[TN-Bird] Scissor-tailed FC Nest Relocated

From: OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx
To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2003 08:17:25 EDT
June 8, 2003
Dyer Co, TN
It seems the Scissor-tailed pair have decided they did not like the modern 
mobile home they had picked out. The pivot irrigation sprinkler system was set 
in motion and they moved out.

Late yesterday, after two previous stops in the area, I located the new and 
more conventional nest near the top of the single pecan tree at the corner of 
103 Highway and the east end of Hurd Loop Road. The nest is high on the west 
side of the tree and she was adding the final touches. One small limb loops 
back 
under the nest and could present a problem in high winds. The male is in 
spectacular plumage, brightly colored and sports a really long unworn tail. His 
display flights to her and feeding forays are worth the trip.

On other nests searches in the area for Bank Swallows, I located 6 home sites 
with many birds actively excavating and cavorting in Dyer and Lake Co. There 
are two sites along the banks of the Obion River, one at Island 21 on the 
Mississippi River, the sandhill off 79 highway built by TWRA, another nearby in 
a 
washout north of there and the one off 104 highway at the Choctaw Gravel 
Storage area. On a side note, the Ballard Slough site in Tipton Co. and the 
site at 
Fulton, in Lauderdale Co. are also in full swing as of Saturday morning.

Black-necked Stilt nests are falling right and left to receding water and the 
ever encroaching plow. I still saw at least 9 active sites. The newly evicted 
adults are moving around searching for other nests sites and I would expect 
we will get a big jump in numbers at the pits in Memphis over the next few 
weeks.

The Black-billed Cuckoo is still making forays across the Great River Road at 
the southwest corner of Moss Island Refuge in Dyer Co. I sent Kevin Calhoun 
and Judy Newsome down there and it took them 45 minutes before they saw the 
bird cross the road on two occasions. Last week the bird was ferrying food.

The first Cattle Egrets were seen trading back and forth in a couple of 
locations so the first chicks have hatched. I'm sure there will be Snowy and 
Little 
Blue Herons joining in the movement and I'll be looking into these areas 
trying to locate the rookeries. Since the drought there have been no large 
rookeries in the area but this looks like a banner year with adult Tri-colored 
Herons 
and adult Anhingas seen in the area.

Good Birding!!!

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


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[TN-Bird] Scissor-tailed FC Nest Relocated

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