[TN-Bird] Fall TOS Symposium
- From: Thomas Pitts <dpitts@xxxxxxx>
- To: TN-Bird <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2010 15:27:59 -0500
The 44th TOS Fall Symposium was held in conjunction with the
Fall Meeting on 2 October 2010 in Manchester. The format of the symposium
differed from the traditional approach. Instead of several researchers
describing their individual projects, three TOS members (Dick Preston from
West TN, Ruth Luckado from Middle TN, and Rick Knight from East TN) made
presentations and led discussions about changes in bird numbers in their
respective parts of the state. The speakers presented lists of species
whose numbers have recently changed and species whose numbers might change
noticeably, either up or down, in the near future. Some species, such as
Northern Bobwhite, in which population changes are well documented and
publicized (although not necessarily well understood), received less
attention from the speakers than did several species whose population
changes are less well known. A summary of their lists is shown below. (The
lists were originally in a table, but TN-Bird did not like that format. In
the transition I might have either omitted or duplicated an entry.)
A major function of the program was to stimulate thought and
discussion about various species and the factors that are responsible for
population changes. From this perspective, the symposium was successful.
Each speaker responded to numerous questions and generated additional
questions. A few species, such as Northern Bobwhite and Loggerhead Shrike,
made all three lists of declining species. However, most species appeared
on only one regional list, which is not surprising considering the habitat
and climatic differences between the three geographic regions of Tennessee.
And, as Dick pointed out, even within a region a species may be increasing
in some areas while declining in others. Due to time limitations, not all
species of interest could be discussed. For example, if this symposium had
been held in 1995, every speaker would probably have mentioned House
Finches, a species that received little attention in 2010. This is not to
imply that House Finch numbers are stable across Tennessee and/or they are
not worthy of investigation. House Finches, like every other species, have
a story to tell. But each book has room for only a limited number of
chapters.
Declining
West TN: Chimney Swift, Loggerhead Shrike, Eastern Meadowlark, Sharp-shinned
Hawk, American Black Duck, Northern Bobwhite, Red-winged Blackbird, Hairy
Woodpecker, Yellow Warbler, Blue Jay, Eastern Whip-poor-will, House Sparrow,
Rock Pigeon
Middle TN: Northern Bobwhite, Loggerhead Shrike, Wood Thrush, Eastern
Whip-poor-will, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Rusty Blackbird, Bachman¹s Sparrow,
Field Sparrow, Cerulean Warbler
East TN: Northern Bobwhite, Loggerhead Shrike, Golden-winged Warbler, Rusty
Blackbird, Evening Grosbeak, American Kestrel, Common Nighthawk, Northern
Flicker, Cerulean Warbler, Field Sparrow, Purple Finch
Increasing
West TN: Western Kingbird, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, American White
Pelican, Black Vulture, Mississippi Kite, Bald Eagle, Black-necked Stilt,
Great Blue Heron, Canada Goose, Yellow-breasted Chat, Northern Mockingbird,
Turkey Vulture, Snow Goose, Ross¹s Goose, Carolina Wren, Blue Grosbeak,
Chipping Sparrow, Purple Martin
Middle TN: Eurasian Collared-Dove, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Cattle Egret,
Osprey, Bald Eagle, Sandhill Crane, Brown-headed Cowbird, Prairie Warbler,
Yellow-breasted Chat, Grasshopper Sparrow
East TN: Wild Turkey, Double-Crested Cormorant, Eurasian Collared-Dove,
Cliff Swallow, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Cooper¹s
Hawk, Merlin, Sandhill Crane, Fish Crow, Common Raven, Dickcissel.
May change (up = +; down = -) in near future:
Least Tern -
Red-headed Woodpecker -
Belted Kingfisher -
Swainson¹s Warbler -
Kentucky Warbler -
Dickcissel -
Acadian Flycatcher
Black-throated Green Warbler-
Golden-crowned Kinglet-
Grasshopper Sparrow-
Eastern Meadowlark-
Red-breasted Nuthatch-
Savannah Sparrow+
Hermit Thrush+
Cerulean Warbler
Horned Lark
Rusty Blackbird
Field Sparrow
Common Grackle
Prothonotary Warbler
Thanks to all who attended, with a special thanks to Dick Preston, Ruth
Luckado, and Rick Knight, for an enjoyable and challenging session.
David Pitts
Martin, TN
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