FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] June (05) at Standifer Gap Marsh

["David & Gloria Patterson" <dgpatterson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Standifer Gap Marsh, Chattanooga, Hamilton County, TN
July 1, 2005

Least Bittern: 16 active nests with 73 eggs and/or young
  2 nests that possibly had already fledged
  4 new and/or incomplete nests that have not had eggs
  
  Both male and female incubate eggs and brood young. One nest appears to be 
incubated and brooded solely by the male (widower?)
  
  Ten nests (maximum) were simultaneously active; this indicates at least ten 
pairs present.   It appears that as soon as the young are more or less 
independent the parents start another nest nearby, within 10 - 20 feet.  About 
15 of the nests were in an area perhaps 100 by 300 feet, almost a colony, but 
nothing indicates that they are in any way social.  I have never seen more than 
two adults together, and when I can see them well it is always a male and a 
female.  I have never seen one feeding, carrying food or fecal sacs, courting, 
preening.  They sang the coo-coo-coo-coo call quite a bit the first half of 
June.  They are very vocal, squawking, when I am around the nest.

Wood Duck:  at least 2 families

Great Egret: 1 or 2, June 28

Great Blue Heron:  1 or 2 most days

Green Heron:  2 most days   1 local immature, June 9

Tri-colored Heron:  June 9

American Kestrel:  2, July 1

Bobwhite:  heard singing several days early June

American Coot:  1 stayed most of June

Virginia Rail:  3 nests with 2, 6 and 7 eggs.  
  2 empty nests with adults giving alarm calls, probably young just left nests
  4 nests probably Virginia Rail with young already gone

  The 7-egg nest above had 5 eggs June 26, 7 eggs June 28 and 30 and July 1,
no sign of incubating adult, but eggs are rearranged each day.  

  Virginia Rails were calling all month, estimate 10 or more calling.  

  In addition to the nests there were alarm notes indicating young birds at 5 
or 6 locations.
  
Mourning Dove:  One dropped down from a power line, hit the water hard, belly 
first, splashed a few seconds, then flew up and away,-  Osprey behavior

Willow Flycatcher:  Adult on 3 eggs June 6, 1 egg and no adult June 9.  Another 
very similar nest, older and empty, June 26, could have been Willow but not the 
same pair.

Eastern Kingbird:  Nest (4 ft above water in Button Bush) with 1 young ready to 
leave

Tree Swallow:  2 nests with young   May 19 and June 13

Wood Thrush:  singing most mornings first half of June, west side of marsh

Yellow-breasted Chat,  Common Yellowthroat:  singing most mornings

Red-winged Blackbird:  123 nests, most with 3 or 4 eggs/young


David Patterson