30 JUN 04 Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont Townsend, TN . Naturalist Charlie Muise (CHMU) played host to Bristol Bird Club members Carol Cross and me at the Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (M.A.P.S.) bird banding station at Tremont. During our 6 hour visit Charlie had us actively engaged with the station proceedings along with some institute staff and volunteers. This motivated group made us feel right at home walking the net lanes and taught us a great deal about processing birds trapped in the stations numerous mist nets. Louisiana Waterthrush (LOWA) was the most popular species of the day with new and recaptured birds totaling eight specimens. A single Carolina Wren was banded and a Ruby-throated Hummingbird was netted and released. Not a bad day at all for this station that is low in volume of total birds, yet, a national leader for Louisiana Waterthrush. Also observed were a Copperhead and a Little Brown or Ground Skink. BTW, Cades Cove was loaded with Wild Turkey and of course White-tailed Deer. We saw a single Black Bear cub cross the road near Dan Lawson's Place. It's great to visit the Smokies from time to time. Special thanks to Charlie for being such a hospitable and knowledgeable host. . 'Til we bird again . Rack Cross Blountville, TN ************************************************* BRISTOL BIRDS NET LIST Bristol Birds Net Photo Gallery located at: http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jwcoffeyy/album?.dir=/efd5 This is a regional birding list sponsored by the Bristol Bird Club to facilitate communications between birders and bird clubs of Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. -------------------------------------------------- You are subscribed to Bristol-Birds. To post to this mailing list, simply send an email to: bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe, send an email to bristol-birds-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the one word 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. -------------------------------------------------- Wallace Coffey, Moderator wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (423)764-****