FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Re: NW TN 12/03/04 Correction about Smith's Field!!

[OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx]

Old Mat Fields
Lake Co.
Cates, TN
Lauderdale Waterfowl Refuge
Lauderdale Co. TN
Mike,

This past weekend, I visited the Smith's Field at Cates and walked over the 
area. Unfortunately, the very late mowing of a very limited area was too 
little, too late.

Thanks to Nancy Moore for her persistency in talking to the county officials 
and finally getting the high grass mowed but as always bureaucracy runs slow. 
The Aristida had grown longer than usual in trying to get its head above the 
taller grasses as they grew through late summer. In the good years the area was 
hayed and this was done earlier in the year rather than just a bush hogging. 
Because of the Aristida's taller growth, this late mowing destroyed most of 
the seeds, which are sparse to began with anyway. I had talked to Nancy through 
the late summer and early fall about the field and it was a great effort on 
her part. I do appreciate her effort and also appreciate the people that took 
the time to do the limited but late bush hogging.

I might expect a few Smith's to drop in and spend a little time but probably 
not any numbers would be expected to stay for any period as before. Last year 
a couple of birds spent a few days in the area even though the grass was not 
mown at all and that let the taller grasses get a better foothold in this poor 
soil. Birds come back expecting to find the same habitat just as moths to a 
candle. Aristida likes poor soil and shorter competition. Smith's like Aristida 
and shorter habitat so there are fewer surprises from predators. They don't 
like to feed surrounded by taller grass, just like most shorebirds, open is 
better.

I had watched this field develop for quite a few years before there was 
enough habitat and grass to support wintering Smith's Longspurs. In Memphis, 
after 
finding the birds after many years absence here in TN, that habitat was 
destroyed by progress a couple of years later, but a few birds returned for a 
short 
period and then one bird for a couple of years and then none. I am watching a 
few more fields in west TN that show potential. Some where around here there 
are Smith's looking for a home. We just have to do a lot more searching.

Hopefully, before they develop the old Mat Field at Cates Landing, maybe they 
will go back to just a regular and timely haying of the area and we can enjoy 
the Smith's experience again.

I did find a few Lapland Longspurs in three different areas in Lake Co. on 
Sunday. Also there were 16 species of waterfowl at the Lauderdale Waterfowl 
Refuge in Lauderdale Co.

Good Birding!!!

Jeff R. Wilson
OL'COOT / TLBA
Bartlett, TN


=================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER=====================

The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with
first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation.
-----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
To post to this mailing list, simply send email to:
tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
----------------------------------------------------- 
To unsubscribe, send email to:
tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

  TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society 
       Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s)
        endorse the views or opinions expressed
        by the members of this discussion group.
 
         Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN
                 wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
     Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society
          web site at http://www.tnbirds.org
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

    ========================================================