[Bristol-Birds] BBC to manage fall habitat at Paddle Creek pond this fall and will pay for the service.

From: "Wallace Coffey" <jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Bristol-birds" <bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2012 23:51:42 -0400











The Bristol Bird Club has been in discussions with CRUMLEY FARMS 
INC on PADDLE CREEK RD, BRISTOL , TN, to further develop and manage 
shorebird/wader habitat and observer opportunity at this special pond known
as Paddle Creek Pond.  

BBC will pay a daily wildlife management habitat fee for each day the 
waterlevels
achieve and hold low enough drawdown levels to establish adequate habitat.


While there are other places to
look for shorebirds/waders at 
this time, Paddle Creek can be
an excellent birding site and 
habitat attraction for water birds.

As many may recall, on 22 Aug 
2010, BBC members and the
farm owners entered into a study/management project for the purpose of 
determining 
feasibility to create the maximum shorebird/wader habitat on a seasonal basis 
to 
attract these species as well as to provide access to view and record what might
visit the pond.

The study was an in-depth project until early December 2010 to carefully 
recorded
both the actual drawdown capability as well as habitat (mudflat) exposure.   Not
only were records kept but a measureable pond level was correlated with actual 
habitat, 
dates and species attracted. The management methods and results were 
photographed
to create a useful tool for future guidance and planning.  

As a control, during the fall season of 2011, the pond was allowed to proceed 
as in the 
past without intentional management to get a baseline of usage by 
shorebirds/waders.

With managed drawdown and habitat manipulation, birders enjoyed a very 
productive
shorebird monitoring and birding season in 2010.  The unmanaged fall season 
of 2011 was not remarkable.  Of course, actual migration numbers, weather, 
fronts
and prevailing winds as well as season actually determine the species available 
to
visit the pond.  Drawdown and exposed muflat habitat will not be the sole 
factors.


Now that we know more precisely 
how to manage the water level 
and subsequent shorebird habitat, 
it is appropriate to implement 
management with the farms for
this fall season -- now thru November. 
It should produce a good season 
of migrants.


Crumley Farms Inc. leases hunting rights to some individuals in other areas of 
their
684-acre holdings.

BBC recently opened a discussion with the owners about the possibility that 
birders 
would pay to have the pond habitat managed for shorebirds/waders during this 
fall
period.  They were most receptive.  

The discussion centered around a rate schedule that would follow a measured
drawdown to expose habitat as we needed with a daily management rate during
the season for each increment of water level and exposed habitat.  They would
be paid based on results.  Not by a set fee or payment followed by an attempt
to manage.  The results would be to achieve pond levels and habitat exposed.

Since the pond is very shallow and especially in the upper end, a few inches of
water level drawdown will expose much habitat.  

Because it is essentially a pump/storage operation where water is diverted 
from Paddle Creek thru an underground pipe system to the pond to fill it
as needed and an electric pump is controlled from a switchbox along the road 
leading in, water level can be lowered by pumping the water to ponds atop the 
hill 
on another track of land.  If needed, there is a drain valve permitting the 
lake to 
drain back into Paddle Creek.  All of this provideed significant control to 
manage 
the habitat in the fall of 2010.  This management method was tried, tested and 
successful results observed.

The pond draws a very diverse population of stopover birds and in numbers
enough to make monitoring very interesting.  

Bristol Bird Club will make the payments for the habitat management and
monthly payments will be made.  Any birders who wishes to contribute a 
few dollars in any amount can do so to help.  Contributions should be paid 
directly to the Bristol Bird Club Treasurer.  However, you are not paying
for the rights to bird there.  

In addition, we will establish a small team of six or so people who would
assist in making management plans and agree on what BBC does at the
pond.  Eventually, we might seed the area with known management 
methods to improve habitat.   

This takes BBC to the forefront as a bird club managing prime habitat
to benefit wildlife and attract special species of interest. BBC has the
research, experience and a habitat with special infrastructure with which
to accomplish this in a measured way.







  

















Wallace Coffey
Bristol, TN
[Bristol-Birds] BBC to manage fall habitat at Paddle Creek pond this fall and will pay for the service.

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