[Bristol-Birds] Cliff Swallows nesting in Elizabethton

Today I noticed Cliff Swallow nesting activity at these sites in
Elizabethton, TN.

1)  underneath the Hunter Bridge -- 44 whole nests and traces of older
nests.  To my knowledge, this is the first report of them at this site;
but, the evidence indicates that they've been there a year or two.  This
is on the Watauga River.

2)  hwy 321 bridge at Siam Rd (near Civitan Park & just upstream from
the covered bridge)  --  18 whole nests.  Cliff swallows have nested
here for a couple of years, but this is the largest number of nests that
I have seen there.  This is on the Doe River.

Several swallows were seen coming & going from nests at both colonies.

Cliff Swallows have only recently colonized bridges in Carter Co.  The
bridge at the town of Watauga has supported a colony for about 6-8
years.  Herndon found Cliff Swallows nesting in a barn in the county
back in the 1940s or 1950s, but the colony was apparently short-lived.
To my knowledge, there have been none in the county since then until
just recently (those mentioned above).

Also, I do not recall any Cliff Swallows nesting in Unicoi Co., but they
might use bridges near Erwin or Unicoi.  The only report from Johnson
Co. that I recall was from Shady Valley at the hwy 421 brige near the
crossroad, just a couple of years ago.  Observers in these areas should
watch for & report any new colonies.  Cliff Swallows expanded their
range into the Ridge & Valley portion of northeast TN during the 1970s &
1980s and are now moving into the mountain region here.

###################
Rick Knight
Johnson City, TN
rknight@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

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