Roger Mayhorn:
WOW!! This could be Southwest Virginia's or Western Virginia's first ever
nesting record for the Osprey!!!! What a tremendous discovery !!
I didn't see mention that Ospreys are at the nest, working on the nest, or
appear to be on eggs. Of course it is too early for eggs and Ospreys have
probably not returned to the region (we do have a few winter records).
I suppose you found what you believe to be last season's nest and will be
watching for the return of the birds. Excellent ! What rules out these
from having been Bald Eagle's nests from previous years ? Of course eagles
will be present at nest sites at this time of year. We are seeing some
interesting developments in the New River area on the West Virginia list.
I can't find a published record for Osprey nesting south and or west of the
New River in Southwest Virginia. For that matter, I have not seen a record
for Western Virginia ! My most recent information is "A Guide to the Birds
of the New River Gorge Area" (1990); Clapp's "Egg Dates for Virginia Birds"
(1997); Kinzie's "Birds of Roanoke Valley" (1985); Decker's "......Smyth
County" (1999), Peake's "...Virginia Cumberlands" (2001); Murray's
".....Rockbridge County..." (1957); Mellinger's ".....Rockingham County"
(1998); Larner's ".....Augusta County" (1998) and the Virginia "blue book"
(1987), "red book" (1979) and "green book" (1952). None mention nesting in
the Ridge and Valley Region of Virginia.
If there have been earlier nestings in Western Virginia one would assume
they have occured in the upper drainages of the Shenandoah, Roanoke, New
River or one of the Tennessee tributaries.
Perhaps, someone can post something about records from these areas.
This species may be part of an expansion of the range into the Levisa and
Big Sandy drainage from Kentucky. This is where we need to know something
more about the breeding status of this species in Eastern Kentucky and that
drainage.
Thanks for the great discovery. Keep up the really good birding work in
Buchanan County and the region. Go guys go!
Let's go birding.....
Wallace Coffey
Bristol, TN
-----Original Message-----
From: Mayhorn <mayhorn@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Birding-Virginia <va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Friday, March 07, 2003 12:20 AM
Subject: [va-bird] First Osprey nests in Buchanan County
VA Birders,in
Today, March 6th. My wife Lynda and I located two Osprey nests a couple of
miles west of Grundy on the Levisa River. This is a first for Buchanan
County. Ospreys have been seen along the river for the last few years and
last year Ed Talbott III saw one feeding a fledgling. We knew the nests had
to be nearby. Ed and I had searched for them last year but the leaves were
just too thick.
The nests were found when Lynda and I went looking for Red-necked Grebes
within the county. We visited several ponds and found only 3 Wood Ducks and
1 Canada Goose. Driving back along the river we decided to look for Great
Blue Heron nests, which also have not been found within the county but are
believed to be here.
Thanks to Lynda's sharp eyes she spotted the first Osprey nest on the south
side of the river, several hundred feet upon the mountain. It was located
the top forks of a large deciduous tree. Judging from the size of the nestyear.
it looks to be several years old, since Ospreys add more material each
We quickly placed a call to Ed Talbott III, Vice President of the Buchananin
County Bird Club, via cell phone to give him the good news.
After lunch we drove back down the river, where Lynda sighted a second nest
across the river from Hardees less than a quarter mile east of the first
nest.( I knew I had a good reason for marrying her.) It also was several
hundred feet up the mountain on the south side of the river. This nest was
in a large deciduous tree as well, but was only about halfway up the tree
a huge fork. This nest was large but slightly smaller than the first.gliding
To top off a great birding day we observed a Common Raven flying and
along the vertical, terraced, rock face of the mountain, which has beencommon
removed to make room for the new town of Grundy. This is the first time I
have ever seen one near the town. I think it may be the high stone mountain
face that attracted it. The Raven was being harassed by two Crows that kept
dive bombing it. It would be nice to think that Ravens might become a
sight riding the wind above the new town, but considering that Ravensemail to va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx. To unsubscribe, send email to
usually nest at 3000 ft. or higher and Grundy's elevation is less than 1000
ft. it is doubtful.
Enjoy the birds,
Roger Mayhorn
Grundy, VA
Buchanan County
mayhorn@xxxxxxxxxxxx
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