be forthcoming,” Erwin said. “There will, of course, be music and food with all of the events.”

A Great Blue Heron explores a paved driveway at an Erwin home. Rookeries, or nesting colonies, in Erwin have expanded the population of this large wading bird locally. (Photo by Pattie Rowland)

By Bryan Stevens

Members of the Elizabethton Bird Club, as well as members of birding organizations in Kingsport and Bristol, fanned out across Northeast Tennessee on Saturday, May 5, for the 75th consecutive Elizabethton Spring Bird Count. A total of 60 observers (a new participation record) looked for birds in Carter County and parts of the adjacent counties of Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington.

This year’s spring count tallied 152 species, slightly better than the overall average of 149 species established over the last 30 years. The most ever species tabulated for this count was 166 species back in 2016.

I counted birds along the Watauga River in Elizabethton, as well as on Holston Mountain. Some of the better birds I saw during the day-long outing included Baltimore Oriole, Blackburnian Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Yellow-billed Cuckoo and many others.

I also saw numerous Great Blue Herons. It’s notable that this large wading bird has become much more common in the region, thanks to recent rookeries, or nesting sites, in Erwin, Elizabethton and other locations. A total of 123 Great Blue Herons were found on this year’s spring count. This heron has only been known to nest in Unicoi County since 2007. In addition, count participants found 144 Double-crested Cormorants, another bird affiliated with water that has proliferated as a summer nesting bird in the region.

Pattie Rowland contacted me on Facebook recently about her own unusual encounter with a rather tame Great Blue Heron. Instead of flying away when Pattie stepped outside, the heron strolled down her neighbor’s driveway.

Pattie wondered if the heron could be a fledgling from the heronry located in Erwin. While that’s certainly a possibility, the bird could also be an adult from the rookery wandering a little farther afield than usual in search of food for its young. In addition to fish, Great Blue Herons will also feed on earthworms, amphibians, reptiles and even small rodents. As I mentioned to Pattie, herons are like people. Each bird is an individual; some are shy, others are curious and adventurous, which may find a heron exploring a paved driveway instead of a water lily-choked pond.

Despite the increasing numbers of Great Blue Herons and Double-crested Cormorants, they were far from the most numerous bird found on the spring count. The European Starling claimed the distinction of most abundant bird on this year’s count with a total of 921 individuals found. Other abundant birds included Cliff Swallow  (864); American Robin (844); Canada Goose (648); Red-winged Blackbird (546); and American Crow (377).

Although the count produced many good birds, it was also notable for some misses, including Northern bobwhite, sharp-shinned hawk and Kentucky warbler. The total follows:

Canada Goose, 648; Wood Duck,  70; Mallard, 176; Northern Shoveler, 1; Greater Scaup, 1; Bufflehead, 1; and Red-breasted Merganser; 4.

Ruffed Grouse, 4; Wild Turkey, 45; Common Loon, 5; Double-crested Cormorant,144; Great Blue Heron, 123; Great Egret, 2; Green Heron, 29; Black-crowned Night-Heron, 2; and Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, 8.

Black Vulture, 121; Turkey Vulture,167; Osprey,12; Bald Eagle, 8; Cooper’s Hawk, 8; Red-shouldered Hawk, 2; Broad-winged Hawk, 8; and Red-tailed Hawk, 27.

Killdeer, 41; Spotted Sandpiper, 37; Solitary Sandpiper, 35; Greater Yellowlegs, 2; Lesser Yellowlegs, 8; Least Sandpiper, 10; White-rumped Sandpiper, 1; and Ring-billed Gull, 2.

Rock Pigeon,  217; Eurasian Collared-Dove,10; Mourning Dove, 251; Yellow-billed Cuckoo, 17; Black-billed Cuckoo, 3; Eastern Screech-Owl, 8; Great Horned Owl, 2; Barred Owl, 8; Common Nighthawk, 5; Chuck-will’s-widow, 7; Eastern Whip-poor-will,  43; Chimney Swift, 185; Ruby-throated Hummingbird, 51; and Belted Kingfisher, 15.

Red-headed Woodpecker,10; Red-bellied Woodpecker, 129; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 5; Downy Woodpecker, 55; Hairy Woodpecker, 6; Northern Flicker, 44; and Pileated Woodpecker,  59.

American Kestrel, 19; Eastern Wood-Pewee, 43; Acadian Flycatcher, 32; Least Flycatcher, 2; Eastern Phoebe, 82; Great Crested Flycatcher, 31; Eastern Kingbird, 123; and Loggerhead Shrike, 1.

White-eyed Vireo, 21; Yellow-throated Vireo,10; Blue-headed Vireo, 86; Warbling Vireo, 17; Red-eyed Vireo, 280; Blue Jay, 231; American Crow, 377; Fish Crow,  2; and Common Raven, 22.

Purple Martin  82; Tree Swallow  206; Northern Rough-winged Swallow, 131; Barn Swallow, 226; and Cliff Swallow, 864.

Carolina Chickadee, 197; Tufted Titmouse,  213; Red-breasted Nuthatch, 11; White-breasted Nuthatch, 44; Brown Creeper, 3; House Wren, 53; Winter Wren, 7; Carolina Wren, 225; Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 110; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 5; and Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 2.

Eastern Bluebird,181; Veery, 15; Gray-cheeked Thrush, 1; Swainson’s Thrush, 3; Wood Thrush, 109; American Robin, 844; Gray Catbird,  77; Brown Thrasher, 72; Northern Mockingbird, 138; European Starling, 921; and Cedar Waxwing, 144.

Ovenbird, 170; Worm-eating Warbler, 42; Louisiana Waterthrush,  37; Northern Waterthrush, 3; Golden-winged Warbler, 2; Black-and-white Warbler, 118; Swainson’s Warbler, 3; Tennessee Warbler, 1; Common Yellowthroat,  23; Hooded Warbler, 192; American Redstart,12; Cape May Warbler, 4; Northern Parula, 44; Magnolia Warbler  7; Blackburnian Warbler, 11; Yellow Warbler, 34; Chestnut-sided Warbler, 18; Blackpoll Warbler, 5; Black-throated Blue Warbler, 71; Palm Warbler, 5; Pine Warbler, 13; Yellow-rumped Warbler, 53; Yellow-throated Warbler, 43; Prairie Warbler, 14; Black-throated Green Warbler, 97; and Canada Warbler, 34.

Eastern Towhee, 250; Chipping Sparrow,137; Field Sparrow, 74; Savannah Sparrow, 2; Grasshopper Sparrow, 4; Song Sparrow,322; Swamp Sparrow, 1; White-throated Sparrow, 10; White-crowned Sparrow, 7; and Dark-eyed Junco, 74.

Summer Tanager, 3; Scarlet Tanager, 97; Northern Cardinal, 376; Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 37; Blue Grosbeak, 6; Indigo Bunting, 148; Dickcissel, 2; and Yellow-breasted Chat, 10.

Bobolink,16; Red-winged Blackbird, 546; Eastern Meadowlark, 144; Common Grackle, 474; Brown-headed Cowbird, 144; Orchard Oriole, 28; Baltimore Oriole, 35; House Finch, 96; Pine Siskin, 79; American Goldfinch, 382; and House Sparrow, 47.

The spotted sandpiper’s spring appearance makes it one of the more easily recognized shorebirds. (Photo by Bryan Stevens)

By Bryan Stevens

As spring migration wanes, it’s a good time to reflect on what birds this seasonal phenomenon brought within viewing distance. In recent weeks I have seen grosbeaks, warblers, vireos, orioles, flycatchers, hummingbirds and more. Another family of migrating birds doesn’t attract quite as much attention from backyard birders, probably due to the fact that shorebirds are not usually considered birds likely to drop by a yard for a brief visit.

Throughout April and May I saw a few different shorebirds, most of them belonging to a group of birds labeled as sandpipers. The most common was the spotted sandpiper. This robin-sized bird belongs to the genus, Actitis, which consists of only one other species, the common sandpiper of Europe and Asia. The genus name originates with an ancient Greek term for “coast dweller,” which is an apt name for this shore-loving bird.

During their breeding season, spotted sandpipers sport dark spots against a bright white breast, a bright orange bill and a dark brown back. This distinctive pattern makes a springtime spotted sandpiper one of the most easily recognized members of a family that can cause some real challenges when it comes to identification. During the winter season, spotted sandpipers lose their spots and attain a dingy grayish-brown and white plumage. In their winter appearance, they are definitely not as easy to contrast from other shorebirds.

This sandpiper is also known for its unique teetering, tail-bobbing gait as it walks along a pond’s edge or a muddy stream bank. The similar solitary sandpiper has a less pronounced teeter-totter stance as it walks and forages.

The spotted sandpiper belongs to a group of related birds known collectively as shorebirds or, in a somewhat more whimsical context, “wind birds.” They are known as “wind birds” for the propensity of many members of this extended family to stage long-distance migrations; some species fly through Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia and Western North Carolina each spring and fall as they migrate to and from distant nesting grounds. This varied family of birds ranges in size from sparrow-sized sandpipers to larger species such as American avocet and Hudsonian godwit.

While Virginia and North Carolina are not landlocked like Tennessee, shorebird sightings are still infrequent enough that they cause some excitement among birders in the region. This spring didn’t seem to produce sightings of too many surprise shorebird migrants. Some of the better reported observations included species like greater yellowlegs and white-rumped sandpiper. I observed only a few of the more common species; other than the aforementioned spotted sandpiper, I also saw several solitary sandpipers during late April and early May. I saw most of these sandpipers around the pond at Erwin Fishery Park.

The solitary sandpiper is, in many ways, a bird of contradictions. For instance, despite this bird’s common name, they do travel in flocks on occasion. During migration, it’s just as likely to see three or four of these birds traipsing around the muddy edges of a pond as it is to observe a single individual. Unlike many sandpipers, they do not build a nest on the ground. Instead, the solitary sandpiper seeks out the old nests of songbirds, such as thrushes, in the branches of trees. This probably adds to the security of the nest, but poses a challenge once the young hatch. Young shorebirds are precocial in that they are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of their hatching. The parents usually must do some coaxing to get the young to leap from their nest in shrubs and trees.

Some of the other sandpipers found around the world include the spoon-billed sandpiper, sharp-tailed sandpiper, broad-billed sandpiper and Baird’s sandpiper. The latter’s name pays tribute to Spencer Fullerton Baird, a 19th-century naturalist and assistant secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. Baird had other birds named for him, as well as several species of fish, a whale, a crab, a snake and a tapir.

While shorebirds are often intimidating to new birdwatchers, they don’t have to be. Go to any beach along any coast, especially during the height of spring and fall migration, and you’re likely to see perhaps a dozen or more species of shorebirds. Several of the species encountered are likely to be numbered among the sandpipers.

For a few of these birds, however, it’s not necessary to travel as far as the coast to see them. A visit to a river’s bank, a pond’s edge or a lake shore is sufficient to yield looks at such migrating shorebirds as pectoral sandpiper, lesser yellowlegs and least sandpiper, as well as the solitary sandpiper and spotted sandpiper. For these latter two species, they’re not really fussy. A spacious lawn with a flooded area is enough to attract one or two of these birds. I saw my first spotted sandpiper bobbing around the edges of a temporary puddle after a heavy spring rainstorm. Sometimes those April showers produce more than flowers. They also yield some interesting looks at migrating sandpipers.

A male scarlet tanager forages close to the ground, which is not typical behavior for these birds. Tanagers, although brightly colored, spend most of their time in the tree canopy obscured from view. (Photo by Jeana Chapman)

By Bryan Stevens

I received an email from Lewis and Jeana Chapman detailing a dazzling discovery they made.

The couple have been adding a few new birds to their bird list and decided to give me an update on what they’ve been seeing. The Chapmans reside in the community of Laurel Bloomery in Johnson County, Tennessee. The wooded slopes of Pond Mountain where they make their home provide an attractive location for migrating birds, as well as summer residents.

“The tree swallows returned this spring to nest in our bluebird box,” Lewis wrote in his email reporting his new sightings. “The great crested flycatcher has moved its nest from the front porch to the barn. Last year the flycatchers raised five chicks on the front porch. The nest got so full the chicks were perched around the edge.”

Some new additions to their list have included golden-crowned kinglet and the Northern flicker. “Most recently we spotted a scarlet tanager,” Lewis continued.

They had never seen a scarlet tanager at their home. Over the years I have heard from other readers left stunned by the tropical beauty of the male scarlet tanager. That description would not be that far off. While the scarlet tanager resides in the United States and Canada from April to October each year, this bird spends the rest of the year in South America. Citizens of the United States and Canada get the better part of the bargain when it comes to hosting this bird. After the summer nesting season, male scarlet tanagers lose their brilliant red plumage and look more like the greenish females. By the time they get back to the tropics for the winter, this striking bird has transformed into a rather drab specimen.

I’ve written in previous columns about the scarlet tanager, which is one of those birds that always takes an observer’s breath away upon first seeing it. Of course, it’s the male scarlet tanager that bewitches observers with his dazzling feathers of vivid red and jet black. Female and immature tanagers are a dull olive-yellow in coloration with dark wings and tails.

During their summer stay in the region, scarlet tanagers largely prey on insects. Although renowned as a fruit-eating bird, the scarlet tanager primarily feeds on fruit during its migration flights and on its wintering range in the tropics. This tanager breeds in deciduous and mixed deciduous-evergreen woodlands across the eastern half of North America. I’ve often heard that oaks are a favorite tree for this woodland dweller.

It’s unlikely that you’ll run across the nest of a scarlet tanager. These birds nest high in trees, often locating their nests 50 feet or more above the ground. After building a nest, a female tanager will incubate her three to five eggs for about two weeks. It’s during this time that her inconspicuous appearance is a plus, helping her blend well with her surroundings. After the young hatch, the parents are kept busy feeding the nestlings for another 10 to 15 days.

The website All About Birds notes that the population of scarlet tanagers has declined in the last half-century. Between 1966 and 2014, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey, scarlet tanager numbers declined by 14 percent. The environmental organization Partners in Flight estimates a global breeding population of 2.2 million, with 93 percent of these birds spending some part of the year in the United States and the other seven percent breeding in Canada. These birds do poorly in forests that have been harvested for lumber. Other causes of habitat fragmentation probably also affect the well-being of scarlet tanagers. It’s worth keeping an eye out for any other signs of decline in these beautiful birds.

The scarlet tanager is a fairly common songbird during the summer months, but it also has a less common relative that can be found in northeast Tennessee, southwest Virginia and western North Carolina. The male summer tanager is the only entirely red bird found in North America. Lacking the scarlet tanager’s black wings, the summer tanager’s red feathers are also of a rosier hue.

While I have seen summer tanagers in Tennessee on occasion, most recently at Steele Creek Park in Bristol, Tennessee, I saw my first summer tanager during a spring trip to South Carolina many years ago. Overall, the summer tanager has more of a southern stronghold than the scarlet tanager, as the summer tanager’s range also extends into the southwestern United States.

Both of these tanagers are birds fond of dense, undisturbed woodlands. Most of the time, unfortunately, these tanagers reside in the dense woodland canopy. They’re more often heard than seen, producing a song similar to an American robin’s, but usually described as somewhat more raspy. The apt description I like for these two tanagers is that their songs sound like one sung by a hoarse robin with a sore throat.

Some of the world’s other tanagers are known by extremely descriptive names, including seven-colored tanager, flame-colored tanager, lemon-rumped tanager, green-headed tanager, golden-chevroned tanager, azure-shouldered tanager, fawn-breasted tanager, metallic-green tanager, emerald tanager, gilt-edged tanager, golden-naped tanager, opal-crowned tanager, blue-gray tanager and silver-beaked tanager.

The tanager wasn’t the only unexpected feathered visitor to the Chapman home this spring. The same week the tanager made its appearance, a male hooded warbler also visited with the Chapmans. “This we found ironic because of your email address,” Lewis wrote. For readers who may not have noticed, my email address is ahoodedwarbler@aol.com. I’ve used this email address for many years to celebrate one of my favorite birds.

The Chapmans also provided me with photos of all their colorful birds. In subsequent emails, they also informed me of some other unusual visitors. “One of our strangest visitors was an albino American goldfinch,” Lewis also revealed in his email. “Over this past weekend, we had rose-breasted grosbeak and indigo bunting show up.”

Many of these birds — the rose-breasted grosbeak, the scarlet tanager, the indigo bunting — always wow observers experiencing their first observation of them. Our two native tanagers — scarlet and summer — are definitely two memorable birds for anyone who has had the pleasure of seeing one. It’s a great time of year to get outdoors and keep your eyes open for a splash of bright color. You never know what you may see when you lift your binoculars.