FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Fish Crow comments

[tnbarredowl@xxxxxxx]

I just thought I would pass along some information to the Knoxville folks 
concerning Fish Crows in the area.  During the 2003 Savannah, TN CBC, Dwight 
Cooley and party found 2 Fish Crows below Pickwick Dam (Hardin Co., TN).  They 
were still present in late January, 2004, but I know of no one who checked for 
them later in the year.  During the 2004 count, he had 4 Fish Crows, and I kept 
track of the "population" this spring/summer.  As of early June 2005, there 
were at least 9 Fish Crows in the area, including what appeared to be paired 
birds.  I saw no definite evidence of nesting.  During the spring of 2005, Greg 
Jackson found Fish Crows along Elk River near Rogersville (Lauderdale Co., AL). 
 I was working in that area in late May, and found 2, apparently paired Fish 
Crows at the same location.  During a Big Day in early May 2005, Steve 
McConnell, Jeff Garner and I had a pair of Fish Crows building a nest at the 
mouth of Town Creek, just below Wheeler Dam (Lawrence Co., AL),
  the first confirmed nesting of the species in this area.  Two weeks ago, I 
had two Fish Crows along the Tennessee River near Athens (Limestone Co., AL).  
It appears that this species has definitely found the Tennessee River, and more 
and more of them are using it.  Have they made it to Knoxville?  Why not?  
Birders from Guntersville to Knoxville (and Savannah to Paris) need to keep an 
eye (ear) open at all times.  Fish Crows could be more widespread along the 
river than we think.
 
Damien Simbeck
Killen, AL