[Bristol-Birds] Steele Creek Great Blue Heron Rookery

Bristol Tennessee's first "incorporated" Great Blue Heron rookery was 
discovered Friday, Mar 21, 2008, along Steele Creek by Fred Martin of
the Bristol Bird Club.

Janice Martin and Wallace Coffey joined Fred there about 4:45 p.m. 
and were able to meet the property owner and applauded Fred for a great 
long-distance find.  He noticed the nests form another road.

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The site has been named Meadowview Road Rookery.  It is located just 
above the road and is easily viewed from US 11W.  It is located high atop 
a ridge which belongs to E.G. Moody.  We met him and had an enjoyable 
visit and were invited back.  The coordinates are 36°35'19.08"N  and 
82°14'5.36"W.

The map above shows the exact location of the rookery.  In the bottom 
right is Steele Creek Park Lake and at the left is Welmont's Bristol 
Regional Medical Center.  North is up in this air photo of west Bristol.


There may be a dozen or
more nests but the site has to
be surveyed from three or
four different locations which
requires driving several miles
to view.

While we were there, several
herons were in the vicinity and
at perhaps four or five nests.
We just couldn't be sure.  All
of us were headed to other 
errands and had to move on.
One bird flew in with sticks
for a nest being built

The best way to see the 
rookery is to drive from the 
Bristol Regional Medical Center towards downtown on US 11W (West 
State Street) and when you come upon the billboard advertising the 
Holston Medical Group with the larger letters HMG nearest the road, 
you will be at an excellent spot but watch out for traffic and stay away 
from the traffic lane.


Park at the end of this guard
rail near the yellow and black
rail marker.  Near the
end of the guard rail will be
large powers lines across 
the road.  Follow the lines
with you eye downhill (past
the new yellow house which
is under construction) and
back up the far ridge.  Near
the crest, where the power
line right-of-way crosses 
that ridge you will see 
several nests with Great Blue Herons standing about them.  
If you wait until the leaves fill out you may not be able to see them.


This is Fred Martin's first important
ornithological discovery since he 
came up with the Rufous Hummingbird
in his yard several years ago ;-)

He has asked whether he will get a
special trophy from the BBC for this
outstanding discovery.  Can't blame him.

Proud Mama Janice Martin, treasurer of the Bristol Bird Club, is going to
ask President Dave Worley if the club can raise money for a roadside
historical marker to be placed there on 11W with Fred's photo on it. If
the state will not approve a marker with the photo, the deal is off.

Not a bad idea whatsoever.  I will pledge the first one dollar.

Let's go birding......

Wallace Coffey
Bristol, TN

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