FreeLists / tn-bird / [tn-bird] signs of spring at Tremont

[Charlie <cmmbirds@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Folks,

It looks like the front that came through this morning brought some
change.  The Purple Finches are gone from our feeders, the American
Goldfinches are down to about 15 (from over 100) and the Juncos are
down to about 20.  

But we now have a Swamp Sparrow - first for Walker Valley (west end
of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Blound County) for the year. 
I was with a school group all day, or I would have run to Cades Cove
to see what sparrows are in now.

We also have 2 pair of Eastern Phoebe, rather than the 4 random
individuals we had all winter, and they are very actively checking
out raised flat surfaces with cover - also known as  potential
nesting spots!

Yesterday we had a Carolina Chickadee arguing vociferously with the
rear view mirror of the van.  All day today there was one singing
from a tree right behind that van.  I'm assuming the same individual.
 I hope he keeps it up, as that tree is about 20 meters from one of
my MAPS nets.  Shhh don't tell him!

the most exciting thing, however, was when I left the office last
night at 9 pm and almost stepped on the Tremont Skunk.  I literally
missed him by a foot.  He's been hanging around for 3-4 weeks, but
noone had seen him in a week or so, so we thought he'd moved on. 
Nope, just set up housekeeping under our bird feeders!

Other than birds, phenological notes include purple violets, a
horsehair worm and an Earthstar fungus.

Good day!

Charlie

=====
**************************************************
Charlie Muise, Senior Naturalist
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont
Townsend, TN  lat 35 deg, 38'23"  long 83 deg, 41'22"

"Do something. If it works, do it again. If it does not work, do something 
else. But above all else: Do Something." (Franklin Delano Roosevelt)

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