[Bristol-Birds] Historical Snippet - Dec 23, 1950
- From: "Wallace Coffey" <jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Bristol-birds" <bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:00:29 -0500
BBC Snippet
Most Christmas Bird Counts which have had longevity and some form
of continuity have evolved over the years. The patterns obviously reflect
how birders went about the endeavor, resources and materials available
as well as roads, access and communication limitations of the era.
The Mount Rogers-White Top Mountain CBC is an example of that so
called evolution. It clearly reflects a history that has enjoyed three
distinct eras.
The first era spanned five years in which Fred W. Behrend of
the Herndon bird club of Elizabethton, TN and Stephen M. Russell of the
Bristol Bird Club created the count. They birded in an area where there
was not a great deal of birding taking place. There were few birders in
the region who savored the challenges presented by the weather in the
very high elevations of the South Appalachian Mountain and its Blue
Ridge ranges.
Behrend, (left) a native German who
spoke with a heavy accent, was a
meticulous record keeper. He once
said he had hiked Roan Mountain
and nearby peaks once a weak for 25
years in all weather. He was one of
the great pioneers who left a very
extensive volume of records and birding
history. Many of his hikes would cover
20 miles or more.
The Bristol Bird Club was founded in
March 1950 with Stephen M. Russell
as a teenage charter member. Along
with his mentor, Behrend, they
conducted the Mt. Rogers count (1950-1954) until Russell was awat
to college and no longer available to participate. To the best of our
knowledge. Neither of them ever returned there for a Christmas Bird
Count.
The middle era turns out to be a time of continuance when Paul S. Delaney
of Abingdon, VA took up the count and continued it for 1957, 1958 and 1960.
The rest of that era was taken under the wing of Bristol Bird Club birders
who carried on most years from 1965 to 1971. Wallace Coffey provided
much of that leadership and two years were missed due to family illness.
Birders going afield to Virginia's two highest mountains (Mt. Rogers and
Whitetop)
often endured harsh conditions with few birds. Birding under such conditions
these days is virtually unheard of and counts facing dangerous environments
are usually rescheduled.
The early birders went on in whatever nature had to offer. There were few
around who paid much attention. There was always a sense that the challenge
was part of the count. It was the count of Dec. 23, 1967 which is frequently
remembered. Five birders headed out in two parties up the slopes of Whitetop
and off to the peak of Mt. Rogers at 7:50 a.m. Counting birds in a snow
flurries,
the group moved on with the temperature ranging 5° to 8° and the wind at times
howling at 25 m.p.h. Still the birders covered six and one-half miles on
foot.
The conditions became so dark and the wind so hard that two members, Hank
Woodward and Coffey became disoriented on Whitetop. Birder Tony Decker
who had made it back to Elk Garden by 1 p.m. with Gerry Delantonas
and David McPeak, used two-way radios and a U.S. Forest Service four-wheel
drive truck to find them. They were in the edge of the conifers down on the
ground
behind logs to break the driving snow and wind. All of the birders had ended
the count by 1:30 p.m.
That count recorded only 21 birds and 8 species The best species found was
two Pine Siskin. The editor of Audubon's American Birds annual Christmas Bird
Count edition cited the Mt. Rogers count as the nation's second lowest for
species, exceeded only by a birder on a dogsled in the northwest area of
Canada.
Temperatures on this count frequently were below 20 degrees. The more recent
party of Jan 4, 2003 began their count with the temperature at 8 degrees but
it was up to 30 degrees before their count ended in late afternoon.
On Dec. 20, 1969 a group of six birders were afield from 6:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
They birded in overcast and then clear conditions as the temperature ranged
from 8° to 9°. The wind reached 15 m.p.h. and they hiked 12 party miles in
2-4 in. snow cover. Many streams were frozen. The group of Bill Bridgforth,
Wallace
Coffey, Anthony M. Decker, David McPeak, Pete Range and Brent Rowell put
in 17 party hours which were all on foot. The total was 17 species, 115
individuals.
The winter of 1963-64 in Virginia was witness to the greatest invasion of
northern birds on record. The three most prominent visitors were the Evening
Grosbeak, White-winged Crossbills and Red Crossbills.
On Dec. 31, 1965 52 White-winged Crossbill, were observed on the
Mt. Rogers-Whitetop CBC by Fletcher Bingham, Bill Bridgforth, Jr.,
Wallace Coffey, Charles Smith and Henry "Hank" Woodward. A few
years before, Paul Dulaney had 35 of the White-winged Crossbills on
the count on Dec 31, 1960. He was the only person on that count.
Two Snow Buntings were found by Russell on the Dec 28, 1952 count.
Fred Behrend found a Golden Eagle in 1953.
Due to the lack of available participants by the decade of the 70's, the
count was not conducted for nearly 30 years until Allen Boynton took
up the organization and compilation of the count in 2000. It has continued
every year since.
The third era and present era could be called the custodians
of today as Boynton and members of the Blue Ridge Birders
carry on the count. In this modern era, the count is
actually conducted over most of the 15-mile diameter
circle as all Audubon CBCs are designed. The Roan
Mountain CBC in Northeast Tennessee covers a large
part of the circle but it does not usually have a large
number of participants. Counts in the Mount Rogers
circle area sometimes have eleven participants which is
about double what the largest of any earlier counts had.
The roads up to Elk Garden Gap between Virginia's
two highest mountains were no where near as wide
and well paved as they are today. It was often
difficult to get birders together from Elizabethton,
Johnson City and Bristol to be on foot in 8 degrees
temperature and/or snowfall before 7 a.m.
THE EARLY ERA -- ESTABLISHING THE COUNT, 1950-1954
1950-1951
Mt. Rogers, Va. (from Elk Garden Gap to top of mountain and Wilburn
Ridge. Return to origin via valleys of Cabin Ridge and Briar Creeks; elevation
range: 4450' to 57l9'; deciduous forest 41%, grassy fields 35%, spruce~fir
forest 24%). Dec. 23; 7:55 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. Clouds on mountain in
morning clearing by noon; temp. 26° to 38° to 36°; wind NW to W, 10-35 m.p.h.;
depth of snow increasing from 3 inches in Elk Garden Gap to 16 inches on
top; streams mostly frozen; snow and ice thawing rapidly in afternoon. Two
observers working singly and together. Total party hours 13.25; total party
miles 12.5 (by foot) Total 15 species, 57 individuals. -- Fred W. Behrend,
Stephen M. Russell.
1951-1952
Mount Rogers, Virginia (same area as last year with addition of
Whitetop Mountain; elevation range 4400 to 5710 :ft..; deciduous forest 45/0,
grassy fields 55%', spruce-fir forest 20%). December 23; 7 a.m.to 5 p.m.;
cloudy to clearing; temp. 25° to 36°; wind SW, 0-15 m.p.h.; depth of snow
increasing from none in Elk Garden Gap to 6 inches on top. Much ice on
streams. Two observers in two parties. Total party-hours, 19 1/4 (all on
foot); total party-miles, 22. Total, 15 species; 107 individuals. -- Fred W.
Behrend, Stephen M. Russell.
1952-1953
Mt. Rogers, Va. (Area same as last two years; elevation
4400 to 5719 ft.; deciduous forest 40%, grassy fields 32%, spruce~fir
forest 28%. Dec. 28, 6:45 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. Clear; temp. 11° to 26°;
wind NW to W, 0-12 m.p.h. no snow below 5200 ft., about 3 in. hard crusted
snow on top streams partially frozen over. Two observers in 2 parties.
Total party-hours, 19 1/2 (all on foot), total party-miles, 25 (on foot).
Purple Finch, 27; Pine Siskin, 68; Red Crossbill, 1; Snow Bunting, 2
(pair observed closely in rocky grassy field at 5100 ft. on Briar Ridge,
large amount of white in wings end typical call note were noted by observer
familiar with species - S.M.R.). Total, 17 species; 236 individuals. -- Fred
W. Behrend, Stephen M. Russell.
1953-1954
Mt. Rogers, Va. (same as in previous years; elevation range
4400 to 5719 feet; deciduous forest 40%, grassy fields 30%, spruce~fir
forest 30%. Dec. 27, 6:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Clear; temp. 18° to 28°;
wind NW to W, 0-6 m.p.h.; little snow except in sheltered spots; streams
partially frozen over. Four observers in two parties.
Total party-hours, 19.5, total party-miles, 24 (all on foot). Golden Eagle, 1
(F.W.B.), Pine Siskin, 200; Red Crossbill 2. Total, 22 species; 714 individuals.
-- Fred W. Behrend, Douglas A. Patterson, Stephen M. Russell (compiler),
A. Randolf Shields.
1954-1955
Mt. Rogers, Va. (same area as previous years with additional
coverage of eastern approaches to Mt. Rogers: First Peak, Second Peak,
Third Peak, Stone Mountain and Pine Mountain; elevation range 4400 to 5719 ft.
(highest point in Virginia); deciduous forest 40%, grassy fields 38%,
spruce-fir forest 22%). December 26; 7:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Clear;
temp 26° to & 59°; wind SE, 0-5 m.p.h.; snow ranging in depth from 12 in. in
Elk Garden Gap to 28 in. crusted snow on summit; little ice on streams.
Six observers in 3 parties. Total party-hours, 27; total party-miles, 30
(all on foot). Evening Grosbeak, 27; Pine Siskin, 10, Red Crossbill 1.
Total, 24 species; 188 individuals. -- Fred W. Behrend, Richard L. Diener,
Douglas A, Patterson, Stephen H. Russell (compiler), A. Randolf Shields,
Edwin O. Willis. (Notes: There are no new cones on the spruce and fir trees
this year compared to the very heavy crop of last year. This is certainly at
least partially responsible for the marked drop in nlli~ers of Red-breasted
Nuthatches, Siskins, White-breasted Nuthatches and Tufted Titmouse also
were in reduced numbers. Snow fall this winter is much above average.
The mountain had not been bare of snow on top since very early November,
and the accumulated snow averaged 28-30 inches. However, this snow
cover has prevented the ground temperature from dropping below 34°
(Dec. 26). Grouse were way below usual numbers. The four seen this year
were recorded on the additional area which was new this year; none were
seen on the same route that produced 18 in 1952. The two Pileated
Woodpeckers were seen at 4600' in the new coverage. This
is the highest these birds have been noted at any season in the vicinity of
the mountain. The Horned Larks constitute the first census record but have
been recorded there in December. The Robins were noted as they flew over
Elk Garden Gap (4450'). The Evening Grosbeaks were seen by all parties but
in all cases were in flight over the mountain. They apparently preferred
the valley. Junco's were low, probably due to the snow. No birds seen above
5200' on Mt. Rogers; Red-breasted Nuthatch at 5500' on White Top.)
MIDDLE ERA -- TIME OF CONTINUANCE, 1957-1972
1957-1958
Mt. Rogers (Elk Garden Gap to summit of Mt. Rogers and western
slopes of Pine Mountain; elevation range 4500 to 5719 ft. (highest point
in Virginia); deciduous woodland 40%, grassy fields 40%, spruce-fir forest
20%). - Dec. 23; 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Clear; temp. 25° to 55°; wind NE,
5-15 m.p.h.; no snow on ground. One observer. Total party-hours, 9 (all on
foot); total party-miles, 10 (all on foot). Evening Grosbeak, 25;
Total: 15 species; 106 individuals. - Paul S. Dulaney..
1958-1959
Mt. Rogers, Va. (same area as last year; deciduous woodland 40%,
grassy fields 40%, spruce-fir forest 20%). -- Dec. 23; 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Cloudy, light rain in afternoon; temp. 25° to 40°; wind W, 15-30 m.p.h.;
ground bare in open, snow 1-6 inches deep in woods. One observer. Total
party-hours, 9 (all on foot); total party-miles, 11 (all on foot).
Total, 10 species; 57 individuals. -- Paul S. Dulaney.
1960-1961
Mt. Rogers, Va. (Elk Garden Gap to sumnit of Mt. Rogers; elevation
range 4500 to 5719 ft.; deciduous woodland 50%, grassy fields 30%, sprucefir
forest 20%). -- Dec. 31, 1960. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Clear a.m., cloudy p.m.;
temp. 25° to 40°; wind S, 0-15 m.p.h.; ground generally bare in open, snow
up to one foot in woods. One observer. Total party-hours, 7; total
party-miles, 7 (all on foot). Purple Finch, 12; White-winged Crossbill, 35;
Total, 12 species, 100 individuals. -- Paul S. Dulaney.
1965-1966
Mt. Rogers-Whitetop (all points within a 15-mile diameter circle, center
at junction of Routes 600 and 603, including peaks of Mt. Rogers and Whitetop
in Grayson and Smyth Counties; from the saddle up to Mt. Rogers along
logging road via Elk Garden and from the saddle to Whitetop via the main
road; deciduous woodland 50%, grassy fields and extensive briar patches 30%,
spruce and fir forest 20% ).-Dec. 31, 1965; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fair; temp. 39° to
46°;
wind NW, 20-25 m.p.h.; ground bare. Five observers in 2 parties. Total
partyhours,
16 (all on foot); total party-miles, 15 (all on foot). Red-breasted Nuthatch,
23; Brown
Creeper, 7; Pine Siskin, 90; White-winged Crossbill, 52; Total, 18 species; 368
individuals. Observers: Fletcher Bingham (cocompiler), Bill Bridgforth, Jr.,
Wallace Coffey (co-compiler), Charles Smith, Henry Woodward.
1966-1967
Mt. Rogers-Whitetop (all points within a 15-miles diameter circle, center at
Junction of Routes 600 and 603, to include peaks of Mount Rogers and
Whitetop Mountain, state's highest and second highest peaks respectively;
from the Saddle upwards to Mt. Rogers at 5729 ft., along road via Elk Garden
and to Whitetop via road; deciduous woods, 50%, grassy fields 30%, spruce-fir
forest 20%). Dec. 23, 1966 8:05 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. Overcast then snowstorm;
temp 26° to 32°; wind S, 5-6 m.p.h.; 4-in. snow cover in woods, weather
bureau emergency warning forced us to get off mountains early. Seven
observers in 2 parties. Total party-hours 10 (all on foot); total party-miles
12 (all on foot). Observers: Fletcher Bingham, Wallace Coffey, (compiler)
A.ME. Decker, Robert Quillen, John Shumate, Charles Smith, Henry Woodward.
Total: 11 species, 527 individuals.
1967-1968
Mt. Rogers-Whitetop (all points within a 15-mile diameter circle, center
at junction of Routes 600 and 603, to include peaks of Mt. Rogers and Whitetop
and the saddle between them; deciduous woods 50%, grassy fields 30'70,
spruce-fir forest 20%).-Dec. 23, 1967; 7:50 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Snow flurries;
temp.
5° to 8°; wind W-SW, 4-25 m.p.h.; 0 to 2 in. snow cover. Five observers in
2 parties. Total party-hours, 5 1/2 (4 1/2 on foot, 1 by truck); total
party-miles,
18 1/2 (6 1/2 on foot, 12 by truck). Pine Siskin 2; Observers: Wallace
Coffey, A. M. Decker,
Gerry Delantonas (compiler), David McPeak, Henry Woodward.
Total: 8 species, 21 individuals.
1968-1969 (NO COUNT)
1969-1970
MT. ROGERS-WHITETOP. (all points within a 15-mile diameter circle, center
at junction of Routes 600 and 603, to include peaks of both mountains; from the
saddle up to Mt. Rogers at 5729 ft., along logging road via Elk Garden and to
Whitetop via road; deciduous woods 50%, grassy fields 30%, spruce-fir forest
20%).
-Dec. 20, 1969; 6:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Overcast, then clear; temp. 8° to 9°;
wind SE,
10-15 m.p.h.; 2-4 in. snow cover, many streams frozen. Six observers in 2
parties.
Total party-hours, 17 (all on foot); total party-miles, 12 (all on foot). Red
Crossbills 6,
Pine Siskin 3, Evening Grosbeak 3. Observers:
Bill Bridgforth, J. Wallace Coffey (compiler), Anthony M. Decker, David McPeak,
Pete Range, Brent Rowell. Total: 17 species, 115 individuals.
1970-1971 NO COUNT
1971-1972
MT. ROGERS-WHITETOP (all points within a 15-mile diameter, center at
junction of Virginia routes 600 and 603, to include peaks of Mt. Rogers and
Whitetop;
from the Saddle to peak of Mt. Rogers along logging road via Elk Garden and
to the peak of Whitetop via main road; deciduous woodland 50%, grassy fields
30%,
spruce-fir forest 20%; elevation up to 5729 feet) .-Dec. 28, 1971; 7 a.m. to 3
p.m. Light
sleet and rain; temp. 45° to 49°; wind NE to NW, 20-30 m.p.h.; foggy with
limited
visibility. Nine observers in 2 parties. Total party-hours, 16 (all on foot);
total
party-miles, 16 (all on foot). Observers: Wallace Coffey, Anthony Decker, Ken
Hale, Joseph Jackson, David McPeak, David McPeake, Jr., Brent Rowell (compiler),
John Todd, Henry Woodard. Total: 10 species, 37 individuals.
PRESENT AREA -- THE CUSTODIANS OF TODAY, 2000-2007
2000-2001
MOUNT ROGERS-WHITE Top MOUNTAIN. 36° 39' N 81 ° 35' W Circle Center: Jct. 600
and 603.
36° 39' N 81° 35' W. Field data: Count date: Dec 27, 2000. Times in field: 9:00
a.m.
to 5:00 p.m. Temperatures: 18° to 28° F. Wind variable, 1-5 mph. AM Cloudy
Rain: None Snow:
Light PM Cloudy. Rain: None Snow: Light . Snow depth: 1-36 inches. Still water
frozen, moving
water partly frozen. Field observers: 8 in 1-5 parties. Total party-hours: 21.5
(7.5 on foot, 14.0 by
car). Total party-miles: 86.00 (11 on foot, 75 by car). Observers: Not
reported. Compiler:
Allen Boynton
2001-2002
MOUNT ROGERS-WHITE Top MOUNTAIN. 36° 39' N 81 ° 35' W Circle Center: Jct. 600
and 603.
36° 39' N 81° 35' W.
Field data: Count date: 5 Jan 2002. Times in field: 8:30 a.m.
to 5:00 p.m. Temperatures:28° to 41° F. Wind variable, 0-32 mph. AM partly
cloud
rain. PM pcd skies partly cloudy. Snow depth: 0 inches. Still water frozen,
moving
water partly frozen. Field observers: 7 in 4 parties. Total party-hours: 30.5
(10.5 on foot, 20.0
by car). Total party-miles: 256.50 (9.5on foot, 247 by car). Observers: Not
reported.
Compiler: Allen Boynton
2002-2003
MOUNT ROGERS-WHITE TOP MOUNTAIN. Circle Center: Jct. 600 and 603.
36° 39' N 81° 35' W.
Field data: Count date: 4 Jan 2003. Times in field: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Temperatures:
8° to 30° F. Wind NW, 5-20 mph. AM skies cloudy, light to no snow. PM
skies clear. Snow depth: 0-3 inches. Still water partly open, moving water
partly
frozen. Field observers: 16 in 6 parties. Total party-hours: 44.5 (22.25 on
foot, 22.25
by car). Total party-miles: 277.5 (23.5 on foot, 254 by car). Observers: Not
reported.
Compiler: Allen Boynton. Total species: 46; Total individuals: 1,797.
2003-2004
MOUNT ROGERS-WHITE TOP MOUNTAIN. Circle Center: Jct. rts. 600 and 603.
36° 39' N 81° 35' W.
Field data: Count date: 3 Jan 2004. Times in field: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Temperature: 45° to 55° F. Wind 5-15 mph. AM cloudy. None to light rain. PM
partly cloudy. Water open. Field observers: 9 in 4 parties. Total party-hours:
36.75
(18.5 on foot, 18.25 by car). Total party-miles: 220.5(18.5 on foot, 202 by
car).
Common Raven 18; Red Crossbill 5; Pine Siskin 68
Observers: Jim Best, Jerry Blevins, Allen Boynton (compiler), Glen Eller,
Scott
Jackson/Ricketts, Gale Kuebler, Robert Perkins , Darroch Whitaker.
Total species: 45; Total individuals: 1,397. .
2004-2005
MOUNT ROGERS-WHITE TOP MOUNTAIN. Circle Center: Jct. rts. 600 and
603. 36"39' N 81" 35' W.
Field data: Count date: 2 Jan 2005. Times in field: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Temperature range: 45° to 60° F. Wind calm. AM cloudy. PM clear. Water open.
Field observers: 5 in 1 to 5 parties. Total party-hours: 35.5 (5.5 on foot, 30
by car).
Total party-miles: 187 (7 on foot, 180 by car). Observers: Jim Best, Jerry
Blevins.
Allen Boynton (compiler), James Coman, Jr., Glen Eller, Scott Jackson/Ricketts,
Alice Keighton, Jim Keighton, William Roberts. Total species: N/A; Total
individuals:
N/A. Organizations/Sponsors: Blue Ridge Birders.
2005-2006
MOUNT ROGERS-WHITE TOP MOUNTAIN. Circle Center: Jct. rts. 600 and
603. 36"39' N 81" 35' W.
Field data: Count date: Jan 2, 2006. Times in field: N/A a.m. to N/A p.m.
Temperature range: 33° to 54° F. Wind N/A. AM Partly clear, Rain: Light,
Snow: None; PM Foggy Rain: Heavy Snow: None. Field observers: 11 in N/A
parties. Total party-hours: 33 (N/A on foot, N/A by car).
Total party-miles: N/A (N/A on foot, N/A by car). Observers: Allen Boynton
(compiler),
James Coman, Jr., Eric Harrold, Scott Jackson/Ricketts, Alice Keighton, Jim
Keighton,
Gale Kuebler, Ron Morris, Jon Rockett, Peter Zwadyk
Total species: N/A; Total individuals: N/A.
2006-2007
MOUNT ROGERS-WHITE TOP MOUNTAIN. Circle Center: Jct. rts. 600 and
603. 36"39' N 81" 35' W.
Field data: Count date: Dec 31, 2006. Times in field: N/A a.m. to N/A p.m..
Temperature range: 41° to 45° F. Wind N/A. AM Foggy Rain: Light Snow: None
PM Cloudy Rain: Light Snow: None. . Field observers: 9 in N/A
parties. Total party-hours: 23 (N/A on foot, N/A by car).
Total party-miles: N/A (N/A on foot, N/A by car). Observers: Allen Boynton
(compiler), Eric Harrold, Scott Jackson/Ricketts, Alice Keighton, Jim Keighton
Gale Kuebler, Maggie Kuebler, Ron Morris, Aaron VanArnum.
Total species: N/A; Total individuals: N/A.
2007-2008
MOUNT ROGERS-WHITE TOP MOUNTAIN. Circle Center: Jct. rts. 600 and
603. 36"39' N 81" 35' W.
Field data: Count date: Dec 29, 2007. Times in field: N/A a.m. to N/A p.m.
Temperature range: 37° to 47° F. Wind N/A. AM Foggy Rain: Light Snow: None
PM Partly clear, Rain: None, Snow: None. Field observers: 11 in N/A
parties. Total party-hours: 28.5 (N/A on foot, N/A by car).
Total party-miles: N/A (N/A on foot, N/A by car). Observers: Allen Boynton
(compiler) Debbie Davis, Jim Keighton, Gale Kuebler, Maggie Kuebler, Robert
Perkins, Ellen Reynolds, Deb Vransky, Eric Vransky, Larry Wilhite, Peter
Zwadyk. Total species: N/A; Total individuals: N/A.
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