Although the bell has not yet rung to signal the end of the Cumberland County Foray, here are some early returns. From May 29 to June 2, data were collected in all 75 blocks of Cumberland County--but I currently have the field cards for only 69 of those blocks in hand. The average number of species recorded in the 69 blocks is 57.23, fairly close to the 60 species total that was considered to signal complete coverage in a block during the Tennessee Breeding Bird Atlas project (the foray species totals were usually achieved in 2-3 hours of effort; I'm not sure what the average number of hours of effort was in a block during the atlas). The range of species totals in the 69 blocks was 27-77. The lower figure was achieved in the Roddy 1 block which has less than 1 mile of public roads and no other legal access; the higher figure was achieved in the Isoline 2 block. Night counting periods of 30 minutes were conducted in 22 of the blocks. Confirmed breeding evidence in the county was recorded for at least 60 species, with some nice confirmations among them , including Bald Eagle NY (nest with young). House Wrens displayed a considerable increase in presence since the time of the atlas (1986-1991) when that species was recorded in three blocks, being recorded in over 20 blocks during this year's foray. Tree Swallows displayed equally great increase. No Swainson's Warblers were recorded in a Cumberland County block during the BBA, but that species was found in 4 blocks during this year's foray, all as a result of the intrepid work of Barb Stedman. Some disappointing misses included no Veeries on Dorton Knob or anywhere else; no Rose-breasted Grosbeak there either, though one singing male RBGR did turn up as a likely late migrant in a block to the northeast of Crossville. Ed LeGrand had a migrant Mississippi Kite during the foray, maybe the best non-breeder to be located during the event. All told, some evidence of breeding was found for 110 species, and 4 species were recorded as certain or probable migrants. MANY thanks to the following for contributions to the foray and to knowledge of the breeding birds of Cumberland County: John W. Barthelme (2 blocks), Roseanna Denton (2 blocks), Michael J. Hawkins (6 blocks), Edmund K. LeGrand (23 blocks), Joseph E. Mast (6 blocks), Barbara H. Stedman (20 blocks), Steve Stedman (16 blocks), Winston A. Walden (4 blocks), Carol D. Williams (2 blocks). Steve Stedman Cookeville, TN =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to SIGN YOUR MESSAGE with first and last name, CITY (TOWN) and state abbreviation. You are also required to list the COUNTY in which the birds you report were seen. The actual DATE OF OBSERVATION should appear in the first paragraph. _____________________________________________________________ To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx _____________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. ______________________________________________________________ TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s) endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ------------------------------ Assistant Moderator Andy Jones Cleveland, OH ------------------------------- Assistant Moderator Dave Worley Rosedale, VA -------------------------------- Assistant Moderator Chris O'Bryan Clarksville, TN __________________________________________________________ Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ARCHIVES TN-Bird Net Archives at //www.freelists.org/archives/tn-bird/ MAP RESOURCES Tenn.Counties Map at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/states/tennessee3.gif Aerial photos to complement google maps http://local.live.com _____________________________________________________________