[TN-Bird] Re: New Henslow's location!! and Shorebird habitat

Chris and Jay,

With my new bionic ears I picked up on a Henslow's off 79 Highway this past 
Sunday. I did not want to post it until I was sure after listening to the 
tapes at home. Nancy Moore was with me and both of us heard the bird well as 
it was quite close. She also went back and played her tapes for a separate 
confirmation.

The bird started singing after we had been standing in this field for about 
1/2 hour. I immediately called her attention to the call and said I was 
fairly confident it was a Henslow's as I had reviewed the tapes just prior to 
the trip while listening to Grasshopper calls as I knew I would find them off 
79. We never located the bird and it quit calling. I'm fairly certain of the 
ID but Hey I'm new at this game. Could this bird be in transit? It will be 
fun to try to locate it again.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Jay wrote:
Both Chris and I lamented the fact that the water at Duck River, but 
especially Cross
Creeks, was very high. Why don't these refuges do a better job of
managing water levels for shorebirds in the spring? Cross Creeks seems
like they could easily let out some water and produce great habitat.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Don't hold your breath on that point. Some experts say and I agree, that 
spring habitat can be as important or more important than fall migration. 
These birds need food to fatten up for breeding and the long haul north, 
against that they just let the spring habitat take care of itself. Unlike 
fall it doesn't cost more to provide habitat in the spring just a little prep 
in the fall and manipulation of the gates. When you have a dry spring, you 
really serve the birds and when you have a wet spring the birds will come 
back to your location because of consistent habitat provided year after year 
and their numbers grow.

They win awards for shorebird habitat management in TN but have never 
produced any numbers of shorebirds on any managed habitat. The birds prefer 
to go by the thousands to where there is FOOD in nearby unmanaged and 
consistent habitat, to hell they say to the supposed managed habitat. You 
actually have to want shorebirds to get them and it has been done 
successfully on refuges in Mississippi and Arkansas with spectacular results. 
I guess the awards are given for habitat on paper but quite evidently not for 
results.

Good Birding!!!

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


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