[tn-bird] Re: Migration - Look High and Low

Jeff Wilson, a.k.a Snake Charmer:

How did you help a 2 1/2' Cottonmouth cross the road (very carefully?)  I'm 
really curious.  Or did I read this wrong?

Anna Varney
Summertown, TN  

----- Original Message -----
From: OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, October 24, 2002 6:44 AM
To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; ARBIRD-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [tn-bird] Migration - Look High and Low


Oct. 23, 2002
Shelby Farms
Shelby Co. TN
Wapanocca NWR
Crittenden Co. Ark.

I passed through Shelby Farms a couple of times Wednesday morning and took  
about 15 or 20 minutes to look around. You can get long panoramic views over  
the rolling agricultural land and specks high in the sky revealed a movement  
of raptors. There were the regular numbers of resident and semi resident  
Red-tailed Hawks plus Turkey Vultures circling but even higher were three  
different groups catching thermal rides and drifting south. The first group  
held two Harriers, a Red-tailed and a Sharp-shinned. Again two Harriers  
appeared from the northeast and then 3 Red-tailed and a Cooper's sailed by.  
At ground level I came across a Cooper's and another Sharp-shinned. In one of  
the abandoned fish ponds I watched a couple of Virginia Rails chasing a Sora.  
Quick bursts of speed and team work finally made to Sora cross over the path  
and enter another pond.

At lunch at the Pyramid Events Center downtown another rout was in progress.  
A Peregrine had all the downtown pigeons rushing around in bunches. After  
victory laps over the Pyramid's apex, the bird decided to rid the Mississippi  
River bridge of its pigeons and made strafing runs through the iron work. It  
all looked more like a bored Peregrine than a hungry one.

A late afternoon trip into Arkansas produced nothing but harvested rice  
fields, so I made a run through Wapannoca NWR. Again I picked up 4 very high  
flying Harriers and a Cooper's Hawk. The most interesting migration was at  
ground level as small Broad-banded Water Snakes were crossing the main levee  
road. Every one was going from west to east. On the first pass I noticed many  
of the tiny snakes had been run over but really didn't think much of it.  
After a brief scan of the lake, I returned and driving slowly started a  
survey. I hurried the small fry across the road as trucks and cars were  
passing regularly. Those that were hunkered down in the gravel thinking they  
were invisible were picked up and put to the east side in the weeds.  

In 1.2 miles of levee there was an even distribution of these snakes that  
were only 6 to 12 inches long. I ended up with a count of 19 dead and  
assisted 17 in crossing on just one pass. Upon returning I helped 6 more  
cross plus one adult about 2 foot long and a really sleek, black Cottonmouth  
about 2-1/2 foot long. I have a few shots of these low migrators if anyone is  
interested.

Good Birding!!!

Jeff R. Wilson
OL' COOT / TLBA
Bartlett Tenn.


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     Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society
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    TN-Bird Net Owner: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN
        jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx      (423) 764-3958
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