[Bristol-Birds] BBC members planning eagle search by kayak on the Clinch River

From: "Wallace Coffey" <jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Bristol-birds" <bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2012 18:38:18 -0400
For the second time in 10 years, members of the Bristol Bird Club are putting 
together a downriver birding trip on the Clinch River in Southwest Virginia.  
But this time the group will search for a possible Bald Eagle nest that is 
believed to be in the area.

The group, planning for the event, includes Jennifer Meade,  Michele Sparks, 
John Kelly, Sheri Hiter, John Kelly,  Gail Williams and Susan Hubley.  The 
actual participants will be determined when everyone is able to work out 
details with personal calendars and availabilities.

The river runners are focusing on the date of Saturday, March 31, initially 
staging at 9 a.m. at the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries 
Dungannon Public Boating Access ramp which is located in Scott County, VA.  The 
access area is a shallow water launch area in a wide, public parking area at 
the west end of the Va. Rt. 65 bridge in Dungannon.  The GPS coordinates are:
      36° 49' 52" N
      36.8310810 82° 27' 44" W
      -82.4621953 



They plan to load their kayaks on a trailer behind a jeep and shuttle the boats 
to the end of Miller Yard Ln. where the will begin their excursion.  The will 
put in at Miller Yard, just upstream on the Clinch, from Dungannon and exit at 
the Dungannon Public Boating Access ramp. This run covers 5 miles downstream 
and should take 1.5-2 hours..possibly a little longer depending how much they 
watch the sky and trees instead of the water!
The Miller Yard Ln. starting point is near the corner of Scott, Russell and 
Wise counties.

Jennifer Meade, who has been working with us on searching and monitoring Bald 
Eagle nests along the Clinch, is planning details for the search.

Twenty-five birders turned out with the Bristol Bird Club for a three-day 
weekend outing in June 2002 when we stayed at the beautiful Rikemo Lodge at the 
south edge of Dungannon.  The event featured 19 birders canoeing almost seven 
miles in four hours to list birds along the winding and beautiful section of 
the Clinch River from Cleveland to Carterton.

The Clinch River is the crown of the Mountain Empire flowing southwestward from 
its origin near the town of Tazewell, the Clinch travels some 135 miles, 
reaching portions of Tazewell, Russell, Wise, and Scott counties on its way to 
the Tennessee state line.  In a cast of Virginia rivers that portray history 
and natural wealth, the Clinch has a story and a character all its own. 
The rugged and unique river still remains a float of high value. 

Since establishing the Clinch Valley Program in 1990, The Nature Conservancy 
has worked with local communities to protect the region's lands, waters and way 
of life.  The Conservancy has helped protect more than 35,000 acres of critical 
natural habitat in the Clinch Valley.  In the Clinch River alone, TNC has 
protected seven key shoals that collectively represent one of the world's most 
diverse assemblages of freshwater mussels.  

The Clinch supports a unique assemblage of aquatic life. The river is home to 
about 50 species of mussels, which is more than any other river in the world 
and over 100 species are non-game fish - minnows and darters that sport 
brilliant colors and play a vital role in the survival of other fish and mussel 
species.

The Clinch River has a lot to offer those who want to escape the familiar and 
explore the life of a river. Whether you come to go birding, or just to view 
the spectacular scenery, it will be worth every paddle stroke.
[Bristol-Birds] BBC members planning eagle search by kayak on the Clinch River

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